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Neary MT, Mulder LM, Kowalski PS, MacLoughlin R, Crean AM, Ryan KB. Nebulised delivery of RNA formulations to the lungs: From aerosol to cytosol. J Control Release 2024; 366:812-833. [PMID: 38101753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.012] [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] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade RNA-based therapies such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) have emerged as new and ground-breaking therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of many conditions from viral infection to cancer. Most clinically approved RNA therapies are parenterally administered which impacts patient compliance and adds to healthcare costs. Pulmonary administration via inhalation is a non-invasive means to deliver RNA and offers an attractive alternative to injection. Nebulisation is a particularly appealing method due to the capacity to deliver large RNA doses during tidal breathing. In this review, we discuss the unique physiological barriers presented by the lung to efficient nebulised RNA delivery and approaches adopted to circumvent this problem. Additionally, the different types of nebulisers are evaluated from the perspective of their suitability for RNA delivery. Furthermore, we discuss recent preclinical studies involving nebulisation of RNA and analysis in in vitro and in vivo settings. Several studies have also demonstrated the importance of an effective delivery vector in RNA nebulisation therefore we assess the variety of lipid, polymeric and hybrid-based delivery systems utilised to date. We also consider the outlook for nebulised RNA medicinal products and the hurdles which must be overcome for successful clinical translation. In summary, nebulised RNA delivery has demonstrated promising potential for the treatment of several lung-related conditions such as asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis, to which the mode of delivery is of crucial importance for clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Neary
- SSPC, The SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland; School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Piotr S Kowalski
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Abina M Crean
- SSPC, The SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland; School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Katie B Ryan
- SSPC, The SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland; School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Ireland.
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2
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Lee HW, Adachi T, Pak B, Park S, Hu X, Choi W, Kowalski PS, Chang CH, Clapham KR, Lee A, Papangeli I, Kim J, Han O, Park J, Anderson DG, Simons M, Jin SW, Chun HJ. BMPR1A promotes ID2-ZEB1 interaction to suppress excessive endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:813-825. [PMID: 36166408 PMCID: PMC10409893 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac159] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Components of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling have been implicated in both pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT). In particular, the importance of BMP type 2 receptor in these processes has been extensively analysed. However, the contribution of BMP type 1 receptors (BMPR1s) to the onset of PAH and EndoMT remains poorly understood. BMPR1A, one of BMPR1s, was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of PAH, and was found to be down-regulated in the lungs of PAH patients, neither the downstream mechanism nor its contribution to EndoMT has been described. Therefore, we aim to delineate the role of endothelial BMPR1A in modulating EndoMT and pathogenesis of PAH. METHODS AND RESULTS We find that BMPR1A knockdown in endothelial cells (ECs) induces hallmarks of EndoMT, and deletion of endothelial Bmpr1a in adult mice (Bmpr1aiECKO) leads to development of PAH-like symptoms due to excessive EndoMT. By lineage tracing, we show that endothelial-derived smooth muscle cells are increased in endothelial Bmpr1a-deleted mice. Mechanistically, we identify ZEB1 as a primary target for BMPR1A in this setting; upon BMPR1A activation, ID2 physically interacts and sequesters ZEB1 to attenuate transcription of Tgfbr2, which in turn lowers the responses of ECs towards transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) stimulation and prevents excessive EndoMT. In Bmpr1aiECKO mice, administering endothelial targeting lipid nanoparticles containing siRNA against Tgfbr2 effectively ameliorate PAH, reiterating the importance of BMPR1A-ID2/ZEB1-TGFBR2 axis in modulating progression of EndoMT and pathogenesis of PAH. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that BMPR1A is key to maintain endothelial identity and to prevent excessive EndoMT. We identify BMPR1A-induced interaction between ID2 and ZEB1 is the key regulatory step for onset of EndoMT and pathogenesis of PAH. Our findings indicate that BMPR1A-ID2/ZEB1-TGFBR2 signalling axis could serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for PAH and other EndoMT-related vascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heon-Woo Lee
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Takaomi Adachi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Boryeong Pak
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Saejeong Park
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Xiaoyue Hu
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Woosoung Choi
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - C Hong Chang
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Katharine R Clapham
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02127, USA
| | - Aram Lee
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Korea
| | - Irinna Papangeli
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Division of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, Korea
| | - Orjin Han
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jihwan Park
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael Simons
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Suk-Won Jin
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- School of Life Sciences and Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, Korea
| | - Hyung J Chun
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave, 111B, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
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3
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Mendonça MCP, Kont A, Kowalski PS, O'Driscoll CM. Design of lipid-based nanoparticles for delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103505. [PMID: 36708760 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103505] [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] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The successful development of nonviral delivery systems for nucleic acids has been reported extensively over the past number of years. Among them, lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most advanced platform. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art in LNP technology, focusing on the delivery of a range of nucleic acids. Recent advances in the development of an efficient and safe lipid-based system are critically analyzed with a particular emphasis on the rationale behind the design of LNPs and on attempts to elucidate the resulting molecular assembly and structure, their interactions with cellular proteins and biodistribution. In addition, manufacturing methods including microfluidics and their potential to influence stability and scale-up are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayse Kont
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland
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4
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Hasanzadeh A, Radmanesh F, Hosseini ES, Hashemzadeh I, Kiani J, Nourizadeh H, Naseri M, Fatahi Y, Chegini F, Madjd Z, Beyzavi A, Kowalski PS, Karimi M. Highly Photoluminescent Nitrogen- and Zinc-Doped Carbon Dots for Efficient Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and mRNA. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1875-1887. [PMID: 34278778 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Safe and efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 systems is still a challenge. Here we report the development of fluorescent nitrogen- and zinc-doped carbon dots (N-Zn-doped CDs) using one-step microwave-aided pyrolysis based on citric acid, branched PEI25k, and different zinc salts. These versatile nanovectors with a quantum yield of around 60% could not only transfect large CRISPR plasmids (∼9 kb) with higher efficiency (80%) compared to PEI25k and lipofectamine 2000 (Lipo 2K), but they also delivered mRNA into HEK 293T cells with the efficiency 20 times greater than and equal to that of PEI25k and Lipo 2K, respectively. Unlike PEI25k, N-Zn-doped CDs exhibited good transfection efficiency even at low plasmid doses and in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Moreover, these nanovectors demonstrated excellent efficiency in GFP gene disruption by transferring plasmid encoding Cas9 and sgRNA targeting GFP as well as Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoproteins into HEK 293T-GFP cells. Hence, N-Zn-doped CDs with remarkable photoluminescence properties and high transfection efficiency in the delivery of both CRISPR complexes and mRNA provide a promising platform for developing safe, efficient, and traceable delivery systems for biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Hasanzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Radmanesh
- Uro-Oncology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran.,Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Elaheh Sadat Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Iman Hashemzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Jafar Kiani
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Helena Nourizadeh
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Marzieh Naseri
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Yousef Fatahi
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran.,Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1417755331, Iran
| | - Fateme Chegini
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Ali Beyzavi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland
| | - Mahdi Karimi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.,Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran.,Applied Biotechnology Research Centre, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1916893813, Iran
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5
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Farah S, Doloff JC, Müller P, Sadraei A, Han HJ, Olafson K, Vyas K, Tam HH, Hollister-Lock J, Kowalski PS, Griffin M, Meng A, McAvoy M, Graham AC, McGarrigle J, Oberholzer J, Weir GC, Greiner DL, Langer R, Anderson DG. Long-term implant fibrosis prevention in rodents and non-human primates using crystallized drug formulations. Nat Mater 2019; 18:892-904. [PMID: 31235902 PMCID: PMC7184801 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-019-0377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Implantable medical devices have revolutionized modern medicine. However, immune-mediated foreign body response (FBR) to the materials of these devices can limit their function or even induce failure. Here we describe long-term controlled-release formulations for local anti-inflammatory release through the development of compact, solvent-free crystals. The compact lattice structure of these crystals allows for very slow, surface dissolution and high drug density. These formulations suppress FBR in both rodents and non-human primates for at least 1.3 years and 6 months, respectively. Formulations inhibited fibrosis across multiple implant sites-subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intramuscular. In particular, incorporation of GW2580, a colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor, into a range of devices, including human islet microencapsulation systems, electrode-based continuous glucose-sensing monitors and muscle-stimulating devices, inhibits fibrosis, thereby allowing for extended function. We believe that local, long-term controlled release with the crystal formulations described here enhances and extends function in a range of medical devices and provides a generalized solution to the local immune response to implanted biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shady Farah
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua C Doloff
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Materials Science Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter Müller
- X-Ray Diffraction Facility, MIT Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Atieh Sadraei
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hye Jung Han
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katy Olafson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keval Vyas
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hok Hei Tam
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Hollister-Lock
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marissa Griffin
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ashley Meng
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Malia McAvoy
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adam C Graham
- Center for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James McGarrigle
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jose Oberholzer
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gordon C Weir
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dale L Greiner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Rybakova Y, Kowalski PS, Huang Y, Gonzalez JT, Heartlein MW, DeRosa F, Delcassian D, Anderson DG. mRNA Delivery for Therapeutic Anti-HER2 Antibody Expression In Vivo. Mol Ther 2019; 27:1415-1423. [PMID: 31160223 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [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: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-based drugs are a leading class of biologics used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, wide antibody implementation is hindered by manufacturing challenges and high production cost. Use of in-vitro-transcribed mRNA (IVT-mRNA) for endogenous protein expression has the potential to circumvent many of the shortcomings of antibody production and therapeutic application. Here, we describe the development of an IVT-mRNA system for in vivo delivery of a humanized anti-HER2 (also known as ERBB2) antibody, trastuzumab, and demonstrate its anticancer activity. We engineered the IVT-mRNA sequence to maximize expression, then formulated the IVT-mRNA into lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) to protect the mRNA from degradation and enable efficient in vivo delivery. Systemic delivery of the optimized IVT-mRNA loaded into LNPs resulted in antibody serum concentrations of 45 ± 8.6 μg/mL for 14 days after LNP injection. Further studies demonstrated an improved pharmacokinetic profile of the produced protein compared to injection of trastuzumab protein. Finally, treatment of tumor-bearing mice with trastuzumab IVT-mRNA LNPs selectively reduced the volume of HER2-positive tumors and improved animal survival. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate that using IVT-mRNA LNPs to express full-size therapeutic antibodies in the liver can provide an effective strategy for cancer treatment and offers an alternative to protein administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Rybakova
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yuxuan Huang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - John T Gonzalez
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Derfogail Delcassian
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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7
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Kowalski PS, Rudra A, Miao L, Anderson DG. Delivering the Messenger: Advances in Technologies for Therapeutic mRNA Delivery. Mol Ther 2019; 27:710-728. [PMID: 30846391 PMCID: PMC6453548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 575] [Impact Index Per Article: 115.0] [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] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
mRNA has broad potential as a therapeutic. Current clinical efforts are focused on vaccination, protein replacement therapies, and treatment of genetic diseases. The clinical translation of mRNA therapeutics has been made possible through advances in the design of mRNA manufacturing and intracellular delivery methods. However, broad application of mRNA is still limited by the need for improved delivery systems. In this review, we discuss the challenges for clinical translation of mRNA-based therapeutics, with an emphasis on recent advances in biomaterials and delivery strategies, and we present an overview of the applications of mRNA-based delivery for protein therapy, gene editing, and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arnab Rudra
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lei Miao
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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8
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McCann JV, Xiao L, Kim DJ, Khan OF, Kowalski PS, Anderson DG, Pecot CV, Azam SH, Parker JS, Tsai YS, Wolberg AS, Turner SD, Tatsumi K, Mackman N, Dudley AC. Endothelial miR-30c suppresses tumor growth via inhibition of TGF-β-induced Serpine1. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:1654-1670. [PMID: 30855280 DOI: 10.1172/jci123106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [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: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In tumors, extravascular fibrin forms provisional scaffolds for endothelial cell (EC) growth and motility during angiogenesis. We report that fibrin-mediated angiogenesis was inhibited and tumor growth delayed following postnatal deletion of Tgfbr2 in the endothelium of Cdh5-CreERT2 Tgfbr2fl/fl mice (Tgfbr2iECKO mice). ECs from Tgfbr2iECKO mice failed to upregulate the fibrinolysis inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (Serpine1, also known as PAI-1), due in part to uncoupled TGF-β-mediated suppression of miR-30c. Bypassing TGF-β signaling with vascular tropic nanoparticles that deliver miR-30c antagomiRs promoted PAI-1-dependent tumor growth and increased fibrin abundance, whereas miR-30c mimics inhibited tumor growth and promoted vascular-directed fibrinolysis in vivo. Using single-cell RNA-Seq and a NanoString miRNA array, we also found that subtypes of ECs in tumors showed spectrums of Serpine1 and miR-30c expression levels, suggesting functional diversity in ECs at the level of individual cells; indeed, fresh EC isolates from lung and mammary tumor models had differential abilities to degrade fibrin and launch new vessel sprouts, a finding that was linked to their inverse expression patterns of miR-30c and Serpine1 (i.e., miR-30chi Serpine1lo ECs were poorly angiogenic and miR-30clo Serpine1hi ECs were highly angiogenic). Thus, by balancing Serpine1 expression in ECs downstream of TGF-β, miR-30c functions as a tumor suppressor in the tumor microenvironment through its ability to promote fibrin degradation and inhibit blood vessel formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James V McCann
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lin Xiao
- Children's Cancer Institute, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dae Joong Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Omar F Khan
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).,Department of Chemical Engineering
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).,Department of Chemical Engineering.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and.,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chad V Pecot
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.,School of Medicine
| | | | - Joel S Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.,School of Medicine.,Department of Genetics, and
| | | | - Alisa S Wolberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC McAllister Heart Institute, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephen D Turner
- Department of Public Health Sciences, and.,Bioinformatics Core, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Kohei Tatsumi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, UNC McAllister Heart Institute, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nigel Mackman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, UNC McAllister Heart Institute, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew C Dudley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Emily Couric Cancer Center, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S. Kowalski
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Chandrabali Bhattacharya
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Samson Afewerki
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Robert Langer
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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10
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Wesselhoeft RA, Kowalski PS, Anderson DG. Engineering circular RNA for potent and stable translation in eukaryotic cells. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2629. [PMID: 29980667 PMCID: PMC6035260 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 352] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.7] [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: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has broad potential for application in biological systems. However, one fundamental limitation to its use is its relatively short half-life in biological systems. Here we develop exogenous circular RNA (circRNA) to extend the duration of protein expression from full-length RNA messages. First, we engineer a self-splicing intron to efficiently circularize a wide range of RNAs up to 5 kb in length in vitro by rationally designing ubiquitous accessory sequences that aid in splicing. We maximize translation of functional protein from these circRNAs in eukaryotic cells, and we find that engineered circRNA purified by high performance liquid chromatography displays exceptional protein production qualities in terms of both quantity of protein produced and stability of production. This study pioneers the use of exogenous circRNA for robust and stable protein expression in eukaryotic cells and demonstrates that circRNA is a promising alternative to linear mRNA. Circular RNAs have recently been shown to have protein-coding potential. Here the authors design a self-splicing RNA that, when circularized, provides for stable high-yield protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Alexander Wesselhoeft
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. .,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA. .,Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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11
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Kowalski PS, Palmiero UC, Huang Y, Rudra A, Langer R, Anderson DG. Ionizable Amino-Polyesters Synthesized via Ring Opening Polymerization of Tertiary Amino-Alcohols for Tissue Selective mRNA Delivery. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1801151. [PMID: 29975801 PMCID: PMC6320729 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The utility of messenger RNA (mRNA) as a therapy is gaining a broad interest due to its potential for addressing a wide range of diseases, while effective delivery of mRNA molecules to various tissues still poses a challenge. This study reports on the design and characterization of new ionizable amino-polyesters (APEs), synthesized via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones with tertiary amino-alcohols that enable tissue and cell type selective delivery of mRNA. With a diverse library of APEs formulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNP), structure-activity parameters crucial for efficient transfection are established and APE-LNPs are identified that can preferentially home to and elicit effective mRNA expression with low in vivo toxicity in lung endothelium, liver hepatocytes, and splenic antigen presenting cells, including APE-LNP demonstrating nearly tenfold more potent systemic mRNA delivery to the lungs than vivo-jetPEI. Adopting tertiary amino-alcohols to initiate ROP of lactones allows to control polymer molecular weight and obtain amino-polyesters with narrow molecular weight distribution, exhibiting batch-to-batch consistency. All of which highlight the potential for clinical translation of APEs for systemic mRNA delivery and demonstrate the importance of employing controlled polymerization in the design of new polymeric nanomaterials to improve in vivo nucleic acid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S. Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Umberto Capasso Palmiero
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7 - 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Yuxuan Huang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arnab Rudra
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA, Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G. Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA, Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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12
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Khan OF, Kowalski PS, Doloff JC, Tsosie JK, Bakthavatchalu V, Winn CB, Haupt J, Jamiel M, Langer R, Anderson DG. Endothelial siRNA delivery in nonhuman primates using ionizable low-molecular weight polymeric nanoparticles. Sci Adv 2018; 4:eaar8409. [PMID: 29963629 PMCID: PMC6021147 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar8409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctional endothelial cells contribute to the pathophysiology of many diseases, including vascular disease, stroke, hypertension, atherosclerosis, organ failure, diabetes, retinopathy, and cancer. Toward the goal of creating a new RNA-based therapy to correct aberrant endothelial cell gene expression in humans, efficient gene silencing in the endothelium of nonhuman primates was achieved by delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) with 7C1, a low-molecular weight, ionizable polymer that forms nanoparticles. After a single intravenous administration of 1 mg of siRNA per kilogram of animal, 7C1 nanoparticles delivering Tie2 siRNA caused Tie2 mRNA levels to decrease by approximately 80% in the endothelium of the lung. Significant decreases in Tie2 mRNA were also found in the heart, retina, kidney, pancreas, and bone. Blood chemistry and liver function analysis before and after treatment all showed protein and enzyme concentrations within the normal reference ranges. Furthermore, after controlling for siRNA-specific effects, no significant increases in inflammatory cytokine concentrations were found in the serum. Similarly, no gross lesions or significant underlying pathologies were observed after histological examination of nonhuman primate tissues. This study is the first demonstration of endothelial gene silencing in multiple nonhuman primate organs using systemically administered siRNA nanoparticles and highlights the potential of this approach for the treatment of disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar F. Khan
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Piotr S. Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua C. Doloff
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Tsosie
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Vasudevan Bakthavatchalu
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 02139
| | - Caroline Bodi Winn
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 02139
| | - Jennifer Haupt
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 02139
| | - Morgan Jamiel
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 02139
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Health Science Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G. Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Health Science Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Corresponding author.
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13
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Li R, Kowalski PS, Morselt HWM, Schepel I, Jongman RM, Aslan A, Ruiters MHJ, Zijlstra JG, Molema G, van Meurs M, Kamps JAAM. Endothelium-targeted delivery of dexamethasone by anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes in mouse endotoxemia. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196976. [PMID: 29763440 PMCID: PMC5953446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microvascular endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced inflammatory responses and multiple organ failure. Therefore, they represent an important target for pharmacological intervention in the treatment of sepsis. Glucocorticosteroids were widely used in the treatment of sepsis but vast evidence to support their systemic use is lacking. The limited effects of glucocorticoids in the treatment of sepsis may be explained by differential effects of drug initiated NF-κB inhibition in different cell types and insufficient drug delivery in target cells. The current study aimed therefore to investigate the effects of an endothelial targeted delivery of dexamethasone in a mouse model of endotoxemia induced by two consecutive i.p. injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To achieve endothelial cell specific delivery of dexamethasone, we modified SAINT-O-Somes, a new generation of liposomes that contain the cationic amphiphile SAINT-C18 (1-methyl-4-(cis-9-dioleyl) methyl-pyridinium chloride, with antibodies against vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In LPS challenged mice, the systemic administration of free dexamethasone had negligible effects on the microvascular inflammatory endothelial responses. Dexamethasone-loaded anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes specifically localized at VCAM-1 expressing endothelial cells in the microvasculature of inflamed organs. This was associated with a marginal attenuation of the expression of a few pro-inflammatory genes in kidney and liver, while no effects in the lung were observed. This study reveals that, although local accumulation of the targeted drug was achieved, endothelial targeted dexamethasone containing anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes exhibited marginal effects on inflammatory endothelial cell activation in a model of endotoxemia. Studies with more potent drugs encapsulated into anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes will in the future reveal whether this delivery system can be further developed for efficacious endothelial directed delivery of drugs in the treatment of sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Li
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte W M Morselt
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona Schepel
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne M Jongman
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Dept. of Critical Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Dept. of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adnan Aslan
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Dept. of Critical Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel H J Ruiters
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan G Zijlstra
- Dept. of Critical Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matijs van Meurs
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Dept. of Critical Care, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Jung K, Heishi T, Khan OF, Kowalski PS, Incio J, Rahbari NN, Chung E, Clark JW, Willett CG, Luster AD, Yun SH, Langer R, Anderson DG, Padera TP, Jain RK, Fukumura D. Ly6Clo monocytes drive immunosuppression and confer resistance to anti-VEGFR2 cancer therapy. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:3039-3051. [PMID: 28691930 DOI: 10.1172/jci93182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current anti-VEGF therapies for colorectal cancer (CRC) provide limited survival benefit, as tumors rapidly develop resistance to these agents. Here, we have uncovered an immunosuppressive role for nonclassical Ly6Clo monocytes that mediates resistance to anti-VEGFR2 treatment. We found that the chemokine CX3CL1 was upregulated in both human and murine tumors following VEGF signaling blockade, resulting in recruitment of CX3CR1+Ly6Clo monocytes into the tumor. We also found that treatment with VEGFA reduced expression of CX3CL1 in endothelial cells in vitro. Intravital microscopy revealed that CX3CR1 is critical for Ly6Clo monocyte transmigration across the endothelium in murine CRC tumors. Moreover, Ly6Clo monocytes recruit Ly6G+ neutrophils via CXCL5 and produce IL-10, which inhibits adaptive immunity. Preventing Ly6Clo monocyte or Ly6G+ neutrophil infiltration into tumors enhanced inhibition of tumor growth with anti-VEGFR2 therapy. Furthermore, a gene therapy using a nanoparticle formulated with an siRNA against CX3CL1 reduced Ly6Clo monocyte recruitment and improved outcome of anti-VEGFR2 therapy in mouse CRCs. Our study unveils an immunosuppressive function of Ly6Clo monocytes that, to our knowledge, has yet to be reported in any context. We also reveal molecular mechanisms underlying antiangiogenic treatment resistance, suggesting potential immunomodulatory strategies to enhance the long-term clinical outcome of anti-VEGF therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keehoon Jung
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Takahiro Heishi
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Omar F Khan
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joao Incio
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nuh N Rahbari
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Euiheon Chung
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Clark
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Andrew D Luster
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seok Hyun Yun
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Timothy P Padera
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Abstract
The rapid expansion of the available genomic data continues to greatly impact biomedical science and medicine. Fulfilling the clinical potential of genetic discoveries requires the development of therapeutics that can specifically modulate the expression of disease-relevant genes. RNA-based drugs, including short interfering RNAs and antisense oligonucleotides, are particularly promising examples of this newer class of biologics. For over two decades, researchers have been trying to overcome major challenges for utilizing such RNAs in a therapeutic context, including intracellular delivery, stability, and immune response activation. This research is finally beginning to bear fruit as the first RNA drugs gain FDA approval and more advance to the final phases of clinical trials. Furthermore, the recent advent of CRISPR, an RNA-guided gene-editing technology, as well as new strides in the delivery of messenger RNA transcribed in vitro, have triggered a major expansion of the RNA-therapeutics field. In this review, we discuss the challenges for clinical translation of RNA-based therapeutics, with an emphasis on recent advances in delivery technologies, and present an overview of the applications of RNA-based drugs for modulation of gene/protein expression and genome editing that are currently being investigated both in the laboratory as well as in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Kaczmarek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.,David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA. .,David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA. .,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA. .,Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
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16
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Kauffman KJ, Mir FF, Jhunjhunwala S, Kaczmarek JC, Hurtado JE, Yang JH, Webber MJ, Kowalski PS, Heartlein MW, DeRosa F, Anderson DG. Efficacy and immunogenicity of unmodified and pseudouridine-modified mRNA delivered systemically with lipid nanoparticles in vivo. Biomaterials 2016; 109:78-87. [PMID: 27680591 PMCID: PMC5267554 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [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: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
mRNA has broad potential for treating diseases requiring protein expression. However, mRNA can also induce an immune response with associated toxicity. Replacement of uridine bases with pseudouridine has been postulated to modulate both mRNA immunogenicity and potency. Here, we explore the immune response and activity of lipid nanoparticle-formulated unmodified and pseudouridine-modified mRNAs administered systemically in vivo. Pseudouridine modification to mRNA had no significant effect on lipid nanoparticle physical properties, protein expression in vivo, or mRNA immunogenicity compared to unmodified mRNA when delivered systemically with liver-targeting lipid nanoparticles, but reduced in vitro transfection levels. Indicators of a transient, extracellular innate immune response to mRNA were observed, including neutrophilia, myeloid cell activation, and up-regulation of four serum cytokines. This study provides insight into the immune responses to mRNA lipid nanoparticles, and suggests that pseudouridine modifications may be unnecessary for therapeutic application of mRNA in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Kauffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Faryal F Mir
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Siddharth Jhunjhunwala
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James C Kaczmarek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Juan E Hurtado
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jung H Yang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel G Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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17
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Kowalski PS, Kuninty PR, Bijlsma KT, Stuart MCA, Leus NGJ, Ruiters MHJ, Molema G, Kamps JAAM. SAINT-liposome-polycation particles, a new carrier for improved delivery of siRNAs to inflamed endothelial cells. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2014; 89:40-7. [PMID: 25460585 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2014.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 07/07/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Interference with acute and chronic inflammatory processes by means of delivery of siRNAs into microvascular endothelial cells at a site of inflammation demands specific, non-toxic and effective siRNA delivery system. In the current work we describe the design and characterization of siRNA carriers based on cationic pyridinium-derived lipid 1-methyl-4-(cis-9-dioleyl)methyl-pyridinium-chloride) (SAINT-C18) and the transfection enhancer protamine, complexed with siRNA/carrier DNA or siRNA only. These carriers, called SAINT-liposome-polycation-DNA (S-LPD) and SAINT-liposome-polycation (S-LP), have a high efficiency of siRNA encapsulation, low cellular toxicity, and superior efficacy of gene downregulation in endothelial cells in vitro as compared to DOTAP-LPD. Incorporation of 10 mol% PEG and anti-E-selectin antibody in these formulations resulted in selective siRNA delivery into activated endothelial cells. Furthermore, we showed that the physicochemical characteristics of S-LPD and S-LP, including size-stability and maintenance of the siRNA integrity in the presence of serum at 37 °C, comply with requirements for in vivo application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S Kowalski
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Praneeth R Kuninty
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas T Bijlsma
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc C A Stuart
- University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, The Netherlands; Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Niek G J Leus
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel H J Ruiters
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands; Synvolux Therapeutics, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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18
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Dickinson MG, Kowalski PS, Bartelds B, Borgdorff MAJ, van der Feen D, Sietsma H, Molema G, Kamps JAAM, Berger RMF. A critical role for Egr-1 during vascular remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cardiovasc Res 2014; 103:573-84. [PMID: 25028387 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvu169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by the development of unique neointimal lesions in the small pulmonary arteries, leading to increased right ventricular (RV) afterload and failure. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed that target these neointimal lesions. Recently, the transcription factor Egr-1 (early growth response protein 1) was demonstrated to be up-regulated early in experimental neointimal PAH. Its effect on disease development, however, is unknown. We aimed to uncover a novel role for Egr-1 as a molecular inductor for disease development in PAH. METHODS AND RESULTS In experimental flow-associated PAH in rats, we investigated the effects of Egr-1 down-regulation on pulmonary vascular remodelling, including neointimal development, and disease progression. Intravenous administration of catalytic oligodeoxynucleotides (DNA enzymes, DNAzymes) resulted in down-regulation of pulmonary vascular Egr-1 expression. Compared with vehicle or scrambled DNAzymes, DNAzymes attenuated pulmonary vascular remodelling, including the development of occlusive neointimal lesions. Selective down-regulation of Egr-1 in vivo led to reduced expression of vascular PDGF-B, TGF-β, IL-6, and p53, resulting in a reduction of vascular proliferation and increased apoptosis. DNAzyme treatment further attenuated pulmonary vascular resistance, RV systolic pressure, and RV hypertrophy. In contrast, in non-neointimal PH rodents, DNAzyme treatment had no effect on pulmonary vascular and RV remodelling. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of Egr-1 with pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ ligand, attenuated vascular remodelling including the development of neointimal lesions. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that Egr-1 governs pulmonary vascular remodelling and the development of characteristic vascular neointimal lesions in flow-associated PAH. Egr-1 is therefore a potential target for future PAH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Dickinson
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beatrix Children's Hospital and Laboratory CardioVascular Center, GUIDE, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Beatrijs Bartelds
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beatrix Children's Hospital and Laboratory CardioVascular Center, GUIDE, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marinus A J Borgdorff
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beatrix Children's Hospital and Laboratory CardioVascular Center, GUIDE, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diederik van der Feen
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beatrix Children's Hospital and Laboratory CardioVascular Center, GUIDE, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hannie Sietsma
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Pathology Section, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf M F Berger
- Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beatrix Children's Hospital and Laboratory CardioVascular Center, GUIDE, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
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19
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Leus NGJ, Morselt HWM, Zwiers PJ, Kowalski PS, Ruiters MHJ, Molema G, Kamps JAAM. VCAM-1 specific PEGylated SAINT-based lipoplexes deliver siRNA to activated endothelium in vivo but do not attenuate target gene expression. Int J Pharm 2014; 469:121-31. [PMID: 24746643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In recent years much research in RNA nanotechnology has been directed to develop an efficient and clinically suitable delivery system for short interfering RNA (siRNA). The current study describes the in vivo siRNA delivery using PEGylated antibody-targeted SAINT-based-lipoplexes (referred to as antibody-SAINTPEGarg/PEG2%), which showed superior siRNA delivery capacity and effective down-regulation of VE-cadherin gene expression in vitro in inflammation-activated primary endothelial cells of different vascular origins. PEGylation of antibody-SAINTPEGarg resulted in more desirable pharmacokinetic behavior than that of non-PEGylated antibody-SAINTPEGarg. To create specificity for inflammation-activated endothelial cells, antibodies against vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were employed. In TNFα-challenged mice, these intravenously administered anti-VCAM-1-SAINTPEGarg/PEG2% homed to VCAM-1 protein expressing vasculature. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that anti-VCAM-1-SAINTPEGarg/PEG2% co-localized with endothelial cells in lung postcapillary venules. Furthermore, they did not exert any liver and kidney toxicity. Yet, lack of in vivo gene silencing as assessed in whole lung and in laser microdissected lung microvascular segments indicates that in vivo internalization and/or intracellular trafficking of the delivery system and its cargo in the target cells are not sufficient, and needs further attention, emphasizing the essence of evaluating siRNA delivery systems in an appropriate in vivo animal model at an early stage in their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niek G J Leus
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte W M Morselt
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J Zwiers
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel H J Ruiters
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands; Synvolux Therapeutics, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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20
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Kowalski PS, Zwiers PJ, Morselt HWM, Kuldo JM, Leus NGJ, Ruiters MHJ, Molema G, Kamps JAAM. Anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes enable endothelial-specific delivery of siRNA and downregulation of inflammatory genes in activated endothelium in vivo. J Control Release 2014; 176:64-75. [PMID: 24389338 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The pivotal role of endothelial cells in the pathology of inflammatory diseases raised interest in the development of short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery devices for selective pharmacological intervention in the inflamed endothelium. The current study demonstrates endothelial specific delivery of siRNAs and downregulation of inflammatory genes in activated endothelium in vivo by applying a novel type of targeted liposomes based on the cationic amphiphile SAINT-C18 (1-methyl-4-(cis-9-dioleyl)methyl-pyridinium-chloride). To create specificity for inflamed endothelial cells, these so-called SAINT-O-Somes were harnessed with antibodies against vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1). In TNFα challenged mice, intravenously administered anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes exerted long circulation times and homed to VCAM-1 expressing endothelial cells in inflamed organs. The formulations were devoid of liver and kidney toxicity. Using anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes we successfully delivered siRNA to knock down VE-cadherin mRNA in inflamed renal microvasculature, as demonstrated by using laser microdissection of different microvascular beds prior to analysis of gene expression. Using the same strategy, we demonstrated local attenuation of endothelial inflammatory response towards lipopolysaccharide in kidneys of mice treated with anti-VCAM-1 SAINT-O-Somes containing NFκB p65 specific siRNA. This study is the first demonstration of a novel, endothelial specific carrier that is suitable for selective in vivo delivery of siRNAs into inflamed microvascular segments and interference with disease associated endothelial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S Kowalski
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J Zwiers
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte W M Morselt
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna M Kuldo
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Niek G J Leus
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel H J Ruiters
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands; Synvolux Therapeutics, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept. of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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21
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Leus NGJ, Talman EG, Ramana P, Kowalski PS, Woudenberg-Vrenken TE, Ruiters MHJ, Molema G, Kamps JAAM. Effective siRNA delivery to inflamed primary vascular endothelial cells by anti-E-selectin and anti-VCAM-1 PEGylated SAINT-based lipoplexes. Int J Pharm 2013; 459:40-50. [PMID: 24239833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The endothelium represents an attractive therapeutic target due to its pivotal role in many diseases including chronic inflammation and cancer. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specifically interfere with the expression of target genes and are considered an important new class of therapeutics. However, due to their size and charge, siRNAs do not spontaneously enter unperturbed endothelial cells (EC). To overcome this problem, we developed novel lipoplexes for siRNA delivery that are based on the cationic amphiphilic lipid SAINT-C18. Antibodies recognizing disease induced cell adhesion molecules were employed to create cell specificity resulting in so-called antibody-SAINTargs. To improve particle stability, antibody-SAINTargs were further optimized for EC-specific siRNA-mediated gene silencing by addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Although PEGylated antibody-SAINTargs maintained specificity, they lost their siRNA delivery capacity. Coupling of antibodies to the distal end of PEG (so-called antibody-SAINTPEGargs), resulted in anti-E-selectin- and anti-vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1-SAINTPEGarg that preserved their antigen recognition and their capability to specifically deliver siRNA into inflammation-activated primary endothelial cells. The enhanced uptake of siRNA by antibody-SAINTPEGargs was followed by improved silencing of the target gene VE-cadherin, demonstrating that antibody-SAINTPEGargs were capable of functionally delivering siRNA into primary endothelial cells originating from different vascular beds. In conclusion, the newly developed, physicochemically stable, and EC-specific siRNA carrying antibody-SAINTPEGargs selectively down-regulate target genes in primary endothelial cells that are generally difficult to transfect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niek G J Leus
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Pranov Ramana
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Titia E Woudenberg-Vrenken
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel H J Ruiters
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands; Synvolux Therapeutics, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A A M Kamps
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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22
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Kowalski PS, Lintermans LL, Morselt HWM, Leus NGJ, Ruiters MHJ, Molema G, Kamps JAAM. Anti-VCAM-1 and Anti-E-selectin SAINT-O-Somes for Selective Delivery of siRNA into Inflammation-Activated Primary Endothelial Cells. Mol Pharm 2013; 10:3033-44. [DOI: 10.1021/mp4001124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr S. Kowalski
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucas L. Lintermans
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henriëtte W. M. Morselt
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Niek G. J. Leus
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel H. J. Ruiters
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Synvolux Therapeutics, L.J. Zielstraweg
1, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Grietje Molema
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A. A. M. Kamps
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, Medical Biology Section, Laboratory for Endothelial Biomedicine & Vascular Drug Targeting Research, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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23
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Kowalski PS, Leus NGJ, Scherphof GL, Ruiters MHJ, Kamps JAAM, Molema G. Targeted siRNA delivery to diseased microvascular endothelial cells-Cellular and molecular concepts. IUBMB Life 2011; 63:648-58. [DOI: 10.1002/iub.487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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24
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Kowalski PS, Leus NG, Adrian JE, Morselt HW, Ruiters MH, Molema G, Kamps JA. Targeted SAINT-O-Somes, a novel type of liposomes for improved delivery of siRNA. Drug Discov Today 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2010.09.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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25
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Higgins WJ, Fox DM, Kowalski PS, Nielsen JE, Worrall DM. Heparin enhances serpin inhibition of the cysteine protease cathepsin L. J Biol Chem 2009; 285:3722-3729. [PMID: 19959474 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.037358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycosaminoglycan heparin is known to possess antimetastatic activity in experimental models and preclinical studies, but there is still uncertainty over its mechanism of action in this respect. As an anticoagulant, heparin enhances inhibition of thrombin by the serpin antithrombin III, but a similar cofactor role has not been previously investigated for proteases linked to metastasis. The squamous cell carcinoma antigens (serpins B3 and B4) are tumor-associated proteins that can inhibit papain-like cysteine proteases, including cathepsins L, K, and S. In this study, we show that SCCA-1 (B3) and SCCA-2 (B4) can bind heparin as demonstrated by affinity chromatography, native PAGE gel shifts, and intrinsic fluorescence quenching. Binding was specific for heparin and heparan sulfate but not other glycosaminoglycans. The presence of heparin accelerated inhibition of cathepsin L by both serpins, and in the case of SCCA-1, heparin increased the second order inhibition rate constant from 5.4 x 10(5) to >10(8), indicating a rate enhancement of at least 180-fold. A templating mechanism was shown, consistent with ternary complex formation. Furthermore, SCCA-1 inhibition of cathepsin L-like proteolytic activity secreted from breast and melanoma cancer cell lines was significantly enhanced by heparin. This is the first example of glycosaminoglycan enhancement of B-clade serpin activity and the first report of heparin acting as a cofactor in serpin cross-class inhibition of cysteine proteases. Most importantly, this finding raises the possibility that the anticancer properties of heparin may be due, at least partly, to enhanced inhibition of prometastatic proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne J Higgins
- From the University College Dublin School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Denise M Fox
- From the University College Dublin School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Piotr S Kowalski
- From the University College Dublin School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Jens E Nielsen
- From the University College Dublin School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - D Margaret Worrall
- From the University College Dublin School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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