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Kim D, Lee S, Cho YH, Kang MJ, Ku CR, Chi H, Ahn J, Lee K, Han J, Chi S, Song MY, Cha SH, Lee EJ. Long-acting recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (SAFA-FSH) enhances spermatogenesis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1132172. [PMID: 36909328 PMCID: PMC9996080 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1132172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Administration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been recommended to stimulate spermatogenesis in infertile men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, whose sperm counts do not respond to human chorionic gonadotropin alone. However, FSH has a short serum half-life requiring frequent administration to maintain its therapeutic efficacy. To improve its pharmacokinetic properties, we developed a unique albumin-binder technology, termed "anti-serum albumin Fab-associated" (SAFA) technology. We tested the feasibility of applying SAFA technology to create long-acting FSH as a therapeutic candidate for patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. METHODS SAFA-FSH was produced using a Chinese hamster ovary expression system. To confirm the biological function, the production of cyclic AMP and phosphorylation of ERK and CREB were measured in TM4-FSHR cells. The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists on spermatogenesis in a hypogonadal rat model was investigated. RESULTS In in vitro experiments, SAFA-FSH treatment increased the production of cyclic AMP and increased the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB in a dose-dependent manner. In animal experiments, sperm production was not restored by human chorionic gonadotropin treatment alone, but was restored after additional recombinant FSH treatment thrice per week or once every 5 days. Sperm production was restored even after additional SAFA-FSH treatment at intervals of once every 5 or 10 days. DISCUSSION Long-acting FSH with bioactivity was successfully created using SAFA technology. These data support further development of SAFA-FSH in a clinical setting, potentially representing an important advancement in the treatment of patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daham Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soohyun Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Hee Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Ryong Ku
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjin Chi
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungsuk Ahn
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungsun Lee
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaekyu Han
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Susan Chi
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Moo Young Song
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hoon Cha
- AprilBio Co., Ltd., Rm 602, Biomedical Science Building, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jig Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Endocrine Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Eun Jig Lee,
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Fares F, Azzam N. Development of long-acting recombinant glycoprotein hormones by increasing the carbohydrate content. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:1017-1022. [PMID: 30711574 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic recombinant glycoproteins are important for both the biotechnological industry and clinical purposes. Given the rapid clearance of these proteins from the circulation, they have to be injected frequently to obtain optimal therapy. Several strategies have been developed to overcome this limitation, aiming to increase the half-life of such proteins in the circulation. These strategies included chemical attachment of polyethylene glycol, nanocapsulation, fusion to immunoglobulins or to albumin as protein carriers, or enrichment of the carbohydrate content. Here, we describe a strategy for increasing the half-life of recombinant proteins using gene fusion to increase the carbohydrate content of the protein backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuad Fares
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
| | - Naiel Azzam
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Migal-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona 11016, Israel
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Wang SH, Yu J. Structure-based design for binding peptides in anti-cancer therapy. Biomaterials 2017; 156:1-15. [PMID: 29182932 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The conventional anticancer therapeutics usually lack cancer specificity, leading to damage of normal tissues that patients find hard to tolerate. Ideally, anticancer therapeutics carrying payloads of drugs equipped with cancer targeting peptides can act like "guided missiles" with the capacity of targeted delivery toward many types of cancers. Peptides are amenable for conjugation to nano drugs for functionalization, thereby improving drug delivery and cellular uptake in cancer-targeting therapies. Peptide drugs are often more difficult to design through molecular docking and in silico analysis than small molecules, because peptide structures are more flexible, possess intricate molecular conformations, and undergo complex interactions. In this review, the development and application of strategies for structure-based design of cancer-targeting peptides against GRP78 are discussed. This Review also covers topics related to peptide pharmacokinetics and targeting delivery, including molecular docking studies, features that provide advantages for in vivo use, and properties that influence the cancer-targeting ability. Some advanced technologies and special peptides that can overcome the pharmacokinetic challenges have also been included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Hung Wang
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - John Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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