Mannose-modified hyaluronic acid nanocapsules for the targeting of tumor-associated macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a class of immune cells that play a key role in tumor immunosuppression, are recognized as important targets to improve cancer prognosis and treatment. Consequently, the engineering of drug delivery nanocarriers that can reach TAMs has acquired special relevance. This work describes the development and biological evaluation of a panel of hyaluronic acid (HA) nanocapsules (NCs), with different compositions and prepared by different techniques, designed to target macrophages. The results showed that plain HA NCs did not significantly influence the polarization of M0 and M2-like macrophages towards an M1-like pro-inflammatory phenotype; however, the chemical functionalization of HA with mannose (HA-Man) led to a significant increase of NCs uptake by M2 macrophages in vitro and to an improved biodistribution in a MN/MNCA1 fibrosarcoma mouse model with high infiltration of TAMs. These functionalized HA-Man NCs showed a higher accumulation in the tumor compared to non-modified HA NCs. Finally, the pre-administration of the liposomal liver occupying agent Nanoprimer™ further increased the accumulation of the HA-Man NCs in the tumor. This work highlights the promise shown by the HA-Man NCs to target TAMs and thus provides new options for the development of nanomedicine and immunotherapy-based cancer treatments.

Abstract 2871: The Nanoprimer: a nanoparticle designed to transiently occupy the mononuclear phagocytic system in order to increase nanomedicine-based treatments efficacy

Introduction: Most nanomedicines are currently limited in their efficacy due to a sub-optimal biodistribution/accumulation in the target tissues. A large part of the administered dose remains useless due to the high rate of clearance by the mononuclear phagocytic system (mainly by Kupffer cells in liver). We designed a new approach based on the use of an engineered, biocompatible nanoparticle–the Nanoprimer–that is administered before the nanomedicine in order to transiently and specifically occupy the liver clearance pathways responsible for sub-optimal therapeutic bioavailability. The Nanoprimer's effect is only based on its specific physico-chemical properties, there is no active principal ingredient encapsulated in it. Here we demonstrate the ability of the Nanoprimer to redefine the bioavailability and efficacy of nanomedicines loaded with small molecules or nucleic acid. We evaluated the biodistribution and the safety of the Nanoprimer alone and of an irinotecan loaded liposome combined with the Nanoprimer.

Methods: Quantitative evaluation of the Nanoprimer's biodistribution was performed by mass spectrometry. Safety profile of the Nanoprimer was evaluated in vitro (cell viability, cytokines/interleukins expression profile, complement activation, phagoburst and phagotest on different cell lines) and in vivo, in mice, by a follow up of body weight and clinical signs, histological observations of liver, spleen and lungs and blood parameters titration, after the injection of a maximized dose of Nanoprimer. The impact of the Nanoprimer on the bioavailability and biodistribution of nanomedicines loaded with irinotecan or nucleic acids (mRNA / SiRNA) was evaluated by HPLC and fluorescence quantification, respectively. Finally, the impact of the Nanoprimer on treatment was evaluated using nanomedicines encapsulating human erythropoietin (hEPO) mRNA, Factor VII (FVII) siRNA or irinotecan.

Results: The Nanoprimer presents a rapid accumulation within liver and spleen. The Nanoprimer was well tolerated with no sign of toxicity observed using therapeutic dosage. The administration of the Nanoprimer increases systemic bioavailability of different type of nanomedicines and enhances their accumulation in target tissues. This improved bioavailability is correlated with an increased secretion of hEPO by 30%, for mRNA-loaded nanomedicines, an increased silencing of FVII by 50%, for siRNA-loaded nanomedicines, and an increased anti-tumor efficacy by 50%, for irinotecan-loaded nanomedicines.

Here, we showed the safe profile of the Nanoprimer and its ability to increase the treatment outcomes for different nature of nanomedicines. The separation of the functions ensuring the efficacy of a treatment into two distinct objects opens perspectives for designing future nanomedicines and a shift in the therapeutic paradigm.

Citation Format: Julie Devalliere, Laurence Poul, Audrey Darmon, Oceane Jibault, Maxime Bergere, Francis Mpambani, Nell Saunders, Marion Paolini, Robert Langer, Matthieu Germain. The Nanoprimer: a nanoparticle designed to transiently occupy the mononuclear phagocytic system in order to increase nanomedicine-based treatments efficacy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2871.

A Nanoprimer To Improve the Systemic Delivery of siRNA and mRNA

Despite tremendous interest in gene therapies, the systemic delivery of nucleic acids still faces substantial challenges. To successfully administer nucleic acids, one approach is to encapsulate them in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). However, LNPs administered intravenously substantially accumulate in the liver where they are taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Here, we administer prior to the LNPs a liposome designed to transiently occupy liver cells, the Nanoprimer. This study demonstrates that the pretreatment of mice with the Nanoprimer decreases the LNPs' uptake by the RES. By accumulating rapidly in the liver cells, the Nanoprimer improves the bioavailability of the LNPs encapsulating human erythropoietin (hEPO) mRNA or factor VII (FVII) siRNA, leading respectively to more hEPO production (by 32%) or FVII silencing (by 49%). The use of the Nanoprimer offers a new strategy to improve the systemic delivery of RNA-based therapeutics.

Repopulation of intrahepatic bile ducts in engineered rat liver grafts

Engineered liver grafts for transplantation with sufficient hepatic function have been developed both in small and large animal models using the whole liver engineering approach. However, repopulation of the bile ducts in the whole liver scaffolds has not been addressed yet. In this study, we show the feasibility of repopulating the bile ducts in decellularized rat livers. Biliary epithelial cells were introduced into the bile ducts of the decellularized liver scaffolds with or without hepatocytes in the parenchymal space. The recellularized grafts were cultured under perfusion for up to 2 days and histological analysis revealed that the biliary epithelial cells formed duct-like structures, with the viable hepatocyte mass residing in the parenchymal space, in an arrangement highly comparable to the native tissue. The grafts were viable and functional as confirmed by both albumin and urea assay results and the gene expression analysis of biliary epithelial cells in recellularized liver grafts. This study provides the proof-of-concept results for rat liver grafts co-populated with parenchymal and biliary epithelial cells.

Sustained delivery of proangiogenic microRNA-132 by nanoparticle transfection improves endothelial cell transplantation

Transplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) for therapeutic vascularization or tissue engineering is a promising method for increasing tissue perfusion. Here, we report on a new approach for enhanced EC transplantation using targeted nanoparticle transfection to deliver proangiogenic microRNA-132 (miR-132) to cultured ECs before their transplantation, thereby sensitizing cells to the effects of endogenous growth factors. We synthesized biodegradable PLGA polymer nanoparticles (NPs) that were loaded with miR-132 and coated with cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptides that target integrin αvβ3 expressed on cultured human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), increasing NP uptake through clathrin-coated pits. Unlike previously reported NPs for miR delivery, these NPs slowly release RNA for several weeks. The endocytosed NPs remain in clathrin-coated vesicles from which they mediate intracellular delivery of siRNA or miRNA. Transfection of HUVECs with miR-132 enhances growth factor-induced proliferation and migration in 2D culture, producing a 1.8- and 5-fold increase, respectively. However, while the effects of conventional transfection were short-lived, NP transfection produced protein knockdown and biological effects that were significantly longer in duration (≥ 6 d). Transfection of HUVECs with miR-132 NP resulted in a 2-fold increase in the number of microvessels per square millimeter compared to lipid after transplantation into immunodeficient mice and led to a higher number of mural cell-invested vessels than control transfection. These data suggest that sustained delivery of miR-132 encapsulated in a targeted biodegradable polymer NP is a safe and efficient strategy to improve EC transplantation and vascularization.

Alloantibody and complement promote T cell-mediated cardiac allograft vasculopathy through noncanonical nuclear factor-κB signaling in endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the major cause of late allograft loss after heart transplantation. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy lesions contain alloreactive T cells that secrete interferon-γ, a vasculopathic cytokine, and occur more frequently in patients with donor-specific antibody. Pathological interactions between these immune effectors, representing cellular and humoral immunity, respectively, remain largely unexplored.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used human panel reactive antibody to form membrane attack complexes on allogeneic endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Rather than inducing cytolysis, membrane attack complexes upregulated inflammatory genes, enhancing the capacity of endothelial cells to recruit and activate allogeneic interferon-γ--producing CD4(+) T cells in a manner dependent on the activation of noncanonical nuclear factor-κB signaling. Noncanonical nuclear factor-κB signaling was detected in situ within endothelial cells both in renal biopsies from transplantation patients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection and in panel-reactive antibody--treated human coronary artery xenografts in immunodeficient mice. On retransplantation into immunodeficient hosts engrafted with human T cells, panel-reactive antibody--treated grafts recruited more interferon-γ--producing T cells and enhanced cardiac allograft vasculopathy lesion formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Alloantibody and complement deposition on graft endothelial cells activates noncanonical nuclear factor-κB signaling, initiating a proinflammatory gene program that enhances alloreactive T cell activation and development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Noncanonical nuclear factor-κB signaling in endothelial cells, observed in human allograft specimens and implicated in lesion pathogenesis, may represent a target for new pharmacotherapies to halt the progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Paracrine exchanges of molecular signals between alginate-encapsulated pericytes and freely suspended endothelial cells within a 3D protein gel

Paracrine signals, essential for the proper survival and functioning of tissues, may be mimicked by delivery of therapeutic proteins within engineered tissue constructs. Conventional delivery methods are of limited duration and are unresponsive to the local environment. We developed a system for sustained and regulated delivery of paracrine signals by encapsulating living cells of one type in alginate beads and co-suspending these cell-loaded particles along with unencapsulated cells of a second type within a 3D protein gel. This system was applied to vascular tissue engineering by placing human placental microvascular pericytes (PCs) in the particulate alginate phase and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the protein gel phase. Particle characteristics were optimized to keep the encapsulated PCs viable for at least two weeks. Encapsulated PCs were bioactive in vitro, secreting hepatocyte growth factor, an angiogenic protein, and responding to externally applied HUVEC-derived signals. Encapsulated PCs influenced HUVEC behavior in the surrounding gel by enhancing the formation of vessel-like structures when compared to empty alginate bead controls. In vivo, encapsulated PCs modulated the process of vascular self-assembly by HUVECs in 3D gels following implantation into immunodeficient mice. We conclude that alginate encapsulated cells can provide functional paracrine signals within engineered tissues.

Notch2 signaling sensitizes endothelial cells to apoptosis by negatively regulating the key protective molecule survivin

Background

Notch signaling pathway controls key functions in vascular and endothelial cells (ECs) where Notch4 plays a major role. However, little is known about the contribution of other Notch receptors. This study investigated regulation of Notch2 and further examined its implication in EC dysfunction.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, we provide evidence for a novel link between Notch and TNF signaling, where Notch2 is upregulated and activated in response to TNF. Forced expression of Notch2 intracellular domain in cultured ECs promotes apoptosis and allows the significant downregulation of several cell-death-related transcripts in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, activation of Notch2 led to a rapid decrease in survivin mRNA and protein expression, while survivin upregulation was obtained by the selective knockdown of Notch2 in ECs, indicating that survivin expression is controlled at the Notch level. Moreover, Notch2 silencing and ectopic expression of survivin, but not XIAP or Bcl2, rescued ECs from TNF and Notch2-mediated apoptosis, respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

In conclusion, TNF signaling activates Notch2 that sensitizes ECs to apoptosis via modulation of the key apoptosis regulator survivin. Overall, our findings also indicate that specific Notch receptors control distinct functions in vascular cells and inflammatory cytokines contribute to this specificity.