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Zani A, Messali S, Bugatti A, Uggeri M, Rondina A, Sclavi L, Caccuri F, Caruso A. Molecular mechanisms behind the generation of pro-oncogenic HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38687324 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s), characterized by amino acid insertions at the COOH-terminal region of the viral protein, have been recently identified and studied for their biological activity. Different from their wild-type counterpart (refp17), vp17s display a potent B cell growth and clonogenic activity. Recent data have highlighted the higher prevalence of vp17s in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) with lymphoma compared with those without lymphoma, suggesting that vp17s may play a key role in lymphomagenesis. Molecular mechanisms involved in vp17 development are still unknown. Here we assessed the efficiency of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase (RT) in processing this genomic region and highlighted the existence of hot spots of mutation in Gag, at the end of the matrix protein and close to the matrix-capsid junction. This is possibly due to the presence of inverted repeats and palindromic sequences together with a high content of Adenine in the 322-342 nucleotide portion, which constrain HIV-1 RT to pause on the template. To define the recombinogenic properties of hot spots of mutation in the matrix gene, we developed plasmid vectors expressing Gag and a minimally modified Gag variant, and measured homologous recombination following cell co-nucleofection by next-generation sequencing. Data obtained allowed us to show that a wide range of recombination events occur in concomitance with the identified hot spots of mutation and that imperfect events may account for vp17s generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rondina
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sclavi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (CCAMF), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mures, Romania
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (CCAMF), George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Târgu Mures, Romania
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2
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Iaconis D, Caccuri F, Manelfi C, Talarico C, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Zani A, Novelli R, Kuzikov M, Ellinger B, Gribbon P, Riecken K, Esposito F, Corona A, Tramontano E, Beccari AR, Caruso A, Allegretti M. DHFR Inhibitors Display a Pleiotropic Anti-Viral Activity against SARS-CoV-2: Insights into the Mechanisms of Action. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051128. [PMID: 37243214 DOI: 10.3390/v15051128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, drug repurposing represented an effective strategy to obtain quick answers to medical emergencies. Based on previous data on methotrexate (MTX), we evaluated the anti-viral activity of several DHFR inhibitors in two cell lines. We observed that this class of compounds showed a significant influence on the virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) partly attributed to the intrinsic anti-metabolic activity of these drugs, but also to a specific anti-viral function. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, we took advantage of our EXSCALATE platform for in-silico molecular modelling and further validated the influence of these inhibitors on nsp13 and viral entry. Interestingly, pralatrexate and trimetrexate showed superior effects in counteracting the viral infection compared to other DHFR inhibitors. Our results indicate that their higher activity is due to their polypharmacological and pleiotropic profile. These compounds can thus potentially give a clinical advantage in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients already treated with this class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Iaconis
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carmine Talarico
- EXSCALATE, Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Rubina Novelli
- Dompè Famaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile snc, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ellinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kristoffer Riecken
- Research Department Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Esposito
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Angela Corona
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria SS554, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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3
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Bugatti A, Filippini F, Messali S, Giovanetti M, Ravelli C, Zani A, Ciccozzi M, Caruso A, Caccuri F. The D405N Mutation in the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 Inhibits Spike/Integrins Interaction and Viral Infection of Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020332. [PMID: 36851546 PMCID: PMC9962894 DOI: 10.3390/v15020332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 is characterized by angiogenic features, such as intussusceptive angiogenesis, endothelialitis, and activation of procoagulant pathways. This pathological state can be ascribed to a direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of human lung ECs. Recently, we showed the capability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect ACE2-negative primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-mECs). This occurred through the interaction of an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, endowed on the Spike protein at position 403-405, with αvβ3 integrin expressed on HL-mECs. HL-mEC infection promoted the remodeling of cells toward a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic phenotype. The RGD motif is distinctive of SARS-CoV-2 Spike proteins up to the Omicron BA.1 subvariant. Suddenly, a dominant D405N mutation was expressed on the Spike of the most recently emerged Omicron BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants. Here we demonstrate that the D405N mutation inhibits Omicron BA.5 infection of HL-mECs and their dysfunction because of the lack of Spike/integrins interaction. The key role of ECs in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis has been definitively proven. Evidence of mutations retrieving the capability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect HL-mECs highlights a new scenario for patients infected with the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, suggesting that they may display less severe disease manifestations than those observed with previous variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivirus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Section of General Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-030-3995650
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4
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Messali S, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Emergence of S gene-based quasispecies explains an optimal adaptation of Omicron BA.5 subvariant in the immunocompetent vaccinated human host. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28167. [PMID: 36147029 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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5
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Iaconis D, Bordi L, Matusali G, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Cesta MC, Zippoli M, Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Zani A, Filippini F, Scorzolini L, Gobbi M, Beeg M, Piotti A, Montopoli M, Cocetta V, Bressan S, Bucci EM, Caruso A, Nicastri E, Allegretti M, Beccari AR. Characterization of raloxifene as a potential pharmacological agent against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:498. [PMID: 35614039 PMCID: PMC9130985 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04961-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which so far has caused over 6 million deaths in 2 years, despite new vaccines and antiviral medications. Drug repurposing, an approach for the potential application of existing pharmaceutical products to new therapeutic indications, could be an effective strategy to obtain quick answers to medical emergencies. Following a virtual screening campaign on the most relevant viral proteins, we identified the drug raloxifene, a known Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), as a new potential agent to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients. In this paper we report a comprehensive pharmacological characterization of raloxifene in relevant in vitro models of COVID-19, specifically in Vero E6 and Calu-3 cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2. A large panel of the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants isolated in Europe, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India was tested to demonstrate the drug's ability in contrasting the viral cytopathic effect (CPE). Literature data support a beneficial effect by raloxifene against the viral infection due to its ability to interact with viral proteins and activate protective estrogen receptor-mediated mechanisms in the host cells. Mechanistic studies here reported confirm the significant affinity of raloxifene for the Spike protein, as predicted by in silico studies, and show that the drug treatment does not directly affect Spike/ACE2 interaction or viral internalization in infected cell lines. Interestingly, raloxifene can counteract Spike-mediated ADAM17 activation in human pulmonary cells, thus providing new insights on its mechanism of action. A clinical study in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients (NCT05172050) has been recently completed. Our contribution to evaluate raloxifene results on SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the interpretation of the mechanisms of action will be key elements to better understand the trial results, and to design new clinical studies aiming to evaluate the potential development of raloxifene in this indication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Licia Bordi
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Francesca Caccuri
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Scorzolini
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Marten Beeg
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Piotti
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Montopoli
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Bressan
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico M. Bucci
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Health Research Organization, Biology Department CFT, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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6
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Brandolini L, d'Angelo M, Novelli R, Castelli V, Giorgio C, Sirico A, Cocchiaro P, D'Egidio F, Benedetti E, Cristiano C, Bugatti A, Ruocco A, Amendola PG, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Iaconis D, Beccari A, Quadros AU, Cunha TM, Caruso A, Russo R, Cimini A, Aramini A, Allegretti M. Paclitaxel binds and activates C5aR1: A new potential therapeutic target for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and hypersensitivity reactions. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:500. [PMID: 35614037 PMCID: PMC9130998 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04964-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) are among the most frequent and impairing side effects of the antineoplastic agent paclitaxel. Here, we demonstrated that paclitaxel can bind and activate complement component 5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) and that this binding is crucial in the etiology of paclitaxel-induced CIPN and anaphylaxis. Starting from our previous data demonstrating the role of interleukin (IL)-8 in paclitaxel-induced neuronal toxicity, we searched for proteins that activate IL-8 expression and, by using the Exscalate platform for molecular docking simulations, we predicted the high affinity of C5aR1 with paclitaxel. By in vitro studies, we confirmed the specific and competitive nature of the C5aR1-paclitaxel binding and found that it triggers intracellularly the NFkB/P38 pathway and c-Fos. In F11 neuronal cells and rat dorsal root ganglia, C5aR1 inhibition protected from paclitaxel-induced neuropathological effects, while in paclitaxel-treated mice, the absence (knock-out mice) or the inhibition of C5aR1 significantly ameliorated CIPN symptoms-in terms of cold and mechanical allodynia-and reduced the chronic pathological state in the paw. Finally, we found that C5aR1 inhibition can counteract paclitaxel-induced anaphylactic cytokine release in macrophages in vitro, as well as the onset of HSRs in mice. Altogether these data identified C5aR1 as a key mediator and a new potential pharmacological target for the prevention and treatment of CIPN and HSRs induced by paclitaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Brandolini
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rubina Novelli
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via S. Lucia, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cristina Giorgio
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Sirico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Francesco D'Egidio
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Claudia Cristiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Traslational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Ruocco
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Carmine Talarico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Iaconis
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Beccari
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Tommaso De Amicis, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Andreza U Quadros
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Thiago M Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Traslational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Andrea Aramini
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
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7
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Caccuri F, Messali S, Bortolotti D, Di Silvestre D, De Palma A, Cattaneo C, Bertelli A, Zani A, Milanesi M, Giovanetti M, Campisi G, Gentili V, Bugatti A, Filippini F, Scaltriti E, Pongolini S, Tucci A, Fiorentini S, d’Ursi P, Ciccozzi M, Mauri P, Rizzo R, Caruso A. Competition for Dominance Within Replicating Quasispecies During Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Infection in an Immunocompromised Host. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac042. [PMID: 35706980 PMCID: PMC9129230 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) emerge for their capability to better adapt to the human host aimed and enhance human-to-human transmission. Mutations in spike largely contributed to adaptation. Viral persistence is a prerequisite for intra-host virus evolution, and this likely occurred in immunocompromised patients who allow intra-host long-term viral replication. The underlying mechanism leading to the emergence of variants during viral persistence in the immunocompromised host is still unknown. Here, we show the existence of an ensemble of minor mutants in the early biological samples obtained from an immunocompromised patient and their dynamic interplay with the master mutant during a persistent and productive long-term infection. In particular, after 222 days of active viral replication, the original master mutant, named MB610, was replaced by a minor quasispecies (MB61222) expressing two critical mutations in spike, namely Q493K and N501T. Isolation of the two viruses allowed us to show that MB61222 entry into target cells occurred mainly by the fusion at the plasma membrane (PM), whereas endocytosis characterized the entry mechanism used by MB610. Interestingly, coinfection of two human cell lines of different origin with the SARS-CoV-2 isolates highlighted the early and dramatic predominance of MB61222 over MB610 replication. This finding may be explained by a faster replicative activity of MB61222 as compared to MB610 as well as by the capability of MB61222 to induce peculiar viral RNA-sensing mechanisms leading to an increased production of interferons (IFNs) and, in particular, of IFN-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) and IFITM2. Indeed, it has been recently shown that IFITM2 is able to restrict SARS-CoV-2 entry occurring by endocytosis. In this regard, MB61222 may escape the antiviral activity of IFITMs by using the PM fusion pathway for entry into the target cell, whereas MB610 cannot escape this host antiviral response during MB61222 coinfection, since it has endocytosis as the main pathway of entry. Altogether, our data support the evidence of quasispecies fighting for host dominance by taking benefit from the cell machinery to restrict the productive infection of competitors in the viral ensemble. This finding may explain, at least in part, the extraordinary rapid worldwide turnover of VOCs that use the PM fusion pathway to enter into target cells over the original pandemic strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Daria Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Dario Di Silvestre
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Antonella De Palma
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Chiara Cattaneo
- Department of Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Bertelli
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Milanesi
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratório de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Gentili
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Pongolini
- Risk Analysis and Genomic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Tucci
- Department of Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Pasqualina d’Ursi
- Institute of Technologies in Biomedicine, National Research Council, 20090 Segrate, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Mauri
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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8
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Bugatti A, Filippini F, Bardelli M, Zani A, Chiodelli P, Messali S, Caruso A, Caccuri F. SARS-CoV-2 Infects Human ACE2-Negative Endothelial Cells through an αvβ3 Integrin-Mediated Endocytosis Even in the Presence of Vaccine-Elicited Neutralizing Antibodies. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040705. [PMID: 35458435 PMCID: PMC9032829 DOI: 10.3390/v14040705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrins represent a gateway of entry for many viruses and the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif is the smallest sequence necessary for proteins to bind integrins. All Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineages own an RGD motif (aa 403–405) in their receptor binding domain (RBD). We recently showed that SARS-CoV-2 gains access into primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-mECs) lacking Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression through this conserved RGD motif. Following its entry, SARS-CoV-2 remodels cell phenotype and promotes angiogenesis in the absence of productive viral replication. Here, we highlight the αvβ3 integrin as the main molecule responsible for SARS-CoV-2 infection of HL-mECs via a clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Indeed, pretreatment of virus with αvβ3 integrin or pretreatment of cells with a monoclonal antibody against αvβ3 integrin was found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry into HL-mECs. Surprisingly, the anti-Spike antibodies evoked by vaccination were neither able to impair Spike/integrin interaction nor to prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry into HL-mECs. Our data highlight the RGD motif in the Spike protein as a functional constraint aimed to maintain the interaction of the viral envelope with integrins. At the same time, our evidences call for the need of intervention strategies aimed to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 integrin-mediated infection of ACE2-negative cells in the vaccine era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Marta Bardelli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Section of General Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (F.F.); (M.B.); (A.Z.); (S.M.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Bugatti A, Caccuri F, Filippini F, Ravelli C, Caruso A. Binding to PI(4,5)P 2 is indispensable for secretion of B-cell clonogenic HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100934. [PMID: 34273353 PMCID: PMC8350382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) derived from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) tissues of HIV-1-seropositive (HIV+) patients promote B-cell growth by activating the Akt signaling pathway. It is fundamental to understand the role played by vp17s in producing a microenvironment that fosters lymphoma development and progression. Therefore, we asked whether vp17s could be secreted from infected cells in their biologically active form. In this study, we show that two B-cell growth-promoting vp17s, NHL-a101 and NHL-a102, characterized by amino acid insertions at position 117 to 118 (Ala-Ala) or 125 to 126 (Gly-Asn), respectively, are secreted from HIV-1-infected Jurkat T cells during the active phase of viral replication. Secretion of biologically active vp17s also occurred in HeLa cells nucleofected with a plasmid expressing the entire Gag gene, following proteolytic cleavage of the Gag precursor polyprotein (Pr55Gag) by cellular aspartyl proteases. Binding of Pr55Gag to phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate was indispensable for allowing the unconventional secretion of both wildtype p17 and vp17s. Indeed, here we demonstrate that inhibition of Pr55Gag binding to phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate by using neomycin, or its enzymatic depletion achieved by overexpression of 5ptaseIV, significantly impair the secretion of p17s. We also demonstrated that heparan sulfate proteoglycans were involved in tethering p17s at the cell surface. This finding opens up an interesting way for investigating whether tethered p17s on the surface of HIV-1 reservoirs may represent a likely target for immune-mediated killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
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10
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Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Zani A, De Palma A, Di Silvestre D, Manocha E, Filippini F, Messali S, Chiodelli P, Campisi G, Fiorentini S, Facchetti F, Mauri P, Caruso A. SARS-CoV-2 Infection Remodels the Phenotype and Promotes Angiogenesis of Primary Human Lung Endothelial Cells. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1438. [PMID: 34361874 PMCID: PMC8305478 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury are life-threatening manifestations of severe viral infection. The pathogenic mechanisms that lead to respiratory complications, such as endothelialitis, intussusceptive angiogenesis, and vascular leakage remain unclear. In this study, by using an immunofluorescence assay and in situ RNA-hybridization, we demonstrate the capability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect human primary lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-mECs) in the absence of cytopathic effects and release of infectious particles. Preliminary data point to the role of integrins in SARS-CoV-2 entry into HL-mECs in the absence of detectable ACE2 expression. Following infection, HL-mECs were found to release a plethora of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic molecules, as assessed by microarray analyses. This conditioned microenvironment stimulated HL-mECs to acquire an angiogenic phenotype. Proteome analysis confirmed a remodeling of SARS-CoV-2-infected HL-mECs to inflammatory and angiogenic responses and highlighted the expression of antiviral molecules as annexin A6 and MX1. These results support the hypothesis of a direct role of SARS-CoV-2-infected HL-mECs in sustaining vascular dysfunction during the early phases of infection. The construction of virus-host interactomes will be instrumental to identify potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19 aimed to inhibit HL-mEC-sustained inflammation and angiogenesis upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Antonella De Palma
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy; (A.D.P.); (D.D.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Dario Di Silvestre
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy; (A.D.P.); (D.D.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Ekta Manocha
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Section of General Pathology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Fabio Facchetti
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Pierluigi Mauri
- Proteomic and Metabolomic Laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy; (A.D.P.); (D.D.S.); (P.M.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (A.Z.); (E.M.); (F.F.); (S.M.); (G.C.); (S.F.)
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11
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Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Meini A, Bonfanti C, Motta M, Savarè L, Arrighini A, Bondioni MP, Lougaris V, Caruso A, Plebani A. Temporal viral loads in respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and serum antibody responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection in an Italian pediatric cohort. Clin Immunol 2021; 225:108695. [PMID: 33601017 PMCID: PMC7883682 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Meini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Children's Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario Motta
- Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Children's Hospital, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucia Savarè
- Pediatrics Clinic, Children's Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Arrighini
- Pediatric Emergency Department, Children's Hospital, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Bondioni
- Pediatric Radiology, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Vassilios Lougaris
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and Children's Hospital, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Plebani
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia and Children's Hospital, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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12
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Manocha E, Bugatti A, Belleri M, Zani A, Marsico S, Caccuri F, Presta M, Caruso A. Avian Reovirus P17 Suppresses Angiogenesis by Promoting DPP4 Secretion. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020259. [PMID: 33525607 PMCID: PMC7911508 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian reovirus p17 (ARV p17) is a non-structural protein known to activate autophagy, interfere with gene transcription and induce a significant tumor cell growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we show that ARV p17 is capable of exerting potent antiangiogenic properties. The viral protein significantly inhibited the physiological angiogenesis of human endothelial cells (ECs) by affecting migration, capillary-like structure and new vessel formation. ARV p17 was not only able to suppress the EC physiological angiogenesis but also rendered ECs insensitive to two different potent proangiogenic inducers, such as VEGF-A and FGF-2 in the three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel and spheroid assay. ARV p17 was found to exert its antiangiogenic activity by upregulating transcription and release of the well-known tumor suppressor molecule dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4). The ability of ARV p17 to impact on angiogenesis is completely new and highlights the “two compartments” activity of the viral protein that is expected to hamper the tumor parenchymal/stromal crosstalk. The complex antitumor activities of ARV p17 open the way to a new promising field of research aimed to develop new therapeutic approaches for treating tumor and cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Manocha
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (E.M.); (A.B.); (A.Z.); (F.C.)
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (E.M.); (A.B.); (A.Z.); (F.C.)
| | - Mirella Belleri
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (E.M.); (A.B.); (A.Z.); (F.C.)
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy;
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (E.M.); (A.B.); (A.Z.); (F.C.)
| | - Marco Presta
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (E.M.); (A.B.); (A.Z.); (F.C.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Giagulli C, Caccuri F, Zorzan S, Bugatti A, Zani A, Filippini F, Manocha E, D'Ursi P, Orro A, Dolcetti R, Caruso A. B-cell clonogenic activity of HIV-1 p17 variants is driven by PAR1-mediated EGF transactivation. Cancer Gene Ther 2020; 28:649-666. [PMID: 33093643 PMCID: PMC8203498 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00246-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV-1 dramatically slows disease progression among HIV+ individuals. Currently, lymphoma represents the main cause of death among HIV-1-infected patients. Detection of p17 variants (vp17s) endowed with B-cell clonogenic activity in HIV-1-seropositive patients with lymphoma suggests their possible role in lymphomagenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the clonogenic activity of vp17s is mediated by their binding to PAR1 and to PAR1-mediated EGFR transactivation through Gq protein. The entire vp17s-triggered clonogenic process is MMPs dependent. Moreover, phosphoproteomic and bioinformatic analysis highlighted the crucial role of EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway in modulating several molecules promoting cancer progression, including RAC1, ABL1, p53, CDK1, NPM, Rb, PTP-1B, and STAT1. Finally, we show that a peptide (F1) corresponding to the vp17s functional epitope is sufficient to trigger the PAR1/EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway and bind PAR1. Our findings suggest novel potential therapeutic targets to counteract vp17-driven lymphomagenesis in HIV+ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Giagulli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Zorzan
- Plantech, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology (LIST), L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ekta Manocha
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D'Ursi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies e National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20090, Segrate (MI), Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies e National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20090, Segrate (MI), Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico - IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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14
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Plebani A, Meini A, Cattalini M, Lougaris V, Bugatti A, Caccuri F, Caruso A. Mycoplasma infection may complicate the clinical course of SARS-Co-V-2 associated Kawasaki-like disease in children. Clin Immunol 2020; 221:108613. [PMID: 33069853 PMCID: PMC7561565 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Plebani
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Antonella Meini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Cattalini
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vassilios Lougaris
- Pediatrics Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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15
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Caruso A, Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Zani A, Vanoni M, Bonfanti P, Cazzaniga ME, Perno CF, Messa C, Alberghina L. Methotrexate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus replication "in vitro". J Med Virol 2020; 93:1780-1785. [PMID: 32926453 PMCID: PMC7891346 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In early 2020 the new respiratory syndrome COVID‐19 (caused by the zoonotic SARS‐CoV‐2 virus) spread like a pandemic, starting from Wuhan, China, causing severe economic depression. Despite some advances in drug treatments of medical complications in the later stages of the disease, the pandemic's death toll is tragic, as no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is currently available. By using a systems approach, we identify the host‐encoded pathway, which provides ribonucleotides to viral RNA synthesis, as a possible target. We show that methotrexate, an FDA‐approved inhibitor of purine biosynthesis, potently inhibits viral RNA replication, viral protein synthesis, and virus release. The effective antiviral methotrexate concentrations are similar to those used for established human therapies using the same drug. Methotrexate should be most effective in patients at the earliest appearance of symptoms to effectively prevent viral replication, diffusion of the infection, and possibly fatal complications. The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus is a global public health threat causing over 800000 deaths, millions of infected people, and severe economic depression. No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments are currently available. By inhibiting the host‐encoded pathway, which provides ribonucleotides to viral RNA synthesis, the FDA‐approved drug methotrexate efficiently blocks SARS‐CoV‐2 replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, ISBE.IT-SYSBIO/Centre of Systems Biology, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonfanti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,Clinic of Infectious Diseases-ASST Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Marina E Cazzaniga
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,ASST Monza, Phase 1 Research Unit, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Messa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy.,Tecnomed Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Lilia Alberghina
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, ISBE.IT-SYSBIO/Centre of Systems Biology, University of Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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16
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Caccuri F, Zani A, Messali S, Giovanetti M, Bugatti A, Campisi G, Filippini F, Scaltriti E, Ciccozzi M, Fiorentini S, Caruso A. A persistently replicating SARS-CoV-2 variant derived from an asymptomatic individual. J Transl Med 2020; 18:362. [PMID: 32967693 PMCID: PMC7509824 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02535-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the clinical characteristics of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been progressively changed. Data reporting a viral intra-host and inter-host evolution favouring the appearance of mild SARS-CoV-2 strains are since being accumulating. To better understand the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity and its adaptation to the host, it is therefore crucial to investigate the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating lately in the epidemic. METHODS Nasopharyngeal swabs have been analyzed for viral load in the early (March 2020) and late (May 2020) phases of epidemic in Brescia, Italy. Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 from 2 high viral load specimens identified on March 9 (AP66) and on May 8 (GZ69) was performed on Vero E6 cells. Amount of virus released was assessed by quantitative PCR. Genotypic characterization of AP66 and GZ69 was performed by next generation sequencing followed by an in-depth in silico analysis of nucleotide mutations. RESULTS The SARS-CoV-2 GZ69 strain, isolated in May from an asymptomatic healthcare worker, showed an unprecedented capability of replication in Vero E6 cells in the absence of any evident cytopathic effect. Vero E6 subculturing, up to passage 4, showed that SARS-CoV-2 GZ69 infection was as productive as the one sustained by the cytopathic strain AP66. Whole genome sequencing of the persistently replicating SARS-CoV-2 GZ69 has shown that this strain differs from the early AP66 variant in 9 nucleotide positions (C2939T; C3828T; G21784T; T21846C; T24631C; G28881A; G28882A; G28883C; G29810T) which lead to 6 non-synonymous substitutions spanning on ORF1ab (P892S; S1188L), S (K74N; I95T) and N (R203K, G204R) proteins. CONCLUSIONS Identification of the peculiar SARS-CoV-2 GZ69 strain in the late Italian epidemic highlights the need to better characterize viral variants circulating among asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic individuals. The current approach could unravel the ways for future studies aimed at analyzing the selection process which favours viral mutations in the human host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Flavivirus Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Campisi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Scaltriti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Unit of Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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17
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Bugatti A, Marsico S, Mazzuca P, Schulze K, Ebensen T, Giagulli C, Peña E, Badimón L, Slevin M, Caruso A, Guzman CA, Caccuri F. Role of Autophagy in Von Willebrand Factor Secretion by Endothelial Cells and in the In Vivo Thrombin-Antithrombin Complex Formation Promoted by the HIV-1 Matrix Protein p17. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062022. [PMID: 32188077 PMCID: PMC7139864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy has substantially improved the survival of HIV-1-infected individuals, non-AIDS-related diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent in HIV-1-infected patients. Persistent abnormalities in coagulation appear to contribute to excess risk for a broad spectrum of non-AIDS defining complications. Alterations in coagulation biology in the context of HIV infection seem to be largely a consequence of a chronically inflammatory microenvironment leading to endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. A possible direct role of HIV-1 proteins in sustaining EC dysfunction has been postulated but not yet investigated. The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) is secreted from HIV-1-infected cells and is known to sustain inflammatory processes by activating ECs. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that p17-driven stimulation of human ECs is associated with increased production of critical coagulation factors. Here we show the involvement of autophagy in the p17-induced accumulation and secretion of von Willebrand factor (vWF) by ECs. In vivo experiments confirmed the capability of p17 to exert a potent pro-coagulant activity soon after its intravenous administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.); (C.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy;
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.); (C.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Kai Schulze
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.S.); (T.E.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Thomas Ebensen
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.S.); (T.E.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.); (C.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Esther Peña
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, CiberCV, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Lina Badimón
- Cardiovascular Program ICCC, CiberCV, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (E.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Mark Slevin
- John Dalton Building, School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.); (C.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Carlos A. Guzman
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.S.); (T.E.); (C.A.G.)
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (A.B.); (P.M.); (C.G.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence:
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18
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Bugatti A, Paiardi G, Urbinati C, Chiodelli P, Orro A, Uggeri M, Milanesi L, Caruso A, Caccuri F, D'Ursi P, Rusnati M. Heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans promote HIV-1 p17 matrix protein oligomerization: computational, biochemical and biological implications. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15768. [PMID: 31673058 PMCID: PMC6823450 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52201-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
p17 matrix protein released by HIV+ cells interacts with leukocytes heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), CXCR1 and CXCR2 exerting different cytokine-like activities that contribute to AIDS pathogenesis. Since the bioactive form of several cytokines is represented by dimers/oligomers and oligomerization is promoted by binding to heparin or HSPGs, here we evaluated if heparin/HSPGs also promote p17 oligomerization. Heparin favours p17 dimer, trimer and tetramer assembly, in a time- and biphasic dose-dependent way. Heparin-induced p17 oligomerization is of electrostatic nature, being it prevented by NaCl, by removing negative sulfated groups of heparin and by neutralizing positive lysine residues in the p17 N-terminus. A new computational protocol has been implemented to study heparin chains up to 24-mer accommodating a p17 dimer. Molecular dynamics show that, in the presence of heparin, two p17 molecules undergo conformational modifications creating a continuous “electropositive channel” in which heparin sulfated groups interact with p17 basic amino acids, promoting its dimerization. At the cell surface, HSPGs induce p17 oligomerization, as demonstrated by using B-lymphoblastoid Namalwa cells overexpressing the HSPG Syndecan-1. Also, HSPGs on the surface of BJAB and Raji human B-lymphoblastoid cells are required to p17 to induce ERK1/2 activation, suggesting that HS-induced oligomerization plays a role in p17-induced lymphoid dysregulation during AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Paiardi
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Urbinati
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano Milanesi
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D'Ursi
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Corbellini S, Roversi S, Zani A, Mazzuca P, Marsico S, Caruso A, Giagulli C. The Synthetic Dipeptide Pidotimod Shows a Chemokine-Like Activity through CXC Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215287. [PMID: 31653015 PMCID: PMC6862300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years immunomodulators have gained a strong interest and represent nowadays an active expanding area of research for the control of microbial diseases and for their therapeutic potential in preventing, treating and reducing the morbidity and mortality of different diseases. Pidotimod (3-L-pyroglutamyl-L-thiaziolidine-4carboxylic acid, PDT) is a synthetic dipeptide, which possesses immunomodulatory properties and exerts a well-defined pharmacological activity against infections, but its real mechanism of action is still undefined. Here, we show that PDT is capable of activating tyrosine phosphorylation-based cell signaling in human primary monocytes and triggering rapid adhesion and chemotaxis. PDT-induced monocyte migration requires the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and chemokine receptor CXCR3. Indeed, a mAb to CXCR3 and a specific receptor inhibitor suppressed significantly PDT-dependent chemotaxis, and CXCR3-silenced primary monocytes lost responsiveness to PDT chemoattraction. Moreover, our results highlighted that the PDT-induced migratory activity is sustained by the CXCR3A isoform, since CXCR3-transfected L1.2 cells acquired responsiveness to PDT stimulation. Finally, we show that PDT, as CXCR3 ligands, is also able to direct the migration of IL-2 activated T cells, which express the highest levels of CXCR3 among CXCR3-expressing cells. In conclusion, our study defines a chemokine-like activity for PDT through CXCR3A and points on the possible role that this synthetic dipeptide may play in leukocyte trafficking and function. Since recent studies have highlighted diverse therapeutic roles for molecules which activates CXCR3, our findings call for an exploration of using this dipeptide in different pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Silvia Corbellini
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sara Roversi
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy.
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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20
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He W, Mazzuca P, Yuan W, Varney K, Bugatti A, Cagnotto A, Giagulli C, Rusnati M, Marsico S, Diomede L, Salmona M, Caruso A, Lu W, Caccuri F. Identification of amino acid residues critical for the B cell growth-promoting activity of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:13-24. [PMID: 30248376 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) detected in HIV-1-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-NHL) display, differently from the wild-type protein (refp17), B cell growth-promoting activity. Biophysical analysis revealed that vp17s are destabilized as compared to refp17, motivating us to explore structure-function relationships. METHODS We used: biophysical techniques (circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thermal/GuHCL denaturation) to study protein conformation and stability; Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to study interactions; Western blot to investigate signaling pathways; and Colony Formation and Soft Agar assays to study B cell proliferation and clonogenicity. RESULTS By forcing the formation of a disulfide bridge between Cys residues at positions 57 and 87 we obtained a destabilized p17 capable of promoting B cell proliferation. This finding prompted us to dissect refp17 to identify the functional epitope. A synthetic peptide (F1) spanning from amino acid (aa) 2 to 21 was found to activate Akt and promote B cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Three positively charged aa (Arg15, Lys18 and Arg20) proved critical for sustaining the proliferative activity of both F1 and HIV-NHL-derived vp17s. Lack of any interaction of F1 with the known refp17 receptors suggests an alternate one involved in cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS The molecular reasons for the proliferative activity of vp17s, compared to refp17, relies on the exposure of a functional epitope capable of activating Akt. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our findings pave the way for identifying the receptor(s) responsible for B cell proliferation and offer new opportunities to identify novel treatment strategies in combating HIV-related NHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangxiao He
- Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an, China.
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Weirong Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Kristen Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Alfredo Cagnotto
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
| | - Luisa Diomede
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Mario Salmona
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an, China; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
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21
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Rusnati M, Borsotti P, Moroni E, Foglieni C, Chiodelli P, Carminati L, Pinessi D, Annis DS, Paiardi G, Bugatti A, Gori A, Longhi R, Belotti D, Mosher DF, Colombo G, Taraboletti G. The calcium-binding type III repeats domain of thrombospondin-2 binds to fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). Angiogenesis 2018; 22:133-144. [PMID: 30168023 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-018-9644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thrombospondin (TSP)-1 and TSP-2 share similar structures and functions, including a remarkable antiangiogenic activity. We have previously demonstrated that a mechanism of the antiangiogenic activity of TSP-1 is the interaction of its type III repeats domain with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), affecting the growth factor bioavailability and angiogenic activity. Since the type III repeats domain is conserved in TSP-2, this study aimed at investigating whether also TSP-2 retained the ability to interact with FGF2. The FGF2 binding properties of TSP-1 and TSP-2 and their recombinant domains were analyzed by solid-phase binding and surface plasmon resonance assays. TSP-2 bound FGF2 with high affinity (Kd = 1.3 nM). TSP-2/FGF2 binding was inhibited by calcium and heparin. The FGF2-binding domain of TSP-2 was located in the type III repeats and the minimal interacting sequence was identified as the GVTDEKD peptide in repeat 3C, corresponding to KIPDDRD, the active sequence of TSP-1. A second putative FGF2 binding sequence was also identified in repeat 11C of both TSPs. Computational docking analysis predicted that both the TSP-2 and TSP-1-derived heptapeptides interacted with FGF2 with comparable binding properties. Accordingly, small molecules based on the TSP-1 active sequence blocked TSP-2/FGF2 interaction. Binding of TSP-2 to FGF2 impaired the growth factor ability to interact with its cellular receptors, since TSP-2-derived fragments prevented the binding of FGF2 to both heparin (used as a structural analog of heparan sulfate proteoglycans) and FGFR-1. These findings identify TSP-2 as a new FGF2 ligand that shares with TSP-1 the same molecular requirements for interaction with the growth factor and a comparable capacity to block FGF2 interaction with proangiogenic receptors. These features likely contribute to TSP-2 antiangiogenic and antineoplastic activity, providing the rationale for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rusnati
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Patrizia Borsotti
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Foglieni
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy.,Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Laura Carminati
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy
| | - Denise Pinessi
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy
| | - Douglas S Annis
- Departments of Biomolecular Chemistry and Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Giulia Paiardi
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gori
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ICRM-CNR), Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Renato Longhi
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ICRM-CNR), Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Dorina Belotti
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy
| | - Deane F Mosher
- Departments of Biomolecular Chemistry and Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ICRM-CNR), Milano, 20131, Italy.,Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Giulia Taraboletti
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Stezzano, 87, Bergamo, 24126, Italy.
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22
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Caccuri F, Iaria ML, Campilongo F, Varney K, Rossi A, Mitola S, Schiarea S, Bugatti A, Mazzuca P, Giagulli C, Fiorentini S, Lu W, Salmona M, Caruso A. Cellular aspartyl proteases promote the unconventional secretion of biologically active HIV-1 matrix protein p17. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38027. [PMID: 27905556 PMCID: PMC5131311 DOI: 10.1038/srep38027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immune deficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix protein p17 (p17), although devoid of a signal sequence, is released by infected cells and detected in blood and in different organs and tissues even in HIV-1-infected patients undergoing successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Extracellularly, p17 deregulates the function of different cells involved in AIDS pathogenesis. The mechanism of p17 secretion, particularly during HIV-1 latency, still remains to be elucidated. A recent study showed that HIV-1-infected cells can produce Gag without spreading infection in a model of viral latency. Here we show that in Gag-expressing cells, secretion of biologically active p17 takes place at the plasma membrane and occurs following its interaction with phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate and its subsequent cleavage from the precursor Gag (Pr55Gag) operated by cellular aspartyl proteases. These enzymes operate a more complex Gag polypeptide proteolysis than the HIV-1 protease, thus hypothetically generating slightly truncated or elongated p17s in their C-terminus. A 17 C-terminal residues excised p17 was found to be structurally and functionally identical to the full-length p17 demonstrating that the final C-terminal region of p17 is irrelevant for the protein’s biological activity. These findings offer new opportunities to identify treatment strategies for inhibiting p17 release in the extracellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Iaria
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Campilongo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Kristen Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Schiarea
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mario Salmona
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
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Romani C, Cocco E, Bignotti E, Moratto D, Bugatti A, Todeschini P, Bandiera E, Tassi R, Zanotti L, Pecorelli S, Sartori E, Odicino FE, de Marco A, Santin AD, Ravaggi A, Mitola S. Evaluation of a novel human IgG1 anti-claudin3 antibody that specifically recognizes its aberrantly localized antigen in ovarian cancer cells and that is suitable for selective drug delivery. Oncotarget 2016; 6:34617-28. [PMID: 26416446 PMCID: PMC4741477 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane protein claudin3 has been recently suggested as a marker for biologically aggressive tumors and a possible target for the therapeutic delivery of active anti-cancer compounds. Claudin3-binding molecules such as the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), CPE-related molecules, and murine and chimeric antibodies have shown promising antitumor efficacy in preclinical oncological settings. We first engineered a fully human anti-claudin3 IgG1 antibody (IgGH6) by fusing the human IgG1 Fc-domain to the anti-claudin3 scFvH6 previously isolated from a pre-immune phage display library. The construct was expressed in mammalian cells and specifically targeted claudin3 endogenously expressed on the surface of different human ovarian cancer cell lines. No detectable cross-reactivity with other homologous claudins was observed. The epitope recognized by IgGH6 is located within the minor extracellular domain of claudin3 and becomes accessible only in tumor cells characterized by incomplete junction formation. Confocal microscopy experiments demonstrated that IgGH6 was actively internalized in tumor cells after binding to native claudin3 and co-localized, likely within intracellular vesicles, with the C-CPE peptide. Preliminary results indicate that IgGH6 accumulated in vivo in free claudin3 ovarian carcinoma xenografts. For its selective uptake in tumor cells and its human nature, IgGH6 represents a valuable candidate for antibody-drug conjugate therapeutic applications in ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Romani
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emiliano Cocco
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eliana Bignotti
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Moratto
- Laboratory of Genetic Disorders of Childhood, Angelo Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Paola Todeschini
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bandiera
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Renata Tassi
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Zanotti
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sergio Pecorelli
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Sartori
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco E Odicino
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ario de Marco
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Nova Gorica, Vipava, Slovenia
| | | | - Antonella Ravaggi
- "Angelo Nocivelli" Institute for Molecular Medicine, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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24
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Avizienyte E, Cole CL, Rushton G, Miller GJ, Bugatti A, Presta M, Gardiner JM, Jayson GC. Synthetic Site-Selectively Mono-6-O-Sulfated Heparan Sulfate Dodecasaccharide Shows Anti-Angiogenic Properties In Vitro and Sensitizes Tumors to Cisplatin In Vivo. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159739. [PMID: 27490176 PMCID: PMC4973927 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulphate (HS), a ubiquitously expressed glycosaminoglycan (GAG), regulates multiple cellular functions by mediating interactions between numerous growth factors and their cell surface cognate receptors. However, the structural specificity of HS in these interactions remains largely undefined. Here, we used completely synthetic, structurally defined, alternating N-sulfated glucosamine (NS) and 2-O-sulfated iduronate (IS) residues to generate dodecasaccharides ([NSIS]6) that contained no, one or six glucosamine 6-O-sulfates (6S). The aim was to address how 6S contributes to the potential of defined HS dodecasaccharides to inhibit the angiogenic growth factors FGF2 and VEGF165, in vitro and in vivo. We show that the addition of a single 6S at the non-reducing end of [NSIS]6, i.e. [NSIS6S]-[NSIS]5, significantly augments the inhibition of FGF2-dependent endothelial cell proliferation, migration and sprouting in vitro when compared to the non-6S variant. In contrast, the fully 6-O-sulfated dodecasaccharide, [NSIS6S]6, is not a potent inhibitor of FGF2. Addition of a single 6S did not significantly improve inhibitory properties of [NSIS]6 when tested against VEGF165-dependent endothelial cell functions.In vivo, [NSIS6S]-[NSIS]5 blocked FGF2-dependent blood vessel formation without affecting tumor growth. Reduction of non-FGF2-dependent ovarian tumor growth occurred when [NSIS6S]-[NSIS]5 was combined with cisplatin. The degree of inhibition by [NSIS6S]-[NSIS]5 in combination with cisplatin in vivo equated with that induced by bevacizumab and sunitinib when administered with cisplatin. Evaluation of post-treatment vasculature revealed that [NSIS6S]-[NSIS]5 treatment had the greatest impact on tumor blood vessel size and lumen formation. Our data for the first time demonstrate that synthetic, structurally defined oligosaccharides have potential to be developed as active anti-angiogenic agents that sensitize tumors to chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egle Avizienyte
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EA); (GCJ)
| | - Claire L. Cole
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Rushton
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin J. Miller
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7ND, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - John M. Gardiner
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7ND, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon C. Jayson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EA); (GCJ)
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25
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Donalisio M, Quaranta P, Chiuppesi F, Pistello M, Cagno V, Cavalli R, Volante M, Bugatti A, Rusnati M, Ranucci E, Ferruti P, Lembo D. The AGMA1 poly(amidoamine) inhibits the infectivity of herpes simplex virus in cell lines, in human cervicovaginal histocultures, and in vaginally infected mice. Biomaterials 2016; 85:40-53. [PMID: 26854390 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.01.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of topical microbicides is a valid approach to protect the genital mucosa from sexually transmitted infections that cannot be contained with effective vaccination, like HSV and HIV infections. A suitable target of microbicides is the interaction between viral proteins and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). AGMA1 is a prevailingly cationic agmatine-containing polyamidoamine polymer previously shown to inhibit HSPGs dependent viruses, including HSV-1, HSV-2, and HPV-16. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of AGMA1 against HSV infection and assess its antiviral efficacy and biocompatibility in preclinical models. The results show AGMA1 to be a non-toxic inhibitor of HSV infectivity in cell cultures and human cervicovaginal histocultures. Moreover, it significantly reduced the burden of infection of HSV-2 genital infection in mice. The investigation of the mechanism of action revealed that AGMA1 reduces cells susceptibility to virus infection by binding to cell surface HSPGs thereby preventing HSV attachment. This study indicates that AGMA1 is a promising candidate for the development of a topical microbicide to prevent sexually transmitted HSV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Donalisio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Quaranta
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; ARPA Foundation, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Flavia Chiuppesi
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Cagno
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Roberta Cavalli
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Volante
- Dipartimento di Oncologia, Università di Torino, 10043 Orbassano, Torino Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale, Università di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Traslazionale, Università di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ranucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Ferruti
- Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - David Lembo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
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26
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Abstract
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an optical technique to evaluate biomolecular interactions. Briefly, SPR measures the capacity of two molecules to bind each other by detecting reflected light from a prism-gold film interface. One of the two putative interactants (called ligand) is chemically immobilized onto the gold film. When the sensor is exposed to a sample containing the second interactant (called analyte), its binding to the immobilized ligand causes a change of the refractive index of the material above the gold surface that is monitored as a real-time graph of the response units against time, producing a real-time graph called sensorgram. SPR has become a golden standard technology for label-free, real-time interaction analysis in basic research and drug discovery in a wide array of biomedical areas, including oncology and virology [1, 2]. Here we describe the exploitation of SPR for the study of the capacity of the pro-oncogenic, pro-angiogenic HIV-1 p17 matrix protein [3, 4] to bind to heparin, a structural analog of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) receptors, and for the identification of novel HSPGs-antagonists to be used as anti-p17 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rusnati
- Macromolecular Interaction Analysis Unit, Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Macromolecular Interaction Analysis Unit, Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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27
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Giorgio C, Russo S, Incerti M, Bugatti A, Vacondio F, Barocelli E, Mor M, Pala D, Hassan-Mohamed I, Gioiello A, Rusnati M, Lodola A, Tognolini M. Biochemical characterization of EphA2 antagonists with improved physico-chemical properties by cell-based assays and surface plasmon resonance analysis. Biochem Pharmacol 2015; 99:18-30. [PMID: 26462575 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Amino acid conjugates of lithocholic acid (LCA) have been recently described as effective disruptors of the EphA2-ephrin-A1 interaction able to inhibit EphA2 phosphorylation in intact cells and thus able to block prometastatic responses such as cellular retraction and angiogenesis. However, these LCA-based compounds were significantly more potent at disrupting the EphA2-ephrin-A1 interaction than at blocking phenotype responses in cells, which might reflect an unclear mechanism of action or a metabolic issue responsible for a reduction of the compound concentration at the cell's surface. Through the synthesis of new compounds and their examination by a combination of cell-based assays and real-time interaction analysis by surface plasmon resonance, we showed at molecular level that l-tryptophan conjugates of lithocholic acid disrupt EphA2-ephrin-A1 interaction by targeting the EphA 2 receptor and that the presence of a polar group in position 3 of steroid scaffold is a key factor to increase the effective concentration of the compounds in cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Russo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Incerti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Antimo Gioiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy; Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, UK.
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28
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Di Noto G, Bugatti A, Zendrini A, Mazzoldi EL, Montanelli A, Caimi L, Rusnati M, Ricotta D, Bergese P. Merging colloidal nanoplasmonics and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy for enhanced profiling of multiple myeloma-derived exosomes. Biosens Bioelectron 2015; 77:518-24. [PMID: 26469728 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A novel approach for sorting exosomes from multiple myeloma (MM), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and healthy individuals is presented. The method is based on the combination of colloidal gold nanoplasmonics and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensing and probes distinctive colloidal properties of MM-derived exosomes, such as molar concentration and cell membrane binding preferences. It allowed to discover that MM patients produce about four folds more exosomes than MGUS and healthy individuals. In addition, it showed that among the analyzed exosomes, only the MM-derived ones bind heparin - a structural analog of heparan sulfate proteoglycans known to mediate exosome endocytosis - with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) equal to about 1 nM, indicating a high affinity binding. This plasmonic method complements the classical biochemical profiling approach to exosomes, expanding the MM biomarker panel and adding biosensors to the toolbox to diagnose MM. It may find applications for other diseases and has wider interest for fundamental and translational research involving exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Noto
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Zendrini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Elena Laura Mazzoldi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Montanelli
- Spedali Civili of Brescia, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigi Caimi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Doris Ricotta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Bergese
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine and INSTM, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11, 25132 Brescia, Italy.
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29
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Sattin S, Tao J, Vettoretti G, Moroni E, Pennati M, Lopergolo A, Morelli L, Bugatti A, Zuehlke A, Moses M, Prince T, Kijima T, Beebe K, Rusnati M, Neckers L, Zaffaroni N, Agard DA, Bernardi A, Colombo G. Activation of Hsp90 Enzymatic Activity and Conformational Dynamics through Rationally Designed Allosteric Ligands. Chemistry 2015; 21:13598-608. [PMID: 26286886 PMCID: PMC5921052 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201502211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone of pivotal importance for multiple cell pathways. ATP-regulated internal dynamics are critical for its function and current pharmacological approaches block the chaperone with ATP-competitive inhibitors. Herein, a general approach to perturb Hsp90 through design of new allosteric ligands aimed at modulating its functional dynamics is proposed. Based on the characterization of a first set of 2-phenylbenzofurans showing stimulatory effects on Hsp90 ATPase and conformational dynamics, new ligands were developed that activate Hsp90 by targeting an allosteric site, located 65 Å from the active site. Specifically, analysis of protein responses to first-generation activators was exploited to guide the design of novel derivatives with improved ability to stimulate ATP hydrolysis. The molecules' effects on Hsp90 enzymatic, conformational, co-chaperone and client-binding properties were characterized through biochemical, biophysical and cellular approaches. These designed probes act as allosteric activators of the chaperone and affect the viability of cancer cell lines for which proper functioning of Hsp90 is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sattin
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano via Golgi, 19, 20133, Milan (Italy)
| | - Jiahui Tao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, 94158 (USA)
| | - Gerolamo Vettoretti
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR via Mario Bianco, 9, 20131, Milan (Italy)
| | - Elisabetta Moroni
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR via Mario Bianco, 9, 20131, Milan (Italy)
| | - Marzia Pennati
- Dept. Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori via Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milano (Italy)
| | - Alessia Lopergolo
- Dept. Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori via Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milano (Italy)
| | - Laura Morelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano via Golgi, 19, 20133, Milan (Italy)
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia (Italy)
| | - Abbey Zuehlke
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Mike Moses
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Thomas Prince
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Toshiki Kijima
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Kristin Beebe
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia (Italy)
| | - Len Neckers
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 (USA)
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Dept. Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori via Amadeo, 42, 20133 Milano (Italy)
| | - David A Agard
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, 94158 (USA)
| | - Anna Bernardi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano via Golgi, 19, 20133, Milan (Italy)
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR via Mario Bianco, 9, 20131, Milan (Italy).
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30
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Van Raemdonck K, Berghmans N, Vanheule V, Bugatti A, Proost P, Opdenakker G, Presta M, Van Damme J, Struyf S. Angiostatic, tumor inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of CXCL4(47-70) and CXCL4L1(47-70) in an EGF-dependent breast cancer model. Oncotarget 2015; 5:10916-33. [PMID: 25373734 PMCID: PMC4279419 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CXCL4 and CXCL4L1, platelet-derived CXC chemokines, and their carboxy-terminal peptides CXCL447–70 and CXCL4L147–70 previously displayed angiostatic and anti-tumoral activity in a melanoma model. Here, we found CXCL447–70 and CXCL4L147–70 to inhibit lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, the angiostatic potential of CXCL447–70 and CXCL4L147–70 was tested against different angiogenic stimuli (FGF1, FGF2, FGF8, EGF and VEGF). Besides reducing FGF2-induced vascular endothelial cell growth, CXCL447–70 and CXCL4L147–70 efficiently counteracted EGF. Consequently, we considered their anti-tumoral potential in EGF-dependent MDA-MB-231 breast tumors. In tumor-bearing mice, CXCL447–70 reduced tumor growth better than CXCL4L147–70. In CXCL447–70-treated tumors significantly more intratumoral monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells were present and higher expression levels of CCL5 and IFN-γ were detected by qPCR on tumor lysates. Because neither peptide was able to specifically bind CXCR3A or CXCR3B, differential glycosaminoglycan binding and direct interaction with cytokines (EGF and CCL5) might explain any differences in anti-tumoral effects. Notably, CCL5-induced monocyte chemotaxis in vitro was increased by addition of CXCL447–70 or CXCL4L147–70. Finally, CXCL447–70 and CXCL4L147–70 inhibited proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. Our results suggest a tumor type-dependent responsiveness to either CXCL447–70 or CXCL4L147–70 treatment, defined by anti-proliferative, angiostatic and inflammatory actions, and substantiate their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrien Van Raemdonck
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Berghmans
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Vanheule
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine Brescia, Italy
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marco Presta
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine Brescia, Italy
| | - Jo Van Damme
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
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31
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Rezzola S, Dal Monte M, Belleri M, Bugatti A, Chiodelli P, Corsini M, Cammalleri M, Cancarini A, Morbidelli L, Oreste P, Bagnoli P, Semeraro F, Presta M. Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Angiogenic Multitarget N,O-Sulfated E. Coli K5 Polysaccharide in Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes 2015; 64:2581-92. [PMID: 25695948 DOI: 10.2337/db14-1378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockers have been developed for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), the leading cause of visual impairments in the working-age population in the Western world. However, limitations to anti-VEGF therapies may exist because of the local production of other proangiogenic factors that may cause resistance to anti-VEGF interventions. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches targeting additional pathways are required. Here, we identified a sulfated derivative of the Escherichia coli polysaccharide K5 [K5-N,OS(H)] as a multitarget molecule highly effective in inhibiting VEGF-driven angiogenic responses in different in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays, including a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Furthermore, K5-N,OS(H) binds a variety of heparin-binding angiogenic factors upregulated in PDR vitreous humor besides VEGF, thus inhibiting their biological activity. Finally, K5-N,OS(H) hampers the angiogenic activity exerted in vitro and in vivo by human vitreous fluid samples collected from patients with PDR. Together, the data provide compelling experimental evidence that K5-N,OS(H) represents an antiangiogenic multitarget molecule with potential implications for the therapy of pathologic neovessel formation in the retina of patients with PDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rezzola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Mirella Belleri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Corsini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Anna Cancarini
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Paola Bagnoli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Bon I, Lembo D, Rusnati M, Clò A, Morini S, Miserocchi A, Bugatti A, Grigolon S, Musumeci G, Landolfo S, Re MC, Gibellini D. Peptide-derivatized SB105-A10 dendrimer inhibits the infectivity of R5 and X4 HIV-1 strains in primary PBMCs and cervicovaginal histocultures. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76482. [PMID: 24116111 PMCID: PMC3792046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide dendrimers are a class of molecules that exhibit a large array of biological effects including antiviral activity. In this report, we analyzed the antiviral activity of the peptide-derivatized SB105-A10 dendrimer, which is a tetra-branched dendrimer synthetized on a lysine core, in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that were challenged with reference and wild-type human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. SB105-A10 inhibited infections by HIV-1 X4 and R5 strains, interfering with the early phases of the viral replication cycle. SB105-A10 targets heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and, importantly, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay revealed that SB105-A10 strongly binds gp41 and gp120, most likely preventing HIV-1 attachment/entry through multiple mechanisms. Interestingly, the antiviral activity of SB105-A10 was also detectable in an organ-like structure of human cervicovaginal tissue, in which SB105-A10 inhibited the HIV-1ada R5 strain infection without altering the tissue viability. These results demonstrated the strong antiviral activity of SB105-A10 and suggest a potential microbicide use of this dendrimer to prevent the heterosexual transmission of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Bon
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - David Lembo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Clò
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Morini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Miserocchi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Musumeci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Santo Landolfo
- Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Carla Re
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystems (INBB) Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Gibellini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Microbiology Section, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Rusnati M, Chiodelli P, Bugatti A, Urbinati C. Bridging the past and the future of virology: surface plasmon resonance as a powerful tool to investigate virus/host interactions. Crit Rev Microbiol 2013; 41:238-60. [PMID: 24059853 DOI: 10.3109/1040841x.2013.826177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of antiviral drug research and development, viruses still remain a top global healthcare problem. Compared to eukaryotic cells, viruses are composed by a limited numbers of proteins that, nevertheless, set up multiple interactions with cellular components, allowing the virus to take control of the infected cell. Each virus/host interaction can be considered as a therapeutical target for new antiviral drugs but, unfortunately, the systematic study of a so huge number of interactions is time-consuming and expensive, calling for models overcoming these drawbacks. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a label-free optical technique to study biomolecular interactions in real time by detecting reflected light from a prism-gold film interface. Launched 20 years ago, SPR has become a nearly irreplaceable technology for the study of biomolecular interactions. Accordingly, SPR is increasingly used in the field of virology, spanning from the study of biological interactions to the identification of putative antiviral drugs. From the literature available, SPR emerges as an ideal link between conventional biological experimentation and system biology studies functional to the identification of highly connected viral or host proteins that act as nodal points in virus life cycle and thus considerable as therapeutical targets for the development of innovative antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy
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Matte A, Bertoldi M, Mohandas N, An X, Bugatti A, Brunati AM, Rusnati M, Tibaldi E, Siciliano A, Turrini F, Perrotta S, De Franceschi L. Membrane association of peroxiredoxin-2 in red cells is mediated by the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of band 3. Free Radic Biol Med 2013; 55:27-35. [PMID: 23123411 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.10.543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Band 3 (B3), the anion transporter, is an integral membrane protein that plays a key structural role by anchoring the plasma membrane to the spectrin-based membrane skeleton in the red cell. In addition, it also plays a critical role in the assembly of glycolytic enzymes to regulate red cell metabolism. However, its ability to recruit proteins that can prevent membrane oxidation has not been previously explored. In this study, using a variety of experimental approaches including cross-linking studies, fluorescence and dichroic measurements, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and proteolytic digestion assays, we document that the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2), the third most abundant cytoplasmic protein in RBCs, interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of B3. The surface electrostatic potential analysis and stoichiometry measurements revealed that the N-terminal peptide of B3 is involved in the interaction. PRDX2 underwent a conformational change upon its binding to B3 without losing its peroxidase activity. Hemichrome formation induced by phenylhydrazine of RBCs prevented membrane association of PRDX2, implying overlapping binding sites. Documentation of the absence of binding of PRDX2 to B3 Neapolis red cell membranes, in which the initial N-terminal 11 amino acids are deleted, enabled us to conclude that PRDX2 binds to the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of B3 and that the first 11 amino acids of this domain are crucial for PRDX2 membrane association in intact RBCs. These findings imply yet another important role for B3 in regulating red cell membrane function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Matte
- Section of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine,University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
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Bugatti A, Giagulli C, Urbinati C, Caccuri F, Chiodelli P, Oreste P, Fiorentini S, Orro A, Milanesi L, D'Ursi P, Caruso A, Rusnati M. Molecular interaction studies of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 and heparin: identification of the heparin-binding motif of p17 as a target for the development of multitarget antagonists. J Biol Chem 2012; 288:1150-61. [PMID: 23166320 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.400077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Once released by HIV(+) cells, p17 binds heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and CXCR1 on leukocytes causing their dysfunction. By exploiting an approach integrating computational modeling, site-directed mutagenesis of p17, chemical desulfation of heparin, and surface plasmon resonance, we characterized the interaction of p17 with heparin, a HSPG structural analog, and CXCR1. p17 binds to heparin with an affinity (K(d) = 190 nm) that is similar to those of other heparin-binding viral proteins. Two stretches of basic amino acids (basic motifs) are present in p17 N and C termini. Neutralization (Arg→Ala substitution) of the N-terminal, but not of the C-terminal basic motif, causes the loss of p17 heparin-binding capacity. The N-terminal heparin-binding motif of p17 partially overlaps the CXCR1-binding domain. Accordingly, its neutralization prevents also p17 binding to the chemochine receptor. Competition experiments demonstrated that free heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), but not selectively 2-O-, 6-O-, and N-O desulfated heparins, prevent p17 binding to substrate-immobilized heparin, indicating that the sulfate groups of the glycosaminoglycan mediate p17 interaction. Evaluation of the p17 antagonist activity of a panel of biotechnological heparins derived by chemical sulfation of the Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide revealed that the highly N,O-sulfated derivative prevents the binding of p17 to both heparin and CXCR1, thus inhibiting p17-driven chemotactic migration of human monocytes with an efficiency that is higher than those of heparin and HS. Here, we characterized at a molecular level the interaction of p17 with its cellular receptors, laying the basis for the development of heparin-mimicking p17 antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
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Marchiò S, Soster M, Cardaci S, Muratore A, Bartolini A, Barone V, Ribero D, Monti M, Bovino P, Sun J, Giavazzi R, Asioli S, Cassoni P, Capussotti L, Pucci P, Bugatti A, Rusnati M, Pasqualini R, Arap W, Bussolino F. A complex of α6 integrin and E-cadherin drives liver metastasis of colorectal cancer cells through hepatic angiopoietin-like 6. EMBO Mol Med 2012; 4:1156-75. [PMID: 23070965 PMCID: PMC3494873 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201101164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Revised: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Homing of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to the liver is a non-random process driven by a crosstalk between tumour cells and components of the host tissue. Here we report the isolation of a liver metastasis-specific peptide ligand (CGIYRLRSC) that binds a complex of E-cadherin and α(6) integrin on the surface of CRC cells. We identify angiopoietin-like 6 protein as a peptide-mimicked natural ligand enriched in hepatic blood vessels of CRC patients. We demonstrate that an interaction between hepatic angiopoietin-like 6 and tumoural α(6) integrin/E-cadherin drives liver homing and colonization by CRC cells, and that CGIYRLRSC inhibits liver metastasis through interference with this ligand/receptor system. Our results indicate a mechanism for metastasis whereby a soluble factor accumulated in normal vessels functions as a specific ligand for circulating cancer cells. Consistently, we show that high amounts of coexpressed α(6) integrin and E-cadherin in primary tumours represent a poor prognostic factor for patients with advanced CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Marchiò
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Candiolo, Italy.
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Maiolo D, Mitola S, Leali D, Oliviero G, Ravelli C, Bugatti A, Depero LE, Presta M, Bergese P. Role of nanomechanics in canonical and noncanonical pro-angiogenic ligand/VEGF receptor-2 activation. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:14573-9. [PMID: 22860754 DOI: 10.1021/ja305816p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) is an endothelial cell receptor that plays a pivotal role in physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis and is a therapeutic target for angiogenesis-dependent diseases, including cancer. By leveraging on a dedicated nanomechanical biosensor, we investigated the nanoscale mechanical phenomena intertwined with VEGFR2 surface recognition by its prototypic ligand VEGF-A and its noncanonical ligand gremlin. We found that the two ligands bind the immobilized extracellular domain of VEGFR2 (sVEGFR2) with comparable binding affinity. Nevertheless, they interact with sVEGFR2 with different binding kinetics and drive different in-plane piconewton intermolecular forces, suggesting that the binding of VEGF-A or gremlin induces different conformational changes in sVEGFR2. These behaviors can be effectively described in terms of a different "nanomechanical affinity" of the two ligands for sVEGFR2, about 16-fold higher for VEGF-A with respect to gremlin. Such nanomechanical differences affect the biological activity driven by the two angiogenic factors in endothelial cells, as evidenced by a more rapid VEGFR2 clustering and a more potent mitogenic response triggered by VEGF-A in respect to gremlin. Together, these data point to surface intermolecular interactions on cell membrane between activated receptors as a key modulator of the intracellular signaling cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Maiolo
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory and INSTM, School of Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Pagano K, Torella R, Foglieni C, Bugatti A, Tomaselli S, Zetta L, Presta M, Rusnati M, Taraboletti G, Colombo G, Ragona L. Direct and allosteric inhibition of the FGF2/HSPGs/FGFR1 ternary complex formation by an antiangiogenic, thrombospondin-1-mimic small molecule. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36990. [PMID: 22606323 PMCID: PMC3351436 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are recognized targets for the development of therapies against angiogenesis-driven diseases, including cancer. The formation of a ternary complex with the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs), and heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) is required for FGF2 pro-angiogenic activity. Here by using a combination of techniques including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Molecular Dynamics, Surface Plasmon Resonance and cell-based binding assays we clarify the molecular mechanism of inhibition of an angiostatic small molecule, sm27, mimicking the endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, thrombospondin-1. NMR and MD data demonstrate that sm27 engages the heparin-binding site of FGF2 and induces long-range dynamics perturbations along FGF2/FGFR1 interface regions. The functional consequence of the inhibitor binding is an impaired FGF2 interaction with both its receptors, as demonstrated by SPR and cell-based binding assays. We propose that sm27 antiangiogenic activity is based on a twofold-direct and allosteric-mechanism, inhibiting FGF2 binding to both its receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiuscia Pagano
- Laboratorio NMR, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Rubben Torella
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Foglieni
- Department of Oncology, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Tomaselli
- Laboratorio NMR, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Zetta
- Laboratorio NMR, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Taraboletti
- Department of Oncology, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail: (LR); (GC)
| | - Laura Ragona
- Laboratorio NMR, Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail: (LR); (GC)
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Liekens S, Bronckaers A, Belleri M, Bugatti A, Sienaert R, Ribatti D, Nico B, Gigante A, Casanova E, Opdenakker G, Pérez-Pérez MJ, Balzarini J, Presta M. The thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor 5'-O-tritylinosine (KIN59) is an antiangiogenic multitarget fibroblast growth factor-2 antagonist. Mol Cancer Ther 2012; 11:817-29. [PMID: 22302099 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-11-0738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
5'-O-Tritylinosine (KIN59) is an allosteric inhibitor of the angiogenic enzyme thymidine phosphorylase. Previous observations showed the capacity of KIN59 to abrogate thymidine phosphorylase-induced as well as developmental angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Here, we show that KIN59 also inhibits the angiogenic response triggered by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) but not by VEGF in the CAM assay. Immunohistochemical and reverse transcriptase PCR analyses revealed that the expression of laminin, the major proteoglycan of the basement membrane of blood vessels, is downregulated by KIN59 administration in control as well as in thymidine phosphorylase- or FGF2-treated CAMs, but not in CAMs treated with VEGF. Also, KIN59 abrogated FGF2-induced endothelial cell proliferation, FGF receptor activation, and Akt signaling in vitro with no effect on VEGF-stimulated biologic responses. Accordingly, KIN59 inhibited the binding of FGF2 to FGF receptor-1 (FGFR1), thus preventing the formation of productive heparan sulphate proteoglycan/FGF2/FGFR1 ternary complexes, without affecting heparin interaction. In keeping with these observations, systemic administration of KIN59 inhibited the growth and neovascularization of subcutaneous tumors induced by FGF2-transformed endothelial cells injected in immunodeficient nude mice. Taken together, the data indicate that the thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor KIN59 is endowed with a significant FGF2 antagonist activity, thus representing a promising lead compound for the design of multitargeted antiangiogenic cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Liekens
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Dettin M, Muncan N, Bugatti A, Grezzo F, Danesin R, Rusnati M. Chemoselective surface immobilization of proteins through a cleavable peptide. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 22:1753-7. [PMID: 21819154 DOI: 10.1021/bc200254u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Surface immobilization of biomolecules is a fundamental step in several experimental techniques such as surface plasmon resonance analysis and microarrays. Oxime ligation allows reaching chemoselective protein immobilization with the retention of native-like conformation by proteins. Beside the need for chemoselective ligation of molecules to surface/particle, equally important is the controlled release of the immobilized molecules, even after a specific binding event. For this purpose, we have designed and assessed in an SPR experiment a peptide linker able to (i) anchor a given protein (enzymes, receptors, or antibodies) to a surface in a precise orientation and (ii) release the immobilized protein after selective enzymatic cleavage. These results open up the possibility to anchor to a surface a protein probe leaving bioactive sites free for interaction with substrates, ligands, antigens, or drugs and successively remove the probe-ligand complex by enzymatic cleavage. This peptide linker can be considered both an improvement of SPR analysis for macromolecular interaction and a novel strategy for drug delivery and biomaterial developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Dettin
- Department of Chemical Process Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padua, Italy.
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Leali D, Bianchi R, Bugatti A, Nicoli S, Mitola S, Ragona L, Tomaselli S, Gallo G, Catello S, Rivieccio V, Zetta L, Presta M. Fibroblast growth factor 2-antagonist activity of a long-pentraxin 3-derived anti-angiogenic pentapeptide. J Cell Mol Med 2010; 14:2109-21. [PMID: 19627396 PMCID: PMC3823002 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00855.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) plays a major role in angiogenesis. The pattern recognition receptor long-pentraxin 3 (PTX3) inhibits the angiogenic activity of FGF2. To identify novel FGF2-antagonistic peptide(s), four acetylated (Ac) synthetic peptides overlapping the FGF2-binding region PTX3-(97-110) were assessed for their FGF2-binding capacity. Among them, the shortest pentapeptide Ac-ARPCA-NH(2) (PTX3-[100-104]) inhibits the interaction of FGF2 with PTX3 immobilized to a BIAcore sensorchip and suppresses FGF2-dependent proliferation in endothelial cells, without affecting the activity of unrelated mitogens. Also, Ac-ARPCA-NH(2) inhibits angiogenesis triggered by FGF2 or by tumorigenic FGF2-overexpressing murine endothelial cells in chick and zebrafish embryos, respectively. Accordingly, the peptide hampers the binding of FGF2 to Chinese Hamster ovary cells overexpressing the tyrosine-kinase FGF receptor-1 (FGFR1) and to recombinant FGFR1 immobilized to a BIAcore sensorchip without affecting heparin interaction. In all the assays the mutated Ac-ARPSA-NH(2) peptide was ineffective. In keeping with the observation that hydrophobic interactions dominate the interface between FGF2 and the FGF-binding domain of the Ig-like loop D2 of FGFR1, amino acid substitutions in Ac-ARPCA-NH(2) and saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of its mode of interaction with FGF2 implicate the hydrophobic methyl groups of the pentapeptide in FGF2 binding. These results will provide the basis for the design of novel PTX3-derived anti-angiogenic FGF2 antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Leali
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Bugatti A, Chiodelli P, Rosenbluh J, Loyter A, Rusnati M. BSA conjugates bearing multiple copies of the basic domain of HIV-1 Tat: Prototype for the development of multitarget inhibitors of extracellular Tat. Antiviral Res 2010; 87:30-9. [PMID: 20398703 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2010.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Revised: 03/02/2010] [Accepted: 04/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The transactivating factor (Tat) of HIV-1 is involved in AIDS progression and associated pathologies. Tat possesses a basic amino acid sequence implicated in heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-mediated internalization, nuclear localization and transactivation by Tat and in the interaction of Tat with integrins and with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (KDR) (kinase insert domain receptor). A BSA conjugate bearing an average of four copies of a peptide representing the basic domain/nuclear localization signal of Tat (BSA-Tat-NLS) inhibits transactivation by Tat exogenously added to cells but not by Tat endogenously produced after cell transfection with a tat cDNA, indicating that BSA-Tat-NLS does not interfere with Tat at an intracellular level. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments revealed that BSA-Tat-NLS binds to the HSPG analogue heparin. Accordingly, BSA-Tat-NLS binds to HSPGs of HL3T1 cell surface and inhibits HSPG-dependent Tat internalization. BSA-Tat-NLS retains its inhibitory potential when pre-incubated with HL3T1 cells before Tat administration, possibly by masking cell-surface HSPGs thus preventing Tat binding and internalization. SPR experiments revealed that BSA-Tat-NLS binds also to integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and KDR. Accordingly, it inhibits pro-angiogenic endothelial cell adhesion to Tat and motogenesis. In conclusion, BSA-Tat-NLS binds/masks three different cell-surface receptors of Tat inhibiting different biological activities. These data point to BSA-Tat-NLS as a prototype for the development of Tat-antagonists endowed with a multitargeted mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Italy
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Rusnati M, Bugatti A, Mitola S, Leali D, Bergese P, Depero LE, Presta M. Exploiting Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Technology for the Identification of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF2) Antagonists Endowed with Antiangiogenic Activity. Sensors (Basel) 2009; 9:6471-503. [PMID: 22454596 PMCID: PMC3312455 DOI: 10.3390/s90806471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2009] [Revised: 08/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, is implicated in various physiological/pathological conditions, including embryonic development, inflammation and tumor growth. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a heparin-binding angiogenic growth factor involved in various physiopathological processes, including tumor neovascularization. Accordingly, FGF2 is considered a target for antiangiogenic therapies. Thus, numerous natural/synthetic compounds have been tested for their capacity to bind and sequester FGF2 in the extracellular environment preventing its interaction with cellular receptors. We have exploited surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique in search for antiangiogenic FGF2 binders/antagonists. In this review we will summarize our experience in SPR-based angiogenesis research, with the aim to validate SPR as a first line screening for the identification of antiangiogenic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rusnati
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (M.R.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.)
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (M.R.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.)
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (M.R.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.)
| | - Daria Leali
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (M.R.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.)
| | - Paolo Bergese
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory and Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (P.B.); (L.E.D.)
| | - Laura E. Depero
- Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory and Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (P.B.); (L.E.D.)
| | - Marco Presta
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy; E-Mails: (M.R.); (A.B.); (S.M.); (D.L.)
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Belleri M, Ribatti D, Savio M, Stivala LA, Forti L, Tanghetti E, Alessi P, Coltrini D, Bugatti A, Mitola S, Nicoli S, Vannini V, Presta M. v 3 Integrin-dependent antiangiogenic activity of resveratrol stereoisomers. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7:3761-70. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-07-2351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Bugatti A, Urbinati C, Ravelli C, De Clercq E, Liekens S, Rusnati M. Heparin-mimicking sulfonic acid polymers as multitarget inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat and gp120 proteins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:2337-45. [PMID: 17452490 PMCID: PMC1913280 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01362-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Tat and gp120 intriguingly share the feature of being basic peptides that, once released by HIV(+) cells, bind to polyanionic heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on target uninfected cells, contributing to the onset of AIDS-associated pathologies. To identify multitarget anti-HIV prodrugs, we investigated the gp120 and Tat antagonist potentials of a series of polyanionic synthetic sulfonic acid polymers (SSAPs). Surface plasmon resonance revealed that SSAPs inhibit with a competitive mechanism of action the binding of Tat and gp120 to surface-immobilized heparin, an experimental condition that resembles binding to cellular HSPGs. Accordingly, SSAPs inhibited HSPG-dependent cell internalization and the transactivating activity of Tat. Little is known about the binding of free gp120 to target cells. Here, we identified two classes of gp120 receptors expressed on endothelial cells, one of which was consistent with an HSPG-binding, low-affinity/high-capacity receptor that is inhibited by free heparin. SSAPs inhibited the binding of free gp120 to endothelial cells, as well as its capacity to induce apoptosis in the same cells. In all the assays, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS) proved to be the most potent antagonist of Tat and gp120. Accordingly, PSS bound both proteins with high affinity. In conclusion, SSAPs represent an interesting class of compounds that bind both gp120 and Tat and inhibit their HSPG-dependent cell surface binding and pathological effects. As these activities contribute to both AIDS progression and associated pathologies, SSAPs can be considered prototypic molecules for the development of multitarget drugs for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Balzarini J, Van Laethem K, Daelemans D, Hatse S, Bugatti A, Rusnati M, Igarashi Y, Oki T, Schols D. Pradimicin A, a carbohydrate-binding nonpeptidic lead compound for treatment of infections with viruses with highly glycosylated envelopes, such as human immunodeficiency virus. J Virol 2006; 81:362-73. [PMID: 17050611 PMCID: PMC1797273 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01404-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pradimicin A (PRM-A), an antifungal nonpeptidic benzonaphtacenequinone antibiotic, is a low-molecular-weight (molecular weight, 838) carbohydrate binding agent (CBA) endowed with a selective inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It invariably inhibits representative virus strains of a variety of HIV-1 clades with X4 and R5 tropisms at nontoxic concentrations. Time-of-addition studies revealed that PRM-A acts as a true virus entry inhibitor. PRM-A specifically interacts with HIV-1 gp120 and efficiently prevents virus transmission in cocultures of HUT-78/HIV-1 and Sup T1 cells. Upon prolonged exposure of HIV-1-infected CEM cell cultures, PRM-A drug pressure selects for mutant HIV-1 strains containing N-glycosylation site deletions in gp120 but not gp41. A relatively long exposure time to PRM-A is required before drug-resistant virus strains emerge. PRM-A has a high genetic barrier, since more than five N-glycosylation site deletions in gp120 are required to afford moderate drug resistance. Such mutated virus strains keep full sensitivity to the other known clinically used anti-HIV drugs. PRM-A represents the first prototype compound of a nonpeptidic CBA lead and, together with peptide-based lectins, belongs to a conceptually novel type of potential therapeutics for which drug pressure results in the selection of glycan deletions in the HIV gp120 envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Camozzi M, Rusnati M, Bugatti A, Bottazzi B, Mantovani A, Bastone A, Inforzato A, Vincenti S, Bracci L, Mastroianni D, Presta M. Identification of an Antiangiogenic FGF2-binding Site in the N Terminus of the Soluble Pattern Recognition Receptor PTX3. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:22605-13. [PMID: 16769728 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m601023200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor with non-redundant functions in inflammation and innate immunity. PTX3 comprises a pentraxin-like C-terminal domain involved in complement activation via C1q interaction and an N-terminal extension with unknown functions. PTX3 binds fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), inhibiting its pro-angiogenic and pro-restenotic activity. Here, retroviral transduced endothelial cells (ECs) overexpressing the N-terminal fragment PTX3-(1-178) showed reduced mitogenic activity in response to FGF2. Accordingly, purified recombinant PTX3-(1-178) binds FGF2, prevents PTX3/FGF2 interaction, and inhibits FGF2 mitogenic activity in ECs. Also, the monoclonal antibody mAb-MNB4, which recognizes the PTX3-(87-99) epitope, prevents FGF2/PTX3 interaction and abolishes the FGF2 antagonist activity of PTX3. Consistently, the synthetic peptides PTX3-(82-110) and PTX3-(97-110) bind FGF2 and inhibit the interaction of FGF2 with PTX3 immobilized to a BIAcore sensor chip, FGF2-dependent EC proliferation, and angiogenesis in vivo. Thus, the data identify a FGF2-binding domain in the N-terminal extension of PTX3 spanning the PTX3-(97-110) region, pointing to a novel function for the N-terminal extension of PTX3 and underlining the complexity of the PTX3 molecule for modular humoral pattern recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Camozzi
- Unit of General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Rosenbluh J, Kapelnikov A, Shalev DE, Rusnati M, Bugatti A, Loyter A. Positively charged peptides can interact with each other, as revealed by solid phase binding assays. Anal Biochem 2006; 352:157-68. [PMID: 16581010 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2006.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2005] [Revised: 12/19/2005] [Accepted: 03/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Solid phase assay systems such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and overlay gels are used to study processes of protein-protein interactions. The common principle of all these methods is that they monitor the binding between soluble and surface-immobilized molecules. Following the use of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-peptide conjugates or isolated synthetic peptides and the above-mentioned solid phase assay systems, the results of the current work demonstrate that positively charged peptides can interact with each other. Both the ELISA and SPR methods demonstrated that the binding process reached saturation with K(d) values ranging between 1 and 14 nM. No interaction was observed between BSA conjugates bearing positively charged peptides and conjugates bearing negatively charged peptides or with pure BSA molecules, strengthening the view that interaction occurs only between positively charged peptides. However, interactions between peptides in solution were not observed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or by native gel electrophoresis. It appears that for positively charged molecules to interact, one of the binding partners must be immobilized to a surface, a process that may lead to the exposure of otherwise masked groups or atoms. We discuss the relevance of our findings for the use of solid phase assay systems to study interactions between biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Rosenbluh
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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Urbinati C, Bugatti A, Giacca M, Schlaepfer D, Presta M, Rusnati M. αvβ3-integrin-dependent activation of focal adhesion kinase mediates NF-κB activation and motogenic activity by HIV-1 Tat in endothelial cells. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:3949-58. [PMID: 16105876 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.02518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Once in the extracellular environment, the transactivator protein HIV-1 Tat exerts several pleiotropic effects by interacting with different cellular receptors, including integrin αvβ3. Real-time surface plasmon resonance analysis reveals that Tat/αVβ3 interaction occurs with rapid kinetics (association and dissociation rates equal to 1.16×107 M-1 s-1 and 3.78×10-1 s-1, respectively) and high affinity (dissociation constant = 32 nM). Through this interaction, substratum-immobilized Tat promotes adhesion and motogenic activity in endothelial cells. Also, αvβ3/Tat interaction triggers the activation of focal adhesion kinase, RhoA and pp60src. Overexpression of the dominant negative form of focal adhesion kinase, but not of an inactive Leu1034Ser substitution mutant isoform, impairs the activation of focal adhesion kinase and RhoA, but not that of pp60src, without affecting endothelial cell adhesion and spreading. αvβ3/Tat interaction triggers the activation of NF-κB in endothelial cells in a focal adhesion kinase-, RhoA- and pp60src-dependent manner, as shown in dominant negative focal adhesion kinase transfectants or using specific pharmacological inhibitors. Finally, the activation of focal adhesion kinase, RhoA, NF-κB and pp60src are required to mediate the motogenic activity of Tat in endothelial cells.Since Tat accumulates in an immobilized form in the extracellular matrix, these results provide new biochemical and biological insights about αvβ3/Tat interaction exploitable for the design of anti-Tat strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Urbinati
- General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, viale Europe 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Krichevsky A, Rusnati M, Bugatti A, Waigmann E, Shohat S, Loyter A. The fd phage and a peptide derived from its p8 coat protein interact with the HIV-1 Tat-NLS and inhibit its biological functions. Antiviral Res 2005; 66:67-78. [PMID: 15781134 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2005.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2004] [Revised: 01/19/2005] [Accepted: 01/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Filamentous fd bacteriophages are used to construct phage-display peptide libraries, which have been instrumental in selecting peptides that interact with specific domains within target molecules. Here we demonstrate that the fd bacteriophage itself, as well as NTP8 - a synthetic peptide derived from it and bearing amino acids 1-20 of the phage p8 protein - interact with the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of the HIV-1 Tat protein. Accordingly, fd bacteriophage and the NTP8 peptide inhibit binding mediated by the Tat-NLS to the nuclear-import receptor importin beta and Tat-NLS-mediated translocation into cell nuclei. The NTP8 peptide, at 100 microM concentration, also caused about 50% inhibition of HIV-1 propagation in cultured cells. The fd bacteriophage prevents heparan sulfate proteoglycans-mediated uptake of extracellular Tat by target cells and consequently transactivation of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. A BSA-NTP8 conjugate inhibits Tat-NLS-mediated binding to heparin immobilized on a BIAcore surface. BLAST analysis of the NTP8 amino-acid sequence revealed similarity to sequences in several human proteins, including ADA2 and CD53.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Krichevsky
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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