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Gotte G, Menegazzi M. Biological Activities of Secretory RNases: Focus on Their Oligomerization to Design Antitumor Drugs. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2626. [PMID: 31849926 PMCID: PMC6901985 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribonucleases (RNases) are a large number of enzymes gathered into different bacterial or eukaryotic superfamilies. Bovine pancreatic RNase A, bovine seminal BS-RNase, human pancreatic RNase 1, angiogenin (RNase 5), and amphibian onconase belong to the pancreatic type superfamily, while binase and barnase are in the bacterial RNase N1/T1 family. In physiological conditions, most RNases secreted in the extracellular space counteract the undesired effects of extracellular RNAs and become protective against infections. Instead, if they enter the cell, RNases can digest intracellular RNAs, becoming cytotoxic and having advantageous effects against malignant cells. Their biological activities have been investigated either in vitro, toward a number of different cancer cell lines, or in some cases in vivo to test their potential therapeutic use. However, immunogenicity or other undesired effects have sometimes been associated with their action. Nevertheless, the use of RNases in therapy remains an appealing strategy against some still incurable tumors, such as mesothelioma, melanoma, or pancreatic cancer. The RNase inhibitor (RI) present inside almost all cells is the most efficacious sentry to counteract the ribonucleolytic action against intracellular RNAs because it forms a tight, irreversible and enzymatically inactive complex with many monomeric RNases. Therefore, dimerization or multimerization could represent a useful strategy for RNases to exert a remarkable cytotoxic activity by evading the interaction with RI by steric hindrance. Indeed, the majority of the mentioned RNases can hetero-dimerize with antibody derivatives, or even homo-dimerize or multimerize, spontaneously or artificially. This can occur through weak interactions or upon introducing covalent bonds. Immuno-RNases, in particular, are fusion proteins representing promising drugs by combining high target specificity with easy delivery in tumors. The results concerning the biological features of many RNases reported in the literature are described and discussed in this review. Furthermore, the activities displayed by some RNases forming oligomeric complexes, the mechanisms driving toward these supramolecular structures, and the biological rebounds connected are analyzed. These aspects are offered with the perspective to suggest possible efficacious therapeutic applications for RNases oligomeric derivatives that could contemporarily lack, or strongly reduce, immunogenicity and other undesired side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gotte
- Biological Chemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marta Menegazzi
- Biological Chemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Puerto-Camacho P, Amaral AT, Lamhamedi-Cherradi SE, Menegaz BA, Castillo-Ecija H, Ordóñez JL, Domínguez S, Jordan-Perez C, Diaz-Martin J, Romero-Pérez L, Lopez-Alvarez M, Civantos-Jubera G, Robles-Frías MJ, Biscuola M, Ferrer C, Mora J, Cuglievan B, Schadler K, Seifert O, Kontermann R, Pfizenmaier K, Simón L, Fabre M, Carcaboso ÁM, Ludwig JA, de Álava E. Preclinical Efficacy of Endoglin-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugates for the Treatment of Ewing Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:2228-2240. [PMID: 30420447 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Endoglin (ENG; CD105) is a coreceptor of the TGFβ family that is highly expressed in proliferating endothelial cells. Often coopted by cancer cells, ENG can lead to neo-angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry in aggressive malignancies. It exists both as a transmembrane cell surface protein, where it primarily interacts with TGFβ, and as a soluble matricellular protein (sENG) when cleaved by matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14). High ENG expression has been associated with poor prognosis in Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer that primarily occurs in adolescents and young adults. However, the therapeutic value of ENG targeting has not been fully explored in this disease. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We characterized the expression pattern of transmembrane ENG, sENG, and MMP14 in preclinical and clinical samples. Subsequently, the antineoplastic potential of two novel ENG-targeting monoclonal antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), OMTX503 and OMTX703, which differed only by their drug payload (nigrin-b A chain and cytolysin, respectively), was assessed in cell lines and preclinical animal models of Ewing sarcoma. RESULTS Both ADCs suppressed cell proliferation in proportion to the endogenous levels of ENG observed in vitro. Moreover, the ADCs significantly delayed tumor growth in Ewing sarcoma cell line-derived xenografts and patient-derived xenografts in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these studies demonstrate potent preclinical activity of first-in-class anti-ENG ADCs as a nascent strategy to eradicate Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Puerto-Camacho
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Teresa Amaral
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Brian A Menegaz
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Helena Castillo-Ecija
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Ordóñez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Jordan-Perez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Diaz-Martin
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Laura Romero-Pérez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria Lopez-Alvarez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Gema Civantos-Jubera
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - María José Robles-Frías
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Michele Biscuola
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Jaume Mora
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Spain
| | - Branko Cuglievan
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Keri Schadler
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ángel M Carcaboso
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joseph A Ludwig
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - Enrique de Álava
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital/CSIC/University of Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain.
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3
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Polito L, Djemil A, Bortolotti M. Plant Toxin-Based Immunotoxins for Cancer Therapy: A Short Overview. Biomedicines 2016; 4:biomedicines4020012. [PMID: 28536379 PMCID: PMC5344252 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines4020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotoxins are chimeric proteins obtained by linking a toxin to either an intact antibody or an antibody fragment. Conjugation can be obtained by chemical or genetic engineering, where the latter yields recombinant conjugates. An essential requirement is that the target molecule recognized by the antibody is confined to the cell population to be deleted, or at least that it is not present on stem cells or other cell types essential for the organism’s survival. Hundreds of different studies have demonstrated the potential for applying immunotoxins to many models in pre-clinical studies and in clinical trials. Immunotoxins can be theoretically used to eliminate any unwanted cell responsible for a pathological condition. The best results have been obtained in cancer therapy, especially in hematological malignancies. Among plant toxins, the most frequently employed to generate immunotoxins are ribosome-inactivating proteins, the most common being ricin. This review summarizes the various approaches and results obtained in the last four decades by researchers in the field of plant toxin-based immunotoxins for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Polito
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Alice Djemil
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Massimo Bortolotti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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4
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Akkouh O, Ng TB, Cheung RCF, Wong JH, Pan W, Ng CCW, Sha O, Shaw PC, Chan WY. Biological activities of ribosome-inactivating proteins and their possible applications as antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-pest agents and in neuroscience research. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:9847-63. [PMID: 26394859 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6941-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are enzymes which depurinate ribosomal RNA (rRNA), thus impeding the process of translation resulting in inhibition of protein synthesis. They are produced by various organisms including plants, fungi and bacteria. RIPs from plants are linked to plant defense due to their antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities in which they can be applied in agriculture to combat microbial pathogens and pests. Their anticancer, antiviral, embryotoxic, and abortifacient properties may find medicinal applications. Besides, conjugation of RIPs with antibodies or other carriers to form immunotoxins has been found useful to research in neuroscience and anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouafae Akkouh
- Department of Biology and Medical Laboratory Research, Faculty of Technology, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Zernikdreef 11, 2333 CK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Tzi Bun Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Randy Chi Fai Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Jack Ho Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Wenliang Pan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Charlene Cheuk Wing Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Ou Sha
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen University Health Science Centre, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Pang Chui Shaw
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
| | - Wai Yee Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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5
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Schrot J, Weng A, Melzig MF. Ribosome-inactivating and related proteins. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:1556-615. [PMID: 26008228 PMCID: PMC4448163 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7051556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are toxins that act as N-glycosidases (EC 3.2.2.22). They are mainly produced by plants and classified as type 1 RIPs and type 2 RIPs. There are also RIPs and RIP related proteins that cannot be grouped into the classical type 1 and type 2 RIPs because of their different sizes, structures or functions. In addition, there is still not a uniform nomenclature or classification existing for RIPs. In this review, we give the current status of all known plant RIPs and we make a suggestion about how to unify those RIPs and RIP related proteins that cannot be classified as type 1 or type 2 RIPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Schrot
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2 + 4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Alexander Weng
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2 + 4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Matthias F Melzig
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2 + 4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Tejero J, Jiménez P, Quinto EJ, Cordoba-Diaz D, Garrosa M, Cordoba-Diaz M, Gayoso MJ, Girbés T. Elderberries: a source of ribosome-inactivating proteins with lectin activity. Molecules 2015; 20:2364-87. [PMID: 25647575 PMCID: PMC6272206 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20022364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sambucus (Adoxaceae) species have been used for both food and medicine purposes. Among these, Sambucus nigra L. (black elder), Sambucus ebulus L. (dwarf elder), and Sambucus sieboldiana L. are the most relevant species studied. Their use has been somewhat restricted due to the presence of bioactive proteins or/and low molecular weight compounds whose ingestion could trigger deleterious effects. Over the last few years, the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of Sambucus species have been investigated. Among the proteins present in Sambucus species both type 1, and type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), and hololectins have been reported. The biological role played by these proteins remains unknown, although they are conjectured to be involved in defending plants against insect predators and viruses. These proteins might have an important impact on the nutritional characteristics and food safety of elderberries. Type 2 RIPs are able to interact with gut cells of insects and mammals triggering a number of specific and mostly unknown cell signals in the gut mucosa that could significantly affect animal physiology. In this paper, we describe all known RIPs that have been isolated to date from Sambucus species, and comment on their antiviral and entomotoxic effects, as well as their potential uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Tejero
- Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Medicina and Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (CINAD), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
| | - Pilar Jiménez
- Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Medicina and Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (CINAD), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
| | - Emiliano J Quinto
- Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Medicina and Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (CINAD), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
| | - Damián Cordoba-Diaz
- Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia and Instituto Universitario de Farmacia Industrial (IUFI), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Manuel Garrosa
- Biología Celular, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina and Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
| | - Manuel Cordoba-Diaz
- Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia and Instituto Universitario de Farmacia Industrial (IUFI), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Manuel J Gayoso
- Biología Celular, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina and Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
| | - Tomás Girbés
- Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Medicina and Centro de Investigación en Nutrición, Alimentación y Dietética (CINAD), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47005, Spain.
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7
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Ricin and Ricin-Containing Immunotoxins: Insights into Intracellular Transport and Mechanism of action in Vitro. Antibodies (Basel) 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/antib2020236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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8
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Entwistle J, Brown JG, Chooniedass S, Cizeau J, MacDonald GC. Preclinical Evaluation of VB6-845: An Anti-EpCAM Immunotoxin with Reduced Immunogenic Potential. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2012; 27:582-92. [DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2012.1200.271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joycelyn Entwistle
- Department of Research, Viventia Biotechnologies, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jennifer G. Brown
- Department of Research, Viventia Biotechnologies, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Shilpa Chooniedass
- Department of Research, Viventia Biotechnologies, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jeannick Cizeau
- Department of Research, Viventia Biotechnologies, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Glen C. MacDonald
- Department of Research, Viventia Biotechnologies, Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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9
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Das MK, Sharma RS, Mishra V. A cytotoxic type-2 ribosome inactivating protein (from leafless mistletoe) lacking sugar binding activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2011; 49:1096-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2011] [Revised: 09/03/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Polito L, Bortolotti M, Pedrazzi M, Bolognesi A. Immunotoxins and other conjugates containing saporin-s6 for cancer therapy. Toxins (Basel) 2011; 3:697-720. [PMID: 22069735 PMCID: PMC3202841 DOI: 10.3390/toxins3060697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are a family of plant toxins that permanently damage ribosomes and possibly other cellular substrates, thus causing cell death. RIPs are mostly divided in two types: Type 1 RIPs that are single-chain enzymatic proteins, and type 2 RIPs that consist of an active A chain (similar to a type 1 RIP) linked to a B chain with lectin properties. RIP-containing conjugates have been used in many experimental strategies against cancer cells, often showing great efficacy in clinical trials. Saporin-S6, a type 1 RIP extracted from Saponaria officinalis L. seeds, has been extensively utilized to construct anti-cancer conjugates because of its high enzymatic activity, stability and resistance to conjugation procedures, resulting in the efficient killing of target cells. This review summarizes saporin-S6-containing conjugates and their application in cancer therapy, considering in-vitro and in-vivo studies both in animal models and in clinical trials. The review is structured on the basis of the targeting of hematological versus solid tumors and on the antigen recognized on the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Polito
- Department of Experimental Pathology, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 14, 40126-Bologna, Italy.
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Ferreras JM, Citores L, Iglesias R, Jiménez P, Girbés T. Use of ribosome-inactivating proteins from Sambucus for the construction of immunotoxins and conjugates for cancer therapy. Toxins (Basel) 2011; 3:420-41. [PMID: 22069717 PMCID: PMC3202832 DOI: 10.3390/toxins3050420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [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: 02/28/2011] [Revised: 04/02/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) isolated from some species belonging to the Sambucus genus, have the characteristic that although being even more active than ricin inhibiting protein synthesis in cell-free extracts, they lack the high toxicity of ricin and related type 2 RIPs to intact cells and animals. This is due to the fact that after internalization, they follow a different intracellular pathway that does not allow them to reach the cytosolic ribosomes. The lack of toxicity of type 2 RIPs from Sambucus make them good candidates as toxic moieties in the construction of immunotoxins and conjugates directed against specific targets. Up to now they have been conjugated with either transferrin or anti-CD105 to target either transferrin receptor- or endoglin-overexpressing cells, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Ferreras
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain; (L.C.); (R.I.)
| | - Lucía Citores
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain; (L.C.); (R.I.)
| | - Rosario Iglesias
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain; (L.C.); (R.I.)
| | - Pilar Jiménez
- Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Medicine, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain; (P.J.); (T.G.)
| | - Tomás Girbés
- Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Medicine, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain; (P.J.); (T.G.)
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12
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Premsukh A, Lavoie JM, Cizeau J, Entwistle J, MacDonald GC. Development of a GMP Phase III purification process for VB4-845, an immunotoxin expressed in E. coli using high cell density fermentation. Protein Expr Purif 2011; 78:27-37. [PMID: 21421055 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2011.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Revised: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
VB4-845 is a recombinant immunotoxin comprised of an anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) scFv fused to a truncated form of the bacterial toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A. VB4-845, purified from TB fed-batch fermentation, showed clinical efficacy when administered locally to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Here, we describe the implementation of an Escherichia coli high cell density (HCD) cultivation and purification process for VB4-845. HCD cultivation was a prerequisite for achieving higher yields necessary for Phase III clinical trials and commercialization. Using this process, the VB4-845 titer in the supernatant was increased by 30-fold over the original TB fed-batch cultivation. To obtain clinical grade material, a process involving a five-step column purification procedure was implemented and led to an overall recovery of ∼ 40%. VB4-845 purity of >97% was achieved after the first three columns following the removal of low-molecular weight product-related impurities and aggregates. Endotoxins were effectively separated from VB4-845 on the Q-columns and by washing the Ni-column with a detergent buffer while host cell proteins were removed using ceramic hydroxyapatite. Comparability studies demonstrated that the purified product from the Phase III process was identical to the Phase II reference standard produced using TB fed-batch fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjune Premsukh
- Viventia Biotechnologies Inc., 147 Hamelin St., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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13
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Toxin-based therapeutic approaches. Toxins (Basel) 2010; 2:2519-83. [PMID: 22069564 PMCID: PMC3153180 DOI: 10.3390/toxins2112519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2010] [Revised: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 10/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein toxins confer a defense against predation/grazing or a superior pathogenic competence upon the producing organism. Such toxins have been perfected through evolution in poisonous animals/plants and pathogenic bacteria. Over the past five decades, a lot of effort has been invested in studying their mechanism of action, the way they contribute to pathogenicity and in the development of antidotes that neutralize their action. In parallel, many research groups turned to explore the pharmaceutical potential of such toxins when they are used to efficiently impair essential cellular processes and/or damage the integrity of their target cells. The following review summarizes major advances in the field of toxin based therapeutics and offers a comprehensive description of the mode of action of each applied toxin.
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Polito L, Bortolotti M, Farini V, Pedrazzi M, Tazzari PL, Bolognesi A. ATG-saporin-S6 immunotoxin: a new potent and selective drug to eliminate activated lymphocytes and lymphoma cells. Br J Haematol 2009; 147:710-8. [PMID: 19764990 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07904.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Anti-thymocyte globulins (ATG) are currently used to prevent graft-versus-host disease in haematopoietic stem cell transplants from alternative donors and to treat and prevent acute organ rejection after transplantation. Many recent studies have demonstrated that ATG can also be beneficial in patients with myeloma, lymphoma, leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. This study showed, for the first time, that the cytotoxic effect of ATG can been enhanced by conjugation with saporin-S6, which is one of the most stable and active type-1 ribosome-inactivating proteins. The ATG-saporin-S6 immunotoxin showed a strong cytotoxic effect on five lymphoma- and leukaemia-derived cell lines as well as on activated lymphocytes while sparing non-haematological cell lines. ATG-saporin-S6 induced a time-dependent activation of caspase-3/7 in RAJI cells. The caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk partially rescued the cells that were treated with ATG-saporin-S6, suggesting that multiple cell death pathways, some of which are caspase independent, play a role in ATG-saporin-S6 toxicity. In our experiments ATG increased the complement-independent cytotoxicity of activated lymphocytes by a magnitude of 3-5 logs after conjugation. These findings suggest that the ATG-saporin-S6 immunotoxin is a promising therapeutic tool for many pathological conditions involving T lymphocytes and T and B neoplastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Polito
- Dipartimento di Patologia Sperimentale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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15
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Engineering and Biological Characterization of VB6-845, an Anti-EpCAM Immunotoxin Containing a T-cell Epitope-depleted Variant of the Plant Toxin Bouganin. J Immunother 2009; 32:574-84. [DOI: 10.1097/cji.0b013e3181a6981c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Yuan Y, Dai X, Wang D, Zeng X. Purification, characterization and cytotoxicity of malanin, a novel plant toxin from the seeds of Malania oleifera. Toxicon 2009; 54:121-7. [PMID: 19341757 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2008] [Revised: 03/19/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Malanin, a novel plant toxin with a molecular weight of 61,875 Da and an isoelectric point of 5.5, was isolated from Malania oleifera seeds by homogenization, ammonium sulfate precipitation and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). It is a glycoprotein with two chains, chain-A and chain-B, which are crosslinked by one or more disulfide bonds. The N-terminal amino-acid sequences of malanin are DETXTDEEFN (X was commonly C) in chain-B, and DYPKLTFTTS in chain-A. Malanin exhibited highly cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines (HeLa, PC-12, MCF-7, K562) and non-cancer cell lines (Vero and MDCK), producing IC(50) values of 0.15+/-0.08, 7.71+/-0.24, 11.20+/-0.02, 15.80+/-0.09, 2.79+/-0.05 and 3.92+/-0.01 nM, respectively. It significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells through cell-cycle arrest at S phase and induced an apoptotic response. LD(50) values were determined in ICR mice, which were found to be 26.22 microg/kg and 43.11 mg/kg by i.p. and i.g. respectively. Thus, malanin is amongst the most potent toxin of plant origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yuan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University, Kunming 650031, China.
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17
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Stirpe F, Bolognesi A, Bortolotti M, Farini V, Lubelli C, Pelosi E, Polito L, Dozza B, Strocchi P, Chambery A, Parente A, Barbieri L. Characterization of highly toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins from Adenia lanceolata and Adenia stenodactyla (Passifloraceae). Toxicon 2007; 50:94-105. [PMID: 17434551 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2006] [Revised: 02/27/2007] [Accepted: 02/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
From the caudices of the Passifloraceae Adenia lanceolata and A. stenodactyla, two lectins called lanceolin and stenodactylin, respectively, were purified by affinity chromatography on CL Sepharose 6B. The lectins are glycoproteins with M(r) 61,243 (lanceolin) and 63,131 (stenodactylin), consisting of an enzymatic A chain linked to a larger B chain with lectin properties, with N-terminal amino acid sequences similar to that of volkensin, the toxic lectin from A. volkensii. The lectins agglutinate red blood cells, inhibit protein synthesis both by a cell-free system and by whole cells, and depurinate ribosomes and DNA, but not tRNA or poly(A). They are highly toxic to cells, in which they induce apoptosis, and to mice, with LD(50)s 8.16 microg/kg (lanceolin) and 2.76 microg/kg (stenodactylin) at 48 h. Thus, lanceolin and stenodactylin have all the properties of the toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins and are amongst the most potent toxins of plant origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenzo Stirpe
- Dipartimento di Patologia sperimentale, Università di Bologna, I-40126 Bologna, Italy.
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18
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Lubelli C, Chatgilialoglu A, Bolognesi A, Strocchi P, Colombatti M, Stirpe F. Detection of ricin and other ribosome-inactivating proteins by an immuno-polymerase chain reaction assay. Anal Biochem 2006; 355:102-9. [PMID: 16762307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2006.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2006] [Revised: 04/27/2006] [Accepted: 05/03/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant proteins with enzymatic activity, classified as type 1 (single chain) or type 2 (two chains). They are identified as rRNA N-glycosidases (EC 3.2.2.22) and cause an irreversible inhibition of protein synthesis. Among type 2 RIPs, there are potent toxins (ricin is the best known) that are considered as potential biological weapons. The development of a fast and sensitive method for the detection of biological agents is an important tool to prevent or deal with the consequences of intoxication. In this article, we describe a very sensitive immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) assay for the detection of RIPs-a type 1 RIP (dianthin) and a type 2 RIP (ricin)-that combines the specificity of immunological analysis with the exponential amplification of PCR. The limit of detection (LOD) of the technique was compared with the LODs of the conventional immunological methods enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fluorescent immunosorbent assay (FIA). The LOD of IPCR was more than 1 million times lower than that of ELISA, allowing the detection of 10 fg/ml of dianthin and ricin. The possibility to detect ricin in human serum was also investigated, and a similar sensitivity was observed (10 fg/ml). IPCR appears to be the most sensitive method for the detection of ricin and other RIPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lubelli
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, via S. Giacomo 14, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
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19
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Wright JEI, Gittens SA, Bansal G, Kitov PI, Sindrey D, Kucharski C, Uludağ H. A comparison of mineral affinity of bisphosphonate–protein conjugates constructed with disulfide and thioether linkages. Biomaterials 2006; 27:769-84. [PMID: 16055182 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2005.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2005] [Accepted: 06/20/2005] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemical conjugation of bisphosphonates (BPs) to therapeutic proteins is an effective means to impart mineral affinity to proteins. Such conjugates can be implanted with mineral-based matrices to control the local delivery kinetics of the proteins. BPs linked to proteins with reversible (i.e., cleavable) linkages are desirable over conjugates with stable linkages to release the protein in free form. This study conducted a direct comparison of mineral affinity of BP-protein conjugates linked together with cleavable disulfide and non-cleavable thioether linkages. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein and the desired conjugates were created with N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (disulfide) and succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimido-methyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (thioether) linkers. The disulfide-linked conjugates were cleaved in the presence of a major thiol constituent of serum, cysteine. The imparted mineral affinity, as assessed by hydroxyapatite binding in vitro, was lost upon the cleavage of the disulfide-linked aminoBP. The presence of the serum did not accelerate the cleavage of disulfide-linked conjugates. The aminoBP-BSA conjugates formed with disulfide and thioether linkages were subcutaneously implanted in rats with two different mineral-based matrices to assess protein loss from the matrices. All conjugates exhibited a higher retention in mineral matrices as compared to unmodified BSA. However, no significant differences in in situ pharmacokinetics of the disulfide- and thioether-linked conjugates were observed. We conclude that disulfide-linked BP conjugates were readily cleavable by the amino acid cysteine in vitro, but in vivo cleavage of the disulfide-linked conjugates was not evident when the proteins were implanted adsorbed to mineral-based matrices. BP-protein conjugates with faster-cleaving tethers might be required to significantly influence the release of the BP conjugates from the mineral matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E I Wright
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
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20
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Silva ALC, Goto LS, Dinarte AR, Hansen D, Moreira RA, Beltramini LM, Araújo APU. Pulchellin, a highly toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein from Abrus pulchellus. Cloning heterologous expression of A-chain and structural studies. FEBS J 2005; 272:1201-10. [PMID: 15720394 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2005.04545.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pulchellin is a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein isolated from seeds of the Abrus pulchellus tenuiflorus plant. This study aims to obtain active and homogeneous protein for structural and biological studies that will clarify the functional aspects of this toxin. The DNA fragment encoding pulchellin A-chain was cloned and inserted into pGEX-5X to express the recombinant pulchellin A-chain (rPAC) as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequence analyses of the rPAC presented a high sequential identity (> 86%) with the A-chain of abrin-c. The ability of the rPAC to depurinate rRNA in yeast ribosome was also demonstrated in vitro. In order to validate the toxic activity we promoted the in vitro association of the rPAC with the recombinant pulchellin binding chain (rPBC). Both chains were incubated in the presence of a reduced/oxidized system, yielding an active heterodimer (rPAB). The rPAB showed an apparent molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa, similar to the native pulchellin. The toxic activities of the rPAB and native pulchellin were compared by intraperitoneal injection of different dilutions into mice. The rPAB was able to kill 50% of the tested mice with doses of 45 microg x kg(-1). Our results indicated that the heterodimer showed toxic activity and a conformational pattern similar to pulchellin. In addition, rPAC produced in this heterologous system might be useful for the preparation of immunoconjugates with potential as a therapeutic agent.
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MESH Headings
- Abrus/chemistry
- Abrus/genetics
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Circular Dichroism
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/isolation & purification
- DNA, Plant/genetics
- DNA, Plant/metabolism
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Mice
- Molecular Sequence Data
- N-Glycosyl Hydrolases/metabolism
- Plant Proteins/chemistry
- Plant Proteins/metabolism
- Plant Proteins/toxicity
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Subunits/chemistry
- Protein Subunits/metabolism
- Protein Subunits/toxicity
- RNA, Fungal/genetics
- RNA, Fungal/metabolism
- RNA, Plant/genetics
- RNA, Plant/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/toxicity
- Ribosomes/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism
- Seeds/chemistry
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Affiliation(s)
- André L C Silva
- Centro de Biotecnologia Molecular Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
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