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Koskela SA, Figueiredo CR. From antimicrobial to anticancer: the pioneering works of Prof. Luiz Rodolpho Travassos on bioactive peptides. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:2561-2570. [PMID: 37725261 PMCID: PMC10689714 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Prof. Luiz Rodolpho Travassos, a distinguished Brazilian scientist, was instrumental in fostering an interdisciplinary research approach that seamlessly combined microbiology and oncology. This work has opened new pathways into the understanding of tumorigenesis and aided in the development of innovative therapeutic tools. One significant area of his work has been the exploration of bioactive peptides, many of which were first identified for their antimicrobial properties. These peptides demonstrate promise as potential cancer therapeutics due to their selectivity, cost-effectiveness, ease of synthesis, low antigenicity, and excellent tissue penetration. Prof. Travassos' pioneering work uncovered on the potential of peptides derived from microbiological sources, such as those obtained using phage display techniques. More importantly, in international cooperation, peptides derived from complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) that showed antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans further showed to be promising tools with cytotoxic properties against cancer cells. Similarly, peptides derived from natural sources, such as the gomesin peptide, not only had shown antimicrobial properties but could treat cutaneous melanoma in experimental models. These therapeutic tools allowed Prof. Travassos and his group to navigate the intricate landscape of factors and pathways that drive cancer development, including persistent proliferative signaling, evasion of tumor suppressor genes, inhibition of programmed cell death, and cellular immortality. This review examines the mechanisms of action of these peptides, aligning them with the universally recognized hallmarks of cancer, and evaluates their potential as drug candidates. It highlights the crucial need for more selective, microbiology-inspired anti-cancer strategies that spare healthy cells, a challenge that current therapies often struggle to address. By offering a comprehensive assessment of Prof. Travassos' innovative contributions and a detailed discussion on the increasing importance of microbiology-derived peptides, this review presents an informed and robust perspective on the possible future direction of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara A Koskela
- Medical Immune Oncology Research Group (MIORG), Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Carlos R Figueiredo
- Medical Immune Oncology Research Group (MIORG), Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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Chen M, Fang X, Du R, Meng J, Liu J, Liu M, Yang Y, Wang C. A Nucleus-Targeting WT1 Antagonistic Peptide Encapsulated in Polymeric Nanomicelles Combats Refractory Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2305. [PMID: 37765274 PMCID: PMC10534672 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is recognized as a classic clonal myeloproliferative disorder. Given the limited treatment options for CML patients in the accelerated phase (AP) and blast phase (BP), there is an evident need to develop new therapeutic strategies. This has the potential to improve outcomes for individuals in the advanced stages of CML. A promising therapeutic target is Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), which is highly expressed in BP-CML cells and plays a crucial role in CML progression. In this study, a chemically synthesized nucleus-targeting WT1 antagonistic peptide termed WIP2W was identified. The therapeutic implications of both the peptide and its micellar formulation, M-WIP2W, were evaluated in WT1+ BP-CML cell lines and in mice. The findings indicate that WIP2W can bind specifically to the WT1 protein, inducing cell cycle arrest and notable cytotoxicity in WT1+ BP-CML cells. Moreover, subcutaneous injections of M-WIP2W were observed to significantly enhance intra-tumoral accumulation and to effectively inhibit tumor growth. Thus, WIP2W stands out as a potent and selective WT1 inhibitor, and the M-WIP2W nanoformulation appears promising for the therapeutic treatment of refractory CML as well as other WT1-overexpressing malignant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaocui Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rong Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingyi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mingpeng Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yanlian Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; (M.C.); (X.F.); (R.D.); (J.M.); (J.L.); (M.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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3
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Mondal P, Mohapatra S, Bhunia D, Gharai PK, Mukherjee N, Gupta V, Ghosh S, Ghosh S. Designed hybrid anticancer nuclear-localized peptide inhibits aggressive cancer cell proliferation. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:196-201. [PMID: 35308028 PMCID: PMC8864490 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00324k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell proliferation is a crucial step that might promote cancer if deregulated. Therefore, this vital segment is critically controlled by a complicated cell-cycle process in normal cells that is regulated by some regulatory proteins. It has been observed that p16 protein, playing a crucial role in cell-cycle progression/regulation, remains inactivated in different cancer cells. This inactivity of p16 protein leads to the enhancement of cancer cell proliferation by allowing uncontrolled cancer cell division. Hence, the activity of p16 protein needs to be restored using new viral vectors, small molecules as well as peptides to control/suppress this type of abnormal cell proliferation. In this work, we have taken an interesting approach to increase the efficiency and bio-availability of p16 peptide (functional part of p16 protein) to be an aggressive anti-leukemia therapeutic agent by conjugating a nuclear-localized signal (NLS) sequence and a short peptide (AVPI) with it. Moreover, this newly designed NLS attached hybrid peptide greatly affects XIAP expressing but p16 lower expressing human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell proliferation by targeting both nuclear (CDK4/cyclin D) and cellular factors (XIAP) and promoting the caspase-3 dependent apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasenjit Mondal
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Ghaziabad 201002India
| | - Saswat Mohapatra
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Ghaziabad 201002India
| | - Debmalya Bhunia
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia
| | - Prabir Kumar Gharai
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia
| | - Nabanita Mukherjee
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurNH-62, Nagaur RoadKarwarRajasthan 342037India
| | - Varsha Gupta
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia
| | - Satyajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurNH-62, Nagaur RoadKarwarRajasthan 342037India
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyKolkata 700 032West BengalIndia,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Ghaziabad 201002India,Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurNH-62, Nagaur RoadKarwarRajasthan 342037India
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Zhou J, Li Y, Huang W, Shi W, Qian H. Source and exploration of the peptides used to construct peptide-drug conjugates. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113712. [PMID: 34303870 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) are a class of novel molecules widely designed and synthesized for delivering payload drugs. The peptide part plays a vital role in the whole molecule, because they determine the ability of the molecules to penetrate the membrane and target to the specific targets. Here, we introduce the source of different kinds of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cell-targeting peptides (CTPs) that have been used or could be used in constructing PDCs as well as their latest application in delivering drugs. What's more, the approaches of developing CPPs and CTPs and the techniques to discover novel peptides are focused on and summarized in the review. This review aims to help relevant researchers fast understand the research status of peptides in PDCs and carry forward the process of novel peptides discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Zhou
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Wenlong Huang
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Wei Shi
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Hai Qian
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
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da Cunha FFM, Mugnol KCU, de Melo FM, Nascimento MVSQ, de Azevedo RA, Santos RTS, Magalhães JA, Miguel DC, Tada DB, Mortara RA, Travassos LR, Arruda DC. Peptide R18H from BRN2 Transcription Factor POU Domain Displays Antitumor Activity In Vitro and In Vivo and Induces Apoptosis in B16F10-Nex2 Cells. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2019; 19:389-401. [PMID: 30417795 DOI: 10.2174/1871520618666181109164246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRN2 transcription factor is associated with the development of malignant melanoma. The cytotoxic activities and cell death mechanism against B16F10-Nex2 cells were determined with synthetic peptide R18H derived from the POU domain of the BRN2 transcription factor. OBJECTIVE To determine the cell death mechanisms and in vivo activity of peptide R18H derived from the POU domain of the BRN2 transcription factor against B16F10-Nex2 cells. METHODS Cell viability was determined by the MTT method. C57Bl/6 mice were challenged with B16F10-Nex2 cells and treated with R18H. To identify the type of cell death, we used TUNEL assay, Annexin V and PI, Hoechst, DHE, and determination of caspase activation and cytochrome c release. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to verify morphological alterations after peptide treatment. RESULTS Peptide R18H displayed antitumor activity in the first hours of treatment and the EC50% was calculated for 2 and 24h, being 0.76 ± 0.045 mM and 0.559 ± 0.053 mM, respectively. After 24h apoptosis was evident, based on DNA degradation, chromatin condensation, increase of superoxide anion production, phosphatidylserine translocation, activation of caspases 3 and 8, and release of extracellular cytochrome c in B16F10-Nex2 cells. The peptide cytotoxic activity was not affected by necroptosis inhibitors and treated cells did not release LDH in the extracellular medium. Moreover, in vivo antitumor activity was observed following treatment with peptide R18H. CONCLUSION Peptide R18H from BRN2 transcription factor induced apoptosis in B16F10-Nex2 and displayed antitumor activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda F M da Cunha
- Nucleo Integrado de Biotecnologia (NIB), Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, UMC, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Katia C U Mugnol
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigacao Bioquimica (CIIB) Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, UMC, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Filipe M de Melo
- Departamento de Imunologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marta V S Q Nascimento
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigacao Bioquimica (CIIB) Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, UMC, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo A de Azevedo
- Unidade de Oncologia Experimental (UNONEX), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raquel T S Santos
- Nucleo Integrado de Biotecnologia (NIB), Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, UMC, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Jéssica A Magalhães
- Laboratorio de Nanomateriais e Nanotoxicologia, Instituto de Ciencia e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Dayane B Tada
- Laboratorio de Nanomateriais e Nanotoxicologia, Instituto de Ciencia e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Renato A Mortara
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz R Travassos
- Unidade de Oncologia Experimental (UNONEX), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Denise C Arruda
- Nucleo Integrado de Biotecnologia (NIB), Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, UMC, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
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Carter JH, Deddens JA, Mueller G, Lewis TG, Dooley MK, Robillard MC, Frydl M, Duvall L, Pemberton JO, Douglass LE. Transcription factors WT1 and p53 combined: a prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:462-470. [PMID: 30057405 PMCID: PMC6134086 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0191-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background New approaches to ovarian cancer are needed to improve survival. Wilms’ tumour 1 (WT1) is a tumour-associated antigen expressed in many ovarian cancers. P53 is also often altered. The clinical significance of the combined expression of these two transcription factors has not been studied. Methods One hundred ninety-six ovarian tumours were classified histopathologically. Tumours were stained for WT1 and p53 immunohistochemically. Stains were analysed according to tumour type, grade and FIGO stage. Kaplan–Meier analyses on 96 invasive carcinomas determined whether categorical variables were related to survival. Results WT1 and p53 were related to ovarian tumour type, grade, FIGO stage and patient survival. Uniform nuclear p53 expression was associated with invasion and WT1 expression was associated with advanced grade, FIGO stage and poor survival. When WT1 and p53 were both in the age-adjusted Cox model, WT1 was significant while p53 was not. When we combined tumours expressing WT1 and p53, then adjusted for age and tumour subtype, the hazard ratio compared to tumours without WT1 and with normal p53 was 2.70; when adjusted for age and FIGO stage, the hazard ratio was 2.40. Conclusions WT1, an antigen target, is a biomarker for poor prognosis, particularly when combined with altered p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia H Carter
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, Newport, KY, 41071, USA.
| | - James A Deddens
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, USA
| | | | - Thomas G Lewis
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, Newport, KY, 41071, USA
| | - Mariah K Dooley
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, Newport, KY, 41071, USA
| | | | - Molly Frydl
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, Newport, KY, 41071, USA
| | - Lydia Duvall
- Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, Newport, KY, 41071, USA
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Kim Y, Kim H, Park D, Lee H, Lee YS, Choe J, Kim YM, Jeon D, Jeoung D. The pentapeptide Gly-Thr-Gly-Lys-Thr confers sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs by inhibition of CAGE binding to GSK3β and decreasing the expression of cyclinD1. Oncotarget 2017; 8:13632-13651. [PMID: 28099142 PMCID: PMC5355126 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported the role of cancer/testis antigen CAGE in the response to anti-cancer drugs. CAGE increased the expression of cyclinD1, and pGSK3βSer9, an inactive GSK3β, while decreasing the expression of phospho-cyclinD1Thr286. CAGE showed binding to GSK3β and the domain of CAGE (amino acids 231-300) necessary for binding to GSK3β and for the expression regulation of cyclinD1 was determined. 269GTGKT273 peptide, corresponding to the DEAD box helicase domain of CAGE, decreased the expression of cyclinD1 and pGSK3βSer9 while increasing the expression of phospho-cyclinD1Thr286. GTGKT peptide showed the binding to CAGE and prevented CAGE from binding to GSK3β. GTGKT peptide changed the localization of CAGE and inhibited the binding of CAGE to the promoter sequences of cyclin D1. GTGKT peptide enhanced the apoptotic effects of anti-cancer drugs and decreased the migration, invasion, angiogenic, tumorigenic and metastatic potential of anti-cancer drug-resistant cancer cells. We found that Lys272 of GTGKT peptide was necessary for conferring anti-cancer activity. Peptides corresponding to the DEAD box helicase domain of CAGE, such as AQTGTGKT, QTGTGKT and TGTGKT, also showed anti-cancer activity by preventing CAGE from binding to GSK3β. GTGKT peptide showed ex vivo tumor homing potential. Thus, peptides corresponding to the DEAD box helicase domain of CAGE can be developed as anti-cancer drugs in cancer patients expressing CAGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngmi Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | - Hyuna Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | - Deokbum Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | - Hansoo Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | - Yun Sil Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Jongseon Choe
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | - Young Myeong Kim
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
| | | | - Dooil Jeoung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 24341, Korea
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A novel microtubule de-stabilizing complementarity-determining region C36L1 peptide displays antitumor activity against melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14310. [PMID: 26391685 PMCID: PMC4585759 DOI: 10.1038/srep14310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Short peptide sequences from complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of different immunoglobulins may exert anti-infective, immunomodulatory and antitumor activities regardless of the specificity of the original monoclonal antibody (mAb). In this sense, they resemble early molecules of innate immunity. C36L1 was identified as a bioactive light-chain CDR1 peptide by screening 19 conserved CDR sequences targeting murine B16F10-Nex2 melanoma. The 17-amino acid peptide is readily taken up by melanoma cells and acts on microtubules causing depolymerization, stress of the endoplasmic reticulum and intrinsic apoptosis. At low concentrations, C36L1 inhibited migration, invasion and proliferation of B16F10-Nex2 cells with cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling axis involving Rho-GTPase and PTEN mediation. Peritumor injection of the peptide delayed growth of subcutaneously grafted melanoma cells. Intraperitoneal administration of C36L1 induced a significant immune-response dependent anti-tumor protection in a syngeneic metastatic melanoma model. Dendritic cells stimulated ex-vivo by the peptide and transferred to animals challenged with tumor cells were equally effective. The C36 VL CDR1 peptide is a promising microtubule-interacting drug that induces tumor cell death by apoptosis and inhibits metastases of highly aggressive melanoma cells.
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Abstract
Nearly 30years ago, certain small, relatively nontoxic peptides were discovered to be capable of traversing the cell membrane. These cell-penetrating peptides, as they are now called, have been shown to not only be capable of crossing the cell membrane themselves but can also carry many different therapeutic agents into cells, including small molecules, plasmid DNA, siRNA, therapeutic proteins, viruses, imaging agents, and other various nanoparticles. Many cell-penetrating peptides have been derived from natural proteins, but several other cell-penetrating peptides have been developed that are either chimeric or completely synthetic. How cell-penetrating peptides are internalized into cells has been a topic of debate, with some peptides seemingly entering cells through an endocytic mechanism and others by directly penetrating the cell membrane. Although the entry mechanism is still not entirely understood, it seems to be dependent on the peptide type, the peptide concentration, the cargo the peptide transports, and the cell type tested. With new intracellular disease targets being discovered, cell-penetrating peptides offer an exciting approach for delivering drugs to these intracellular targets. There are hundreds of cell-penetrating peptides being studied for drug delivery, and ongoing studies are demonstrating their success both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Ramsey
- School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States.
| | - Nicholas H Flynn
- School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, United States
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A subtraction tolerization method of immunization allowed for Wilms' tumor protein-1 (WT1) identification in melanoma and discovery of an antitumor peptide sequence. J Immunol Methods 2014; 414:11-9. [PMID: 25205401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
On searching for melanoma transcription factors in a project focusing on internal antitumor peptide sequences from transcription factors, we found that a highly immunogenic component emerged upon using a subtraction tolerization method of immunization. While several conventional immunization procedures using whole melanoma cells induced a plethora of low affinity antibodies of various specificities, the subtraction tolerization method efficiently elicited mono-specific antibodies that recognized Wilms' tumor protein 1 (WT1), which is known as an important marker in melanoma prognosis and treatment. For the tolerization step, pre-immunization of Balb/c mice with a membrane-rich preparation of glioblastoma U87 cells was used. The subsequent immunizations with SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells elicited antibodies strongly reacting with 50 and 55 kDa proteins, identified as WT1. Remarkably, this was the only component strongly reactive with these antibodies in a melanoma cell lysate. WT1 was then chosen as a target for selecting internally bioactive peptides. A hydrophilic Trojan peptide containing most of the zinc finger-2 domain of WT1 was synthesized and shown to inhibit SK-MEL-28 melanoma growth in vitro. The peptide WT1-pTj was also protective in vivo in a metastatic melanoma model and peptide-stimulated syngeneic dendritic cells reproduced the anti-melanoma effect of the unprotected peptide. Identification of antitumor peptides derived from major transcription factors represents a new tool to be explored in cancer research aiming at new therapeutic drugs.
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Sun Y, Furihata T, Ishii S, Nagai M, Harada M, Shimozato O, Kamijo T, Motohashi S, Yoshino I, Kamiichi A, Kobayashi K, Chiba K. Unique expression features of cancer-type organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 mRNA expression in human colon and lung cancers. Clin Transl Med 2014; 3:37. [PMID: 25625007 PMCID: PMC4298695 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-014-0037-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously identified the cancer-type organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (Ct-OATP1B3) mRNA in several human colon and lung cancer tissues. Ct-OATP1B3 is a variant of the liver-type OATP1B3 (Lt-OATP1B3) mRNA, which is a hepatocyte plasma membrane transporter with broad substrate specificity. However, in cancer tissues, both the detailed characteristics of Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA expression and its biological functions remain unclear. With this point in mind, we sought to characterize Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA expression in colon and lung cancer tissues. In addition, we attempted to obtain functional implication of Ct-OATP1B3 in cancer cells. METHODS Matched pairs of cancer and normal tissues were collected from 39 colon cancer and 28 lung cancer patients. The OATP1B3 mRNA expression levels in each of these tissues were separately determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used in statistical analysis. The Ct-OATP1B3 functional expression in colon cancer cells was then examined by Western blotting and transport analyses. RESULTS Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA, but not Lt-OATP1B3 mRNA, was abundantly expressed in colon cancer tissues at a higher detection frequency (87.2%) than that of the adjacent normal tissues (2.6%). Furthermore, it was found that Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA expression was often detected in early colon cancer stages (88.9%, n = 18), and that its expression was associated with well-differentiated colon cancer statuses. On the other hand, Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA also showed a predominant and cancer-associated expression profile in lung tissues, although at frequencies and expression levels that were lower than those obtained from colon cancer. As for attempts to clarify the Ct-OATP1B3 functions, neither protein expression nor transport activity could be observed in any of the cell lines examined. CONCLUSIONS Based on the unique characteristics of the Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA expression profile identified in this study, Ct-OATP1B3 mRNA can be expected to become a biomarker candidate for use in colon (and lung) cancer diagnosis. Simultaneously, our results advance the possibility that Ct-OATP1B3 might play yet unidentified roles, in addition to transporter function, in cancer cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Sun
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomomi Furihata
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Seiya Ishii
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Miki Nagai
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Manami Harada
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Osamu Shimozato
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Motohashi
- Department of Medical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yoshino
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsuko Kamiichi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kaoru Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kan Chiba
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-shi 260-8675, Chiba, Japan
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Figueiredo CR, Matsuo AL, Massaoka MH, Polonelli L, Travassos LR. Anti-tumor activities of peptides corresponding to conserved complementary determining regions from different immunoglobulins. Peptides 2014; 59:14-9. [PMID: 24972300 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Short synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences of complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) from different immunoglobulin families have been shown to induce antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor activities regardless of the specificity of the original monoclonal antibody (mAb). Presently, we studied the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of synthetic peptides derived from conserved CDR sequences of different immunoglobulins against human tumor cell lines and murine B16F10-Nex2 melanoma aiming at the discovery of candidate molecules for cancer therapy. Four light- and heavy-chain CDR peptide sequences from different antibodies (C36-L1, HA9-H2, 1-H2 and Mg16-H2) showed cytotoxic activity against murine melanoma and a panel of human tumor cell lineages in vitro. Importantly, they also exerted anti-metastatic activity using a syngeneic melanoma model in mice. Other peptides (D07-H3, MN20v1, MS2-H3) were also protective against metastatic melanoma, without showing significant cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro. In this case, we suggest that these peptides may act as immune adjuvants in vivo. As observed, peptides induced nitric oxide production in bone-marrow macrophages showing that innate immune cells can also be modulated by these CDR peptides. The present screening supports the search in immunoglobulins of rather frequent CDR sequences that are endowed with specific antitumor properties and may be candidates to be developed as anti-cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Figueiredo
- Experimental Oncology Unit (UNONEX), Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alisson L Matsuo
- Experimental Oncology Unit (UNONEX), Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana H Massaoka
- Experimental Oncology Unit (UNONEX), Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciano Polonelli
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, Universitá degli Studi di Parma, Parma 43121, Italy
| | - Luiz R Travassos
- Experimental Oncology Unit (UNONEX), Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Recepta Biopharma, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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