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Systematic Review: Targeted Molecular Imaging of Angiogenesis and Its Mediators in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137071. [PMID: 35806074 PMCID: PMC9267012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive angiogenesis is a characteristic feature in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a very early stage of the disease onward and constitutes a crucial event for the development of the proliferative synovium. This process is markedly intensified in patients with prolonged disease duration, high disease activity, disease severity, and significant inflammatory cell infiltration. Angiogenesis is therefore an interesting target for the development of new therapeutic approaches as well as disease monitoring strategies in RA. To this end, nuclear imaging modalities represent valuable non-invasive tools that can selectively target molecular markers of angiogenesis and accurately and quantitatively track molecular changes in multiple joints simultaneously. This systematic review summarizes the imaging markers used for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) approaches, targeting pathways and mediators involved in synovial neo-angiogenesis in RA.
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Ferrari M, Onuoha SC, Fossati-Jimack L, Nerviani A, Alves PL, Pagani S, Deantonio C, Colombo F, Santoro C, Sblattero D, Pitzalis C. Novel Bispecific Antibody for Synovial-Specific Target Delivery of Anti-TNF Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:640070. [PMID: 33679801 PMCID: PMC7933454 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.640070] [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: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologic drugs, especially anti-TNF, are considered as the gold standard therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. However, non-uniform efficacy, incidence of infections, and high costs are major concerns. Novel tissue-specific agents may overcome the current limitations of systemic administration, providing improved potency, and safety. We developed a bispecific antibody (BsAb), combining human arthritic joint targeting, via the synovial-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-A7 antibody, and TNFα neutralization, via the scFv-anti-TNFα of adalimumab, with the binding/blocking capacity comparable to adalimumab -immunoglobulin G (IgG). Tissue-targeting capacity of the BsAb was confirmed on the human arthritic synovium in vitro and in a synovium xenograft Severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mouse model. Peak graft accumulation occurred at 48 h after injection with sustained levels over adalimumab-IgG for 7 days and increased therapeutic effect, efficiently decreasing tissue cellularity, and markers of inflammation with higher potency compared to the standard treatment. This study provides the first description of a BsAb capable of drug delivery, specifically to the disease tissue, and a strong evidence of improved therapeutic effect on the human arthritic synovium, with applications to other existing biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Ferrari
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shimobi C Onuoha
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Liliane Fossati-Jimack
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandra Nerviani
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro L Alves
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Pagani
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cecilia Deantonio
- Department of Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Federico Colombo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Santoro
- Department of Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Costantino Pitzalis
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor c-Met Instructs T Cell Cardiotropism and Promotes T Cell Migration to the Heart via Autocrine Chemokine Release. Immunity 2015; 42:1087-99. [PMID: 26070483 PMCID: PMC4510150 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Effector-T-cell-mediated immunity depends on the efficient localization of antigen-primed lymphocytes to antigen-rich non-lymphoid tissue, which is facilitated by the expression of a unique set of “homing” receptors acquired by memory T cells. We report that engagement of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met by heart-produced HGF during priming in the lymph nodes instructs T cell cardiotropism, which was associated with a specialized homing “signature” (c-Met+CCR4+CXCR3+). c-Met signals facilitated T cell recruitment to the heart via the chemokine receptor CCR5 by inducing autocrine CCR5 ligand release. c-Met triggering was sufficient to support cardiotropic T cell recirculation, while CCR4 and CXCR3 sustained recruitment during heart inflammation. Transient pharmacological blockade of c-Met during T cell priming led to enhanced survival of heart, but not skin, allografts associated with impaired localization of alloreactive T cells to heart grafts. These findings suggest c-Met as a target for development of organ-selective immunosuppressive therapies. HGF-induced c-Met signals during activation induce cardiotropic memory T cells Cardiotropic T cells express a specific molecular signature (c-Met+CCR4+CXCR3+) By inducing an autocrine chemokine loop, c-Met also promotes T cell recruitment Blockade of the HGF-c-Met axis prevents heart, but not skin, allograft rejection
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Hong H, Chen F, Zhang Y, Cai W. New radiotracers for imaging of vascular targets in angiogenesis-related diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2014; 76:2-20. [PMID: 25086372 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2014.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Tremendous advances over the last several decades in positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) allow for targeted imaging of molecular and cellular events in the living systems. Angiogenesis, a multistep process regulated by the network of different angiogenic factors, has attracted world-wide interests, due to its pivotal role in the formation and progression of different diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and inflammation. In this review article, we will summarize the recent progress in PET or SPECT imaging of a wide variety of vascular targets in three major angiogenesis-related diseases: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. Faster drug development and patient stratification for a specific therapy will become possible with the facilitation of PET or SPECT imaging and it will be critical for the maximum benefit of patients.
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Wythe SE, DiCara D, Taher TEI, Finucane CM, Jones R, Bombardieri M, Man YKS, Nissim A, Mather SJ, Chernajovsky Y, Pitzalis C. Targeted delivery of cytokine therapy to rheumatoid tissue by a synovial targeting peptide. Ann Rheum Dis 2012; 72:129-35. [PMID: 22843486 PMCID: PMC3551226 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Objectives The synovial endothelium targeting peptide (SyETP) CKSTHDRLC has been identified previously and was shown to preferentially localise to synovial xenografts in the human/severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse chimera model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of the current work was to generate SyETP-anti-inflammatory-cytokine fusion proteins that would deliver bioactive cytokines specifically to human synovial tissue. Methods Fusion proteins consisting of human interleukin (IL)-4 linked via a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-cleavable sequence to multiple copies of either SyETP or scrambled control peptide were expressed in insect cells, purified by Ni-chelate chromatography and bioactivity tested in vitro. The ability of SyETP to retain bioactive cytokine in synovial but not control skin xenografts in SCID mice was determined by in vivo imaging using nano-single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (nano-SPECT-CT) and measuring signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylation in synovial grafts following intravenous administration of the fusion protein. Results In vitro assays confirmed that IL-4 and the MMP-cleavable sequence were functional. IL-4-SyETP augmented production of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) stimulated with IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo imaging showed that IL-4-SyETP was retained in synovial but not in skin tissue grafts and the period of retention was significantly enhanced through increasing the number of SyETP copies from one to three. Finally, retention correlated with increased bioactivity of the cytokine as quantified by STAT6 phosphorylation in synovial grafts. Conclusions The present work demonstrates that SyETP specifically delivers fused IL-4 to human rheumatoid synovium transplanted into SCID mice, thus providing a proof of concept for peptide-targeted tissue-specific immunotherapy in RA. This technology is potentially applicable to other biological treatments providing enhanced potency to inflammatory sites and reducing systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wythe
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
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Endothelial targeting of polymeric nanoparticles stably labeled with the PET imaging radioisotope iodine-124. Biomaterials 2012; 33:5406-13. [PMID: 22560201 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Targeting of therapeutics or imaging agents to the endothelium has the potential to improve specificity and effectiveness of treatment for many diseases. One strategy to achieve this goal is the use of nanoparticles (NPs) targeted to the endothelium by ligands of protein determinants present on this tissue, including cell adhesion molecules, peptidases, and cell receptors. However, detachment of the radiolabel probes from NPs poses a significant problem. In this study, we devised polymeric NPs directly labeled with radioiodine isotopes including the positron emission tomography (PET) isotope (124)I, and characterized their targeting to specific endothelial determinants. This approach provided sizable, targetable probes for specific detection of endothelial surface determinants non-invasively in live animals. Direct conjugation of radiolabel to NPs allowed for stable longitudinal tracking of tissue distribution without label detachment even in an aggressive proteolytic environment. Further, this approach permits tracking of NP pharmacokinetics in real-time and non-invasive imaging of the lung in mice using micro-PET imaging. The use of this strategy will considerably improve investigation of NP interactions with target cells and PET imaging in small animals, which ultimately can aid in the optimization of targeted drug delivery.
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Jubeli E, Moine L, Nicolas V, Barratt G. Preparation of E-selectin-targeting nanoparticles and preliminary in vitro evaluation. Int J Pharm 2012; 426:291-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Kamperidis P, Kamalati T, Ferrari M, Jones M, Garrood T, Smith MD, Diez-Posada S, Hughes C, Finucane C, Mather S, Nissim A, George AJT, Pitzalis C. Development of a novel recombinant biotherapeutic with applications in targeted therapy of human arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 63:3758-67. [PMID: 21953304 DOI: 10.1002/art.30650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To isolate recombinant antibodies with specificity for human arthritic synovium and to develop targeting reagents with joint-specific delivery capacity for therapeutic and/or diagnostic applications. METHODS In vivo single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody phage display screening using a human synovial xenograft model was used to isolate antibodies specific to the microvasculature of human arthritic synovium. Single-chain Fv antibody tissue-specific reactivity was assessed by immunostaining of synovial tissues from normal controls and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, normal human tissue arrays, and tissues from other patients with inflammatory diseases displaying neovasculogenesis. In vivo scFv antibody tissue-specific targeting capacity was examined in the human synovial xenograft model using both (125)I-labeled and biotinylated antibody. RESULTS We isolated a novel recombinant human antibody, scFv A7, with specificity for the microvasculature of human arthritic synovium. We showed that in vivo, this antibody could efficiently target human synovial microvasculature in SCID mice transplanted with human arthritic synovial xenografts. Our results demonstrated that scFv A7 antibody had no reactivity with the microvasculature or with other cellular components found in a comprehensive range of normal human tissues including normal human synovium. Further, we showed that the reactivity of the scFv A7 antibody was not a common feature of neovasculogenesis associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. CONCLUSION Here we report for the first time the identification of an scFv antibody, A7, that specifically recognizes an epitope expressed in the microvasculature of human arthritic synovium and that has the potential to be developed as a joint-specific pharmaceutical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kamperidis
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Jubeli E, Moine L, Vergnaud-Gauduchon J, Barratt G. E-selectin as a target for drug delivery and molecular imaging. J Control Release 2011; 158:194-206. [PMID: 21983284 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.09.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
E-selectin, also known as CD62E, is a cell adhesion molecule expressed on endothelial cells activated by cytokines. Like other selectins, it plays an important part in inflammation and in the adhesion of metastatic cancer cells to the endothelium. E-selectin recognizes and binds to sialylated carbohydrates present on the surface proteins of certain leukocytes. E-selectin has been chosen as a target for several therapeutic and medical imaging applications, based on its expression in the vicinity of inflammation, infection or cancer. These systems for drug delivery and molecular imaging include immunoconjugates, liposomes, nanoparticles, and microparticles prepared from a wide range of starting materials including lipids, synthetic polymers, polypeptides and organo-metallic structures. After a brief introduction presenting the selectin family and their implication in physiology and pathology, this review focuses on the formulation of these new delivery systems targeting E-selectin at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile Jubeli
- Université Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Pharmacie 5 rue J.B. Clément Chatenay-Malabry, FR 92296, UMR 8612 CNRS, LabEx LERMIT, France
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Siglec-9 is a novel leukocyte ligand for vascular adhesion protein-1 and can be used in PET imaging of inflammation and cancer. Blood 2011; 118:3725-33. [PMID: 21821708 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2010-09-311076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte migration to sites of inflammation is regulated by several endothelial adhesion molecules. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is unique among the homing-associated molecules as it is both an enzyme that oxidizes primary amines and an adhesin. Although granulocytes can bind to endothelium via a VAP-1-dependent manner, the counter-receptor(s) on this leukocyte population is(are) not known. Here we used a phage display approach and identified Siglec-9 as a candidate ligand on granulocytes. The binding between Siglec-9 and VAP-1 was confirmed by in vitro and ex vivo adhesion assays. The interaction sites between VAP-1 and Siglec-9 were identified by molecular modeling and confirmed by further binding assays with mutated proteins. Although the binding takes place in the enzymatic groove of VAP-1, it is only partially dependent on the enzymatic activity of VAP-1. In positron emission tomography, the ⁶⁸Gallium-labeled peptide of Siglec-9 specifically detected VAP-1 in vasculature at sites of inflammation and cancer. Thus, the peptide binding to the enzymatic groove of VAP-1 can be used for imaging conditions, such as inflammation and cancer.
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Quantitative Accuracy of Low-Count SPECT Imaging in Phantom and In Vivo Mouse Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR IMAGING 2011; 2011:197381. [PMID: 21603236 PMCID: PMC3094821 DOI: 10.1155/2011/197381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Revised: 12/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the accuracy of a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system in quantifying a wide range of radioactivity concentrations using different scan times in both phantom and animal models. A phantom containing various amounts of In-111 or Tc-99m was imaged until the activity had decayed close to background levels. Scans were acquired for different durations, employing different collimator pinhole sizes. VOI analysis was performed to quantify uptake in the images and the values compared to the true activity. The phantom results were then validated in tumour-bearing mice. The use of an appropriate calibration phantom and disabling of a background subtraction feature meant that absolute errors were within 12% of the true activity. Furthermore, a comparison of in vivo imaging and biodistribution studies in mice showed a correlation of 0.99 for activities over the 200 kBq to 5 MBq range. We conclude that the quantitative information provided by the NanoSPECT camera is accurate and allows replacement of dissection studies for assessment of radiotracer biodistribution in mouse models.
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Gompels LL, Paleolog EM. A window on disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies: molecular imaging for arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2011; 13:201. [PMID: 21345267 PMCID: PMC3157632 DOI: 10.1186/ar3197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel molecular imaging techniques are at the forefront of both preclinical and clinical imaging strategies. They have significant potential to offer visualisation and quantification of molecular and cellular changes in health and disease. This will help to shed light on pathobiology and underlying disease processes and provide further information about the mechanisms of action of novel therapeutic strategies. This review explores currently available molecular imaging techniques that are available for preclinical studies with a focus on optical imaging techniques and discusses how current and future advances will enable translation into the clinic for patients with arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke L Gompels
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, 65 Aspenlea Road, London W68LH, UK.
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