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Bioengineering & Translational Medicine May 2019The treatment of metastatic cancer is a great challenging issue throughout the world. Conventional chemotherapy can kill the cancer cells and, whereas, would exacerbate...
The treatment of metastatic cancer is a great challenging issue throughout the world. Conventional chemotherapy can kill the cancer cells and, whereas, would exacerbate the metastasis and induce drug resistance. Here, a new combinatorial treatment strategy of metastatic cancer was probed via subsequentially dosing dual nanomedicines, marimastat-loaded thermosensitive liposomes (MATT-LTSLs) and paclitaxel nanocrystals (PTX-Ns), via intravenous and intratumoral injection. First, the metastasis was blocked and cancer cells were locked in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by delivering the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, MATT, to the tumor with LTSLs, downregulating the MMPs by threefold and reducing the degradation of the extracellular matrix. And then, the "locked" cancer cells were efficiently killed via intratumoral injection of the other cytotoxic nanomedicine, PTX-Ns, along with no metastasis and 100% inhibition of tumor growth. This work highlights the importance of the TME's integrity in the chemotherapy duration. We believe this is a generalized strategy for cancer treatment and has potential guidance for the clinical administration.
PubMed: 31249880
DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10130 -
Toxins Jun 2019Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a priority neglected tropical disease, which kills in excess of 100,000 people per year. Additionally, many millions of survivors also... (Review)
Review
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a priority neglected tropical disease, which kills in excess of 100,000 people per year. Additionally, many millions of survivors also suffer through disabilities and long-term health consequences. The only treatment for SBE, antivenom, has a number of major associated problems, not least, adverse reactions and limited availability. This emphasises the necessity for urgent improvements to the management of this disease. Administration of antivenom is too frequently based on symptomatology, which results in wasting crucial time. The majority of SBE-affected regions rely on broad-spectrum polyvalent antivenoms that have a low content of case-specific efficacious immunoglobulins. Research into small molecular therapeutics such as varespladib/methyl-varespladib (PLA inhibitors) and batimastat/marimastat (metalloprotease inhibitors) suggest that such adjunctive treatments could be hugely beneficial to victims. Progress into toxin-specific monoclonal antibodies as well as alternative binding scaffolds such as aptamers hold much promise for future treatment strategies. SBE is not implicit during snakebite, due to venom metering. Thus, the delay between bite and symptom presentation is critical and when symptoms appear it may often already be too late to effectively treat SBE. The development of reliable diagnostical tools could therefore initiate a paradigm shift in the treatment of SBE. While the complete eradication of SBE is an impossibility, mitigation is in the pipeline, with new treatments and diagnostics rapidly emerging. Here we critically review the urgent necessity for the development of diagnostic tools and improved therapeutics to mitigate the deaths and disabilities caused by SBE.
Topics: Animals; Antivenins; Humans; Reptilian Proteins; Snake Bites; Snake Venoms
PubMed: 31226842
DOI: 10.3390/toxins11060363 -
Cell Proliferation Jul 2019Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) leads to approximately 1.5 million human deaths every year. In pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), Mtb must drive host tissue destruction to... (Review)
Review
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) leads to approximately 1.5 million human deaths every year. In pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), Mtb must drive host tissue destruction to cause pulmonary cavitation and dissemination in the tissues. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases capable of degrading all components of pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM). It is well established that Mtb infection leads to upregulation of MMPs and also causes disturbance in the balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), thus altering the extracellular matrix deposition. In TB, secretion of MMPs is mainly regulated by NF-κB, p38 and MAPK signalling pathways. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory roles of MMPs in Mtb pathogenesis. Researchers have proposed a new regimen of improved TB treatment by inhibition of MMP activity to hinder matrix destruction and to minimize the TB-associated morbidity and mortality. The proposed regimen involves adjunctive use of MMP inhibitors such as doxycycline, marimastat and other related drugs along with front-line anti-TB drugs to reduce granuloma formation and bacterial load. These findings implicate the possible addition of economical and well-tolerated MMP inhibitors to current multidrug regimens as an attractive mean to increase the drug potency. Here, we will summarize the recent advancements regarding expression of MMPs in TB, their immunomodulatory role, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets to control the deadly disease.
Topics: Animals; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; Lung; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Signal Transduction; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 31199047
DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12649 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Oct 2018Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an orphan disease that is difficult to treat using traditional chemotherapy, an approach which has been effective in other types...
BACKGROUND
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an orphan disease that is difficult to treat using traditional chemotherapy, an approach which has been effective in other types of cancer. Most chemotherapeutics cause DNA damage leading to cell death. Recent discoveries have highlighted a potential role for the p53 tumor suppressor in this disease. Given the pivotal role of p53 in the DNA damage response, here we investigated the predictive power of the p53 interactome model for MPM patients' stratification.
METHODS
We used bioinformatics approaches including omics type analysis of data from MPM cells and from MPM patients in order to predict which pathways are crucial for patients' survival. Analysis of the PKT206 model of the p53 network was validated by microarrays from the Mero-14 MPM cell line and RNA-seq data from 71 MPM patients, whilst statistical analysis was used to identify the deregulated pathways and predict therapeutic schemes by linking the affected pathway with the patients' clinical state.
RESULTS
In silico simulations demonstrated successful predictions ranging from 52 to 85% depending on the drug, algorithm or sample used for validation. Clinical outcomes of individual patients stratified in three groups and simulation comparisons identified 30 genes that correlated with survival. In patients carrying wild-type p53 either treated or not treated with chemotherapy, FEN1 and MMP2 exhibited the highest inverse correlation, whereas in untreated patients bearing mutated p53, SIAH1 negatively correlated with survival. Numerous repositioned and experimental drugs targeting FEN1 and MMP2 were identified and selected drugs tested. Epinephrine and myricetin, which target FEN1, have shown cytotoxic effect on Mero-14 cells whereas marimastat and batimastat, which target MMP2 demonstrated a modest but significant inhibitory effect on MPM cell migration. Finally, 8 genes displayed correlation with disease stage, which may have diagnostic implications.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical decisions related to MPM personalized therapy based on individual patients' genetic profile and previous chemotherapeutic treatment could be reached using computational tools and the predictions reported in this study upon further testing in animal models.
Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Deoxycytidine; Etoposide; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Models, Biological; Neoplasm Staging; Pleural Neoplasms; Proportional Hazards Models; Transcriptome; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Wound Healing; Gemcitabine
PubMed: 30316293
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1650-0 -
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Apr 2018With the inclusion of snakebite envenoming on the World Health Organization's list of Neglected Tropical Diseases, an incentive has been established to promote research... (Review)
Review
With the inclusion of snakebite envenoming on the World Health Organization's list of Neglected Tropical Diseases, an incentive has been established to promote research and development effort in novel snakebite antivenom therapies. Various technological approaches are being pursued by different research groups, including the use of small molecule inhibitors against enzymatic toxins as well as peptide- and oligonucleotide-based aptamers and antibody-based biotherapeutics against both enzymatic and non-enzymatic toxins. In this article, the most recent advances in these fields are presented, and the advantages, disadvantages, and feasibility of using different toxin-neutralizing molecules are reviewed. Particular focus within small molecules is directed towards the inhibitors varespladib, batimastat, and marimastat, while in the field of antibody-based therapies, novel recombinant polyclonal plantivenom technology is discussed.
PubMed: 30274438
DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed3020042 -
Oncotarget Aug 2018Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play a critical role in metastatic cancers, yet multiple human clinical trials targeting MMPs have surprisingly failed. Cancer cell...
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play a critical role in metastatic cancers, yet multiple human clinical trials targeting MMPs have surprisingly failed. Cancer cell density changes dramatically during the early growth of a primary tumor and during the early seeding steps of secondary tumors and has been implicated in playing an important role in regulating metastasis and drug resistance. This study reveals that the expression of MMPs is tightly regulated by local tumor cell density through the synergistic signaling mechanism of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) via the JAK2/STAT3 complex. Local tumor cell density also plays a role in the responsiveness of cells to matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors (MMPI), such as Batimastat, Marimastat, Bryostatin I, and Cipemastat, where different migratory phenotypes are observed in low and high cell density conditions. Cell density-dependent MMP regulation can be directly targeted by the simultaneous inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8 receptors via Tocilizumab and Reparixin to significantly decrease the expression of MMPs in mouse xenograft models and decrease effective metastasis. This study reveals a new strategy to decrease MMP expression through pharmacological intervention of the cognate receptors of IL-6 and IL-8 to decrease metastatic capacity of tumor cells.
PubMed: 30220965
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25863 -
The Journal of Parasitology Aug 2018In the course of a structure based drug discovery program the known anticancer candidate marimastat was uncovered as a potent inhibitor of an enzyme in nematode cuticle...
In the course of a structure based drug discovery program the known anticancer candidate marimastat was uncovered as a potent inhibitor of an enzyme in nematode cuticle biogenesis. It was shown to kill Caenorhabditis elegans, and the sheep parasites Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcinta via an entirely novel nematode-specific pathway, specifically by inhibiting cuticle-remodelling enzymes that the parasites require for the developmentally essential moulting process. This discovery prompted an investigation of the compound's effect on Heligmosomoides polygyrus parasites in a mouse model of helminth infection. Mice were administered the drug via oral gavage daily from day of infection for a period of 2 wk. A second group received the drug via intra-peritoneal implantation of an osmotic minipump for 4 wk. Control groups were administered identical volumes of water by oral gavage in both cases. Counts of H. polygyrus faecal egg and larval load showed that marimastat effected a consistent and significant reduction in egg laying, and a consistent but minor reduction in adult worm load when administered every day, starting on the first day of infection. However, the drug failed to have any significant effect on egg counts or worm burdens when administered to mice with established infections. Therefore, marimastat does not appear to show promise as an anthelmintic in gastrointestinal nematode infections, although other metalloproteases such as batimastat may prove more effective.
PubMed: 30085900
DOI: 10.1645/18-33 -
Virulence 2018Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infection is a complex condition where opportunistic pathogens and defective immune system cooperate in developing a constant cycle of...
BACKGROUND
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infection is a complex condition where opportunistic pathogens and defective immune system cooperate in developing a constant cycle of infection and inflammation. The major pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, secretes a multitude of virulence factors involved in host immune response and lung tissue damage. In this study, we examined the possible anti-inflammatory effects of molecules inhibiting P. aeruginosa virulence factors.
METHODS
Pyocyanin, pyoverdine and proteases were measured in bacterial culture supernatant from different P. aeruginosa strains. Inhibition of virulence factors by sub-inhibitory concentrations of clarithromycin and by protease inhibitors was evaluated. Lung inflammatory response was monitored by in vivo bioluminescence imaging in wild-type and CFTR-knockout mice expressing a luciferase gene under the control of a bovine IL-8 promoter.
RESULTS
The amount of proteases, pyocyanin and pyoverdine secreted by P. aeruginosa strains was reduced after growth in the presence of a sub-inhibitory dose of clarithromycin. Intratracheal challenge with culture supernatant containing bacteria-released products induced a strong IL-8-mediated response in mouse lungs while lack of virulence factors corresponded to a reduction in bioluminescence emission. Particularly, sole inactivation of proteases by inhibitors Ilomastat and Marimastat also resulted in decreased lung inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the assumption that virulence factors are involved in P. aeruginosa pro-inflammatory action in CF lungs; particularly, proteases seem to play an important role. Inhibition of virulence factors production and activity resulted in decreased lung inflammation; thus, clarithromycin and protease inhibitors potentially represent additional therapeutic therapies for P. aeruginosa-infected patients.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Clarithromycin; Cystic Fibrosis; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Humans; Interleukin-8; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Pseudomonas Infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 29938577
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2018.1489198 -
Theranostics 2018Treatment for metastatic cancer is a great challenge throughout the world. Commonly, directed inhibition of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by...
Treatment for metastatic cancer is a great challenge throughout the world. Commonly, directed inhibition of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secreted by cancer cells can reduce metastasis. Here, a novel nanoplatform (HPMC NPs) assembled from hyaluronic acid (HA)-paclitaxel (PTX) prodrug and marimastat (MATT)/β-casein (CN) complexes was established to cure a 4T1 metastatic cancer model targeting CD44 and intracellular, rather than extracellular, MMPs. HPMC NPs were prepared by assembling the complexes and prodrug under ultrasonic treatment, which the interaction between them was evaluated by förster resonance energy transfer, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra. The developed nanoplatform was characterized dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and was evaluated in terms of MMP-sensitive release and stability. Subsequently, the cellular uptake, trafficking, and invasion were studied by flow cytometry, confocal laser microscopy and transwell assay. MMP expression and activity was determined by western blotting and gelatin zymography. Finally, the studies of biodistribution and antitumor efficacy were performed in a mouse 4T1 tumor breast model, followed by safety study in normal mouse. The interaction between the prodrug and complexes is strong with a high affinity, resulting in the assembly of these two components into hybrid nanoparticles (250 nm). Compared with extracellular incubation with MATT, HPMC NP treatment markedly reduced the expression (100%) and activity (50%) of MMPs in 4T1 cells and in the tumor. HPMC NPs exhibited 1.4-fold tumor accumulation, inhibited tumor-growth by >8-fold in volume with efficient apoptosis and proliferation, and suppressed metastasis (>5-fold) and angiogenesis (>3-fold). Overall, HPMC NPs were efficient in metastatic cancer therapy. According to the assembly of polymer prodrug and protein-drug complexes, this study offers a new strategy for constructing nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, biomedical imaging, and combinatorial treatment. Importantly, inhibition of intracellular MMPs, metastasis and angiogenesis can be potently blocked, benefiting the rational design of nanomedicine for cancer treatment.
Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Caseins; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Liberation; Female; Hyaluronic Acid; Hydroxamic Acids; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nanoconjugates; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Paclitaxel; Prodrugs; Protein Binding
PubMed: 29774078
DOI: 10.7150/thno.23209 -
American Journal of Physiology. Heart... Mar 2018Cardiac sympathetic nerves stimulate heart rate and force of contraction. Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to the loss of sympathetic nerves within the heart, and...
Cardiac sympathetic nerves stimulate heart rate and force of contraction. Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to the loss of sympathetic nerves within the heart, and clinical studies have indicated that sympathetic denervation is a risk factor for arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Two distinct types of denervation have been identified in the mouse heart after MI caused by ischemia-reperfusion: transient denervation of peri-infarct myocardium and sustained denervation of the infarct. Sustained denervation is linked to increased arrhythmia risk, but it is not known whether acute nerve loss in peri-infarct myocardium also contributes to arrhythmia risk. Peri-infarct sympathetic denervation requires the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), but removal of p75NTR alters the pattern of sympathetic innervation in the heart and increases spontaneous arrhythmias. Therefore, we targeted the p75NTR coreceptor sortilin and the p75NTR-induced protease tumor necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme/A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 17 (TACE/ADAM17) to selectively block peri-infarct denervation. Sympathetic nerve density was quantified using immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase. Genetic deletion of sortilin had no effect on the timing or extent of axon degeneration, but inhibition of TACE/ADAM17 with the protease inhibitor marimastat prevented the loss of axons from viable myocardium. We then asked whether retention of nerves in peri-infarct myocardium had an impact on cardiac electrophysiology 3 days after MI using ex vivo optical mapping of transmembrane potential and intracellular Ca. Preventing acute denervation of viable myocardium after MI did not significantly alter cardiac electrophysiology or Ca handling, suggesting that transient denervation at this early time point has minimal impact on arrhythmia risk. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sympathetic denervation after myocardial infarction is a risk factor for arrhythmias. We asked whether transient loss of nerves in viable myocardium contributed to arrhythmia risk. We found that targeting protease activity could prevent acute peri-infarct denervation but that it did not significantly alter cardiac electrophysiology or Ca handling 3 days after myocardial infarction.
Topics: ADAM17 Protein; Action Potentials; Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Calcium Signaling; Disease Models, Animal; Heart; Heart Rate; Isolated Heart Preparation; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; Sympathetic Nervous System; Time Factors; Tissue Survival
PubMed: 29101167
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00300.2017