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Michl J, White B, Monterisi S, Bodmer WF, Swietach P. Phenotypic screen of sixty-eight colorectal cancer cell lines identifies CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 as markers of acid resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319055121. [PMID: 38502695 PMCID: PMC10990159 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319055121] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Elevated cancer metabolism releases lactic acid and CO2 into the under-perfused tumor microenvironment, resulting in extracellular acidosis. The surviving cancer cells must adapt to this selection pressure; thus, targeting tumor acidosis is a rational therapeutic strategy to manage tumor growth. However, none of the major approved treatments are based explicitly on disrupting acid handling, signaling, or adaptations, possibly because the distinction between acid-sensitive and acid-resistant phenotypes is not clear. Here, we report pH-related phenotypes of sixty-eight colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines by measuring i) extracellular acidification as a readout of acid production by fermentative metabolism and ii) growth of cell biomass over a range of extracellular pH (pHe) levels as a measure of the acid sensitivity of proliferation. Based on these measurements, CRC cell lines were grouped along two dimensions as "acid-sensitive"/"acid-resistant" versus "low metabolic acid production"/"high metabolic acid production." Strikingly, acid resistance was associated with the expression of CEACAM6 and CEACAM5 genes coding for two related cell-adhesion molecules, and among pH-regulating genes, of CA12. CEACAM5/6 protein levels were strongly induced by acidity, with a further induction under hypoxia in a subset of CRC lines. Lack of CEACAM6 (but not of CEACAM5) reduced cell growth and their ability to differentiate. Finally, CEACAM6 levels were strongly increased in human colorectal cancers from stage II and III patients, compared to matched samples from adjacent normal tissues. Thus, CEACAM6 is a marker of acid-resistant clones in colorectal cancer and a potential motif for targeting therapies to acidic regions within the tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Michl
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Bobby White
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Monterisi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Walter F. Bodmer
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3PT, United Kingdom
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2
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Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Iraca M, Klumpp C, Visca H, Allababidi D, Pelzer P, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Targeted intracellular delivery of dimeric STINGa by two pHLIP peptides for treatment of solid tumors. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1346756. [PMID: 38495104 PMCID: PMC10940318 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1346756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: We have developed a delivery approach that uses two pHLIP peptides that collaborate in the targeted intracellular delivery of a single payload, dimeric STINGa (dMSA). Methods: dMSA was conjugated with two pHLIP peptides via S-S cleavable self-immolating linkers to form 2pHLIP-dMSA. Results: Biophysical studies were carried out to confirm pH-triggered interactions of the 2pHLIP-dMSA with membrane lipid bilayers. The kinetics of linker self-immolation and dMSA release, the pharmacokinetics, the binding to plasma proteins, the stability of the agent in plasma, the targeting and resulting cytokine activation in tumors, and the biodistribution of the construct was investigated. This is the first study demonstrating that combining the energy of the membrane-associated folding of two pHLIPs can be utilized to enhance the targeted intracellular delivery of large therapeutic cargo payloads. Discussion: Linking two pHLIPs to the cargo extends blood half-life, and targeted delivery of dimeric STINGa induces tumor eradication and the development of robust anti-cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Marissa Iraca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Craig Klumpp
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Dana Allababidi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Phoebe Pelzer
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Department, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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3
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Bogdanov A, Verlov N, Bogdanov A, Burdakov V, Semiletov V, Egorenkov V, Volkov N, Moiseyenko V. Tumor alkalization therapy: misconception or good therapeutics perspective? - the case of malignant ascites. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1342802. [PMID: 38390269 PMCID: PMC10881708 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1342802] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor acidity has been identified as a key factor in promoting cancer progression, metastasis, and resistance. Tumor alkalization therapy has emerged as a potential strategy for cancer treatment. This article provides preclinical and clinical evidence for tumor alkalization therapy as a promising cancer treatment strategy. The potential of tumor alkalization therapy using sodium bicarbonate in the treatment of malignant ascites was studied. The concept of intraperitoneal perfusion with an alkalizing solution to increase the extracellular pH and its antitumor effect were explored. The significant extension in the overall survival of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma mice treated with sodium bicarbonate solution compared to those treated with a sodium chloride solution was observed. In the sodium bicarbonate group, mice had a median survival of 30 days after tumor cell injection, which was significantly (p<0.05) different from the median survival of 18 days in the sodium chloride group and 14 days in the intact group. We also performed a case study of a patient with ovarian cancer malignant ascites resistant to previous lines of chemotherapy who underwent intraperitoneal perfusions with a sodium bicarbonate solution, resulting in a significant drop of CA-125 levels from 5600 U/mL to 2200 U/mL in and disappearance of ascites, indicating the potential effectiveness of the treatment. The preclinical and clinical results obtained using sodium bicarbonate perfusion in the treatment of malignant ascites represent a small yet significant contribution to the evolving field of tumor alkalization as a cancer therapy. They unequivocally affirm the good prospects of this concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Bogdanov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikolay Verlov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey Bogdanov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Burdakov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Valeriy Semiletov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vitaliy Egorenkov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Nikita Volkov
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Moiseyenko
- Napalkov Saint Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncological), Saint Petersburg, Russia
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4
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Zhang P, Li B, Wang Z, Li J, Wang F, Kong J, Zhou Z, Huang Y, Li L. Durable Attenuation of Tumor pH-Platelet Linkage Reinstates Bioorthogonal Targeting of Residual Tumors Post-Debulking. ACS Nano 2024; 18:4520-4538. [PMID: 38270077 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11536] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
There are circumstances where tumors can only be partially resected. Therefore, multimodality therapy targeting post-operative residuals is important. Here, we show that bioorthogonal click chemistry enables targeted delivery to heterogeneous tumors, but its utility against tumor post-debulking is ineffective due to platelet cloaks that shield tumor cells from bioorthogonal pairing. We further discover tumor-infiltrating platelet levels respond to local pH changes. Elucidating this pH-platelet linkage, we design an injectable hydrogel for resection cavity implantation that simultaneously azido-tags tumor cells and inhibit their catalysis to acidify surrounding milieu. Unlike transient buffering, tumor acidification blockade sustains pH normalization, leading to durable platelet reduction. This reinstates bioorthogonal targeting of dibenzyl cyclooctyne-modified nanoparticles, thereby enhancing photodynamic ablation of residuals while amplifying systemic antitumor immunity. Concurrently, platelet/pH normalization interrupts metastasis cascade from invasion to circulation to colonization. Overall, attenuating tumor pH-platelet linkage unlocks bioorthogonal chemistry as a potential option for adjuvant therapy after tumor debulking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ziyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junlin Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fengju Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jinxia Kong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lian Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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5
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Rizzo S, Sikorski E, Park S, Im W, Vasquez‐Montes V, Ladokhin AS, Thévenin D. Promoting the activity of a receptor tyrosine phosphatase with a novel pH-responsive transmembrane agonist inhibits cancer-associated phenotypes. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4742. [PMID: 37515426 PMCID: PMC10461461 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4742] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cell signaling by receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is tightly controlled by the counterbalancing actions of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs). Due to their role in attenuating the signal-initiating potency of RTKs, RPTPs have long been viewed as therapeutic targets. However, the development of activators of RPTPs has remained limited. We previously reported that the homodimerization of a representative member of the RPTP family (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor J or PTPRJ) is regulated by specific transmembrane (TM) residues. Disrupting this interaction by single point mutations promotes PTPRJ access to its RTK substrates (e.g., EGFR and FLT3), reduces RTK's phosphorylation and downstream signaling, and ultimately antagonizes RTK-driven cell phenotypes. Here, we designed and tested a series of first-in-class pH-responsive TM peptide agonists of PTPRJ that are soluble in aqueous solution but insert as a helical TM domain in lipid membranes when the pH is lowered to match that of the acidic microenvironment of tumors. The most promising peptide reduced EGFR's phosphorylation and inhibited cancer cell EGFR-driven migration and proliferation, similar to the PTPRJ's TM point mutations. Developing tumor-selective and TM-targeting peptide binders of critical RPTPs could afford a potentially transformative approach to studying RPTP's selectivity mechanism without requiring less specific inhibitors and represent a novel class of therapeutics against RTK-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Rizzo
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Eden Sikorski
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Soohyung Park
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Victor Vasquez‐Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Alexey S. Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
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6
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Michl J, Monterisi S, White B, Blaszczak W, Hulikova A, Abdullayeva G, Bridges E, Yin Z, Bodmer WF, Swietach P. Acid-adapted cancer cells alkalinize their cytoplasm by degrading the acid-loading membrane transporter anion exchanger 2, SLC4A2. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112601. [PMID: 37270778 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidic environments reduce the intracellular pH (pHi) of most cells to levels that are sub-optimal for growth and cellular functions. Yet, cancers maintain an alkaline cytoplasm despite low extracellular pH (pHe). Raised pHi is thought to be beneficial for tumor progression and invasiveness. However, the transport mechanisms underpinning this adaptation have not been studied systematically. Here, we characterize the pHe-pHi relationship in 66 colorectal cancer cell lines and identify the acid-loading anion exchanger 2 (AE2, SLC4A2) as a regulator of resting pHi. Cells adapt to chronic extracellular acidosis by degrading AE2 protein, which raises pHi and reduces acid sensitivity of growth. Acidity inhibits mTOR signaling, which stimulates lysosomal function and AE2 degradation, a process reversed by bafilomycin A1. We identify AE2 degradation as a mechanism for maintaining a conducive pHi in tumors. As an adaptive mechanism, inhibiting lysosomal degradation of AE2 is a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Michl
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Stefania Monterisi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Bobby White
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Wiktoria Blaszczak
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Alzbeta Hulikova
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Gulnar Abdullayeva
- MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Esther Bridges
- Department of NDM Experimental Medicine, MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, JR Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Zinan Yin
- Department of NDM Experimental Medicine, MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, JR Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Walter F Bodmer
- MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
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7
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DuPont M, Visca H, Moshnikova A, Engelman DM, Reshetnyak YK, Andreev OA. Tumor treatment by pHLIP-targeted antigen delivery. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 10:1082290. [PMID: 36686229 PMCID: PMC9853002 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1082290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted antigen delivery allows activation of the immune system to kill cancer cells. Here we report the targeted delivery of various epitopes, including a peptide, a small molecule, and a sugar, to tumors by pH Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs), which respond to surface acidity and insert to span the membranes of metabolically activated cancer and immune cells within tumors. Epitopes linked to the extracellular ends of pH Low Insertion Peptide peptides were positioned at the surfaces of tumor cells and were recognized by corresponding anti-epitope antibodies. Special attention was devoted to the targeted delivery of the nine residue HA peptide epitope from the Flu virus hemagglutinin. The HA sequence is not present in the human genome, and immunity is readily developed during viral infection or immunization with KLH-HA supplemented with adjuvants. We tested and refined a series of double-headed HA-pHLIP agents, where two HA epitopes were linked to a single pH Low Insertion Peptide peptide via two Peg12 or Peg24 polymers, which enable HA epitopes to engage both antibody binding sites. HA-epitopes positioned at the surfaces of tumor cells remain exposed to the extracellular space for 24-48 h and are then internalized. Different vaccination schemes and various adjuvants, including analogs of FDA approved adjuvants, were tested in mice and resulted in a high titer of anti-HA antibodies. Anti-HA antibody binds HA-pHLIP in blood and travels as a complex leading to significant tumor targeting with no accumulation in organs and to hepatic clearance. HA-pHLIP agents induced regression of 4T1 triple negative breast tumor and B16F10 MHC-I negative melanoma tumors in immunized mice. The therapeutic efficacy potentially is limited by the drop of the level of anti-HA antibodies in the blood to background level after three injections of HA-pHLIP. We hypothesize that additional boosts would be required to keep a high titer of anti-HA antibodies to enhance efficacy. pH Low Insertion Peptide-targeted antigen therapy may provide an opportunity to treat tumors unresponsive to T cell based therapies, having a small number of neo-antigens, or deficient in MHC-I presentation at the surfaces of cancer cells either alone or in combination with other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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8
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Wang H, Wang B, Jiang J, Wu Y, Song A, Wang X, Yao C, Dai H, Xu J, Zhang Y, Ma Q, Xu F, Li R, Wang C. SnSe Nanosheets Mimic Lactate Dehydrogenase to Reverse Tumor Acid Microenvironment Metabolism for Enhancement of Tumor Therapy. Molecules 2022; 27. [PMID: 36500643 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) is unfriendly to the activity and function of immune cells in the TME. Here, we report inorganic nanozymes (i.e., SnSe NSs) that mimic the catalytic activity of lactate dehydrogenase to degrade lactate to pyruvate, contributing to the metabolic treatment of tumors. As found in this study, SnSe NSs successfully decreased lactate levels in cells and tumors, as well as reduced tumor acidity. This is associated with activation of the immune response of T cells, thus alleviating the immunosuppressive environment of the TME. More importantly, the nanozyme successfully inhibited tumor growth in mutilate mouse tumor models. Thus, SnSe NSs show a promising result in lactate depletion and tumor suppression, which exemplifies its potential strategy in targeting lactate for metabolic therapy.
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Moshnikova A, Golijanin B, Amin A, Doyle J, Kott O, Gershman B, DuPont M, Li Y, Lu X, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK, Golijanin D. Targeting Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma with pHLIP-ICG and Inhibition of Urothelial Cancer Cell Proliferation by pHLIP-amanitin. Front Urol 2022; 2:868919. [PMID: 36439552 PMCID: PMC9691284 DOI: 10.3389/fruro.2022.868919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Acidity is a useful biomarker for the targeting of metabolically active-cells in tumors. pH Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs) sense the pH at the surfaces of tumor cells and can facilitate intracellular delivery of cell-permeable and cell-impermeable cargo molecules. In this study we have shown the targeting of malignant lesions in human bladders by fluorescent pHLIP agents, intracellular delivery of amanitin toxin by pHLIP for the inhibition of urothelial cancer cell proliferation, and enhanced potency of pHLIP-amanitin for cancer cells with 17p loss, a mutation frequently present in urothelial cancers. Twenty-eight ex-vivo bladder specimens, from patients undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, were treated via intravesical incubation for 15-60 minutes with pHLIP conjugated to indocyanine green (ICG) or IR-800 near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dyes at concentrations of 4-8 μM. White light cystoscopy identified 47/58 (81%) and NIRF pHLIP cystoscopy identified 57/58 (98.3%) of malignant lesions of different subtypes and stages selected for histopathological processing. pHLIP NIRF imaging improved diagnosis by 17.3% (p < 0.05). All carcinoma-in-situ cases missed by white light cystoscopy were targeted by pHLIP agents and were diagnosed by NIRF imaging. We also investigated the interactions of pHLIP-amanitin with urothelial cancer cells of different grades. pHLIP-amanitin produced concentration- and pH-dependent inhibition of the proliferation of urothelial cancer cells treated for 2 hrs at concentrations up to 4 μM. A 3-4x enhanced cytotoxicity of pHLIP-amanitin was observed for cells with a 17p loss after 2 hrs of treatment at pH6. Potentially, pHLIP technology may improve the management of urothelial cancers, including imaging of malignant lesions using pHLIP-ICG for diagnosis and surgery, and the use of pHLIP-amanitin for treatment of superficial bladder cancers via intravesical instillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Borivoj Golijanin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ali Amin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Joshua Doyle
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Current address: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ohad Kott
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Boris Gershman
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Current address: Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xiongbin Lu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Melvin & Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | | | - Dragan Golijanin
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
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10
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Michl J, Wang Y, Monterisi S, Blaszczak W, Beveridge R, Bridges EM, Koth J, Bodmer WF, Swietach P. CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies oxidative phosphorylation as essential for cancer cell survival at low extracellular pH. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110493. [PMID: 35263578 PMCID: PMC8924371 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike most cell types, many cancer cells survive at low extracellular pH (pHe), a chemical signature of tumors. Genes that facilitate survival under acid stress are therefore potential targets for cancer therapies. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 cell viability screen at physiological and acidic conditions to systematically identify gene knockouts associated with pH-related fitness defects in colorectal cancer cells. Knockouts of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (NDUFS1) and iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis (IBA57, NFU1) grew well at physiological pHe, but underwent profound cell death under acidic conditions. We identified several small-molecule inhibitors of mitochondrial metabolism that can kill cancer cells at low pHe only. Xenografts established from NDUFS1-/- cells grew considerably slower than their wild-type controls, but growth could be stimulated with systemic bicarbonate therapy that lessens the tumoral acid stress. These findings raise the possibility of therapeutically targeting mitochondrial metabolism in combination with acid stress as a cancer treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Michl
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
| | - Yunyi Wang
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Stefania Monterisi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Wiktoria Blaszczak
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Ryan Beveridge
- Virus Screening Facility, MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Esther M Bridges
- Department of NDM Experimental Medicine, MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, JR Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Jana Koth
- MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Walter F Bodmer
- MRC Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
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11
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Ando H. [Elucidation for Intratumor Localization of a DDS-based Anticancer Drug and Enhancement of Its Therapeutic Effects via Improvement of the Tumor Microenvironment]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2021; 141:1241-1245. [PMID: 34719544 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.21-00148] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In the development of drug delivery system (DDS)-based anticancer drugs, the techniques for the intratumor mapping and quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in pharmaceuticals must be pivotal for predicting pharmacological effects and adverse events. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is a potent analytical tool for mapping/quantifying platinum pharmaceutics such as oxaliplatin (l-OHP) and its liposomal formulation. In recent studies, we employed XRF to visualize the intratumor micro-distribution of l-OHP in a tumor-bearing model mouse intravenously injected with either free l-OHP or l-OHP liposomes. The intratumor distribution of l-OHP within tumor sections could be determined by XRF to detect platinum atoms. After treatment with the liposomal formulation, the l-OHP was localized near the tumor vessels and, via repeated injections, increasingly accumulated in tumors by a much greater degree than treatment with free l-OHP. The repeated injections of l-OHP liposomes improved the vascular permeability via inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells near the tumor vessels, which should improve the tumor microenvironment and enhance the intratumor accumulation of repeated doses of l-OHP liposomes. The proposed process was also used to visualize the intratumor distribution of l-OHP in rectal cancer specimens resected from a patient who had received l-OHP-based preoperative chemotherapy. We further revealed that neutralization of an acidic tumor microenvironment via oral administration with NaHCO3 could improve the therapeutic efficacy of weakly basic anticancer agent-encapsulating liposomes. Collectively, mapping/quantifying the intratumor API in DDS drugs and/or improving the tumor microenvironment would be an effective means to accelerate the clinical development of DDS-based anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Ando
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University
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12
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Svoronos AA, Engelman DM. Pharmacokinetic modeling reveals parameters that govern tumor targeting and delivery by a pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2016605118. [PMID: 33443162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016605118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors exhibit an acidic extracellular microenvironment that is accentuated at cell surfaces. As a result, they can be targeted by a pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP), an acid-triggered tumor-targeting peptide that can also serve as a vehicle for drug delivery. In this work, we use a pharmacokinetic modeling approach to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms and factors that influence pHLIP tumor targeting and delivery, and also identify factors that do not. In so doing, we predict pHLIP phenotypes with significantly enhanced capabilities. The model may therefore be useful for guiding the future development of pHLIP variants. A pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) is a pH-sensitive peptide that undergoes membrane insertion, resulting in transmembrane helix formation, on exposure to acidity at a tumor cell surface. As a result, pHLIPs preferentially accumulate within tumors and can be used for tumor-targeted imaging and drug delivery. Here we explore the determinants of pHLIP insertion, targeting, and delivery through a computational modeling approach. We generate a simple mathematical model to describe the transmembrane insertion process and then integrate it into a pharmacokinetic model, which predicts the tumor vs. normal tissue biodistribution of the most studied pHLIP, “wild-type pHLIP,” over time after a single intravenous injection. From these models, we gain insight into the various mechanisms behind pHLIP tumor targeting and delivery, as well as the various biological parameters that influence it. Furthermore, we analyze how changing the properties of pHLIP can influence the efficacy of tumor targeting and delivery, and we predict the properties for optimal pHLIP phenotypes that have superior tumor targeting and delivery capabilities compared with wild-type pHLIP.
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13
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Slaybaugh G, Weerakkody D, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Kinetics of pHLIP peptide insertion into and exit from a membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12095-100. [PMID: 32409607 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917857117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To advance mechanistic understanding of membrane-associated peptide folding and insertion, we have studied the kinetics of three single tryptophan pHLIP (pH-Low Insertion Peptide) variants, where tryptophan residues are located near the N terminus, near the middle, and near the inserting C-terminal end of the pHLIP transmembrane helix. Single-tryptophan pHLIP variants allowed us to probe different parts of the peptide in the pathways of peptide insertion into the lipid bilayer (triggered by a pH drop) and peptide exit from the bilayer (triggered by a rise in pH). By using pH jumps of different magnitudes, we slowed down the processes and established the intermediates that helped us to understand the principles of insertion and exit. The obtained results should also aid the applications in medicine that are now entering the clinic.
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14
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Svoronos AA, Bahal R, Pereira MC, Barrera FN, Deacon JC, Bosenberg M, DiMaio D, Glazer PM, Engelman DM. Tumor-Targeted, Cytoplasmic Delivery of Large, Polar Molecules Using a pH-Low Insertion Peptide. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:461-471. [PMID: 31855437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-targeted drug delivery systems offer not only the advantage of an enhanced therapeutic index, but also the possibility of overcoming the limitations that have largely restricted drug design to small, hydrophobic, "drug-like" molecules. Here, we explore the ability of a tumor-targeted delivery system centered on the use of a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) to directly deliver moderately polar, multi-kDa molecules into tumor cells. A pHLIP is a short, pH-responsive peptide capable of inserting across a cell membrane to form a transmembrane helix at acidic pH. pHLIPs target the acidic tumor microenvironment with high specificity, and a drug attached to the inserting end of a pHLIP can be translocated across the cell membrane during the insertion process. We investigate the ability of wildtype pHLIP to deliver peptide nucleic acid (PNA) cargoes of varying sizes across lipid membranes. We find that pHLIP effectively delivers PNAs up to ∼7 kDa into cells in a pH-dependent manner. In addition, pHLIP retains its tumor-targeting capabilities when linked to cargoes of this size, although the amount delivered is reduced for PNA cargoes greater than ∼6 kDa. As drug-like molecules are traditionally restricted to sizes of ∼500 Da, this constitutes an order-of-magnitude expansion in the size range of deliverable drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut 06269 , United States
| | - Mohan C Pereira
- Department of Science & Mathematics , Cedarville University , Cedarville , Ohio 45314 , United States
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee 37996 , United States
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15
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Cassim S, Pouyssegur J. Tumor Microenvironment: A Metabolic Player that Shapes the Immune Response. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:E157. [PMID: 31881671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cells survey and patrol throughout the body and sometimes take residence in niche environments with distinct cellular subtypes and nutrients that may fluctuate from those in which they matured. Rooted in immune cell physiology are metabolic pathways and metabolites that not only deliver substrates and energy for growth and survival, but also instruct effector functions and cell differentiation. Unlike cancer cells, immune cells are not subject to a "Darwinian evolutionary pressure" that would allow them to adapt to developing tumors but are often irrevocably affected to local nutrient deprivation. Thus, immune cells must metabolically adapt to these changing conditions in order to perform their necessary functions. On the other hand, there is now a growing appreciation that metabolic changes occurring in cancer cells can impact on immune cell functionality and contribute to tumor immune evasion, and as such, there is a considerable and growing interest in developing techniques that target metabolism for immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the metabolic plasticity displayed by innate and adaptive immune cells and highlight how tumor-derived lactate and tumor acidity restrict immunity. To our knowledge, this review outlines the most recent insights on how tumor microenvironment metabolically instructs immune responsiveness.
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Yu H, Li JM, Deng K, Zhou W, Wang CX, Wang Q, Li KH, Zhao HY, Huang SW. Tumor acidity activated triphenylphosphonium-based mitochondrial targeting nanocarriers for overcoming drug resistance of cancer therapy. Theranostics 2019; 9:7033-7050. [PMID: 31660085 PMCID: PMC6815947 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The drug resistance in cancer treatment with DOX is mainly related to the overexpression of drug efflux proteins, residing in the plasma and nuclear membranes. Delivering DOX into the mitochondria, lacking drug efflux proteins, is an interesting method to overcome DOX resistance. To solve the problem of positively charged triphenylphosphonium (TPP) for mitochondrial targeting in vivo, a charge reversal strategy was developed. Methods: An acidity triggered cleavable polyanion PEI-DMMA (PD) was coated on the surface of positively charged lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle (DOX-PLGA/CPT) to form DOX-PLGA/CPT/PD via electrostatic interaction. The mitochondrial localization and anticancer efficacy of DOX-PLGA/CPT/PD was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Results: The surface negative charge of DOX-PLGA/CPT/PD prevents from rapid clearance in the blood and improved the accumulation in tumor tissue through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The hydrolysis of amide bonds in PD in weakly acidic tumor tissue leads to the conversion of DOX-PLGA/CPT/PD to DOX-PLGA/CPT. The positive charge of DOX-PLGA/CPT enhances the interaction with tumor cells, promotes the uptake and improves DOX contents in tumor cells. Once endocytosed by tumor cells, the exposed TPP in nanomedicine results in effective mitochondrial localization of DOX-PLGA/CPT. Afterward, DOX can release from the nanomedicine in the mitochondria, target mtDNA, induce tumor cells apoptosis and overcome DOX resistance of MCF-7/ADR breast cancer. Conclusion: Tumor acidity triggered charge reversal of TPP-containing nanomedicine and activation of mitochondrial targeting is a simple and effective strategy for the delivery of DOX into the mitochondria of cancer cells and overcoming DOX resistance of MCF-7/ADR tumor both in vitro and in vivo, providing new insight in the design of nanomedicines for cancer chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shi-Wen Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University,Wuhan 430072, China
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Zhang YX, Zhao YY, Shen J, Sun X, Liu Y, Liu H, Wang Y, Wang J. Nanoenabled Modulation of Acidic Tumor Microenvironment Reverses Anergy of Infiltrating T Cells and Potentiates Anti-PD-1 Therapy. Nano Lett 2019; 19:2774-2783. [PMID: 30943039 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
While tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes play a critical role in controlling tumor development, they are generally impotent in an acidic tumor microenvironment. Systemic treatment to neutralize tumor acidity thus holds promise for the reversal of the anergic state of T cells and the improvement of T cell-associated immunotherapy. Herein, we report a proof-of-concept of RNAi nanoparticle-mediated therapeutic reversion of tumor acidity to restore the antitumor functions of T cells and potentiate the checkpoint blockade therapy. Our strategy utilized an in vivo optimized vesicular cationic lipid-assisted nanoparticle, as opposed to its micellar counterpart, to mediate systematic knockdown of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in tumor cells. The treatment resulted in the reprogramming of pyruvate metabolism, a reduction of the production of lactate, and the neutralization of the tumor pH. In immunocompetent syngeneic melanoma and breast tumor models, neutralization of tumor acidity increased infiltration with CD8+ T and NK cells, decreased the number of immunosuppressive T cells, and thus significantly inhibited the growth of tumors. Furthermore, the restoration of tumoral pH potentiated checkpoint inhibition therapy using the antibody of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). However, in immunodeficient B6/ Rag1 -/- and NOG mice, the same treatment failed to control tumor growth, further proving that the attenuation of tumor growth by tumor acidity modulation was attributable to the activation of tumor-infiltrating immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xue Zhang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Yang-Yang Zhao
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Jizhou Shen
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Xun Sun
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Yi Liu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Hang Liu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Yucai Wang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences , University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027 , China
| | - Jun Wang
- Institutes for Life Sciences, School of Medicine and National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction , South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510006 , China
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18
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Chen M, Lu J, Wei W, Lv Y, Zhang X, Yao Y, Wang L, Ling T, Zou X. Effects of proton pump inhibitors on reversing multidrug resistance via downregulating V-ATPases/PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway through TSC1/2 complex and Rheb in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:6705-6722. [PMID: 30349304 PMCID: PMC6188003 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s161198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Our study aimed to explore the effects of PPIs on reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy in gastric cancer by inhibiting the expression of V-ATPases and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signal pathway. Methods The gastric cancer cell lines SGC7901 and the multidrug resistance cell lines SGC7901/MDR were pretreated by the pantoprazole or the esomeprazole, respectively. Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA levels, and western blotting and immunofluorescent staining analyses were employed to determine the protein expressions and intracellular distributions of the V-ATPases, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, HIF-1α, P-gp and MRP1 before and after PPIs pretreatment. SGC7901/MDR cells were planted on the athymic nude mice. Then the effects of PPZ pretreatment and/or ADR were compared by determining the tumor size, tumor weight and nude mice weight. Results PPIs pretreatment could inhibit mRNA levels of V-ATPases, MDR1 and MRP1, PI3K, Akt, mTOR and HIF-1α. PPIs inhibited V-ATPases and down-regulated the expressions of P-gp and MRP1. And further to block the expression of mTOR by Rapamycin could obviously inhibit the expressions of HIF-1α, P-gp and MRP1 in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, PPIs inhibited the expressions of V-ATPases and then reversed MDR of the chemotherapy in gastric cancer by inhibiting P-gp and MRP1, and it could be speculated that the mechanism might be closely related to down-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Meanwhile, PPIs also could inhibit the expressions of TSC1/TSC2 complex and Rheb which might be involved into regulating the signaling pathway intermediately. The weight growth rate of the mice bearing tumor in the treatment group was lower than that of the nude mice in the normal group, while the weight growth rate of the mice in control group was significantly lower than that of the normal group and the treatment group, presenting a downward trend. Conclusion Therefore, PPIs inhibited the expressions of V-ATPases and then reversed MDR of the chemotherapy in gastric cancer by inhibiting P-gp and MRP1, and it could be speculated that the mechanism might be closely related to down-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway, and also to inhibiting the expressions of TSC1/TSC2 complex and Rheb which might be involved into regulating the signaling pathway intermediately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
| | - Jian Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ; .,Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Clinical Medical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China.,Department of Gastroenterology, the affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
| | - Xiaoqi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
| | - Yuling Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
| | - Tingsheng Ling
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ; .,Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital, Nanjing 211300, People's Republic of China,
| | - Xiaoping Zou
- Department of Gastroenterology the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School, Nanjing 210008, People's Republic of China, ;
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Wyatt LC, Moshnikova A, Crawford T, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Peptides of pHLIP family for targeted intracellular and extracellular delivery of cargo molecules to tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E2811-E2818. [PMID: 29507241 PMCID: PMC5866553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715350115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIPs) target acidity at the surfaces of cancer cells and show utility in a wide range of applications, including tumor imaging and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents. Here we report pHLIP constructs that significantly improve the targeted delivery of agents into tumor cells. The investigated constructs include pHLIP bundles (conjugates consisting of two or four pHLIP peptides linked by polyethylene glycol) and Var3 pHLIPs containing either the nonstandard amino acid, γ-carboxyglutamic acid, or a glycine-leucine-leucine motif. The performance of the constructs in vitro and in vivo was compared with previous pHLIP variants. A wide range of experiments was performed on nine constructs including (i) biophysical measurements using steady-state and kinetic fluorescence, circular dichroism, and oriented circular dichroism to study the pH-dependent insertion of pHLIP variants across the membrane lipid bilayer; (ii) cell viability assays to gauge the pH-dependent potency of peptide-toxin constructs by assessing the intracellular delivery of the polar, cell-impermeable cargo molecule amanitin at physiological and low pH (pH 7.4 and 6.0, respectively); and (iii) tumor targeting and biodistribution measurements using fluorophore-peptide conjugates in a breast cancer mouse model. The main principles of the design of pHLIP variants for a range of medical applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linden C Wyatt
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Troy Crawford
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881;
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20
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Lugini L, Sciamanna I, Federici C, Iessi E, Spugnini EP, Fais S. Antitumor effect of combination of the inhibitors of two new oncotargets: proton pumps and reverse transcriptase. Oncotarget 2018; 8:4147-4155. [PMID: 27926505 PMCID: PMC5354819 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor therapy needs new approaches in order to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity of the current treatments. The acidic microenvironment and the expression of high levels of endogenous non-telomerase reverse transcriptase (RT) are common features of malignant tumor cells. The anti-acidic proton pump inhibitor Lansoprazole (LAN) and the non-nucleoside RT inhibitor Efavirenz (EFV) have shown independent antitumor efficacy. LAN has shown to counteract drug tumor resistance. We tested the hypothesis that combination of LAN and EFV may improve the overall antitumor effects. We thus pretreated human metastatic melanoma cells with LAN and then with EFV, both in 2D and 3D spheroid models. We evaluated the treatment effect by proliferation and cell death/apoptosis assays in classical and in pulse administration experiments. The action of EFV was negatively affected by the tumor microenvironmental acidity, and LAN pretreatment overcame the problem. LAN potentiated the cytotoxicity of EFV to melanoma cells and, when administered during the drug interruption period, prevented the replacement of tumor cell growth. This study supports the implementation of the current therapies with combination of Proton Pumps and Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Lugini
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Sciamanna
- Department of Servizio Biologico e per la Gestione della Sperimentazione Animale (SBGSA), National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Federici
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Iessi
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Pierluigi Spugnini
- Stabilimento Allevatore Fornitore Utilizzatore (SAFU) Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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21
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Yu M, Zhou C, Liu L, Zhang S, Sun S, Hankins JD, Sun X, Zheng J. Interactions of Renal-Clearable Gold Nanoparticles with Tumor Microenvironments: Vasculature and Acidity Effects. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:4314-4319. [PMID: 28295960 PMCID: PMC5560109 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201612647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The success of nanomedicines in the clinic depends on our comprehensive understanding of nano-bio interactions in tumor microenvironments, which are characterized by dense leaky microvasculature and acidic extracellular pH (pHe ) values. Herein, we investigated the accumulation of ultrasmall renal-clearable gold NPs (AuNPs) with and without acidity targeting in xenograft mouse models of two prostate cancer types, PC-3 and LNCaP, with distinct microenvironments. Our results show that both sets of AuNPs could easily penetrate into the tumors but their uptake and retention were mainly dictated by the tumor microvasculature and the enhanced permeability and retention effect over the entire targeting process. On the other hand, increased tumor acidity indeed enhanced the uptake of AuNPs with acidity targeting, but only for a limited period of time. By making use of simple surface chemistry, these two effects can be synchronized in time for high tumor targeting, opening new possibilities to further improve the targeting efficiencies of nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiao Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Chen Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Shanrong Zhang
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shasha Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Julia D Hankins
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Xiankai Sun
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
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Abstract
The targeting of therapeutics specifically to diseased tissue is crucial for the development of successful cancer treatments. The approach here is based on the pH(low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) for the delivery of a potent mitotic inhibitor monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF). We investigated six pHLIP variants conjugated to MMAF to compare their efficacy in vitro against cultured cancer cells. While all pHLIP-MMAF conjugates exhibit potent pH- and concentration-dependent killing, their cytotoxicity profiles are remarkably different. We also show that the lead conjugate exhibits significant therapeutic efficacy in mouse models without overt toxicities. This study confirms pHLIP-monomethyl auristatin conjugates as possible new therapeutic options for cancer treatment and supports their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Burns
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University , 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Harvey Hensley
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center , 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, United States
| | - Matthew K Robinson
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center , 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University , 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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Camisaschi C, Vallacchi V, Vergani E, Tazzari M, Ferro S, Tuccitto A, Kuchuk O, Shahaj E, Sulsenti R, Castelli C, Rodolfo M, Rivoltini L, Huber V. Targeting Immune Regulatory Networks to Counteract Immune Suppression in Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2016; 4:vaccines4040038. [PMID: 27827921 PMCID: PMC5192358 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines4040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of cancer is unavoidably accompanied by suppression of antitumor immunity. This occurs through mechanisms ranging from the progressive accumulation of regulatory immune cells associated with chronic immune stimulation and inflammation, to the expression of immunosuppressive molecules. Some of them are being successfully exploited as therapeutic targets, with impressive clinical results achieved in patients, as in the case of immune checkpoint inhibitors. To limit immune attack, tumor cells exploit specific pathways to render the tumor microenvironment hostile for antitumor effector cells. Local acidification might, in fact, anergize activated T cells and facilitate the accumulation of immune suppressive cells. Moreover, the release of extracellular vesicles by tumor cells can condition distant immune sites contributing to the onset of systemic immune suppression. Understanding which mechanisms may be prevalent in specific cancers or disease stages, and identifying possible strategies to counterbalance would majorly contribute to improving clinical efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we intend to highlight these mechanisms, how they could be targeted and the tools that might be available in the near future to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Camisaschi
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Viviana Vallacchi
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vergani
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marcella Tazzari
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Simona Ferro
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Tuccitto
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Olga Kuchuk
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Eriomina Shahaj
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberta Sulsenti
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Castelli
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Rodolfo
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Licia Rivoltini
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Veronica Huber
- Unit of Immunotherapy of Human Tumors, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Anderson M, Moshnikova A, Engelman DM, Reshetnyak YK, Andreev OA. Probe for the measurement of cell surface pH in vivo and ex vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:8177-81. [PMID: 27382181 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1608247113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a way to measure cell surface pH by positioning a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, seminaphtharhodafluor (SNARF), conjugated to the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP). It has been observed that many diseased tissues are acidic and that tumors are especially so. A combination of effects acidifies tumor cell interiors, and cells pump out lactic acid and protons to maintain intracellular pH, acidifying the extracellular space. Overexpression of carbonic anhydrases on cell surfaces further contributes to acidification. Thus, the pH near tumor cell surfaces is expected to be low and to increase with distance from the membrane, so bulk pH measurements will not report surface acidity. Our new surface pH-measurement tool was validated in cancer cells grown in spheroids, in mouse tumor models in vivo, and in excised tumors. We found that the surface pH is sensitive to cell glycolytic activity: the pH decreases in high glucose and increases if glucose is replaced with nonmetabolized deoxyglucose. For highly metastatic cancer cells, the pH measured at the surface was 6.7-6.8, when the surrounding external pH was 7.4. The approach is sensitive enough to detect 0.2-0.3 pH unit changes in vivo in tumors induced by i.p. injection of glucose. The pH at the surfaces of highly metastatic cells within tumors was found to be about 6.1-6.4, whereas in nonmetastatic tumors, it was 6.7-6.9, possibly creating a way to distinguish more aggressive from less aggressive tumors. Other biological roles of surface acidity may be found, now that targeted measurements are possible.
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Federici C, Lugini L, Marino ML, Carta F, Iessi E, Azzarito T, Supuran CT, Fais S. Lansoprazole and carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors sinergize against human melanoma cells. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2016; 31:119-125. [PMID: 27142956 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2016.1177525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) reduce tumor acidity and therefore resistance of tumors to drugs. Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA IX) inhibitors have proven to be effective against tumors, while tumor acidity might impair their full effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of PPI/CA IX inhibitors combined treatment against human melanoma cells. METHODS The combination of Lansoprazole (LAN) and CA IX inhibitors (FC9-399A and S4) has been investigated in terms of cell proliferation inhibition and cell death in human melanoma cells. RESULTS The combination of these inhibitors was more effective than the single treatments in both inhibiting cell proliferation and in inducing cell death in human melanoma cells. DISCUSSION These results represent the first successful attempt in combining two different proton exchanger inhibitors. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence on the effectiveness of a new approach against tumors based on the combination of PPI and CA IX inhibitors, thus providing an alternative strategy against tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Federici
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
| | - Luana Lugini
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
| | - Maria Lucia Marino
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
| | - Fabrizio Carta
- b NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Elisabetta Iessi
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
| | - Tommaso Azzarito
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- b NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy and
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Zhao C, Shao L, Lu J, Deng X, Wu Y. Tumor Acidity-Induced Sheddable Polyethylenimine-Poly(trimethylene carbonate)/DNA/Polyethylene Glycol-2,3-Dimethylmaleicanhydride Ternary Complex for Efficient and Safe Gene Delivery. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:6400-6410. [PMID: 26904916 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b00825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic PEI derivatives/DNA complexes are widely used for DNA delivery, but they are unstable in vivo and have cytotoxicity due to the excess cationic charge. PEGylation of cationic complexes can improve sterical stability and biocompatibility. However, PEGylation significantly inhibits cellular uptake and endosomal escape. In this work, sheddable ternary complexes were developed by coating a tumor acidity-sensitive β-carboxylic amide functionalized PEG layer on the binary complexes of amphiphilic cationic polyethylenimine-poly(trimethylene carbonate) nanoparticles/DNA (PEI-PTMC/DNA). Such sheddable ternary complexes markedly reduced their nonspecific interactions with serum protein in the bloodstream and obtained minimal cytotoxicity due to the protection of the PEG shell. At the tumor site, the PEG layer was deshielded by responding to the tumor acidic microenvironment and the positively charged complexes re-exposed that had higher affinity with negatively charged cell membranes. Meanwhile the positively charged complexes facilitated endosomal escape. Accordingly, this delivery system improved the biocompatibility of gene-loaded complexes and enhanced the gene transfection efficiency. Such PEGylated complexes with the ability to deshield the PEG layer at the target tissues hold great promise for efficient and safe gene delivery in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyan Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Leihou Shao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jianqing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiongwei Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yan Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology , No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, China
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Lugini L, Federici C, Borghi M, Azzarito T, Marino ML, Cesolini A, Spugnini EP, Fais S. Proton pump inhibitors while belonging to the same family of generic drugs show different anti-tumor effect. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2015; 31:538-45. [PMID: 26018420 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2015.1046062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Tumor acidity represents a major cause of chemoresistance. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can neutralize tumor acidity, sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE To compare the anti-tumor efficacy of different PPIs in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro experiments PPIs anti-tumor efficacy in terms of cell proliferation and cell death/apoptosis/necrosis evaluation were performed. In vivo PPIs efficacy experiments were carried out using melanoma xenograft model in SCID mice. RESULTS Lansoprazole showed higher anti-tumor effect when compared to the other PPIs. The lansoprazole effect lasted even upon drug removal from the cell culture medium and it was independent from the lipophilicity of the PPIs formulation. DISCUSSION These PPIs have shown different anti-tumoral efficacy, and the most effective at low dose was lansoprazole. CONCLUSION The possibility to contrast tumor acidity by off-label using PPIs opens a new field of oncology investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Lugini
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation
| | | | - Martina Borghi
- b Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediate Diseases , and
| | | | | | - Albino Cesolini
- c Department of Ematology, Oncology and Molecular Biology , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | | | - Stefano Fais
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation
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28
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Lugini L, Federici C, Borghi M, Azzarito T, Marino ML, Cesolini A, Spugnini EP, Fais S. Proton pump inhibitors while belonging to the same family of generic drugs show different anti-tumor effect. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2015. [PMID: 26018420 DOI: 10.3109/14756366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Tumor acidity represents a major cause of chemoresistance. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can neutralize tumor acidity, sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE To compare the anti-tumor efficacy of different PPIs in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro experiments PPIs anti-tumor efficacy in terms of cell proliferation and cell death/apoptosis/necrosis evaluation were performed. In vivo PPIs efficacy experiments were carried out using melanoma xenograft model in SCID mice. RESULTS Lansoprazole showed higher anti-tumor effect when compared to the other PPIs. The lansoprazole effect lasted even upon drug removal from the cell culture medium and it was independent from the lipophilicity of the PPIs formulation. DISCUSSION These PPIs have shown different anti-tumoral efficacy, and the most effective at low dose was lansoprazole. CONCLUSION The possibility to contrast tumor acidity by off-label using PPIs opens a new field of oncology investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Lugini
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation
| | | | - Martina Borghi
- b Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediate Diseases , and
| | | | | | - Albino Cesolini
- c Department of Ematology, Oncology and Molecular Biology , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | | | - Stefano Fais
- a Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation
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Burns KE, Robinson MK, Thévenin D. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and breast tumor targeting of pHLIP-monomethyl auristatin E conjugates. Mol Pharm 2015; 12:1250-8. [PMID: 25741818 DOI: 10.1021/mp500779k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Localized delivery is vital for the successful development of novel and effective therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The targeting and delivery described herein is based on the pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP), a unique delivery peptide that can selectively target tumors in mice and translocate and release cargo molecules intracellularly based solely on the low extracellular pH intrinsic to cancer cells. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of pHLIP to target and deliver the highly potent and clinically validated microtubule inhibitor monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to cancer cells and breast tumors. We show that pHLIP-MMAE conjugates induce a potent cytotoxic effect (>90% inhibition of cell growth) in a concentration- and pH-dependent manner after only 2 h incubation without any apparent disruption of the plasma membrane. pHLIP-MMAE conjugates exhibit between an 11- and 144-fold higher antiproliferative effect at low pH than that at physiological pH and a pronounced pH-dependent cytotoxicity as compared to that of free drug. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a pHLIP-MMAE drug conjugate effectively targets triple-negative breast tumor xenografts in mice. These results indicate that pHLIP-based auristatin conjugates may have an enhanced therapeutic window as compared to that of free drug, providing a targeting mechanism to attenuate systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Burns
- †Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Matthew K Robinson
- ‡Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- †Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, 6 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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