Effective cancer therapy based on selective drug delivery into cells across their membrane using receptor-mediated endocytosis

Cancer is one of the major causes of death globally. The current treatment options are insufficient, leading to unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. Off-target side effects, multidrug resistance, selective distribution to cancerous tissues, and cell membrane permeation of anti-cancer agents are critical problems to overcome. There is a method to solve these problems by using receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME). It is well known that proteins such as integrin, HER2, EGFR, or other cancer biomarkers are specifically overexpressed on the surface of target cancer cells. By taking advantage of such specific receptors, payloads can be transported into cells through endocytosis using a conjugate composed of the corresponding ligands connected to the payloads by an appropriate linker. After RME, the payloads released by endosomal escape into the cytoplasm can exhibit the cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), tumor-homing peptides (THPs), and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are utilized as ligands in this system. Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) based on RME have already been used to cure cancer. In addition to the canonical conjugate method, nanocarriers for spontaneous accumulation in cancer tissue due to enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect are extensively used. In this review, I introduce the possibilities and advantages of drug design and development based on RME for the treatment of cancer.     

Distinct apoptotic blocks mediate resistance to panHER inhibitors in HER2+ breast cancer cells

Despite the development of novel targeted therapies, de novo or acquired chemoresistance remains a significant factor for treatment failure in breast cancer therapeutics. Neratinib and dacomitinib are irreversible panHER inhibitors, which block their autophosphorylation and downstream signaling. Moreover, neratinib and dacomitinib have been shown to activate cell death in HER2-overexpressing cell lines. Here we showed that increased MCL1 and decreased BIM and PUMA mediated resistance to neratinib in ZR-75-30 and SKBR3 cells while increased BCL-XL and BCL-2 and decreased BIM and PUMA promoted neratinib resistance in BT474 cells. Cells were also cross-resistant to dacomitinib. BH3 profiles of HER2+ breast cancer cells efficiently predicted antiapoptotic protein dependence and development of resistance to panHER inhibitors. Reactivation of ERK1/2 was primarily responsible for acquired resistance in SKBR3 and ZR-75-30 cells. Adding specific ERK1/2 inhibitor SCH772984 to neratinib or dacomitinib led to increased apoptotic response in neratinib-resistant SKBR3 and ZR-75-30 cells, but we did not detect a similar response in neratinib-resistant BT474 cells. Accordingly, suppression of BCL-2/BCL-XL by ABT-737 was required in addition to ERK1/2 inhibition for neratinib- or dacomitinib-induced apoptosis in neratinib-resistant BT474 cells. Our results showed that different mitochondrial apoptotic blocks mediated acquired panHER inhibitor resistance in HER2+ breast cancer cell lines as well as highlighted the potential of BH3 profiling assay in prediction of panHER inhibitor resistance in breast cancer cells.     

A Jonah-like chymotrypsin from the therapeutic maggot Lucilia sericata plays a role in wound debridement and coagulation

Lucilia sericata larvae are used in maggot debridement therapy, a traditional wound healing approach that has recently been approved for the treatment of chronic wounds. Maggot excretion products (MEP) contain many different proteases that promote disinfection, debridement and the acceleration of wound healing, e.g. by activating the host contact phase/intrinsic pathway of coagulation. In order to characterise relevant procoagulant proteases, we analysed MEP and identified a chymotrypsin-like serine protease with similarities to Jonah proteases from Drosophila melanogaster and a chymotrypsin from Lucilia cuprina. A recombinant form of the L. sericata Jonah chymotrypsin was produced in Escherichia coli. The activated enzyme (Jonah_m) had a pH optimum of 8.0 and a temperature optimum of 37 °C, based on the cleavage of the chromogenic peptide s-7388 and casein. Jonah_m reduced the clotting time of human plasma even in the absence of the endogenous protease kallikrein, factor XI or factor XII and digested the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV, suggesting a potential mechanism of wound debridement. Based on these characteristics, the novel L. sericata chymotrypsin-like serine protease appears to be an ideal candidate for the development of topical drugs for wound healing applications.     

N-hydroxy-amide analogues of MHC-class I peptide ligands with nanomolar binding affinities

A novel class of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) ligands containing an N-hydroxy-amide bond was designed on the basis of the natural epitope SIINFEKL, and synthesized on solid phase. The capacity of these compounds to bind to the MHC-I molecule H-2K^b and to induce T cell responses was analysed in comparison with the corresponding glycine containing variant of SIINFEKL. Binding to the MHC molecule was diminished by the N-hydroxy group at positions 2 and 3 of the oligomer and improved in the case of positions 4, 5, 6 and 7. No change was seen for position 1. The efficacy of T cell stimulation was strongly reduced by the modification of all positions except for position 1. A complete loss of activity was found for the N-hydroxy variant in positions 4 and 6. N-Hydroxy amide-containing peptides displayed an enhanced stability to enzymatic degradation. This new class of MHC ligand can become instrumental as immunomodulatory reagent in various disease situations. © 1998 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The novel chelator lipid 3(nitrilotriacetic acid)-ditetradecylamine (NTA3-DTDA) promotes stable binding of His-tagged proteins to liposomal membranes: Potent anti-tumor responses induced by simultaneously targeting antigen, cytokine and costimulatory signals to T cells

Recent studies indicate that the chelator lipid nitrilotriacetic acid ditetradecylamine (NTA-DTDA) can be used to engraft T cell costimulatory molecules onto tumor cell membranes, potentially circumventing the need for genetic manipulation of the cells for development of cell- or membrane-based tumor vaccines. Here, we show that a related lipid 3(nitrilotriacetic acid)-ditetradecylamine (NTA₃-DTDA, which has three NTA moieties in its headgroup instead of one) is several-fold more effective than NTA-DTDA at promoting stable His-tagged protein engraftment. IAsys biosensor studies show that binding of His-tagged B7.1 (B7.1-6H) to NTA₃-DTDA-containing membranes, exhibit a faster on-rate and a slower off-rate, compared to membranes containing NTA-DTDA. Also, NTA₃-DTDA-containing liposomes and plasma membrane vesicles (PMV) engrafted with B7.1-6H and CD40-6H exhibit greater binding to T cells, in vitro and in vivo. Engrafted NTA₃-DTDA-containing PMV encapsulated cytokines such as IL-2, IL-12, GM-CSF and IFN-γ, allowing targeted delivery of both antigen and cytokine to T cells, and stimulation of antigen-specific T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. Importantly, use of B7.1-CD40-engrafted PMV containing IL-2 and IL-12 as a vaccine in DBA/2J mice induced protection against challenge with syngeneic tumor cells (P815 mammary mastocytoma), and regression of established tumors. The results show that stable protein engraftment onto liposomal membranes using NTA₃-DTDA can be used to simultaneously target associated antigen, costimulatory molecules and cytokines to T cells in vivo, inducing strong anti-tumor responses and immunotherapeutic effect.     

Intestinal uptake of nateglinide by an intestinal fluorescein transporter

Nateglinide, a novel oral hypoglycemic agent, rapidly reaches its maximum serum concentration after oral administration, suggesting that it is rapidly absorbed in the intestine. However, nateglinide itself is not transported by MCT1 or PEPT1. The aim of this study was to characterize the transporters on the apical side of the small intestine that are responsible for the rapid absorption of nateglinide. It has been reported that the uptake of fluorescein by Caco-2 cells occurs via an H⁺-driven transporter and that the intestinal fluorescein transporter is probably not MCT1. We examined the contribution of the fluorescein transporter to the uptake of nateglinide by Caco-2 cells. Fluorescein competitively inhibited H⁺-dependent nateglinide uptake. All of fluorescein transporter inhibitors examined reduced the uptake of nateglinide. Furthermore, nateglinide inhibited fluorescein uptake. We conclude that the intestinal nateglinide/H⁺ cotransport system is identical to the intestinal fluorescein/H⁺ cotransport system.     

Synthesis of N-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-N′-(4′,6′-diarylpyrimidin-2′-yl)thioureas

Some 2-amino-4,6-diarylpyrimidines 2 have been prepared from substituted benzylideneacetophenones and guanidine hydrochloride in the presence of alkali by conventional heating in alcoholic medium and microwave heating in solvent-free conditions. N-(2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-N′-(4′,6′-diarylpyrimidin-2′-yl)thioureas 4 have been synthesized by reaction of per-O-acetylated glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate 1 and substituted 2-amino-4,6-diarylpyrimidines 2. Two different methods have been used, namely, refluxing in anhydrous dioxane and solvent-free microwave-assisted coupling. The second procedure afforded higher yields in much shorter reaction times. The compounds 2 and 4 were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activities in vitro against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterobacter aerogenes and Candida albicans by disc diffusion method.     

Pyrogallol inhibits the growth of lung cancer Calu-6 cells via caspase-dependent apoptosis

Pyrogallol (PG) is a polyphenol compound and a known O₂⁻ generator. We evaluated the effects of PG on the growth and apoptosis of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma Calu-6 cells. PG decreased the viability of Calu-6 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis by PG was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m), cytochrome c release from mitochondria and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8. All tested caspase inhibitors, especially the pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD), markedly rescued Calu-6 cells from PG-induced cell death. Rescue was accompanied by inhibition of caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Treatment with Z-VAD also prevented the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m). In conclusion, PG inhibits the growth of Calu-6 cells via caspase-dependent apoptosis.     

SAHA treatment overcomes the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 and is associated with the formation of mature PML nuclear bodies in human leukemic U937 cells

Bcl-2 protects tumor cells from the apoptotic effects of various antineoplastic agents. Increased expression of Bcl-2 has been associated with poor response to chemotherapy in various malignancies, including leukemia. Therefore, bypassing the resistance conferred by anti-apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 represents an attractive therapeutic strategy against cancer cells, including leukemic cells. We undertook this study to examine whether SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) overcomes the resistance by Bcl-2 in human leukemic cells, with a specific focus on the involvement of PML-NBs. Experiments were conducted with Bcl-2-overexpressing human leukemic U937 cells. Since we previously demonstrated that overexpression of Bcl-2 attenuates resveratrol-induced apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells, resveratrol-treated U937 cells were used as a negative control. The present study indicates that SAHA at 1-7 μM, the dose range known to induce apoptosis in various cancer cells, overcomes the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 in Bcl-2-overexpressing human leukemic U937 cells. Notably, we observed that SAHA-induced formation of mature promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies (NBs) correlates with overcoming the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 in human leukemic U937 cells. Thus, PML protein and the formation of mature PML-NBs could be considered as therapeutic targets that could help bypass the resistance to apoptosis conferred by Bcl-2. Elucidating exactly how PML regulates Bcl-2 will require further work.     

Niemann-Pick C1 protein transports copper to the secretory compartment from late endosomes where ATP7B resides

Wilson disease is a genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of copper in the body by defective biliary copper excretion. Wilson disease gene product (ATP7B) functions in copper incorporation to ceruloplasmin (Cp) and biliary copper excretion. However, copper metabolism in hepatocytes has been still unclear. Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a lipid storage disorder and the most commonly mutated gene is NPC1 and its gene product NPC1 is a late endosome protein and regulates intracellular vesicle traffic. In the present study, we induced NPC phenotype and examined the localization of ATP7B and secretion of holo-Cp, a copper-binding mature form of Cp. The vesicle traffic was modulated using U18666A, which induces NPC phenotype, and knock down of NPC1 by RNA interference. ATP7B colocalized with the late endosome markers, but not with the trans-Golgi network markers. U18666A and NPC1 knock down decreased holo-Cp secretion to culture medium, but did not affect the secretion of other secretory proteins. Copper accumulated in the cells after the treatment with U18666A. These findings suggest that ATP7B localizes in the late endosomes and that copper in the late endosomes is transported to the secretory compartment via NPC1-dependent pathway and incorporated into apo-Cp to form holo-Cp.