Application of periostin peptide-decorated self-assembled protein cage nanoparticles for therapeutic angiogenesis

Peptides are gaining substantial attention as therapeutics for human diseases. However, they have limitations such as low bioavailability and poor pharmacokinetics. Periostin, a matricellular protein, can stimulate the repair of ischemic tissues by promoting angiogenesis. We have previously reported that a novel angiogenic peptide (amino acids 142-151) is responsible for the pro-angiogenic activity of periostin. To improve the in vivo delivery efficiency of periostin peptide (PP), we used proteins self-assembled into a hollow cage-like structure as a drug delivery nanoplatform in the present study. The periostin peptide was genetically inserted into lumazine synthase (isolated from Aquifex aeolicus) consisting of 60 identical subunits with an icosahedral capsid architecture. The periostin peptide-bearing lumazine synthase protein cage nanoparticle with 60 periostin peptides multivalently displayed was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Next, we examined angiogenic activities of this periostin peptide-bearing lumazine synthase protein cage nanoparticle. AaLS-periostin peptide (AaLS-PP), but not AaLS, promoted migration, proliferation, and tube formation of human endothelial colony-forming cells in vitro. Intramuscular injection of PP and AaLS-PP increased blood perfusion and attenuated severe limb loss in the ischemic hindlimb. However, AaLS did not increase blood perfusion or alleviate tissue necrosis. Moreover, in vivo administration of AaLS-PP, but not AaLS, stimulated angiogenesis in the ischemic hindlimb. These results suggest that AaLS is a highly useful nanoplatform for delivering pro-angiogenic peptides such as PP. [BMB Reports 2022; 55(4): 175-180].

Identification and characterization of multifunctional cationic and amphipathic peptides from soybean proteins

In this study, we identified and chemically synthesized three cationic and amphipathic peptides (Glycinin-17, BCAS-16, and BCBS-11) from soybean proteins. These peptides had high isoelectric points, high positive net charges, and included multiple hydrophobic amino acids. Subsequently, we identified multiple functions of these peptides, including antimicrobial, lipopolysaccharide-neutralizing, and angiogenic activities, and examined their cytotoxic activities against mammalian red blood cells. Glycinin-17, BCAS-16, and BCBS-11 exhibited antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans whereas Glycinin-17 did not possess antimicrobial effects on Propionibacterium acnes and Streptococcus mutans. Membrane-depolarization assays and flow cytometric analyses showed that the antimicrobial properties of Glycinin-17, BCAS-16, and BCBS-11 against P. gingivalis, P. acnes, and S. mutans were dependent on membrane-disrupting potential. In contrast, major antimicrobial activities of these peptides against C. albicans were dependent on interactions with targets other than cell membranes. Furthermore, chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assays showed that 50% effective concentrations (EC50 , 0.12-0.31 μM) of these three peptides neutralize LPS with similar potency (EC50 : 0.11 μM) to that of polymyxin B. Moreover, tube-formation assays in human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed similar angiogenic activities of the three peptides as that following treatment with LL-37. Although BCAS-16 exhibited hemolytic activity, the rate of hemolysis for Glycinin-17 and BCBS-11 in the presence of 500-μM Glycinin-17 and BCBS-11 was less than 2%. These results demonstrate that cationic and amphipathic peptides from soybean proteins, particularly Glycinin-17 and BCBS-11, have potential as multifunctional ingredients for healthcare applications.