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Quercini L, Brunetti J, Riolo G, Bindi S, Scali S, Lampronti I, D'Aversa E, Wronski S, Pollini S, Gentile M, Lupetti P, Rossolini GM, Falciani C, Bracci L, Pini A. An antimicrobial molecule mitigates signs of sepsis in vivo and eradicates infections from lung tissue. FASEB J 2019; 34:192-207. [PMID: 31914681 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901896rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The peptide sequence KKIRVRLSA was synthesized in a dimeric structure (SET-M33DIM) and evaluated as a candidate drug for infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens. SET-M33DIM showed significant antibacterial activity against MDR strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration [MICs], 1.5-11 µM), and less activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs, 11-22 µM). It showed very low toxicity in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo; in cytotoxicity tests, its EC50 was as much as 22 times better than that of SET-M33, a peptide with the same amino-acid sequence, but synthesized in tetra-branched form (638 vs 28 µM). In in vivo and ex vivo experiments, SET-M33DIM cleared P. aeruginosa infection, significantly reducing signs of sepsis in animals, and restoring cell viability in lung tissue after bacterial challenge. It also quelled inflammation triggered by LPS and live bacterial cells, inhibiting expression of inflammatory mediators in lung tissue, cultured macrophages, and bronchial cells from a cystic fibrosis patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jlenia Brunetti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Riolo
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Bindi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Scali
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lampronti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisabetta D'Aversa
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sabine Wronski
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Member of Fraunhofer international Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Simona Pollini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Lupetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Falciani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Brunetti J, Falciani C, Roscia G, Pollini S, Bindi S, Scali S, Arrieta UC, Gómez-Vallejo V, Quercini L, Ibba E, Prato M, Rossolini GM, Llop J, Bracci L, Pini A. In vitro and in vivo efficacy, toxicity, bio-distribution and resistance selection of a novel antibacterial drug candidate. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26077. [PMID: 27169671 PMCID: PMC4864329 DOI: 10.1038/srep26077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A synthetic antimicrobial peptide was identified as a possible candidate for the development of a new antibacterial drug. The peptide, SET-M33L, showed a MIC90 below 1.5 μM and 3 μM for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. In in vivo models of P. aeruginosa infections, the peptide and its pegylated form (SET-M33L-PEG) enabled a survival percentage of 60–80% in sepsis and lung infections when injected twice i.v. at 5 mg/Kg, and completely healed skin infections when administered topically. Plasma clearance showed different kinetics for SET-M33L and SET-M33L-PEG, the latter having greater persistence two hours after injection. Bio-distribution in organs did not show significant differences in uptake of the two peptides. Unlike colistin, SET-M33L did not select resistant mutants in bacterial cultures and also proved non genotoxic and to have much lower in vivo toxicity than antimicrobial peptides already used in clinical practice. The characterizations reported here are part of a preclinical development plan that should bring the molecule to clinical trial in the next few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jlenia Brunetti
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Roscia
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Pollini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Bindi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Scali
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Unai Cossio Arrieta
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | - Leila Quercini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisa Ibba
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Prato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.,Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Florence, Italy
| | - Jordi Llop
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Imaging Group CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Luisa Bracci
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
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Falciani C, Lozzi L, Pollini S, Luca V, Carnicelli V, Brunetti J, Lelli B, Bindi S, Scali S, Di Giulio A, Rossolini GM, Mangoni ML, Bracci L, Pini A. Isomerization of an antimicrobial peptide broadens antimicrobial spectrum to gram-positive bacterial pathogens. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46259. [PMID: 23056272 PMCID: PMC3462775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The branched M33 antimicrobial peptide was previously shown to be very active against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including multidrug-resistant strains. In an attempt to produce back-up molecules, we synthesized an M33 peptide isomer consisting of D-aminoacids (M33-D). This isomeric version showed 4 to 16-fold higher activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, than the original peptide, while retaining strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of both peptides was influenced by their differential sensitivity to bacterial proteases. The better activity shown by M33-D against S. aureus compared to M33-L was confirmed in biofilm eradication experiments where M33-L showed 12% activity with respect to M33-D, and in vivo models where Balb-c mice infected with S. aureus showed 100% and 0% survival when treated with M33-D and M33-L, respectively. M33-D appears to be an interesting candidate for the development of novel broad-spectrum antimicrobials active against bacterial pathogens of clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falciani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Luisa Lozzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Pollini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Fanelli, Università di Roma, La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - Veronica Carnicelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Lelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Bindi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Scali
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Giulio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Fanelli, Università di Roma, La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Pini A, Lozzi L, Bernini A, Brunetti J, Falciani C, Scali S, Bindi S, Di Maggio T, Rossolini GM, Niccolai N, Bracci L. Efficacy and toxicity of the antimicrobial peptide M33 produced with different counter-ions. Amino Acids 2011; 43:467-73. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-1103-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 09/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Pini A, Falciani C, Mantengoli E, Bindi S, Brunetti J, Iozzi S, Rossolini GM, Bracci L. A novel tetrabranched antimicrobial peptide that neutralizes bacterial lipopolysaccharide and prevents septic shock in vivo. FASEB J 2009; 24:1015-22. [PMID: 19917670 DOI: 10.1096/fj.09-145474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We describe the nonnatural antimicrobial peptide KKIRVRLSA (M33) and its capacity to neutralize LPS-induced cytokine release, preventing septic shock in animals infected with bacterial species of clinical interest. M33 showed strong resistance to proteolytic degradation when synthesized in tetrabranched form with 4 peptides linked by a lysine core, making it suitable for use in vivo. HPLC and mass spectrometry demonstrated its stability in serum beyond 24 h. M33 was found to be very selective for gram-negative bacteria. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.3 to 3 muM for multidrug resistant clinical isolates of several pathogenic species, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. M33 neutralized LPS derived from P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae, and prevented TNF-alpha release from LPS-activated macrophages, with an EC(50) of 3.8e-8 M and 2.8e-7 M, respectively, as detected by sandwich ELISA. M33 activity was also tested in sepsis animal models. It averted septic shock symptoms due to Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa in doses compatible with clinical use (5-25 mg/kg). These properties make tetrabranched M33 peptide a good candidate for the development of a new antibacterial drug.-Pini, A., Falciani, C., Mantengoli, E., Bindi, S., Brunetti, J., Iozzi, S., Rossolini, G. M., Bracci, L. A novel tetrabranched antimicrobial peptide that neutralizes bacterial lipopolysaccharide and prevents septic shock in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pini
- University of Siena, Molecular Biology Department, Section of Biochemistry, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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Falciani C, Fabbrini M, Pini A, Lozzi L, Lelli B, Pileri S, Brunetti J, Bindi S, Scali S, Bracci L. Synthesis and biological activity of stable branched neurotensin peptides for tumor targeting. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:2441-8. [PMID: 17766836 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-07-0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Receptors for endogenous regulatory peptides, like the neuropeptide neurotensin, are overexpressed in several human cancers and can be targets for peptide-mediated tumor-selective therapy. Peptides, however, have the main drawback of an extremely short half-life in vivo. We showed that neurotensin and other endogenous peptides, when synthesized as dendrimers, retain biological activity and become resistant to proteolysis. Here, we synthesized the neurotensin functional fragment NT(8-13) in a tetrabranched form linked to different units for tumor therapy or diagnosis. Fluorescent molecules were used to monitor receptor binding and internalization in HT29 human adenocarcinoma cells and receptor binding in HT29 tumor xenografts in nude mice. Linking of chemotherapic molecules like chlorin e6 and methotrexate to dendrimers resulted in a dramatic increase in drug selectivity, uptake of which by target cells became dependent on peptide receptor binding. When nude mice carrying human tumor xenografts were treated with branched NT(8-13)-methotrexate, a 60% reduction in tumor growth was observed with respect to mice treated with the free drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falciani
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy 53100.
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Fabbrini M, Trachsel E, Soldani P, Bindi S, Alessi P, Bracci L, Kosmehl H, Zardi L, Neri D, Neri P. Selective occlusion of tumor blood vessels by targeted delivery of an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate. Int J Cancer 2006; 118:1805-13. [PMID: 16217760 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.21412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The irregular vasculature and high interstitial pressure of solid tumors hinder the delivery of cytotoxic agents to cancer cells. As a consequence, the doses of chemotherapy necessary to achieve complete tumor eradication are associated with unacceptably high toxicities. The selective thrombosis of tumor blood vessels has been postulated as an alternative avenue for combating cancer, depriving tumors of nutrients and oxygen and causing an avalanche of tumor cell deaths. The human antibody L19, specific to the EDB domain of fibronectin, a marker of angiogenesis, is capable of selective in vivo localization around tumor blood vessels and is thus a suitable agent for delivering toxic payloads to the tumor neovasculature. Here we show that a chemical conjugate of the L19 antibody with the photosensitizer bis(triethanolamine)Sn(IV) chlorin e(6), after intravenous injection and irradiation with red light, caused an arrest of tumor growth in mice with subcutaneous tumors. By contrast, a photosensitizer conjugate obtained with an antibody of identical pharmacokinetic properties but irrelevant specificity did not exhibit a significant therapeutic effect. These results confirm that vascular targeting strategies, aimed at the selective occlusion/disruption of tumor blood vessels, have a significant anticancer therapeutic potential and encourage the use of antibody-photosensitizer conjugates for the therapy of superficial tumors and possibly other angiogenesis-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Fabbrini
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Perrotta E, Altamura M, Barani T, Bindi S, Giannotti D, Harmat NJ, Nannicini R, Maggi CA. 2,6-Diketopiperazines from amino acids, from solution-phase to solid-phase organic synthesis. J Comb Chem 2001; 3:453-60. [PMID: 11549363 DOI: 10.1021/cc0000904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A method to prepare 1,3-disubstituted 2,6-diketopiperazines (2,6-DKP) as useful heterocyclic library scaffolds in the search of new leads for drug discovery is described. The method can be used in solution-phase and solid-phase conditions. In the key step of the synthesis, the imido portion of the new molecule is formed in solution through intramolecular cyclization, under basic conditions, of a secondary amide nitrogen on a benzyl ester. A Wang resin carboxylic ester is used as the acylating agent under solid-phase conditions, allowing the cyclization to take place with simultaneous cleavage of the product from the resin ("cyclocleavage"). The synthetic method worked well with several couples of amino acids, independently from their configuration, and was used for the parallel synthesis of a series of fully characterized compounds. The use of iterative conditions in the solid phase (repeated addition of fresh solvent and potassium carbonate to the resin after filtering out the product-containing solution) allowed us to keep diastereoisomer content below the detection limit by HPLC and (1)H NMR (200 MHz).
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Affiliation(s)
- E Perrotta
- Department of Chemistry, Menarini Ricerche S.p.A., I-50131 Firenze, Italy
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Mordini A, Bindi S, Capperucci A, Nistri D, Reginato G, Valacchi M. Stereoselective access to hydroxy oxetanes and tetrahydrooxepines through isomerization of oxiranyl ethers. J Org Chem 2001; 66:3201-5. [PMID: 11325289 DOI: 10.1021/jo0005924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Mordini
- Centro CNR Composti Eterociclici, Dipartimento di Chimica Organica U. Schiff, via G. Capponi 9, I-50121 Firenze, Italy.
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