Methods for site-specific drug conjugation to antibodies

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of targeted therapeutics with the potential to improve therapeutic index over traditional chemotherapy. Drugs and linkers have been the current focus of ADC development, in addition to antibody and target selection. Recently, however, the importance of conjugate homogeneity has been realized. The current methods for drug attachment lead to a heterogeneous mixture, and some populations of that mixture have poor in vivo performance. New methods for site-specific drug attachment lead to more homogeneous conjugates and allow control of the site of drug attachment. These subtle improvements can have profound effects on in vivo efficacy and therapeutic index. This review examines current methods for site-specific drug conjugation to antibodies, and compares in vivo results with their non-specifically conjugated counterparts. The apparent improvement in pharmacokinetics and the reduced off target toxicity warrant further development of this site-specific modification approach for future ADC development.     

Changes in anti-heat shock protein 27 antibody and C-reactive protein levels following cardiac surgery and their association with cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular disease

The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E′ (r = −0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen–antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-012-0358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Central leptin gene therapy blocks ovariectomy-induced adiposity

Objective: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that insufficiency of leptin restraint in the hypothalamus is responsible for promoting weight gain and adiposity after ovariectomy (ovx). Whether increasing leptin transgene expression can overcome the diminution in leptin restraint was evaluated in ovx rats. Research Methods and Procedures: Enhanced leptin or green fluorescent protein (GFP; control) transgene expression was induced by a single intracerebroventricular injection of recombinant adeno‐associated viral vector encoding either leptin gene (rAAV‐lep) or GFP gene (rAAV‐GFP; control) in acutely and chronically ovx rats. Body weight and food intake responses were monitored weekly. White adipose tissue (WAT) mass and serum levels of WAT‐derived hormones, leptin, and adiponectin were analyzed at termination of the experiments. Results and Discussion: An increase in leptin transgene expression in the hypothalamus initiated soon after ovx blocked hyperphagia and body weight gain and markedly suppressed WAT mass and adipokines, leptin, and adiponectin. Similar suppression of weight gain and adiposity and serum leptin and adiponectin levels after intracerebroventricular rAAV‐lep injection in chronically ovx rats were observed concomitant with unchanged daily food intake. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in the absence of ovarian steroids, the existent insufficiency of leptin restraint at the hypothalamic level can be overcome with ectopic leptin expression, thereby reinstating central control on weight and adiposity.     

心肌细胞／胶原复合体移植心梗大鼠梗死周边区的电偶联网络变化

目的应用免疫组化技术和电生理技术记录心肌细胞／胶原复合体对心梗大鼠梗死周边区的有效不应期（ERP）及缝隙连接蛋白43（Cx43）改变,探讨梗死周边区的电偶联网络变化。方法将成年SD大鼠随机分组：假手术组、模型组、移植组。后2组制作心肌梗死动物模型,假手术组仅开胸,不结扎冠状动脉,移植组移植心肌细胞与胶原材料复合组织。结果①左室ERP变化：与假手术组相比,心梗组梗死周边区ERP显著延长（P〈0．01）;移植组梗死周边区ERP延长,但较心梗阻ERP缩短,差异无显著性（P〉0．01）。②Cx43免疫组化结果：移植组Cx43阳性蛋白表达高于心梗组。结论移植的心肌细胞／胶原复合体移植可改善大鼠心肌梗死周边区缝隙连接电偶联网络,进而调控心肌细胞／胶原复合体与宿主心肌同步收缩。     

'Working' cardiomyocytes exhibiting plateau action potentials from human placenta-derived extraembryonic mesodermal cells

The clinical application of cell transplantation for severe heart failure is a promising strategy to improve impaired cardiac function. Recently, an array of cell types, including bone marrow cells, endothelial progenitors, mesenchymal stem cells, resident cardiac stem cells, and embryonic stem cells, have become important candidates for cell sources for cardiac repair. In the present study, we focused on the placenta as a cell source. Cells from the chorionic plate in the fetal portion of the human placenta were obtained after delivery by the primary culture method, and the cells generated in this study had the Y sex chromosome, indicating that the cells were derived from the fetus. The cells potentially expressed 'working' cardiomyocyte-specific genes such as cardiac myosin heavy chain 7beta, atrial myosin light chain, cardiac alpha-actin by gene chip analysis, and Csx/Nkx2.5, GATA4 by RT-PCR, cardiac troponin-I and connexin 43 by immunohistochemistry. These cells were able to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Cardiac troponin-I and connexin 43 displayed a discontinuous pattern of localization at intercellular contact sites after cardiomyogenic differentiation, suggesting that the chorionic mesoderm contained a large number of cells with cardiomyogenic potential. The cells began spontaneously beating 3 days after co-cultivation with murine fetal cardiomyocytes and the frequency of beating cells reached a maximum on day 10. The contraction of the cardiomyocytes was rhythmical and synchronous, suggesting the presence of electrical communication between the cells. Placenta-derived human fetal cells may be useful for patients who cannot supply bone marrow cells but want to receive stem cell-based cardiac therapy.     

藻红蛋白光敏剂研究进展

光动力学治疗法作为一种新的肿瘤治疗方法,近年来发展十分迅速。从红藻中提取的藻红蛋白可以作为光动力学治疗法的一种新的光敏剂。本概述了我国红藻藻红蛋白资源概况、光疗法和光敏剂作用机理及其研究发展历史与现状,重点阐述了藻红蛋白光敏剂的应用现状、前景和发展趋势,并认为藻红蛋白是光动力学治疗法中一种非常有前景的光敏剂。藻红蛋白在490nm有吸收光谱,而发射光谱位于560nm;藻红蛋白能特异性地聚集在肿瘤细胞周围,吸收周围环境光能并传递给氧分子,使氧分子转化为具有强氧化性的多线态氧,从而可以大量杀死肿瘤细胞。     

噬菌体治疗细菌性感染及其限制因素

近年来,细菌耐药性已成为抗感染领域面临的严峻问题,临床对一些细菌性感染疾病束手无策。噬菌体疗法是一种通过噬菌体裂解细菌来治疗病原菌感染的治疗手段。噬菌体在抗菌领域表现出显著的优越性,成为目前治疗细菌性感染的研究热点。本文对近年来噬菌体治疗动物和人类病原菌感染、限制其临床应用的因素及解决措施进行综述。     

Rescuing infusion of miRNA-1 prevents cardiac remodeling in a heart-selective miRNA deficient mouse

Objective

The decreased expression of muscle-specific microRNA-1 (miR-1) has been found in many cardiovascular diseases and is considered to contribute to heart failure (HF). Here we investigated the role of miR-1 in myocardium protection by infusion of miR-1 in a cardiac global miRNA-deficient mouse.