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Li X, Peng X, Zoulikha M, Boafo GF, Magar KT, Ju Y, He W. Multifunctional nanoparticle-mediated combining therapy for human diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:1. [PMID: 38161204 PMCID: PMC10758001 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01668-1] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Combining existing drug therapy is essential in developing new therapeutic agents in disease prevention and treatment. In preclinical investigations, combined effect of certain known drugs has been well established in treating extensive human diseases. Attributed to synergistic effects by targeting various disease pathways and advantages, such as reduced administration dose, decreased toxicity, and alleviated drug resistance, combinatorial treatment is now being pursued by delivering therapeutic agents to combat major clinical illnesses, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, myocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Combinatorial therapy involves combining or co-delivering two or more drugs for treating a specific disease. Nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery systems, i.e., liposomal NPs, polymeric NPs and nanocrystals, are of great interest in combinatorial therapy for a wide range of disorders due to targeted drug delivery, extended drug release, and higher drug stability to avoid rapid clearance at infected areas. This review summarizes various targets of diseases, preclinical or clinically approved drug combinations and the development of multifunctional NPs for combining therapy and emphasizes combinatorial therapeutic strategies based on drug delivery for treating severe clinical diseases. Ultimately, we discuss the challenging of developing NP-codelivery and translation and provide potential approaches to address the limitations. This review offers a comprehensive overview for recent cutting-edge and challenging in developing NP-mediated combination therapy for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Li
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 2111198, PR China
| | - Xiuju Peng
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 2111198, PR China
| | - Makhloufi Zoulikha
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 2111198, PR China
| | - George Frimpong Boafo
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, PR China
| | - Kosheli Thapa Magar
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 2111198, PR China
| | - Yanmin Ju
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 2111198, PR China.
| | - Wei He
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200443, China.
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Sarkar T, Moinuddin SM, Isbatan A, Chen J, Mann D, Ahsan F. Intratracheally Administered Peptide-Modified Lipid Admixture Containing Fasudil and/or DETA NONOate Ameliorates Various Pathologies of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1656. [PMID: 38139783 PMCID: PMC10747237 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121656] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the therapeutic potential of a combination therapy using fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, and DETA NONOate (DN), a nitric oxide donor, delivered as a lipid admixture modified with a cyclic homing peptide known as CAR (CAR-lipid mixture) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). CAR-lipid mixtures were initially prepared via a thin-film hydration method and then combined with fasudil, DN, or a mixture of both. The therapeutic efficacy of this drug-laden lipid mixture was evaluated in a Sugen/Hypoxia (Su/Hx) rat model of PAH by measuring RV systolic pressure (RVSP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), Fulton indices, and assessing right ventricular (RV) functions, as well as evaluating pulmonary vascular morphology. Rats that received no treatment exhibited increases in RVSP, mPAP, Fulton indices, and changes in RV functional parameters. However, the treatment with the CAR-lipid mixture containing either fasudil or DN or a combination of both led to a decline in mPAP, RVSP, and Fulton indices compared to saline-treated rats. Similarly, rats that received these treatments showed concurrent improvement in various echocardiographic parameters such as pulmonary acceleration time (PAT), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and ventricular free wall thickness (RVFWT). A significant decrease in the wall thickness of pulmonary arteries larger than 100 µm was observed with the combination therapy. The findings reveal that fasudil, DN, and their combination in a CAR-modified lipid mixture improved pulmonary hemodynamics, RV functions, and pathological alterations in the pulmonary vasculature. This study underscores the potential of combination therapy and targeted drug delivery in PAH treatment, laying the groundwork for future investigations into the optimization of these treatments, their long-term safety and efficacy, and the underlying mechanism of action of the proposed therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanoy Sarkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Sakib M. Moinuddin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Ayman Isbatan
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jiwang Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - David Mann
- Vascular BioSciences, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
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Sarkar T, Isbatan A, Moinuddin SM, Chen J, Ahsan F. Catheterization of Pulmonary and Carotid Arteries for Concurrent Measurement of Mean Pulmonary and Systemic Arterial Pressure in Rat Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4737. [PMID: 37645695 PMCID: PMC10461069 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a group of pulmonary vascular disorders in which mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) becomes abnormally high because of various pathological conditions, including remodeling of the pulmonary arteries, lung and heart disorders, or congenital conditions. Various animal models, including mouse and rat models, have been used to recapitulate elevated mPAP observed in PH patients. However, the measurement and recording of mPAP and mean systemic arterial pressure (mSAP) in small animals require microsurgical procedures and a sophisticated data acquisition system. In this paper, we describe the surgical procedures for right heart catheterizations (RHC) to measure mPAP in rats. We also explain the catheterization of the carotid artery for simultaneous measurement of mPAP and mSAP using the PowerLab Data Acquisition system. We enumerate the surgical steps involved in exposing the jugular vein and the carotid artery for catheterizing these two blood vessels. We list the tools used for microsurgery in rats, describe the methods for preparing catheters, and illustrate the process for inserting the catheters in the pulmonary and carotid arteries. Finally, we delineate the steps involved in the calibration and setup of the PowerLab system for recording both mPAP and mSAP. This is the first protocol wherein we meticulously explain the surgical procedures for RHC in rats and the recording of mPAP and mSAP. We believe this protocol will be essential for PH research. Investigators with little training in animal handling can reproduce this microsurgical procedure for RHC in rats and measure mPAP and mSAP in rat models of PH. Further, this protocol is likely to help master RHC in rats that are performed for other conditions, such as heart failure, congenital heart disease, heart valve disorders, and heart transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanoy Sarkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Ayman Isbatan
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sakib M. Moinuddin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Jiwang Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, California Northstate University College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, USA
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Rothman A, Restrepo H, Evans WN, Sarukhanov V, Mann D. CAR Selectively Enhances the Pulmonary Vasodilatory Effect of Fasudil in a Microsphere Model of Pulmonary Hypertension. Open Respir Med J 2023; 17:e187430642303160. [PMID: 37916136 PMCID: PMC10351346 DOI: 10.2174/18743064-v17-e230404-2022-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the approval of several medications for pulmonary hypertension, morbidity and mortality are unacceptably high. Systemic hypotension may limit the use of pulmonary hypertension medications. Objectives This study aimed to assess whether the homing peptide CAR (CARSKNKDC) improves the vasodilatory selectivity of fasudil in the pulmonary circulation or systemic circulation in a porcine pulmonary hypertension model. Materials and Methods Pulmonary hypertension (to approximately 2/3-3/4 systemic pressure levels) was induced by chronic and acute administration of microspheres in 3 micro Yucatan pigs (mean weight 19.9 kg, mean age 4.3 months). Fasudil (0.3 mg/kg) was administered without and with CAR (1.5 mg/kg), and the effect on aortic (Ao) and right ventricular (RV) pressure was recorded with indwelling catheters. Results Immediately after fasudil administration, there was a decrease in Ao pressure followed by prompt recovery to baseline. The RV pressure decrease was progressive and sustained. Fasudil alone resulted in a 12% decrease in RV pressure, whereas co-administration of CAR with fasudil resulted in a 22% decrease in RV pressure (p < 0.0001). Fasudil alone caused an average decrease of 34% in the RV/Ao pressure ratio, and fasudil + CAR caused an average decrease of 40% in the RV/Ao pressure ratio (p < 0.0001). Conclusion The homing peptide CAR selectively enhanced the acute vasodilatory effects of fasudil on the pulmonary vascular bed in a porcine experimental model of pulmonary hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Rothman
- Children’s Heart Center, Nevada3131 La Canada, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89169, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Medicine, 2040 W Charleston Blvd Ste. 402, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
| | - Humberto Restrepo
- Children’s Heart Center, Nevada3131 La Canada, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89169, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Medicine, 2040 W Charleston Blvd Ste. 402, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
| | - William N. Evans
- Children’s Heart Center, Nevada3131 La Canada, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89169, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Medicine, 2040 W Charleston Blvd Ste. 402, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
| | - Valeri Sarukhanov
- Children’s Heart Center, Nevada3131 La Canada, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89169, USA
| | - David Mann
- Vascular BioSciences, 72 Santa Felicia Dr, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
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Mirhadi E, Kesharwani P, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. Nanomedicine-mediated therapeutic approaches for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103599. [PMID: 37116826 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Nanomedicine has emerged as a field in which there are opportunities to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of incurable diseases. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is known as a severe and fatal disease affecting children and adults. Conventional treatments have not produced optimal effectiveness in treating this condition. Several reasons for this include drug instability, poor solubility of the drug and a shortened duration of pharmacological action. The present review focuses on new approaches for delivering anti-PAH drugs using nanotechnology with the aim of overcoming these shortcomings and increasing their efficacy. Solid-lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, metal-organic frameworks and polymeric nanoparticles have demonstrated advantages for the potential treatment of PAH, including increased drug bioavailability, drug solubility and accumulation in the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Mirhadi
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Prashant Kesharwani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India; Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, India
| | - Thomas P Johnston
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Vähätupa M, Salonen N, Uusitalo-Järvinen H, Järvinen TAH. Selective Targeting and Tissue Penetration to the Retina by a Systemically Administered Vascular Homing Peptide in Oxygen Induced Retinopathy (OIR). Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111932. [PMID: 34834347 PMCID: PMC8618640 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis is the hallmark of ischemic retinal diseases among them retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a pure hypoxia-driven angiogenesis model and a widely used model for ischemic retinopathies. We explored whether the vascular homing peptide CAR (CARSKNKDC) which recognizes angiogenic blood vessels can be used to target the retina in OIR. We were able to demonstrate that the systemically administered CAR vascular homing peptide homed selectively to the preretinal neovessels in OIR. As a cell and tissue-penetrating peptide, CAR also penetrated into the retina. Hyperoxia used to induce OIR in the retina also causes bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the lungs. We showed that the CAR peptide is not targeted to the lungs in normal mice but is targeted to the lungs after hyperoxia-/hypoxia-treatment of the animals. The site-specific delivery of the CAR peptide to the pathologic retinal vasculature and the penetration of the retinal tissue may offer new opportunities for treating retinopathies more selectively and with less side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vähätupa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (M.V.); (N.S.); (H.U.-J.)
| | - Niklas Salonen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (M.V.); (N.S.); (H.U.-J.)
| | - Hannele Uusitalo-Järvinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (M.V.); (N.S.); (H.U.-J.)
- Eye Centre & Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Tero A. H. Järvinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (M.V.); (N.S.); (H.U.-J.)
- Eye Centre & Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Correspondence:
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Systemically Administered Homing Peptide Targets Dystrophic Lesions and Delivers Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) Inhibitor to Attenuate Murine Muscular Dystrophy Pathology. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091506. [PMID: 34575582 PMCID: PMC8471674 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy is a progressively worsening and lethal disease, where accumulation of functionality-impairing fibrosis plays a key pathogenic role. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) is a central signaling molecule in the development of fibrosis in muscular dystrophic humans and mice. Inhibition of TGFβ1 has proven beneficial in mouse models of muscular dystrophy, but the global strategies of TGFβ1 inhibition produce significant detrimental side effects. Here, we investigated whether murine muscular dystrophy lesion-specific inhibition of TGFβ1 signaling by the targeted delivery of therapeutic decorin (a natural TGFβ inhibitor) by a vascular homing peptide CAR (CARSKNKDC) would reduce skeletal muscle fibrosis and pathology and increase functional characteristics of skeletal muscle. We demonstrate that CAR peptide homes to dystrophic lesions with specificity in two muscular dystrophy models. Recombinant fusion protein consisting of CAR peptide and decorin homes selectively to sites of skeletal muscle damage in mdxDBA2/J and gamma-sarcoglycan deficient DBA2/J mice. This targeted delivery reduced TGFβ1 signaling as demonstrated by reduced nuclear pSMAD staining. Three weeks of targeted decorin treatment decreased both membrane permeability and fibrosis and improved skeletal muscle function in comparison to control treatments in the mdxD2 mice. These results show that selective delivery of decorin to the sites of skeletal muscle damage attenuates the progression of murine muscular dystrophy.
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Rosa AC, Corsi D, Cavi N, Bruni N, Dosio F. Superoxide Dismutase Administration: A Review of Proposed Human Uses. Molecules 2021; 26:1844. [PMID: 33805942 PMCID: PMC8037464 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are metalloenzymes that play a major role in antioxidant defense against oxidative stress in the body. SOD supplementation may therefore trigger the endogenous antioxidant machinery for the neutralization of free-radical excess and be used in a variety of pathological settings. This paper aimed to provide an extensive review of the possible uses of SODs in a range of pathological settings, as well as describe the current pitfalls and the delivery strategies that are in development to solve bioavailability issues. We carried out a PubMed query, using the keywords "SOD", "SOD mimetics", "SOD supplementation", which included papers published in the English language, between 2012 and 2020, on the potential therapeutic applications of SODs, including detoxification strategies. As highlighted in this paper, it can be argued that the generic antioxidant effects of SODs are beneficial under all tested conditions, from ocular and cardiovascular diseases to neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic diseases, including diabetes and its complications and obesity. However, it must be underlined that clinical evidence for its efficacy is limited and consequently, this efficacy is currently far from being demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Carolina Rosa
- Department of Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy; (D.C.); (N.C.); (F.D.)
| | - Daniele Corsi
- Department of Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy; (D.C.); (N.C.); (F.D.)
| | - Niccolò Cavi
- Department of Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy; (D.C.); (N.C.); (F.D.)
| | - Natascia Bruni
- Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli, Strada Comunale di None, 1, 10092 Beinasco, Italy;
| | - Franco Dosio
- Department of Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy; (D.C.); (N.C.); (F.D.)
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Rosa AC, Bruni N, Meineri G, Corsi D, Cavi N, Gastaldi D, Dosio F. Strategies to expand the therapeutic potential of superoxide dismutase by exploiting delivery approaches. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 168:846-865. [PMID: 33242550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.11.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The overproduction of free radicals can cause oxidative-stress damage to a range of biomolecules, and thus potentially contribute to several pathologies, from neurodegenerative disorders to cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), play an important role in diminishing oxidative stress. SOD supplementation could therefore be an effective preventive strategy to reduce the risk of free-radical overproduction. However, the efficacy of SOD administration is hampered by its rapid clearance. Several different approaches to improve the bioavailability of SOD have been explored in recent decades. This review intends to describe the rationale that underlie the various approaches and chemical strategies that have led to the most recent advances in SOD delivery. This critical description includes SOD conjugates, SOD loaded into particulate carriers (micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, microparticles) and the most promising and suitable formulations for oral delivery, with a particular emphasis on reports of preclinical/clinical results. Likely future directions are also considered and reported.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natascia Bruni
- Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli Srl, Beinasco, Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgia Meineri
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Daniele Corsi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Niccolò Cavi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Daniela Gastaldi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Dosio
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Italy.
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Pudlarz AM, Czechowska E, S Karbownik M, Ranoszek-Soliwoda K, Tomaszewska E, Celichowski G, Grobelny J, Chabielska E, Gromotowicz-Popławska A, Szemraj J. The effect of immobilized antioxidant enzymes on the oxidative stress in UV-irradiated rat skin. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2020; 15:23-39. [PMID: 31868116 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) immobilized on gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) nanoparticles were used to reduce UV radiation-induced oxidative stress in rat skin. Materials & methods: The antioxidant influence of the enzymes was investigated on level of malondialdehyde, 8-hydroksy-2'deoksyguanozine, myeloperoxidase, total antioxidant capacity, SOD2 and CAT activity and expression, and glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity. Results: The application of immobilized SOD and CAT on UV-irradiated skin reduced malondialdehyde and 8-hydroksy-2'deoksyguanozine levels also SOD and CAT activity and expression increased. The tested enzymes influence glutathione peroxidase activity and level of total antioxidant capacity and glutathione. Conclusion: Immobilized enzymes increased the antioxidative potential of skin following UV irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ewa Czechowska
- Department of Materials Technology & Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, st. Pomorska 163, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Michał S Karbownik
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, st. Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752, Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ranoszek-Soliwoda
- Department of Materials Technology & Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, st. Pomorska 163, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Emilia Tomaszewska
- Department of Materials Technology & Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, st. Pomorska 163, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Celichowski
- Department of Materials Technology & Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, st. Pomorska 163, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jarosław Grobelny
- Department of Materials Technology & Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, st. Pomorska 163, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Chabielska
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, st. Mickiewicza 2c, 15-089, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Anna Gromotowicz-Popławska
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, st. Mickiewicza 2c, 15-089, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Janusz Szemraj
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
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Keshavarz A, Kadry H, Alobaida A, Ahsan F. Newer approaches and novel drugs for inhalational therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 17:439-461. [PMID: 32070157 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1729119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by remodeling of small pulmonary arteries leading to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. Existing treatments acts to normalize vascular tone via three signaling pathways: the prostacyclin, the endothelin-1, and the nitric oxide. Although over the past 20 years, there has been considerable progress in terms of treatments for PAH, the disease still remains incurable with a disappointing prognosis.Areas covered: This review summarizes the pathophysiology of PAH, the advantages and disadvantages of the inhalation route, and assess the relative advantages various inhaled therapies for PAH. The recent studies concerning the development of controlled-release drug delivery systems loaded with available anti-PAH drugs have also been summarized.Expert opinion: The main obstacles of current pharmacotherapies of PAH are their short half-life, stability, and formulations, resulting in reducing the efficacy and increasing systemic side effects and unknown pathogenesis of PAH. The pulmonary route has been proposed for delivering anti-PAH drugs to overcome the shortcomings. However, the application of approved inhaled anti-PAH drugs is limited. Inhalational delivery of controlled-release nanoformulations can overcome these restrictions. Extensive studies are required to develop safe and effective drug delivery systems for PAH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Keshavarz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Hossam Kadry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed Alobaida
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
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Järvinen TA, Pemmari T. Systemically Administered, Target-Specific, Multi-Functional Therapeutic Recombinant Proteins in Regenerative Medicine. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 10:E226. [PMID: 32013041 PMCID: PMC7075297 DOI: 10.3390/nano10020226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Growth factors, chemokines and cytokines guide tissue regeneration after injuries. However, their applications as recombinant proteins are almost non-existent due to the difficulty of maintaining their bioactivity in the protease-rich milieu of injured tissues in humans. Safety concerns have ruled out their systemic administration. The vascular system provides a natural platform for circumvent the limitations of the local delivery of protein-based therapeutics. Tissue selectivity in drug accumulation can be obtained as organ-specific molecular signatures exist in the blood vessels in each tissue, essentially forming a postal code system ("vascular zip codes") within the vasculature. These target-specific "vascular zip codes" can be exploited in regenerative medicine as the angiogenic blood vessels in the regenerating tissues have a unique molecular signature. The identification of vascular homing peptides capable of finding these unique "vascular zip codes" after their systemic administration provides an appealing opportunity for the target-specific delivery of therapeutics to tissue injuries. Therapeutic proteins can be "packaged" together with homing peptides by expressing them as multi-functional recombinant proteins. These multi-functional recombinant proteins provide an example how molecular engineering gives to a compound an ability to home to regenerating tissue and enhance its therapeutic potential. Regenerative medicine has been dominated by the locally applied therapeutic approaches despite these therapies are not moving to clinical medicine with success. There might be a time to change the paradigm towards systemically administered, target organ-specific therapeutic molecules in future drug discovery and development for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tero A.H. Järvinen
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Technology, Tampere University, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland & Tampere University Hospital, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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Keshavarz A, Alobaida A, McMurtry IF, Nozik-Grayck E, Stenmark KR, Ahsan F. CAR, a Homing Peptide, Prolongs Pulmonary Preferential Vasodilation by Increasing Pulmonary Retention and Reducing Systemic Absorption of Liposomal Fasudil. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:3414-3429. [PMID: 31194563 PMCID: PMC7035787 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Here, we sought to elucidate the role of CAR (a cyclic peptide) in the accumulation and distribution of fasudil, a drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in rat lungs and in producing pulmonary specific vasodilation in PAH rats. As such, we prepared liposomes of fasudil and CAR-conjugated liposomal fasudil and assessed the liposomes for CAR conjugation, physical properties, entrapment efficiencies, in vitro release profiles, and stabilities upon incubation in cell culture media, storage, and aerosolization. We also studied the cellular uptake of fasudil in different formulations, quantified heparan sulfate (HS) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and investigated the distribution of the liposomes in the lungs of PAH rats. We assessed the drug accumulation in a close and recirculating isolated perfused rat lung model and studied the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological efficacy of the drug and formulations in Sugen/hypoxia-induced PAH rats. The entrapment efficiency of the liposomal fasudil was 95.5 ± 4.5%, and the cumulative release was 93.95 ± 6.22%. The uptake of CAR liposomes by pulmonary arterial cells and their distribution and accumulation in the lungs were much greater than those of no-CAR-liposomes. CAR-induced increase in the cellular uptake was associated with an increase in HS expression by rat PAH-PASMCs. CAR, when conjugated with liposomal fasudil and given via an intratracheal instillation, extended the elimination half-life of the drug by four-fold compared with fasudil-in-no-CAR-liposomes given via the same route. CAR-conjugated liposomal fasudil, as opposed to fasudil-in-no-CAR-liposomes and CAR pretreatment followed by fasudil-in-no-CAR-liposomes, reduced the mean pulmonary arterial pressure by 40-50% for 6 h, without affecting the mean systemic arterial pressure. On the whole, this study suggests that CAR aids in concentrating the drug in the lungs, increasing the cellular uptake, extending the half-life of fasudil, and eliciting a pulmonary-specific vasodilation when the peptide remains conjugated on the liposomal surface, but not when CAR is given as a pretreatment or alone as an admixture with the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Keshavarz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Ahmed Alobaida
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas 79430, United States
| | - Ivan F. McMurtry
- Department of Pharmacology, The Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, United States
| | - Eva Nozik-Grayck
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Kurt R. Stenmark
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas 79430, United States
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Fasudil dichloroacetate (FDCA), an orally available agent with potent therapeutic efficiency on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension rats. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2019; 29:1812-1818. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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15
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Chakraborti S, Sarkar J, Chakraborti T. Role of PLD-PKCζ signaling axis in p47phox phosphorylation for activation of NADPH oxidase by angiotensin II in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Cell Biol Int 2019; 43:678-694. [PMID: 30977575 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We sought to determine the mechanism by which angiotensin II (ANGII) stimulates NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide (O2 .- ) production in bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (BPASMCs). ANGII-induced increase in phospholipase D (PLD) and NADPH oxidase activities were inhibited upon pretreatment of the cells with chemical and genetic inhibitors of PLD2, but not PLD1. Immunoblot study revealed that ANGII treatment of the cells markedly increases protein kinase C-α (PKC-α), -δ, -ε, and -ζ levels in the cell membrane. Pretreatment of the cells with chemical and genetic inhibitors of PKC-ζ, but not PKC-α, -δ, and -ε, attenuated ANGII-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity without a discernible change in PLD activity. Transfection of the cells with p47phox small interfering RNA inhibited ANGII-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity without a significant change in PLD activity. Pretreatment of the cells with the chemical and genetic inhibitors of PLD2 and PKC-ζ inhibited ANGII-induced p47phox phosphorylation and subsequently translocation from cytosol to the cell membrane, and also inhibited its association with p22phox (a component of membrane-associated NADPH oxidase). Overall, PLD-PKCζ-p47phox signaling axis plays a crucial role in ANGII-induced increase in NADPH oxidase-mediated O2 .- production in the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajal Chakraborti
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235, India
| | - Jaganmay Sarkar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235, India
| | - Tapati Chakraborti
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235, India
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Qin X, Xu X, Lu J, Zhu Y. Highly efficient electrochemiluminescence of quinoline and isoquinoline in aqueous solution. Electrochem commun 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2019.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Rashid J, Nozik-Grayck E, McMurtry IF, Stenmark KR, Ahsan F. Inhaled combination of sildenafil and rosiglitazone improves pulmonary hemodynamics, cardiac function, and arterial remodeling. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 316:L119-L130. [PMID: 30307312 PMCID: PMC6383494 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00381.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, dual- or triple-drug combinations comprising different vasodilators are the mainstay for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the patient outcome continues to be disappointing because the existing combination therapy cannot restrain progression of the disease. Previously, we have shown that when given as a monotherapy, long-acting inhaled formulations of sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor) and rosiglitazone (a peroxisome proliferator receptor-γ agonist) ameliorate PAH in rats. Thus, with a goal to develop a new combination therapy, we prepared and characterized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based long-acting inhalable particles of sildenafil and rosiglitazone. We then assessed the efficacy of the combinations of sildenafil and rosiglitazone, given in plain forms or as PLGA particles, in reducing mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and improving pulmonary arterial remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in Sugen 5416 plus hypoxia-induced PAH rats. After intratracheal administration of the formulations, we catheterized the rats and measured mPAP, cardiac output, total pulmonary resistance, and RVH. We also conducted morphometric studies using lung tissue samples and assessed the degree of muscularization, the arterial medial wall thickening, and the extent of collagen deposition. Compared with the plain drugs, given via the pulmonary or oral route as a single or dual combination, PLGA particles of the drugs, although given at a longer dosing interval compared with the plain drugs, caused more pronounced reduction in mPAP without affecting mean systemic pressure, improved cardiac function, slowed down right heart remodeling, and reduced arterial muscularization. Overall, PLGA particles of sildenafil and rosiglitazone, given as an inhaled combination, could be a viable alternative to currently available vasodilator-based combination therapy for PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahidur Rashid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo, Texas
| | - Eva Nozik-Grayck
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, Colorado
| | - Ivan F McMurtry
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama , Mobile, Alabama
| | - Kurt R Stenmark
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, Colorado
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo, Texas
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Järvinen TAH, Ruoslahti E. Generation of a multi-functional, target organ-specific, anti-fibrotic molecule by molecular engineering of the extracellular matrix protein, decorin. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:16-25. [PMID: 29847688 PMCID: PMC6284330 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules play important roles in regulating processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival. Decorin is a proteoglycan that binds to ('decorates') collagen fibrils in the ECM. Decorin also interacts with many growth factors and their receptors, the most notable of these interactions being its inhibitory activity on TGF-β, the growth factor responsible for fibrosis formation. We have generated a recombinant, multi-functional, fusion-protein consisting of decorin as a therapeutic domain and a vascular homing and cell-penetrating peptide as a targeting vehicle. This recombinant decorin (CAR-DCN) accumulates at the sites of the targeted disease at higher levels and, as a result, has substantially enhanced biological activity over native decorin. CAR-DCN is an example of how molecular engineering can give a compound the ability to seek out sites of disease and enhance its therapeutic potential. CAR-DCN will hopefully be used to treat severe human diseases. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Translating the Matrix. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.1/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tero A H Järvinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Life SciencesUniversity of TampereTampereFinland
- Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologyTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Erkki Ruoslahti
- Cancer CenterSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteLa JollaCAUSA
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Segura-Ibarra V, Wu S, Hassan N, Moran-Guerrero JA, Ferrari M, Guha A, Karmouty-Quintana H, Blanco E. Nanotherapeutics for Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Front Physiol 2018; 9:890. [PMID: 30061840 PMCID: PMC6055049 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating and fatal chronic lung disease. While current pharmacotherapies have improved patient quality of life, PAH drugs suffer from limitations in the form of short-term pharmacokinetics, instability, and poor organ specificity. Traditionally, nanotechnology-based delivery strategies have proven advantageous at increasing both circulation lifetimes of chemotherapeutics and accumulation in tumors due to enhanced permeability through fenestrated vasculature. Importantly, increased nanoparticle (NP) accumulation in diseased tissues has been observed pre-clinically in pathologies characterized by endothelial dysfunction and remodeled vasculature, including myocardial infarction and heart failure. Recently, this phenomenon has also been observed in preclinical models of PAH, leading to the exploration of NP-based drug delivery as a therapeutic modality in PAH. Herein, we discussed the advantages of NPs for efficacious treatment of PAH, including heightened therapeutic delivery to diseased lungs for increased drug bioavailability, as well as highlighted innovative nanotherapeutic approaches for PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Segura-Ibarra
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Suhong Wu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nida Hassan
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jose A Moran-Guerrero
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Mauro Ferrari
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ashrith Guha
- Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Harry Karmouty-Quintana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Elvin Blanco
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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Rashid J, Nahar K, Raut S, Keshavarz A, Ahsan F. Fasudil and DETA NONOate, Loaded in a Peptide-Modified Liposomal Carrier, Slow PAH Progression upon Pulmonary Delivery. Mol Pharm 2018. [PMID: 29528655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b01003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the feasibility of a combination therapy comprising fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, and DETA NONOate (diethylenetriamine NONOate, DN), a long-acting nitric oxide donor, both loaded in liposomes modified with a homing peptide, CAR (CARSKNKDC), in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We first prepared and characterized unmodified and CAR-modified liposomes of fasudil and DN. Using individual drugs alone or a mixture of fasudil and DN as controls, we studied the efficacy of the two liposomal preparations in reducing mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) in monocrotaline (MCT) and SUGEN-hypoxia-induced PAH rats. We also conducted morphometric studies (degree of muscularization, arterial medial wall thickness, and collagen deposition) after treating the PAH rats with test and control formulations. When the rats were treated acutely and chronically, the reduction in mPAP was more pronounced in the liposomal formulation-treated rats than in plain drug-treated rats. CAR-modified liposomes were more selective in reducing mPAP than unmodified liposomes of the drugs. Both drugs, formulated in CAR-modified liposomes, reduced the degree of muscularization, medial arterial wall thickness, and collagen deposition more than the combination of plain drugs did. As seen with the in vivo data, CAR-modified liposomes of fasudil or DN increased the levels of the vasodilatory signaling molecule, cGMP, in the smooth muscle cells of PAH-afflicted human pulmonary arteries. Overall, fasudil and DN, formulated in liposomes, could be used as a combination therapy for a better management of PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahidur Rashid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Drive , Amarillo , Texas 79106 , United States
| | - Kamrun Nahar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Drive , Amarillo , Texas 79106 , United States
| | - Snehal Raut
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Drive , Amarillo , Texas 79106 , United States
| | - Ali Keshavarz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Drive , Amarillo , Texas 79106 , United States
| | - Fakhrul Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Drive , Amarillo , Texas 79106 , United States
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Hensley MK, Levine A, Gladwin MT, Lai YC. Emerging therapeutics in pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2018; 314:L769-L781. [PMID: 29388467 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00259.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and often fatal illness presenting with nonspecific symptoms of dyspnea, lower extremity edema, and exercise intolerance. Pathologically, endothelial dysfunction leads to abnormal intimal and smooth muscle proliferation along with reduced apoptosis, resulting in increased pulmonary vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary pressures. PH is subdivided into five World Health Organization groups based on the disease pathology and specific cause. While there are Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; Group 1 PH), as well as for chronic thromboembolic PH (Group 4 PH), the morbidity and mortality remain high. Moreover, there are no approved therapies for other forms of PH (Groups 2, 3, and 5) at present. New research has identified molecular targets that mediate vasodilation, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic changes within the pulmonary vasculature. Given that PAH is the most commonly studied form of PH worldwide and because recent studies have led to better mechanistic understanding of this devastating disease, in this review we attempt to provide an updated overview of new therapeutic approaches under investigation for the treatment of PH, with a particular focus on PAH, as well as to offer guidelines for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K Hensley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Andrea Levine
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark T Gladwin
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yen-Chun Lai
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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22
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Alencar AKN, Montes GC, Barreiro EJ, Sudo RT, Zapata-Sudo G. Adenosine Receptors As Drug Targets for Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:858. [PMID: 29255415 PMCID: PMC5722832 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a clinical condition characterized by pulmonary arterial remodeling and vasoconstriction, which promote chronic vessel obstruction and elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance. Long-term right ventricular (RV) overload leads to RV dysfunction and failure, which are the main determinants of life expectancy in PAH subjects. Therapeutic options for PAH remain limited, despite the introduction of prostacyclin analogs, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, and soluble guanylyl cyclase stimulators within the last 15 years. Through addressing the pulmonary endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunctions associated with PAH, these interventions delay disease progression but do not offer a cure. Emerging approaches to improve treatment efficacy have focused on beneficial actions to both the pulmonary vasculature and myocardium, and several new targets have been investigated and validated in experimental PAH models. Herein, we review the effects of adenosine and adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) on the cardiovascular system, focusing on the A2A receptor as a pharmacological target. This receptor induces pulmonary vascular and heart protection in experimental models, specifically models of PAH. Targeting the A2A receptor could potentially serve as a novel and efficient approach for treating PAH and concomitant RV failure. A2A receptor activation induces pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, smooth muscle cell hyperpolarization, and vasodilation, with important antiproliferative activities through the inhibition of collagen deposition and vessel wall remodeling in the pulmonary arterioles. The pleiotropic potential of A2A receptor activation is highlighted by its additional expression in the heart tissue, where it participates in the regulation of intracellular calcium handling and maintenance of heart chamber structure and function. In this way, the activation of A2A receptor could prevent the production of a hypertrophic and dysfunctional phenotype in animal models of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan K N Alencar
- Programa de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Guilherme C Montes
- Programa de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliezer J Barreiro
- Programa de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto T Sudo
- Programa de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisele Zapata-Sudo
- Programa de Pesquisa em Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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