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Chen Q, Li D, Jiang L, Wu Y, Yuan H, Shi G, Liu F, Wu P, Jiang K. Biological functions and clinical significance of tRNA-derived small fragment (tsRNA) in tumors: Current state and future perspectives. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216701. [PMID: 38369004 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
A new class of noncoding RNAs, tsRNAs are not only abundant in humans but also have high tissue specificity. Recently, an increasing number of studies have explored the correlations between tsRNAs and tumors, showing that tsRNAs can affect biological behaviors of tumor cells, such as proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis, by modulating protein translation, RNA transcription or posttranscriptional regulation. In addition, tsRNAs are widely distributed and stably expressed, which endows them with broad application prospects in diagnosing and predicting the prognosis of tumors, and they are expected to become new biomarkers. However, notably, the current research on tsRNAs still faces problems that need to be solved. In this review, we describe the characteristics of tsRNAs as well as their unique features and functions in tumors. Moreover, we also discuss the potential opportunities and challenges in clinical applications and research of tsRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Chen
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danrui Li
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Luyang Jiang
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guodong Shi
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fengyuan Liu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengfei Wu
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Kuirong Jiang
- Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Liu XY, Wei DK, Li ZY, Lu JS, Xie XM, Yu YZ, Pang XB. Immunogenicity and immunoprotection of the functional TL-HN fragment derived from tetanus toxin. Vaccine 2023; 41:6834-6841. [PMID: 37816654 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is a protein toxin produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria, which causes hyperreflexia and rhabdomyolysis by spastic paralysis. Like botulinum neurotoxin, TeNT comprises a heavy chain (HC) and a light chain (LC) linked via an interchain disulfide bond, which include the following three functional domains: a receptor-binding domain (Hc), a translocation domain (HN), and a catalytic domain (LC). Herein, we produced and characterized three functional domains of TeNT and three types of TeNT-derived L-HN fragments (TL-HN, TL-GS-HN and TL-2A-HN), which contained L and HN domains but lacked the Hc domain. The immunological effects of these different functional domains or fragments of TeNT were explored in an animal model. Our investigations showed the TL-HN functional fragment provided the best immunoprotection among all the TeNT functional domains. The TL-HN fragment, as a protective antigen, induced the highest levels of neutralizing antibodies, indicating that it might contain some crucial epitopes. Further experiments revealed that the protective effect of TL-HN was superior to that of the THc, TL, or THN fragments, either individually or in combination. Therefore, the TL-HN fragment exerts an important function in immune protection against tetanus toxin, providing a good basis for the development of TeNT vaccines or antibodies, and could serve as a promising subunit vaccine to replace THc or tetanus toxoid (TT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Yang Liu
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dong-Kui Wei
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Li
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xin-Mei Xie
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
| | - Yun-Zhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China.
| | - Xiao-Bin Pang
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
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Manieri TM, Takata DY, Targino RC, Quintilio W, Batalha-Carvalho JV, da Silva CML, Moro AM. Characterization of Neutralizing Human Anti-Tetanus Monoclonal Antibodies Produced by Stable Cell Lines. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1985. [PMID: 36297421 PMCID: PMC9611486 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14101985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is produced by C. tetani, a spore-forming bacillus broadly spread in the environment. Although an inexpensive and safe vaccine is available, tetanus persists because of a lack of booster shots and variable responses to vaccines due to immunocompromised status or age-decreased immune surveillance. Tetanus is most prevalent in low- and medium-income countries, where it remains a health problem. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can prevent the severity of illness and death caused by C. tetani infection. We identified a panel of mAbs that bind to TeNT, some of which were investigated in a preclinical assay, showing that a trio of mAbs that bind to different sites of TeNT can neutralize the toxin and prevent symptoms and death in mice. We also identified two mAbs that can impair the binding of TeNT to the GT1b ganglioside receptor in neurons. In this work, to generate a series of cell lines, we constructed vectors containing sequences encoding heavy and light constant regions that can receive the paired variable regions resulting from PCRs of human B cells. In this way, we generated stable cell lines for five mAbs and compared and characterized the antibody produced in large quantities, enabling the characterization experiments. We present the results regarding the cell growth and viability in a fed-batch culture, titer measurement, and specific productivity estimation. The affinity of purified mAbs was analyzed by kinetics and under steady-state conditions, as three mAbs could not dissociate from TeNT within 36,000 s. The binding of mAbs to TeNT was confirmed by ELISA and inhibition of toxin binding to GT1b. The use of the mAbs mixture confirmed the individual mAb contribution to inhibition. We also analyzed the binding of mAbs to FcγR by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and the glycan composition. Molecular docking analyses showed the binding site of an anti-tetanus mAb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Maria Manieri
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Daniela Yumi Takata
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Interunits Graduate Program in Biotechnology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
| | | | - Wagner Quintilio
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | - João Victor Batalha-Carvalho
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Maria Moro
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Center for Research and Development in Immunobiologicals (CeRDI), Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- National Institute for Science and Technology (INCT/iii), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil
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Pirazzini M, Montecucco C, Rossetto O. Toxicology and pharmacology of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins: an update. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1521-1539. [PMID: 35333944 PMCID: PMC9095541 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03271-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins cause the neuroparalytic syndromes of tetanus and botulism, respectively, by delivering inside different types of neurons, metalloproteases specifically cleaving the SNARE proteins that are essential for the release of neurotransmitters. Research on their mechanism of action is intensively carried out in order to devise improved therapies based on antibodies and chemical drugs. Recently, major results have been obtained with human monoclonal antibodies and with single chain antibodies that have allowed one to neutralize the metalloprotease activity of botulinum neurotoxin type A1 inside neurons. In addition, a method has been devised to induce a rapid molecular evolution of the metalloprotease domain of botulinum neurotoxin followed by selection driven to re-target the metalloprotease activity versus novel targets with respect to the SNARE proteins. At the same time, an intense and wide spectrum clinical research on novel therapeutics based on botulinum neurotoxins is carried out, which are also reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, CIR-Myo, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy. .,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Ornella Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, CIR-Myo, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
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Zanetti G, Mattarei A, Lista F, Rossetto O, Montecucco C, Pirazzini M. Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors That Prevent the Neuroparalysis of Tetanus Neurotoxin. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111134. [PMID: 34832916 PMCID: PMC8618345 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is a protein exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani that causes the deadly spastic neuroparalysis of tetanus. It consists of a metalloprotease light chain and of a heavy chain linked via a disulphide bond. TeNT binds to the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and it is retro-axonally transported into vesicular compartments to the spinal cord, where it is released and taken up by inhibitory interneuron. Therein, the catalytic subunit is translocated into the cytoplasm where it cleaves its target protein VAMP-1/2 with consequent blockage of the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters. Vaccination with formaldehyde inactivated TeNT prevents the disease, but tetanus is still present in countries where vaccination coverage is partial. Here, we show that small molecule inhibitors interfering with TeNT trafficking or with the reduction of the interchain disulphide bond block the activity of the toxin in neuronal cultures and attenuate tetanus symptoms in vivo. These findings are relevant for the development of therapeutics against tetanus based on the inhibition of toxin molecules that are being retro-transported to or are already within the spinal cord and are, thus, not accessible to anti-TeNT immunoglobulins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Zanetti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.Z.); (O.R.)
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Florigio Lista
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 4, 00184 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ornella Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.Z.); (O.R.)
- Italian Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.Z.); (O.R.)
- Italian Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.Z.); (O.R.)
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (M.P.)
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Raimondi V, Grinzato A. A basic introduction to single particles cryo-electron microscopy. AIMS BIOPHYSICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3934/biophy.2022002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
<abstract>
<p>In the last years, cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) underwent the most impressive improvement compared to other techniques used in structural biology, such as X-ray crystallography and NMR. Electron microscopy was invented nearly one century ago but, up to the beginning of the last decades, the 3D maps produced through this technique were poorly detailed, justifying the term “blobbology” to appeal to cryo-EM. Recently, thanks to a new generation of microscopes and detectors, more efficient algorithms, and easier access to computational power, single particles cryo-EM can routinely produce 3D structures at resolutions comparable to those obtained with X-ray crystallography. However, unlike X-ray crystallography, which needs crystallized proteins, cryo-EM exploits purified samples in solution, allowing the study of proteins and protein complexes that are hard or even impossible to crystallize. For these reasons, single-particle cryo-EM is often the first choice of structural biologists today. Nevertheless, before starting a cryo-EM experiment, many drawbacks and limitations must be considered. Moreover, in practice, the process between the purified sample and the final structure could be trickier than initially expected. Based on these observations, this review aims to offer an overview of the principal technical aspects and setups to be considered while planning and performing a cryo-EM experiment.</p>
</abstract>
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