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Genes & Cancer May 2011The ribonuclease ranpirnase (Onconase) has been used empirically to treat malignant mesothelioma (MM) patients, and some of them had prolonged survivals. The aim of this...
The ribonuclease ranpirnase (Onconase) has been used empirically to treat malignant mesothelioma (MM) patients, and some of them had prolonged survivals. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of the therapeutic function of ranpirnase in MM cells. The effects of ranpirnase were studied in vivo and in vitro on 2 MM cell lines (epithelioid REN and sarcomatoid PPM-Mill). We found that ranpirnase was able to inhibit NF-κB nuclear translocation, evaluated by cell fractionation and immunoblotting as well as by immunofluorescence. Also, MMP9 secretion by MM cells was decreased by ranpirnase treatment, as assessed by the reduction of metalloproteinase activity, evaluated by zymography on culture-conditioned media. Ranpirnase induced apoptosis of MM cells in vitro and in vivo, causing a powerful inhibition of MM tumor growth in SCID xenografts, determined by In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) of tumor cells engineered by lentiviral transduction of the luciferase gene. Finally, mice treated with ranpirnase showed a significantly prolonged survival. Our data provide a mechanistic rationale to explain the beneficial antitumor activity observed in some patients treated with ranpirnase and demonstrate that ranpirnase interferes with the NF-κB pathway, thus influencing MM tumor cell invasiveness and survival. It is hoped that this information will also facilitate the identification of those patients who are more likely to benefit from this drug and will also open a new frontier for the use of this drug in tumor types other than MM.
PubMed: 21901170
DOI: 10.1177/1947601911412375 -
BioDrugs : Clinical Immunotherapeutics,... 2008Ranpirnase, a cytotoxic ribonuclease from the frog Rana pipiens, is the archetype of a novel class of cancer chemotherapeutic agents based on homologs and variants of... (Review)
Review
Ranpirnase, a cytotoxic ribonuclease from the frog Rana pipiens, is the archetype of a novel class of cancer chemotherapeutic agents based on homologs and variants of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A). Ranpirnase in combination with doxorubicin is in clinical trials for the treatment of unresectable malignant mesothelioma and other cancers. The putative mechanism for ranpirnase-mediated cytotoxicity involves binding to anionic components of the extracellular membrane, cytosolic internalization, and degradation of transfer RNA leading to apoptosis. The maintenance of ribonucleolytic activity in the presence of the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein is a key aspect of the cytotoxic activity of ranpirnase. The basis for its specific toxicity for cancer cells is not known. This review describes the development of ranpirnase as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Humans; Neoplasms; Protein Engineering; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Rana pipiens; Ribonucleases
PubMed: 18215091
DOI: 10.2165/00063030-200822010-00006 -
Viruses Feb 2020Currently, no rabies virus-specific antiviral drugs are available. Ranpirnase has strong antitumor and antiviral properties associated with its ribonuclease activity....
Currently, no rabies virus-specific antiviral drugs are available. Ranpirnase has strong antitumor and antiviral properties associated with its ribonuclease activity. TMR-001, a proprietary bulk drug substance solution of ranpirnase, was evaluated against rabies virus in three cell types: mouse neuroblastoma, BSR (baby hamster kidney cells), and bat primary fibroblast cells. When TMR-001 was added to cell monolayers 24 h preinfection, rabies virus release was inhibited for all cell types at three time points postinfection. TMR-001 treatment simultaneous with infection and 24 h postinfection effectively inhibited rabies virus release in the supernatant and cell-to-cell spread with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 0.2-2 nM and 20-600 nM, respectively. TMR-001 was administered at 0.1 mg/kg via intraperitoneal, intramuscular, or intravenous routes to Syrian hamsters beginning 24 h before a lethal rabies virus challenge and continuing once per day for up to 10 days. TMR-001 at this dose, formulation, and route of delivery did not prevent rabies virus transit from the periphery to the central nervous system in this model ( = 32). Further aspects of local controlled delivery of other active formulations or dose concentrations of TMR-001 or ribonuclease analogues should be investigated for this class of drugs as a rabies antiviral therapeutic.
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Chiroptera; Cricetinae; Female; Fibroblasts; Mesocricetus; Mice; Rabies; Rabies virus; Ribonucleases; Virus Release; Virus Replication
PubMed: 32033253
DOI: 10.3390/v12020177 -
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Jul 2008Accumulating evidence supports the idea that two known phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) downstream proteins, Fra-1 and Survivin, are potential targets for cancer...
Accumulating evidence supports the idea that two known phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) downstream proteins, Fra-1 and Survivin, are potential targets for cancer therapy. Increased expression of Fra-1, a Fos family member of the transcription factor activator protein-1, has been implicated in both the maintenance and the progression of the transformed state of several cancer cells. In addition, high Survivin expression in tumors correlates with more aggressive behavior, lower response to chemotherapeutic drugs, and shortened survival time. Previously, we reported that, in malignant mesothelioma cells with increased PI3K activity, small-molecule inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway acted cooperatively with the amphibian RNase chemotherapeutic drug ranpirnase to inhibit cell growth. Because the thiazolidinedione antidiabetic drug rosiglitazone targets the PI3K/AKT pathway, we investigated the effect of the combination of these two drugs in cell survival in several cancer cell lines. We show here that the combination of ranpirnase and rosiglitazone synergistically decreases cell viability and increases cell apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. Cell killing is associated with decreased Fra-1 and Survivin expression and knockdown of Fra-1 increases cell killing by ranpirnase in a dose-dependent manner but not by rosiglitazone. The drug combination does not have a synergistic effect on killing in Fra-1 knockdown cells, showing that Fra-1 modulation accounts in part for the synergism. The novel drug combination of ranpirnase and rosiglitazone is a promising combination to treat cancers with increased PI3K-dependent Fra-1 expression or Survivin.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Down-Regulation; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Synergism; G1 Phase; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Ribonucleases; Rosiglitazone; Survivin; Thiazolidinediones
PubMed: 18606715
DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-08-0308 -
Bioengineered Apr 2022CD45RA is a specific marker for leukemia stem cell (LSC) sub-populations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ranpirnase (Rap), an amphibian RNase, has been extensively...
CD45RA is a specific marker for leukemia stem cell (LSC) sub-populations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ranpirnase (Rap), an amphibian RNase, has been extensively investigated in preclinical and clinical studies for its antitumor activity. Rap could be administered repeatedly to patients without inducing an immune response. Reversible renal toxicity has been reported to be dose-limiting. In this study, we generated a novel immunotoxin targeting LSCs: Hm3A4-Rap, which was composed of Rap and Hm3A4, a human-mouse chimeric antibody against CD45RA. This immunotoxin was generated recombinantly by fusing Rap to Hm3A4 at the Fc terminus and then produced by stably transfecting CHO cells. The immunotoxin was purified using Ni-NTA and then evaluated using RT-PCR, SDS-PAGE, antibody titer assays, competitive inhibition assays, and internalization assays. In addition, the purity, molecular integrity, and affinity to the CD45RA antigen were determined. studies demonstrated that Hm3A4-Rap could efficiently kill target cells. studies demonstrated that Hm3A4-Rap had potent anti-leukemia activity, with dosed mice showing a significant increase in survival time compared to control mice (P < 0.01). In summary, our immunotoxin had excellent biological activity suggesting its potential therapeutic value for treating AML patients. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are needed to develop this immunotoxin as a treatment option for patients with leukemia.
Topics: Animals; Cell Lineage; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Humans; Immunotoxins; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Mice; Ribonucleases; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
PubMed: 35322728
DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2054159 -
Biologics : Targets & Therapy Dec 2008Ribonucleases are a superfamily of enzymes which operate at the crossroads of transcription and translation, catalyzing the degradation of RNA; they can be cytotoxic...
Ribonucleases are a superfamily of enzymes which operate at the crossroads of transcription and translation, catalyzing the degradation of RNA; they can be cytotoxic because the cleavage of RNA renders indecipherable its information. Ranpirnase is a novel ribonuclease which preferentially degrades tRNA, thus leading to inhibition of protein synthesis and, ultimately, to cytostasis and cytotoxicity. Ranpirnase has demonstrated antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo in several tumor models. The maximum tolerated dose emerging from phase I studies was 960 g/m(2), with renal toxicity as the main dose-limiting toxicity. A large phase II trial showed that ranpirnase has disease-modifying activity against malignant mesothelioma. Ranpirnase proved to be superior to doxorubicin in a phase III trial, while preliminary results of another large, phase III trial, suggest that the combination of ranpirnase and doxorubicin could be more effective than doxorubicin alone. In all the above studies, ranpirnase seems to act mainly as a cytostatic rather than a cytotoxic drug, stabilizing progressive disease and potentially prolonging patients' survival. Ranpirnase may thus find its niche in combination with doxorubicin for mesothelioma as a second-line therapy, where no standard of care presently exists.
PubMed: 19707441
DOI: 10.2147/btt.s2383 -
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia 2014Many ribonucleases (RNases) are able to inhibit the reproduction of viruses in infected cell cultures and laboratory animals, but molecular mechanisms of their antiviral... (Review)
Review
Many ribonucleases (RNases) are able to inhibit the reproduction of viruses in infected cell cultures and laboratory animals, but molecular mechanisms of their antiviral activity remain unclear. The review observes the most known RNases which possess established antiviral effects, actually intracellular RNases (RNase L, MCPIPI protein, eosinophylic RNases) as well as exogenously applied ones (RNase A, BS-RNase, onconase, binase, synthetic RNases). Attention is given on two important but not always obligatory aspects in molecule of RNases, which have antiviral properties: catalytic activity and ability to the dimerization. The hypothetic scheme of virus elimination by exogenous RNases, that reflects possible types of interaction of viruses and RNases with a cell, is proposed. The evidence for RNases as classical components of immune defense which are perspective agents for development of new antiviral therapeutics is produced.
Topics: Amphibians; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Endoribonucleases; Fungal Proteins; Humans; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; Ribonucleases; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 25842855
DOI: No ID Found -
Postepy Higieny I Medycyny... Feb 2010Onconase (ranpirnase) is a homologous protein obtained from Rana pipiens frog eggs. The activity of onconase, and particularly its antitumor effect, is strictly... (Review)
Review
Onconase (ranpirnase) is a homologous protein obtained from Rana pipiens frog eggs. The activity of onconase, and particularly its antitumor effect, is strictly connected with ribonuclease(RN-ase) activity. Onconase induces cell death through the decomposition of inner cellular RNA,inhibition of protein synthesis, and inhibition of cell growth and proliferation and it also specifically triggers tumor cell apoptosis. A very important mechanisms of its cytotoxicity is also its antioxidant activity. The results of preclinical trials demonstrated a high activity of onconase against tumor cells, also those resistant to cytostatics. Moreover, onconase showed synergic activity with other commonly used anticancer drugs. Several clinical trials were performed on patients suffering from kidney, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Most recently a phase III study of onconase in patients with mesothelioma was completed. There are also ongoing phase I and II clinical trials with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Neoplasms; Ribonucleases; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 20173221
DOI: No ID Found -
Biomedical Reports Sep 2013Ranpirnase (Onconase) is a frogspawn-derived disulfide-rich peptide with ribonuclease activity that may be used for tumor treatment. In the present study, we established...
Ranpirnase (Onconase) is a frogspawn-derived disulfide-rich peptide with ribonuclease activity that may be used for tumor treatment. In the present study, we established an efficient approach for preparing mature ranpirnase which may be used for research and therapeutic purposes. The designed ranpirnase precursors carried a 6xHis-tag and were recombinantly expressed in . After S-sulfonation, the precursors were purified by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography. Following removal of the tag by aminopeptidase cleavage, cyclization and oxidative refolding, the mature ranpirnase was obtained with considerable yield, and the yield of mature ranpirnase was ~50-60 mg per liter cultures. In addition, ranpirnase inhibited the growth of human glioma cells SHG-44 in a dose-dependent manner. Thus the present study has provided an efficient approach for the preparation of active ranpirnase and its analogues for future studies.
PubMed: 24649022
DOI: 10.3892/br.2013.138 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Adenovirus ocular infections are common ocular viral infections seen worldwide, for which there is no approved antiviral therapy available. Ranpirnase is a novel...
Adenovirus ocular infections are common ocular viral infections seen worldwide, for which there is no approved antiviral therapy available. Ranpirnase is a novel ribonuclease which preferentially degrades tRNA resulting in an inhibition of protein synthesis. The study goal was to determine the anti-adenoviral activity of topical formulations of ranpirnase (OKG-0301) on adenoviral replication in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular replication model. NZW rabbits were inoculated in both eyes with human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) after corneal scarification. A day later, topical therapy was initiated in both eyes with 0.03% OKG-0301, 0.003% OKG-0301, saline or 0.5% cidofovir. Eyes were cultured to determine HAdV5 eye titers over 2 weeks. OKG-0301 (0.03% and 0.003%) and 0.5% cidofovir decreased viral titers compared to saline. Furthermore, both OKG-0301 formulations and 0.5% cidofovir shortened the duration of the HAdV5 infection compared to saline. Both 0.03% OKG-0301 and 0.003% OKG-0301 demonstrated increased antiviral activity compared to saline in the Ad5/NZW rabbit ocular replication model. The antiviral activity of the OKG-0301 groups was similar to that of the positive antiviral control, 0.5% cidofovir. Ranpirnase (OKG-0301) may be a potential candidate for a topical antiviral for adenoviral eye infections. Further clinical development is warranted.
PubMed: 36558819
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121485