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Cao J, Zhang F, Chen H, Wu B, Yin J, Chenzhao C, Xiong W. A TSHR-Targeting Aptamer in Monocytes Correlating with Clinical Activity in TAO. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:3577-3588. [PMID: 38650837 PMCID: PMC11033847 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s446656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Manifestations of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) vary greatly. Few tools and indicators are available to assess TAO, restricting personalized diagnosis and treatment. Aim To identify an aptamer targeting thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and utilize this aptamer to evaluate clinical activity in patients with TAO. Methods An aptamer targeting TSHR was developed by exponential enrichment and systematic evaluation of TSHR ligands. After truncation and optimization, the affinity, equilibrium dissociation constant, and serum stability of this aptamer were evaluated. The affinity of the TSHR-targeting aptamer to isolated fibrocytes was assessed, as was aptamer internalization by fibrocytes. The mechanism of binding was determined by molecular docking. The correlation between disease manifestations and the percentage of TSHR-positive cells was assessed by correlation analysis. Results The aptamer TSHR-21-42 was developed to bind to TSHR, with the equilibrium dissociation constant being 71.46 Kd. Isolated fibrocytes were shown to bind TSHR-21-42 through TSHR, with its affinity maintained at various temperatures and ion concentrations. TSHR-21-42 could compete with anti-TSHR antibody, both for binding site to TSHR and uptake by cells after binding. In addition, TSHR-21-42 could bind to leukocytes in peripheral blood, with this binding differing in patients with TAO and healthy control subjects. The percentage of TSHR-positive monocytes, as determined by binding of TSHR-21-42, correlated positively with clinical activity score in patients with TAO, indicating that TSHR-21-42 binding could assess the severity of TAO. Conclusion This aptamer targeting TSHR may be used to objectively assess disease activity in patients with TAO, by evaluating the percentages of TSHR positive cells in peripheral blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bingxuan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiayang Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Changci Chenzhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of China
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Costanzo H, Gooch J, Tungsirisurp S, Frascione N. The Development and Characterisation of ssDNA Aptamers via a Modified Cell-SELEX Methodology for the Detection of Human Red Blood Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1814. [PMID: 38339091 PMCID: PMC10855528 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood is one of the most commonly found biological fluids at crime scenes, with the detection and identification of blood holding a high degree of evidential value. It can provide not only information about the nature of the crime but can also lead to identification via DNA profiling. Presumptive tests for blood are usually sensitive but not specific, so small amounts of the substrate can be detected, but false-positive results are often encountered, which can be misleading. Novel methods for the detection of red blood cells based on aptamer-target interactions may be able to overcome these issues. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences capable of undergoing selective antigen association due to three-dimensional structure formation. The use of aptamers as a target-specific moiety poses several advantages and has the potential to replace antibodies within immunoassays. Aptamers are cheaper to produce, display no batch-to-batch variation and can allow for a wide range of chemical modifications. They can help limit cross-reactivity, which is a hindrance to current forensic testing methods. Within this study, a modified Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) process was used to generate aptamers against whole red blood cells. Obtained aptamer pools were analysed via massively parallel sequencing to identify viable sequences that demonstrate a high affinity for the target. Using bioinformatics platforms, aptamer candidates were identified via their enrichment profiles. Binding characterisation was also conducted on two selected aptamer candidates via fluorescent microscopy and qPCR to visualise and quantify aptamer binding. The potential for these aptamers is broad as they can be utilised within a range of bioassays for not only forensic applications but also other analytical science and medical applications. Potential future work includes the incorporation of developed aptamers into a biosensing platform that can be used at crime scenes for the real-time detection of human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nunzianda Frascione
- Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9NH, UK; (H.C.); (J.G.); (S.T.)
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de Araújo NS, Moreira ADS, Abreu RDS, Junior VV, Antunes D, Mendonça JB, Sassaro TF, Jurberg AD, Ferreira-Reis R, Bastos NC, Fernandes PV, Guimarães ACR, Degrave WMS, Tilli TM, Waghabi MC. Aptamer-Based Recognition of Breast Tumor Cells: A New Era for Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:840. [PMID: 38255914 PMCID: PMC10815801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide and can be classified into four major distinct molecular subtypes based on the expression of specific receptors. Despite significant advances, the lack of biomarkers for detailed diagnosis and prognosis remains a major challenge in the field of oncology. This study aimed to identify short single-stranded oligonucleotides known as aptamers to improve breast cancer diagnosis. The Cell-SELEX technique was used to select aptamers specific to the MDA-MB-231 tumor cell line. After selection, five aptamers demonstrated specific recognition for tumor breast cell lines and no binding to non-tumor breast cells. Validation of aptamer specificity revealed recognition of primary and metastatic tumors of all subtypes. In particular, AptaB4 and AptaB5 showed greater recognition of primary tumors and metastatic tissue, respectively. Finally, a computational biology approach was used to identify potential aptamer targets, which indicated that CSKP could interact with AptaB4. These results suggest that aptamers are promising in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their specificity and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natassia Silva de Araújo
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Aline dos Santos Moreira
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Rayane da Silva Abreu
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Valdemir Vargas Junior
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Deborah Antunes
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Julia Badaró Mendonça
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Tayanne Felippe Sassaro
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Arnon Dias Jurberg
- Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (A.D.J.); (R.F.-R.)
- Laboratório de Animais Transgênicos, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto de Educação Médica (IDOMED), Universidade Estácio de Sá (UNESA)—Campus Vista Carioca, Rio de Janeiro 20071-004, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafaella Ferreira-Reis
- Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (A.D.J.); (R.F.-R.)
| | - Nina Carrossini Bastos
- Divisão de Patologia (DIPAT), Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro 20230-130, RJ, Brazil; (N.C.B.); (P.V.F.)
| | - Priscila Valverde Fernandes
- Divisão de Patologia (DIPAT), Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro 20230-130, RJ, Brazil; (N.C.B.); (P.V.F.)
| | - Ana Carolina Ramos Guimarães
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Wim Maurits Sylvain Degrave
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
| | - Tatiana Martins Tilli
- Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Clínica e Experimental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil;
- Plataforma de Oncologia Translacional, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Caldas Waghabi
- Laboratório de Genômica Aplicada e Bioinovações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (N.S.d.A.); (A.d.S.M.); (R.d.S.A.); (V.V.J.); (D.A.); (J.B.M.); (T.F.S.); (A.C.R.G.); (W.M.S.D.)
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Szymanowski W, Szymanowska A, Bielawska A, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Amero P. Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5300. [PMID: 37958473 PMCID: PMC10647731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common lethal gynecologic cause of death in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. Despite advancements in the treatment, most OC patients still die from their disease due to late-stage diagnosis, the lack of effective diagnostic methods, and relapses. Aptamers, synthetic, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics. Their ability to selectively bind to target molecules, including cancer-related proteins and receptors, has revolutionized drug discovery and biomarker identification. Aptamers offer unique insights into the molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, they show immense potential as drug delivery systems, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects and reducing systemic toxicity. In the context of OC, the integration of aptamers with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) presents an opportunity for precise and efficient gene targeting. Additionally, the conjugation of aptamers with nanoparticles allows for accurate and targeted delivery of ncRNAs to specific cells, tissues, or organs. In this review, we will summarize the potential use and challenges associated with the use of aptamers alone or aptamer-ncRNA conjugates, nanoparticles, and multivalent aptamer-based therapeutics for the treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Szymanowski
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Szymanowska
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paola Amero
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
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