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Di Nitto C, Neri D, Weiss T, Weller M, De Luca R. Design and Characterization of Novel Antibody-Cytokine Fusion Proteins Based on Interleukin-21. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11010019. [PMID: 35323193 PMCID: PMC8944420 DOI: 10.3390/antib11010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL21) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity. IL21 is mainly secreted by natural killer (NK) and activated CD4+ T-cells. The biology of this cytokine can be associated to proinflammatory responses reflecting its potent stimulatory activity of NK and CD8+ T-cells. Here we describe four formats of novel IL21-based antibody–cytokine fusion proteins, targeting the extra domain A (EDA) of fibronectin and explore their potential for cancer treatment. The fusion proteins were designed, expressed, and characterized. F8 in single-chain diabody (scDb) format fused to IL21 at its C-terminus exhibited a promising profile in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and SDS-PAGE. The lead candidate was further characterized in vitro. A cell-based activity assay on murine cytotoxic T-cells showed that human IL21, compared to murine IL21 partially cross-reacted with the murine receptor. The prototype was able to recognize EDA as demonstrated by immunofluorescence analysis on tumor sections. In an in vivo quantitative biodistribution experiment, F8(scDb)-murine IL21 did not preferentially accumulate at the site of disease after intravenous injection, suggesting that additional protein engineering would be required to improve the tumor-homing properties of IL21-based product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Di Nitto
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
| | - Dario Neri
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
- Philogen SpA, Piazza la Lizza 7, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (T.W.); (M.W.)
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (T.W.); (M.W.)
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto De Luca
- Philochem AG, 8112 Otelfingen, Switzerland; (C.D.N.); (D.N.)
- Correspondence:
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Myofibroblasts: Function, Formation, and Scope of Molecular Therapies for Skin Fibrosis. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081095. [PMID: 34439762 PMCID: PMC8391320 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are contractile, α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells with multiple roles in pathophysiological processes. Myofibroblasts mediate wound contractions, but their persistent presence in tissues is central to driving fibrosis, making them attractive cell targets for the development of therapeutic treatments. However, due to shared cellular markers with several other phenotypes, the specific targeting of myofibroblasts has long presented a scientific and clinical challenge. In recent years, myofibroblasts have drawn much attention among scientific research communities from multiple disciplines and specialisations. As further research uncovers the characterisations of myofibroblast formation, function, and regulation, the realisation of novel interventional routes for myofibroblasts within pathologies has emerged. The research community is approaching the means to finally target these cells, to prevent fibrosis, accelerate scarless wound healing, and attenuate associated disease-processes in clinical settings. This comprehensive review article describes the myofibroblast cell phenotype, their origins, and their diverse physiological and pathological functionality. Special attention has been given to mechanisms and molecular pathways governing myofibroblast differentiation, and updates in molecular interventions.
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Deligne C, Midwood KS. Macrophages and Extracellular Matrix in Breast Cancer: Partners in Crime or Protective Allies? Front Oncol 2021; 11:620773. [PMID: 33718177 PMCID: PMC7943718 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid cancers such as breast tumors comprise a collection of tumor, stromal and immune cells, embedded within a network of tumor-specific extracellular matrix. This matrix is associated with tumor aggression, treatment failure, chemo- and radio-resistance, poor survival and metastasis. Recent data report an immunomodulatory role for the matrix in cancer, via the creation of niches that control the migration, localization, phenotype and function of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, ultimately contributing to escape of immune surveillance. Macrophages are crucial components of the immune infiltrate in tumors; they are associated with a poor prognosis in breast cancer and contribute to shaping the anti-tumor immune response. We and others have described how matrix molecules commonly upregulated within the tumor stroma, such as tenascin-C, fibronectin and collagen, exert a complex influence over macrophage behavior, for example restricting or enhancing their infiltration into the tumor, and driving their polarization towards or away from a pro-tumoral phenotype, and how in turn macrophages can modify matrix production in the tumor to favor tumor growth and metastasis. Targeting specific domains of matrix molecules to reinstate an efficient anti-tumor immune response, and effectively control tumor growth and spread, is emerging as a promising field offering a new angle for cancer therapy. Here, we review current knowledge on the interactions between tumor-associated macrophages and matrix molecules that occur within the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer, and discuss how these pathways can be targeted for new immunotherapies for hard to treat, desmoplastic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Deligne
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kim S Midwood
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Zhang L, Yan H, Tai Y, Xue Y, Wei Y, Wang K, Zhao Q, Wang S, Kong D, Midgley AC. Design and Evaluation of a Polypeptide that Mimics the Integrin Binding Site for EDA Fibronectin to Block Profibrotic Cell Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041575. [PMID: 33557232 PMCID: PMC7913925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterized by excessive production of disorganized collagen- and fibronectin-rich extracellular matrices (ECMs) and is driven by the persistence of myofibroblasts within tissues. A key protein contributing to myofibroblast differentiation is extra domain A fibronectin (EDA-FN). We sought to target and interfere with interactions between EDA-FN and its integrin receptors to effectively inhibit profibrotic activity and myofibroblast formation. Molecular docking was used to assist in the design of a blocking polypeptide (antifibrotic 38-amino-acid polypeptide, AF38Pep) for specific inhibition of EDA-FN associations with the fibroblast-expressed integrins α4β1 and α4β7. Blocking peptides were designed and evaluated in silico before synthesis, confirmation of binding specificity, and evaluation in vitro. We identified the high-affinity EDA-FN C-C′ loop binding cleft within integrins α4β1 and α4β7. The polypeptide with the highest predicted binding affinity, AF38Pep, was synthesized and could achieve specific binding to myofibroblast fibronectin-rich ECM and EDA-FN C-C′ loop peptides. AF38Pep demonstrated potent myofibroblast inhibitory activity at 10 µg/mL and was not cytotoxic. Treatment with AF38Pep prevented integrin α4β1-mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation and early signaling through extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), attenuated the expression of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and pro-MMP2, and inhibited collagen synthesis and deposition. Immunocytochemistry staining revealed an inhibition of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) incorporation into actin stress fibers and attenuated cell contraction. Increases in the expression of mRNA associated with fibrosis and downstream from integrin signaling were inhibited by treatment with AF38Pep. Our study suggested that AF38Pep could successfully interfere with EDA-FN C-C′ loop-specific integrin interactions and could act as an effective inhibitor of fibroblast of myofibroblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Hongyu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Yifan Tai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Yueming Xue
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Yongzhen Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Shufang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
- Correspondence: (S.W.); (A.C.M.); Tel.: +86-1562-004-7851 (A.C.M.)
| | - Deling Kong
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
- Rongxiang Xu Center for Regenerative Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Adam C. Midgley
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; (L.Z.); (H.Y.); (Y.T.); (Y.X.); (Y.W.); (K.W.); (Q.Z.); (D.K.)
- Rongxiang Xu Center for Regenerative Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Correspondence: (S.W.); (A.C.M.); Tel.: +86-1562-004-7851 (A.C.M.)
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Gouyou B, Ongaro T, Cazzamalli S, De Luca R, Kerschenmeyer A, Valet P, Villa A, Neri D, Matasci M. Antibody-based delivery of interleukin-9 to neovascular structures: Therapeutic evaluation in cancer and arthritis. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:940-951. [PMID: 33475433 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220981578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-9 is a cytokine with multiple functions, including the ability to activate group 2 innate lymphoid cells, which has been postulated to be therapeutically active in mouse models of arthritis. Similarly, interleukin-9 has been suggested to play an important role in tumor immunity. Here, we describe the cloning, expression, and characterization of three fusion proteins based on murine interleukin-9 and the F8 antibody, specific to the alternatively spliced EDA domain of fibronectin. EDA is strongly expressed in cancer and in various arthritic conditions, while being undetectable in the majority of healthy organs. Interleukin-9-based fusion proteins with an irrelevant antibody specific to hen egg lysozyme served as negative control in our study. The fusion proteins were characterized by quantitative biodistribution analysis in tumor-bearing mice using radioiodinated protein preparations. The highest tumor uptake and best tumor:organ ratios were observed for a format, in which the interleukin-9 moiety was flanked by two units of the F8 antibody in single-chain Fv format. Biological activity of interleukin-9 was retained when the payload was fused to antibodies. However, the targeted delivery of interleukin-9 to the disease site resulted in a modest anti-tumor activity in three different murine models of cancer (K1735M2, CT26, and F9), while no therapeutic benefit was observed in a collagen induced model of arthritis. Collectively, these results confirm the possibility to deliver interleukin-9 to the site of disease but cast doubts about the alleged therapeutic activity of this cytokine in cancer and arthritis, which has been postulated in previous publications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiziano Ongaro
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen 8112, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Philippe Valet
- Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires, INSERM U1048, Université de Toulouse, UPS, Cedex 4, Toulouse 31432, France
| | | | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Mattia Matasci
- Philochem AG, Libernstrasse 3, Otelfingen 8112, Switzerland
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Yang X, Zhao J, Duan S, Hou X, Li X, Hu Z, Tang Z, Mo F, Lu X. Enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocytes recruitment targeting tumor vasculatures by endoglin aptamer and IP-10 plasmid presenting liposome-based nanocarriers. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:4066-4083. [PMID: 31281532 PMCID: PMC6592167 DOI: 10.7150/thno.33383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Adequate recruitment of highly active tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Objective: To construct liposome (LP)-based nanocapsules with surface endoglin aptamer (ENG-Apt) encapsulating mouse interferon-inducible protein-10 (mIP-10), with the ability to target mouse tumor vascular endothelial cells (mTECs) and enhance CTLs targeting and recruitment to the tumor vasculature. Methods: ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules were prepared by grafting DSPE-PEG2000-ENG-Apt on the surface of liposomes containing mIP-10 plasmids, characterized and assessed for the cell binding specificity in vitro. The tumor-targeting ability of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules was evaluated in vivo. The anti-tumor efficacy of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules treatment, as well as the combination treatment of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules and adoptive TRP2CD8+ T cells, were both tested in melanoma-bearing mice, by evaluation of the tumor volume and the mouse survival time. To discuss the anti-tumoral mechanism of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules-based therapies, IFN-γ secretion, proportion of TRP2CD8+ T cells among TILs, MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment and Tregs in the spleen, were determined after the treatments. Proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells, and tumor angiogenesis were also assessed. Results: The prepared ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules possess an adequate nanometric size, good stability, high specificity to mTECs and tumor sites, along with the ability to induce mIP-10 expression in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules demonstrated CTLs enrichment into the tumor site, which inhibited tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis, as well as promoted tumor-cell apoptosis, leading to a decrease in tumor progression and prolonged survival time in melanoma tumor-bearing mice. In addition, the proportion of MDSCs and Tregs was found to decrease. The combination of ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules with adoptive TRP2CD8+ T cells, showed stronger abilities in inhibiting tumor growth and increasing animal survival time, thereby displayed an enhanced anti-melanoma tumor efficacy, due to the recruitment of both endogenous CD8+ T cells and exogenous TRP2CD8+ T cells in vivo. Conclusion: ENG-Apt/mIP-10-LP nanocapsules could enhance the recruitment of both endogenous and exogenous CTLs specifically targeting melanoma tumor vasculatures and exert anti-tumoral effect, therefore provides a potentially novel strategy for tumor immunotherapy.
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