Electrostatic binding with tat and other cationic peptides increases cell accumulation of 99mTc-antisense DNAs without entrapment

Modified Tat peptide with cationic lipids enhances gene transfection efficiency via temperature-dependent and caveolae-mediated endocytosis

The HIV-1 Tat peptide has been successfully used for intracellular gene delivery. Likewise, various lipid-based methods have shown increased endocytosis and can influence endosomal escape. This study combines the favorable properties of Tat peptide with that of lipid systems for DNA delivery. We combined the lipid FuGENE HD (FH) with the Tat peptide sequence modified with histidine and cysteine residues (mTat). mTat/FH transfection was evaluated by luciferase expression plasmid in five cell types. mTat/FH produced significant improvement in transfection efficiency of all cell lines when compared to FH or mTat. Treatment with chloroquine, associated with energy-dependent endocytosis, significantly increased transfection efficiency with mTat/FH while incubation at low temperature decreased it. The zeta potential of mTat/FH/DNA was significantly higher compared to FH, mTat, or their DNA combination in the presence of serum, and it was correlated with transfection efficiency. The particle size of the FH/DNA complex was significantly reduced by addition of mTat. Filipin III, an inhibitor of caveolae-mediated endocytosis, significantly inhibited mTat/FH transfection, but transfection was increased by chlorpromazine, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of using a combination of mTat with lipids, utilizing temperature-dependent and caveolae-mediated endocytosis, as a potentially attractive non-viral gene vector.

Influence of two transfectors on delivery of 99mTc antisense DNA in tumor-bearing mice

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to determine whether delivery into tumor cells in vivo of a 99mTc-labeled antisense phosphorothioate DNA targeting the mdr1 mRNA improves after electrostatic complexation with the transmembrane transfector (TF) carriers Neophectin or jetPEI as was observed by us in vitro.

METHODS

The biodistribution of the labeled antisense DNA before and after complexation with either TF was determined in nude mice bearing KB-G2 (Pgp++) tumors.

RESULTS

Complexation with either TF resulted in significantly higher background radioactivity levels in almost all normal tissues and modest improvement in tumor accumulation at best. The tumor accumulation was lower compared to naked at six hours (0.34 and 0.23 vs. 0.40% ID/g) and modestly higher at 24-28 hours (0.15 and 0.15 vs. 0.12% ID/g) for Neophectin and jetPEI, respectively. That blood was less than 0.18% ID/g for both TFs even at six hours suggests that tumor accumulations may have suffered from rapid blood clearance.

CONCLUSION

The results of this investigation show that because of the unfavorable pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled phosphorothioate DNAs when electrostatically complexed to jetPEI or Neophectin, neither TF appears to be useful in vivo despite favorable results in vitro. Future studies will devote greater consideration to the relative rates of tumor accumulation and blood clearance.

Cell studies of a three-component antisense MORF/tat/Herceptin nanoparticle designed for improved tumor delivery

The three-component nanoparticle of this investigation consisted of an anti-type I regulatory subunit alpha of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (RIalpha) antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino (MORF) oligomer, a tat peptide and the anti-HER2 Herceptin antibody each biotinylated and each linked via streptavidin and tested in SUM190 (HER2+), SUM149 (HER2-) and SK-BR-3 (HER2+) cells in culture, using both radioactivity and fluorescent labels on the antisense and control sense MORF. Within the nanoparticle, the antibody provides specific binding to the target cells, the tat improves cellular delivery and the MORF provides the specific retention of the radioactivity in the target cell nucleus. The results show that within the nanoparticle, the Herceptin was still able to bind to its determinant; that the MORF escaped entrapment with its mRNA-binding ability preserved and that the tat maintained its carrier function. Fluorescence microscopy showed evidence of antisense MORF internalization, separation from Herceptin and migration to the nucleus. In conclusion, streptavidin appears to provide an easy means of mixing and matching components to improve the tumor-specific targeting, cell membrane transport, pharmacokinetics and other properties of antisense and other oligomers. Combining the three components of this investigation with streptavidin apparently did not interfere with the properties of each component in cell culture and significantly improved delivery.

Cellular penetration and nuclear importation properties of 111In-labeled and 123I-labeled HIV-1 tat peptide immunoconjugates in BT-474 human breast cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

Our objective was to compare the cell penetration and nuclear importation properties of 111In-labeled and 123I-labeled immunoconjugates (ICs) composed of 16-mer peptides (GRKKRRQRRRPPQGYG) derived from HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (tat) protein and anti-mouse IgG (mIgG) in BT-474 breast cancer (BC) cells.

METHODS

[111In]tat ICs were constructed by site-specific conjugation of tat peptides to NaIO4(-)-oxidized carbohydrates in the Fc domain of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic-acid-modified anti-mIgG antibodies. Immunoreactivity against mIgG was assessed in a competition assay. The kinetics of the accumulation of [111In]anti-mIgG-tat IC and [123I]anti-mIgG-tat ICs in BT-474 cells and the elimination of radioactivity from cells, cytoplasm or nuclei were determined. The effects of excess tat peptides or NH4Cl (an inhibitor of endosomal acidification) on cellular uptake and nuclear importation of [111In]anti-mIgG-tat were measured.

RESULTS

[111In]anti-mIgG-tat was >97% radiochemically pure and exhibited preserved immunoreactivity with mIgG epitopes. [123I]Anti-mIgG-tat penetrated BT-474 cells more rapidly than [111In]anti-mIgG-tat ICs and achieved a 1.5-fold to a 2-fold higher uptake in cells and nuclei. Cell penetration and nuclear uptake of [111In]anti-mIgG-tat were inhibited by excess tat peptides and NH4Cl. Elimination of radioactivity from BT-474 cells and nuclei was more rapid and complete for 123I-labeled than for 111In-labeled anti-mIgG-tat ICs.

CONCLUSION

Tat peptides derived from HIV-1 tat protein promoted the penetration and nuclear uptake of radioactivity following the incubation of 111In-labeled and 123I-labeled anti-mIgG antibodies with BT-474 human BC cells. 111In-labeled tat ICs are feasible for inserting radionuclides into cancer cells with potential for targeting intracellular and, particularly, nuclear epitopes for imaging and/or radiotherapeutic applications.

123I-labeled HIV-1 tat peptide radioimmunoconjugates are imported into the nucleus of human breast cancer cells and functionally interact in vitro and in vivo with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21WAF-1/Cip-1

PURPOSE

To evaluate the internalization and nuclear translocation of (123)I-tat-peptide radioimmunoconjugates in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells and their ability to interact with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(WAF-1/Cip-1).

METHODS

Peptides [GRKKRRQRRRPPQGYGC] harboring the nuclear-localizing sequence from HIV tat domain were conjugated to anti-p21(WAF-1/Cip-1) antibodies. Immunoreactivity was assessed by Western blot using lysate from MDA-MB-468 cells exposed to EGF to induce p21(WAF-1/Cip-1). Internalization and nuclear translocation were measured. The ability of tat-anti-p21(WAF-1/Cip-1) to block G(1)-S phase arrest in MDA-MB-468 cells caused by EGF-induced p21(WAF-1/Cip-1) was evaluated. Tumor and normal tissue uptake were determined at 48 h p.i. in athymic mice implanted s.c. with MDA-MB-468 xenografts injected intratumorally with EGF.

RESULTS

There was 13.4+/-0.2% of radioactivity internalized by MDA-MB-468 cells incubated with (123)I-tat-anti-p21(WAF-1/Cip-1) and 34.6+/-3.1% imported into the nucleus. Tat-anti-p21(WAF-1/Cip-1)(8 muM) decreased the proportion of EGF-treated cells in G(1) phase from 81.9+/-0.7% to 46.1+/-0.7% (p<0.001), almost restoring the G(1) phase fraction to that of unexposed cells (25.8+/-0.2%). Non-specific tat-mouse IgG did not block EGF-induced G(1)-S phase arrest. Tumor uptake of radioactivity was higher in mice injected with EGF to induce p21(WAF-1/Cip-1) than in mice not receiving EGF (3.1+/-0.4% versus 1.8+/-0.2% ID/g; p=0.04). Western blot analysis of tumors revealed a threefold increase in the p21(WAF-1/Cip-1)/beta-actin ratio.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that intracellular and nuclear epitopes in cancer cells can be functionally targeted with tat-radioimmunoconjugates to exploit many more epitopes for imaging and radiotherapeutic applications than have previously been accessible.

Construction of a novel chimera consisting of a chelator-containing Tat peptide conjugated to a morpholino antisense oligomer for technetium-99m labeling and accelerating cellular kinetics

The attempt to target the limited copies of messenger RNA (mRNA) in vivo with radiolabeled nucleobase oligomers as antisense probes is challenging. Selecting an antisense molecule with superior properties, enhancing the cellular kinetics, and improving the radiolabeling chemistry would be the reasonable approach to accomplish this goal. The present study reports a method to construct a chimera of phosphorodiamidate morpholino nucleobase oligomer (MORF) covalently conjugated to a peptide containing a cell membrane transduction Tat peptide and an N(2)S(2) chelator for technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) radiolabeling (N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF). The radiolabeling properties and cellular kinetics of (99m)Tc-N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF were measured. As hypothesized, the preparation of (99m)Tc-N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF could be achieved by an instant one-step method with labeling efficiency greater than 95%, and the (99m)Tc-N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF showed distinct properties in cell culture from those of a control, the same MORF sequence without Tat but with mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG(3)) as chelator for (99m)Tc ((99m)Tc-MAG(3)-MORF). (99m)Tc-N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF achieved maximum accumulation of about 35% within 2 h, while (99m)Tc-MAG(3)-MORF showed lower and steadily increasing accumulations but of less than 1% in 24 h. These preliminary results demonstrated that the proposed chimera has properties for easy labeling, and (99m)Tc-N(2)S(2)-Tat-MORF prepared by this method possesses enhanced cellular kinetics and merits further investigation for in vivo mRNA targeting.

Cysteine-tailed class I-binding peptides bind to CpG adjuvant and enhance primary CTL responses

Immunostimulatory CpG motifs in synthetic oligonucleotides can be effective adjuvants for the priming of CTLs. We first observed that a single male-specific peptide (KCSRNRQYL) (HY2) was more efficient than another male-specific peptide (WMHHNMDLI) (HY1) at priming IFN-gamma-secreting CTLs in vivo when combined with lipid A and CpG and that it also visibly precipitated CpG. The addition of the six N-terminal residues (KCSRNR) from HY2 to HY1 yielded a peptide, KCSRNR-HY1, that both precipitated CpG and primed increased numbers of HY1-specific CTLs. We refer to this type of peptide as a primotope that includes a class I binding peptide tailed with amino acids that increase priming. Ala residues were substituted for the Arg/Lys residues (ACSANA-HY1), and these substitutions did not reduce in vivo priming potential. However, the substitution of Ala for Cys (KASRNR-HY1) resulted in the complete loss of priming, demonstrating the importance of Cys for in vivo priming when mixed with CpG. This result suggested that increased priming was based in disulfide bonding between Cys residues and internal phosphorothioate groups of synthetic CpG. The addition of Cys-bearing primotopes to radiolabeled CpG with a single thioate group resulted in the appearance of a new band that was inhibited by 1) Cys > Ala substitution and 2) reduction and alkylation of CpG. These results reveal a novel mechanism for complexing class I binding peptides and CpG adjuvant for development of new peptide-adjuvant combinations for vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases.

Delivery of bioactive molecules into the cell: the Trojan horse approach

In recent years, vast amounts of data on the mechanisms of neural de- and regeneration have accumulated. However, only in disproportionally few cases has this led to efficient therapies for human patients. Part of the problem is to deliver cell death-averting genes or gene products across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and cellular membranes. The discovery of Antennapedia (Antp)-mediated transduction of heterologous proteins into cells in 1992 and other "Trojan horse peptides" raised hopes that often-frustrating attempts to deliver proteins would now be history. The demonstration that proteins fused to the Tat protein transduction domain (PTD) are capable of crossing the BBB may revolutionize molecular research and neurobiological therapy. However, it was only recently that PTD-mediated delivery of proteins with therapeutic potential has been achieved in models of neural degeneration in nerve trauma and ischemia. Several groups have published the first positive results using protein transduction domains for the delivery of therapeutic proteins in relevant animal models of human neurological disorders. Here, we give an extensive review of peptide-mediated protein transduction from its early beginnings to new advances, discuss their application, with particular focus on a critical evaluation of the limitations of the method, as well as alternative approaches. Besides applications in neurobiology, a large number of reports using PTD in other systems are included as well. Because each protein requires an individual purification scheme that yields sufficient quantities of soluble, transducible material, the neurobiologist will benefit from the experiences of other researchers in the growing field of protein transduction.

Molecular recognition and stability of 99mTc-UBI 29-41 based on experimental and semiempirical results

99mTc-UBI 29-41 is an antimicrobial peptide fragment that directly radiolabeled with 99mTc shows high in vitro and in vivo stability, rapid background clearance, minimal accumulation in non-target tissues and rapid detection of infection sites. Molecular mechanics (MM) calculation has been an essential tool in explaining experimental results associated with molecular recognition and stability. This work is an attempt to explain the 99mTc-UBI 29-41 specificity for bacteria and to understand from a structural point of view, the experimental results indicative of a molecular recognition and stability not well favored for two other cationic peptides (99mTc-Tat-1-Scr and 99mTc-Tat-2-Scr ) used as control. Structures of 99mTc-UBI, 99mTc-Tat-1-Scr, 99mTc-Tat-2-Scr and of the corresponding free cationic peptides were built and the optimized structures, in the best stable configurations, were calculated by a MM procedure. In order to correlate the calculated and experimental results, in vitro stability tests with cysteine challenge and stability to dilution in human serum and in saline solution, were performed for the three labeled cationic peptides. The three complexes can be represented by the general formula [Tc(V)(O)(H2O)2(Lysn=1,2-Argn=0,1-peptide)]10+,11+. The potential energies were 104.5, 95.6 and 90.8 kcal/mol for 99mTc-Tat-1-Scr, 99mTc-Tat-2-Scr and 99mTc-UBI 29-41, respectively. Experimental and calculated results were in good agreement. It is thus possible to predict and explain that in similar solution media 99mTc-Tat-2-Scr would be more stable than 99mTc-Tat-1-Scr and why 99mTc-UBI shows the highest stability. In conclusion, the in vitro specific binding to bacteria and the accumulation at infection sites in humans of 99mTc-labeled UBI could be the result of its high thermodynamic stability, selectivity and stereospecificity.

Initial observations of 99mTc labelled locked nucleic acids for antisense targeting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The most recent DNA analogues to become commercially available are known as locked nucleic acids (LNAs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of LNAs for antisense targeting.

METHODS

A 15 mer LNA antisense to RIalpha mRNA was studied in cell culture. The antisense LNA (5'-amine linker-TGCCTCCTCACTGGC) was purchased along with its sense control LNA. Surface plasmon resonance was used to compare affinity constants with uniform 18 mer phosphorothioate (PS) DNA and uniform 18 mer phosphodiamidate morpholinos (MORFs, another DNA analogue). After radiolabelling with 99mTc via MAG3, the antisense and sense LNAs were added at 5 nM to wells containing ACHN cells in culture and accumulations measured over 24 h. Subcellular partition was determined after 16 h of incubation by separating membrane bound, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. The cell studies were conducted both with naked LNAs and with liposomes (oligofectamine) as carrier.

RESULTS

Radiochemical purity was about 95% after purification on a P4 column and each LNA was radiolabelled at about 20 GBq.micromol(-1) (100.microCi.microg(-1)). The surface plasmon resonance results showed a more favourable dissociation constant for the duplex with DNA of the 15 mer LNA (0.55 x 10(-10).M(-1)) compared to the duplex with 18 mer DNA and 18 mer MORFS (2.05 and 1.06 x 10(-10).M(-1), respectively). Because of lower dissociation constants, the hybridization affinities of LNAs are therefore higher than those of uniform and identical PS DNAs or MORFs. The cellular accumulations suggested an antisense effect in that the antisense LNA accumulation was higher than sense both when added naked (1.8% vs. 0.4% at 24 h) and with liposome carrier (3.8% vs. 1.0% at 24 h). Thus while absolute cellular uptake was lower than that observed by this laboratory with other oligomers, the antisense/sense differential was higher. The number of antisense LNAs accumulating per cell specifically (i.e., antisense minus sense) was about 45,000 naked and about 100,000 with carrier. Subcellular partition showed that both LNAs were partitioned to each fraction with antisense accumulations greater than sense and carrier accumulations greater than naked as before. That as much as 2.9% of the antisense LNA (with carrier) was in the cytoplasmic or nuclear factions demonstrates that the LNA was internalized.

CONCLUSIONS

LNAs appear to be attractive oligomers for antisense targeting and other radiopharmaceutical applications.

HIV-1 Tat protein transduction domain peptide facilitates gene transfer in combination with cationic liposomes

The protein transduction domain (PTD) of the HIV-1 Tat protein can facilitate the cellular and nuclear uptake of macromolecular particles. Here, we demonstrate that incorporation without covalent linkage of a 17-amino acid PTD peptide into gene delivery lipoplexes improves gene transfer. Tat/Liposome/DNA (TLD) transfection, as evaluated by Fluorescence Activated Cell Scan analysis of a Green Fluorescence Protein expression plasmid, enabled transfection of highly recalcitrant primary cells in the form of air/liquid interface cultures of sheep tracheal epithelium. Treatment with chloroquine increased, and incubation at low temperature decreased, TLD transfection, suggesting that the endocytosis uptake pathway is involved.

Antisense targeting in cell culture with radiolabeled DNAs —a brief review of recent progress—

The promise of antisense targeting that any tissue with a unique genetic expression can be specifically localized with radioactivity in the living subject is the holy grail that drives this research today. If antisense targeting were to achieve even a fraction of its promise, the results could well lead a revolution in diagnostic nuclear medicine. Despite its obvious complexities, antisense targeting with radiolabeled oligomers such as DNA is making considerable progress in cell culture. As is documented in this brief review, evidence is becoming overwhelming that an antisense mechanism is probably responsible for the accumulation in tumor cells in culture of radiolabeled DNAs with base sequences antisense to target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). That an increased accumulations of these DNAs compared to control DNAs has now been seen in a substantial number of tumor cell types and mRNA targets largely eliminates any possibility of an aptameric effect being responsible for these specific accumulations. In addition, the number of antisense DNAs accumulating specifically in cells in culture has been shown to be orders of magnitude larger than that expected on the basis of steady state mRNA levels. Thus, two of the main concerns regarding antisense targeted, namely that the mechanism of localization may not be attributed to antisense and that the degree of accumulation will be impractically low for imaging, have been addressed in recent research. The remaining obstacle to successful targeting may be delivery. This review will provide a brief review of recent results, primarily from the laboratory of one of the authors (DJH), obtained in tissue culture in studies of antisense targeting and will conclude with several suggestions for future approaches.