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Manzanares-Guzmán A, Lugo-Fabres PH, Camacho-Villegas TA. vNARs as Neutralizing Intracellular Therapeutic Agents: Glioblastoma as a Target. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:25. [PMID: 38534215 DOI: 10.3390/antib13010025] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and fatal form of primary brain tumors. New targeted therapeutic strategies for this type of tumor are imperative given the dire prognosis for glioblastoma patients and the poor results of current multimodal therapy. Previously reported drawbacks of antibody-based therapeutics include the inability to translocate across the blood-brain barrier and reach intracellular targets due to their molecular weight. These disadvantages translate into poor target neutralization and cancer maintenance. Unlike conventional antibodies, vNARs can permeate tissues and recognize conformational or cryptic epitopes due to their stability, CDR3 amino acid sequence, and smaller molecular weight. Thus, vNARs represent a potential antibody format to use as intrabodies or soluble immunocarriers. This review comprehensively summarizes key intracellular pathways in glioblastoma cells that induce proliferation, progression, and cancer survival to determine a new potential targeted glioblastoma therapy based on previously reported vNARs. The results seek to support the next application of vNARs as single-domain antibody drug-conjugated therapies, which could overcome the disadvantages of conventional monoclonal antibodies and provide an innovative approach for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Manzanares-Guzmán
- Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Pavel H Lugo-Fabres
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Tanya A Camacho-Villegas
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
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2
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Yong Joon Kim J, Sang Z, Xiang Y, Shen Z, Shi Y. Nanobodies: Robust miniprotein binders in biomedicine. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 195:114726. [PMID: 36754285 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies (VHH), also known as nanobodies (Nbs), are monomeric antigen-binding domains derived from the camelid heavy chain-only antibodies. Nbs are characterized by small size, high target selectivity, and marked solubility and stability, which collectively facilitate high-quality drug development. In addition, Nbs are readily expressed from various expression systems, including E. coli and yeast cells. For these reasons, Nbs have emerged as preferred antibody fragments for protein engineering, disease diagnosis, and treatment. To date, two Nb-based therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Numerous candidates spanning a wide spectrum of diseases such as cancer, immune disorders, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders are under preclinical and clinical investigation. Here, we discuss the structural features of Nbs that allow for specific, versatile, and strong target binding. We also summarize emerging technologies for identification, structural analysis, and humanization of Nbs. Our main focus is to review recent advances in using Nbs as a modular scaffold to facilitate the engineering of multivalent polymers for cutting-edge applications. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges for Nb development and envision new opportunities in Nb-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Yong Joon Kim
- Center of Protein Engineering and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1, Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhe Sang
- Center of Protein Engineering and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1, Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yufei Xiang
- Center of Protein Engineering and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1, Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Zhuolun Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Center of Protein Engineering and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1, Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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Bakherad H, Ghasemi F, Hosseindokht M, Zare H. Nanobodies; new molecular instruments with special specifications for targeting, diagnosis and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:245. [PMID: 35933373 PMCID: PMC9357333 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02665-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in female. Triple-negative breast cancer has a more aggressive proliferation and a poorer clinical diagnosis than other breast cancers. The most common treatments for TNBC are chemotherapy, surgical removal, and radiation therapy, which impose many side effects and costs on patients. Nanobodies have superior advantages, which makes them attractive for use in therapeutic agents and diagnostic kits. There are numerous techniques suggested by investigators for early detection of breast cancer. Nevertheless, there are fewer molecular diagnostic methods in the case of TNBC due to the lack of expression of famous breast cancer antigens in TNBC. Although conventional antibodies have a high ability to detect tumor cell markers, their large size, instability, and costly production cause a lot of problems. Since the HER-2 do not express in TNBC diagnosis, the production of nanobodies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer cells should be performed against other antigens expressed in TNBC. In this review, nanobodies which developed against triple negative breast cancer, were classified based on type of antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Bakherad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Ghasemi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Maryam Hosseindokht
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hamed Zare
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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Singh S, Murillo G, Richner J, Singh SP, Berleth E, Kumar V, Mehta R, Ramiya V, Parihar AS. A Broad-Based Characterization of a Cell-Penetrating, Single Domain Camelid Bi-Specific Antibody Monomer That Targets STAT3 and KRAS Dependent Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147565. [PMID: 35886918 PMCID: PMC9323098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
STAT3 and KRAS regulate cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Aberrant expression of STAT3 and mutant active forms of KRAS have been well-established in the induction and maintenance of multiple cancers. STAT3 and KRAS mutant proteins have been considered anti-cancer targets; however, they are also considered to be clinically “undruggable” intracellular molecules, except for KRAS(G12C). Here we report a first-in-class molecule, a novel, single domain camelid VHH antibody (15 kDa), SBT-100, that binds to both STAT3 and KRAS and can penetrate the tumor cell membrane, and significantly inhibit cancer cell growth. Additionally, SBT-100 inhibits KRAS GTPase activity and downstream phosphorylation of ERK in vitro. In addition, SBT-100 inhibits the growth of multiple human cancers in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate the feasibility of targeting hard-to-reach aberrant intracellular transcription factors and signaling proteins simultaneously with one VHH to improve cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunanda Singh
- Singh Biotechnology, 1547 Fox Grape Loop, Lutz, FL 33558, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (A.S.P.)
| | - Genoveva Murillo
- IIT Research Institute, 10 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA; (G.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Justin Richner
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, E829 Medical Sciences Building, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Samara P. Singh
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Erica Berleth
- Acudex, Inc., 701 Ellicott Street, CBLS, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; (E.B.); (V.K.)
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Acudex, Inc., 701 Ellicott Street, CBLS, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; (E.B.); (V.K.)
| | - Rajendra Mehta
- IIT Research Institute, 10 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA; (G.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Vijay Ramiya
- Singh Biotechnology, 1547 Fox Grape Loop, Lutz, FL 33558, USA;
| | - Ashutosh S. Parihar
- Singh Biotechnology, 1547 Fox Grape Loop, Lutz, FL 33558, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (A.S.P.)
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Haueis L, Stech M, Kubick S. A Cell-free Expression Pipeline for the Generation and Functional Characterization of Nanobodies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:896763. [PMID: 35573250 PMCID: PMC9096027 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.896763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems are well-established platforms for the rapid synthesis, screening, engineering and modification of all kinds of recombinant proteins ranging from membrane proteins to soluble proteins, enzymes and even toxins. Also within the antibody field the cell-free technology has gained considerable attention with respect to the clinical research pipeline including antibody discovery and production. Besides the classical full-length monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), so-called "nanobodies" (Nbs) have come into focus. A Nb is the smallest naturally-derived functional antibody fragment known and represents the variable domain (VHH, ∼15 kDa) of a camelid heavy-chain-only antibody (HCAb). Based on their nanoscale and their special structure, Nbs display striking advantages concerning their production, but also their characteristics as binders, such as high stability, diversity, improved tissue penetration and reaching of cavity-like epitopes. The classical way to produce Nbs depends on the use of living cells as production host. Though cell-based production is well-established, it is still time-consuming, laborious and hardly amenable for high-throughput applications. Here, we present for the first time to our knowledge the synthesis of functional Nbs in a standardized mammalian cell-free system based on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lysates. Cell-free reactions were shown to be time-efficient and easy-to-handle allowing for the "on demand" synthesis of Nbs. Taken together, we complement available methods and demonstrate a promising new system for Nb selection and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Haueis
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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6
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Wang J, Kang G, Yuan H, Cao X, Huang H, de Marco A. Research Progress and Applications of Multivalent, Multispecific and Modified Nanobodies for Disease Treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 12:838082. [PMID: 35116045 PMCID: PMC8804282 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.838082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant antibodies such as nanobodies are progressively demonstrating to be a valid alternative to conventional monoclonal antibodies also for clinical applications. Furthermore, they do not solely represent a substitute for monoclonal antibodies but their unique features allow expanding the applications of biotherapeutics and changes the pattern of disease treatment. Nanobodies possess the double advantage of being small and simple to engineer. This combination has promoted extremely diversified approaches to design nanobody-based constructs suitable for particular applications. Both the format geometry possibilities and the functionalization strategies have been widely explored to provide macromolecules with better efficacy with respect to single nanobodies or their combination. Nanobody multimers and nanobody-derived reagents were developed to image and contrast several cancer diseases and have shown their effectiveness in animal models. Their capacity to block more independent signaling pathways simultaneously is considered a critical advantage to avoid tumor resistance, whereas the mass of these multimeric compounds still remains significantly smaller than that of an IgG, enabling deeper penetration in solid tumors. When applied to CAR-T cell therapy, nanobodies can effectively improve the specificity by targeting multiple epitopes and consequently reduce the side effects. This represents a great potential in treating malignant lymphomas, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma and solid tumors. Apart from cancer treatment, multispecific drugs and imaging reagents built with nanobody blocks have demonstrated their value also for detecting and tackling neurodegenerative, autoimmune, metabolic, and infectious diseases and as antidotes for toxins. In particular, multi-paratopic nanobody-based constructs have been developed recently as drugs for passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2 with the goal of impairing variant survival due to resistance to antibodies targeting single epitopes. Given the enormous research activity in the field, it can be expected that more and more multimeric nanobody molecules will undergo late clinical trials in the next future. Systematic Review Registration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiewen Wang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Shaoxing, Tianjin University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guangbo Kang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Shaoxing, Tianjin University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haibin Yuan
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Shaoxing, Tianjin University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaocang Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Shaoxing, Tianjin University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ario de Marco
- Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
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Wagner TR, Rothbauer U. Nanobodies Right in the Middle: Intrabodies as Toolbox to Visualize and Modulate Antigens in the Living Cell. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10121701. [PMID: 33371447 PMCID: PMC7767433 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In biomedical research, there is an ongoing demand for new technologies to elucidate disease mechanisms and develop novel therapeutics. This requires comprehensive understanding of cellular processes and their pathophysiology based on reliable information on abundance, localization, post-translational modifications and dynamic interactions of cellular components. Traceable intracellular binding molecules provide new opportunities for real-time cellular diagnostics. Most prominently, intrabodies derived from antibody fragments of heavy-chain only antibodies of camelids (nanobodies) have emerged as highly versatile and attractive probes to study and manipulate antigens within the context of living cells. In this review, we provide an overview on the selection, delivery and usage of intrabodies to visualize and monitor cellular antigens in living cells and organisms. Additionally, we summarize recent advances in the development of intrabodies as cellular biosensors and their application to manipulate disease-related cellular processes. Finally, we highlight switchable intrabodies, which open entirely new possibilities for real-time cell-based diagnostics including live-cell imaging, target validation and generation of precisely controllable binding reagents for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa R. Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-7121-5153-0415; Fax: +49-7121-5153-0816
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Gettemans J, De Dobbelaer B. Transforming nanobodies into high-precision tools for protein function analysis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020; 320:C195-C215. [PMID: 33264078 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00435.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Single-domain antibodies, derived from camelid heavy antibodies (nanobodies) or shark variable new antigen receptors, have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their extremely versatile nature and the opportunities they offer for downstream modification. Discovered more than three decades ago, these 120-amino acid (∼15-kDa) antibody fragments are known to bind their target with high specificity and affinity. Key features of nanobodies that make them very attractive include their single-domain nature, small size, and affordable high-level expression in prokaryotes, and their cDNAs are routinely obtained in the process of their isolation. This facilitates and stimulates new experimental approaches. Hence, it allows researchers to formulate new answers to complex biomedical questions. Through elementary PCR-based technologies and chemical modification strategies, their primary structure can be altered almost at leisure while retaining their specificity and biological activity, transforming them into highly tailored tools that meet the increasing demands of current-day biomedical research. In this review, various aspects of camelid nanobodies are expounded, including intracellular delivery in recombinant format for manipulation of, i.e., cytoplasmic targets, their derivatization to improve nanobody orientation as a capturing device, approaches to reversibly bind their target, their potential as protein-silencing devices in cells, the development of strategies to transfer nanobodies through the blood-brain barrier and their application in CAR-T experimentation. We also discuss some of their disadvantages and conclude with future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gettemans
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Brian De Dobbelaer
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Cheloha RW, Harmand TJ, Wijne C, Schwartz TU, Ploegh HL. Exploring cellular biochemistry with nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15307-15327. [PMID: 32868455 PMCID: PMC7650250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.012960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reagents that bind tightly and specifically to biomolecules of interest remain essential in the exploration of biology and in their ultimate application to medicine. Besides ligands for receptors of known specificity, agents commonly used for this purpose are monoclonal antibodies derived from mice, rabbits, and other animals. However, such antibodies can be expensive to produce, challenging to engineer, and are not necessarily stable in the context of the cellular cytoplasm, a reducing environment. Heavy chain-only antibodies, discovered in camelids, have been truncated to yield single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) that overcome many of these shortcomings. Whereas they are known as crystallization chaperones for membrane proteins or as simple alternatives to conventional antibodies, nanobodies have been applied in settings where the use of standard antibodies or their derivatives would be impractical or impossible. We review recent examples in which the unique properties of nanobodies have been combined with complementary methods, such as chemical functionalization, to provide tools with unique and useful properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas U Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Dittmer A, Lange T, Leyh B, Dittmer J. Protein‑ and growth‑modulatory effects of carcinoma‑associated fibroblasts on breast cancer cells: Role of interleukin‑6. Int J Oncol 2019; 56:258-272. [PMID: 31789400 PMCID: PMC6910226 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) secrete factors that increase the expression and/or activities of proteins in breast cancer cells and induce resistance to anti-estrogens, such as fulvestrant. A major factor is interleukin-6 (IL-6). This study demonstrated that, across estrogen receptor (ER) α-positive and -negative cell lines, recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6) mimicked most of the CAF-conditioned medium (CM)-induced changes in protein expression patterns; however, in most cases, it failed to recapitulate CAF-CM-triggered alterations in ERK1/2 and AKT activities. The ability of rhIL-6 to induce fulvestrant resistance was dependent upon the culture conditions. In 3D, but not in 2D cultures, rhIL-6 increased the survival of fulvestrant-treated cells, although not to the same extent as observed with CAF-CM. In 2D cultures, rhIL-6 acted in a pro-apoptotic manner and decreased the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2). The inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway had similar effects on apoptosis and ABCG2 expression, linking the failure of rhIL-6 to induce fulvestrant resistance to its inability to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway. In 3D cultures, both CAF-CM and rhIL-6 acted in an anti-apoptotic manner. These activities are likely independent on the PI3K/AKT pathway and ABCG2. Experiments on ERα-negative breast cancer cells revealed a growth-inhibitory effects of both CAF-CM and rhIL-6, which coincided with a reduction in the c-Myc level. These data suggest that IL-6 plays a role in several effects of CAF-CM, including alterations in protein expression patterns, fulvestrant resistance in 3D cultures and growth inhibition. By contrast, IL-6 is unlikely to be responsible for the CAF-CM-induced activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and fulvestrant resistance in 2D cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle‑Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Theresia Lange
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle‑Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Benjamin Leyh
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle‑Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Jürgen Dittmer
- Clinic for Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle‑Wittenberg, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
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