Abstract Adalimumab, a full-length monoclonal antibody, is widely used as an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) agent. In this article, we aimed to prolong the in vivo half-life of adalimumab antigen-binding fragment (Fab) through Sortase A (SrtA)-mediated conjugation of its Fab with fatty acid (FA). In our study, adalimumab Fab analog was prepared by adding an SrtA recognition sequence (LPETGG) and His6 tag to the heavy chain C-terminal of the Fab via (G4S)3 linker. Four FA motifs with different linkers were designed and synthesized by solid-phase methodology, then conjugated with the Fab analog using SrtA to produce Fab bioconjugates. The successful generation of four Fab bioconjugates (Fab–FA1, Fab–FA2, Fab–FA3, and Fab–FA4) was confirmed by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and mass spectrometry. Then, the bioactivities and half-life of these Fab bioconjugates were examined using TNF-α-/human serum albumin (HSA)-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cytotoxicity assay, and pharmacokinetic study, respectively. All Fab bioconjugates exhibited similar TNF-α-neutralizing activities when compared with the Fab analog, even in the presence of albumin, indicating that there were no apparent influences on the functional site of Fab after FA modification. However, different degrees of affinity for HSA were observed among these Fab–FA bioconjugates, with Fab–FA3 exhibiting the maximal affinity. An in vivo study in mice further revealed remarkably improved pharmacokinetics of Fab– FA3 with a 15.2-fold longer plasma half-life (19.86 hours) compared with that of the Fab analog (1.31 hours). In summary, we have developed a novel long-acting adalimumab Fab bioconjugate, Fab–FA3, with more sustained in vivo activity, which can be used for drug development targeting TNF-α-mediated inflammatory diseases.
{"title":"Extending the in vivo Half-Life of Adalimumab Fab via Sortase A-Mediated Conjugation of Adalimumab Fab with Modified Fatty Acids","authors":"Qingbin Zhang, Sida Ruan, Yong Wu, Jinhua Zhang, Jianguang Lu, Jun Feng","doi":"10.1055/s-0041-1728817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1728817","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Adalimumab, a full-length monoclonal antibody, is widely used as an anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) agent. In this article, we aimed to prolong the in vivo half-life of adalimumab antigen-binding fragment (Fab) through Sortase A (SrtA)-mediated conjugation of its Fab with fatty acid (FA). In our study, adalimumab Fab analog was prepared by adding an SrtA recognition sequence (LPETGG) and His6 tag to the heavy chain C-terminal of the Fab via (G4S)3 linker. Four FA motifs with different linkers were designed and synthesized by solid-phase methodology, then conjugated with the Fab analog using SrtA to produce Fab bioconjugates. The successful generation of four Fab bioconjugates (Fab–FA1, Fab–FA2, Fab–FA3, and Fab–FA4) was confirmed by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and mass spectrometry. Then, the bioactivities and half-life of these Fab bioconjugates were examined using TNF-α-/human serum albumin (HSA)-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cytotoxicity assay, and pharmacokinetic study, respectively. All Fab bioconjugates exhibited similar TNF-α-neutralizing activities when compared with the Fab analog, even in the presence of albumin, indicating that there were no apparent influences on the functional site of Fab after FA modification. However, different degrees of affinity for HSA were observed among these Fab–FA bioconjugates, with Fab–FA3 exhibiting the maximal affinity. An in vivo study in mice further revealed remarkably improved pharmacokinetics of Fab– FA3 with a 15.2-fold longer plasma half-life (19.86 hours) compared with that of the Fab analog (1.31 hours). In summary, we have developed a novel long-acting adalimumab Fab bioconjugate, Fab–FA3, with more sustained in vivo activity, which can be used for drug development targeting TNF-α-mediated inflammatory diseases.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"27 1","pages":"e160 - e167"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81827595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Nemadectin, a 16-member macrocyclic lactone antiparasitic antibiotic, is produced by Streptomyces cyaneogriseus subspecies noncyanogenus. Moxidectin, a C-23 oximate derivative of nemadectin, is widely used as a pesticide due to its broad-spectrum, highly efficient, and safe anthelmintic activity. NemR, a LAL family regulator, is encoded by nemR and is involved in nemadectin biosynthesis in S. cyaneogriseus. In this report, gene disruption and complementation experiments showed that nemR plays a positive role in the biosynthesis of nemadectin. The transcription level of nemadectin biosynthetic genes in the nemR knockout strain was significantly decreased compared with those in the wild-type strain MOX-101. However, overexpression of nemR under the control of native or strong constitutive promoters resulted in the opposite, increasing the production of nemadectin by 56.5 or 73.5%, respectively, when compared with MOX-101. In addition, the gene cluster of nemadectin biosynthesis was further cloned and overexpressed using a CRISPR method, which significantly increase nemadectin yield by 108.6% (509 mg/L) when compared with MOX-101.
{"title":"Improvement of Nemadectin Production by Overexpressing the Regulatory Gene nemR and Nemadectin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Streptomyces Cyaneogriseus","authors":"Yuanjie Wu, Songbai Yang, Zhenghong Zhang, Shaoxin Chen","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1722746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1722746","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Nemadectin, a 16-member macrocyclic lactone antiparasitic antibiotic, is produced by Streptomyces cyaneogriseus subspecies noncyanogenus. Moxidectin, a C-23 oximate derivative of nemadectin, is widely used as a pesticide due to its broad-spectrum, highly efficient, and safe anthelmintic activity. NemR, a LAL family regulator, is encoded by nemR and is involved in nemadectin biosynthesis in S. cyaneogriseus. In this report, gene disruption and complementation experiments showed that nemR plays a positive role in the biosynthesis of nemadectin. The transcription level of nemadectin biosynthetic genes in the nemR knockout strain was significantly decreased compared with those in the wild-type strain MOX-101. However, overexpression of nemR under the control of native or strong constitutive promoters resulted in the opposite, increasing the production of nemadectin by 56.5 or 73.5%, respectively, when compared with MOX-101. In addition, the gene cluster of nemadectin biosynthesis was further cloned and overexpressed using a CRISPR method, which significantly increase nemadectin yield by 108.6% (509 mg/L) when compared with MOX-101.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"173 1","pages":"e151 - e159"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77289424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The development of highly efficient C–C bond formation methods for the synthesis of ethyl 2-(2,4-dichloro-5-fluorobenzoyl)-3-(dimethylamino)acrylate 1 in continuous flow processes has been described, which is based on the concept of rapid and efficient activation of carboxylic acid. 2,4-Dichloro-5-fluorobenzoic acid is rapidly converted into highly reactive 2,4-dichloro-5-fluorobenzoyl chloride by treating with inexpensive and less-toxic solid bis(trichloromethyl)carbonate. And then it rapidly reacts with ethyl 3-(dimethylamino)acrylate to afford the desired 1. This process can be performed under mild conditions. Compared with the traditional tank reactor process, less raw material consumption, higher product yield, less reaction time, higher operation safety ensured by more the environmentally friendly procedure, and process continuity are achieved in the continuous-flow system.
{"title":"Continuous-Flow Processes for the Production of Floxacin Intermediates: Efficient C–C Bond Formation through a Rapid and Strong Activation of Carboxylic Acids","authors":"Shaozheng Guo, Zhiqun Yu, W. Su","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1722215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1722215","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The development of highly efficient C–C bond formation methods for the synthesis of ethyl 2-(2,4-dichloro-5-fluorobenzoyl)-3-(dimethylamino)acrylate 1 in continuous flow processes has been described, which is based on the concept of rapid and efficient activation of carboxylic acid. 2,4-Dichloro-5-fluorobenzoic acid is rapidly converted into highly reactive 2,4-dichloro-5-fluorobenzoyl chloride by treating with inexpensive and less-toxic solid bis(trichloromethyl)carbonate. And then it rapidly reacts with ethyl 3-(dimethylamino)acrylate to afford the desired 1. This process can be performed under mild conditions. Compared with the traditional tank reactor process, less raw material consumption, higher product yield, less reaction time, higher operation safety ensured by more the environmentally friendly procedure, and process continuity are achieved in the continuous-flow system.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"02 1","pages":"e128 - e132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80093584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qingwei Zhang, Guili Xu, Yafeng Bao, Minru Jiao, Jian-qi Li
Abstract A series of c-Met/histone deacetylase (HDAC) bifunctional inhibitors was designed and synthesized by merging pharmacophores of c-Met and HDAC inhibitors. Among them, the most potent compound, 2o, inhibited c-Met kinase and HDACs, with IC50 values of 9.0 and 31.6 nM, respectively, and showed efficient antiproliferative activities against both A549 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines with greater potency than an equimolar mixture of the respective inhibitors of the two enzymes: crizotinib and vorinostat (SAHA). Our study provided an efficient strategy for the discovery of multitargeted antitumor drugs.
{"title":"Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Dual c-Met/HDAC Inhibitors Bearing 2-Aminopyrimidine Scaffold","authors":"Qingwei Zhang, Guili Xu, Yafeng Bao, Minru Jiao, Jian-qi Li","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1722543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1722543","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A series of c-Met/histone deacetylase (HDAC) bifunctional inhibitors was designed and synthesized by merging pharmacophores of c-Met and HDAC inhibitors. Among them, the most potent compound, 2o, inhibited c-Met kinase and HDACs, with IC50 values of 9.0 and 31.6 nM, respectively, and showed efficient antiproliferative activities against both A549 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines with greater potency than an equimolar mixture of the respective inhibitors of the two enzymes: crizotinib and vorinostat (SAHA). Our study provided an efficient strategy for the discovery of multitargeted antitumor drugs.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"25 1","pages":"e143 - e149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75213987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Three-phase catalysis, for example, hydrogenation, is a special branch of chemical reactions involving a hydrogen reactant (gas) and a solvent (liquid) in the presence of a metal porous catalyst (solid) to produce a liquid product. Currently, many reactors are being used for three-phase catalysis from packed bed to slurry vessel; the uniqueness for this type of reaction in countless processes is the requirement of transferring gas into liquid, as yet there is not a unified system of quantifying and comparing reactor performances. This article reviews current methodologies in carrying out such heterogeneous catalysis in different reactors and focuses on how to enhance reactor performance from gas transfer perspectives. This article also suggests that the mass transfer rate over energy dissipation may represent a fairer method for comparison of reactor performance accounting for different types/designs of reactors and catalyst structures as well as operating conditions.
{"title":"Another Critical Look at Three-Phase Catalysis","authors":"X. Ni","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1722219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1722219","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Three-phase catalysis, for example, hydrogenation, is a special branch of chemical reactions involving a hydrogen reactant (gas) and a solvent (liquid) in the presence of a metal porous catalyst (solid) to produce a liquid product. Currently, many reactors are being used for three-phase catalysis from packed bed to slurry vessel; the uniqueness for this type of reaction in countless processes is the requirement of transferring gas into liquid, as yet there is not a unified system of quantifying and comparing reactor performances. This article reviews current methodologies in carrying out such heterogeneous catalysis in different reactors and focuses on how to enhance reactor performance from gas transfer perspectives. This article also suggests that the mass transfer rate over energy dissipation may represent a fairer method for comparison of reactor performance accounting for different types/designs of reactors and catalyst structures as well as operating conditions.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"9 1","pages":"e117 - e127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76188742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) is a plant traditionally used in Nigeria and some African countries to treat peptic ulcer disease. In this study, the ameliorative effect of ethanolic leaf extract of A. mexicana in indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer and its safety were investigated. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures. Ulcer was induced in rats by single oral administration dose of 25 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) indomethacin followed by treatment with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. ethanolic leaf extract of A. mexicana. Ulcer-related indices such as gastric pH, acidity, pepsin, and Na+/K+-ATPase activities, glycoprotein, and mucus contents were determined. The status of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reductase, and transferase) in the stomach and duodenum of the rats was also evaluated. Safety of the extract in the liver and kidney was investigated by chromosomal aberration. The results showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and saponins present in the extract as phytochemical constituents. The extract at 200 mg/kg b.w. significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the gastric pH, volume, and acidity of the stomach. It also significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the glycoprotein and mucus contents in the mucosal membrane of rats. The status of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reductase, and transferase) in both tissues was also significantly improved. Study on safety evaluation revealed that the extract is relatively safe at the most active dose investigated. The study concluded that A. mexicana could serve as an alternative therapy for the development of a safer antiulcer drug.
{"title":"Ameliorative and Safety Characteristics of Argemone mexicana in Indomethacin-Induced Peptic Ulcer","authors":"O. Idowu, R. Arise","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1722216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1722216","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) is a plant traditionally used in Nigeria and some African countries to treat peptic ulcer disease. In this study, the ameliorative effect of ethanolic leaf extract of A. mexicana in indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer and its safety were investigated. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures. Ulcer was induced in rats by single oral administration dose of 25 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) indomethacin followed by treatment with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. ethanolic leaf extract of A. mexicana. Ulcer-related indices such as gastric pH, acidity, pepsin, and Na+/K+-ATPase activities, glycoprotein, and mucus contents were determined. The status of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reductase, and transferase) in the stomach and duodenum of the rats was also evaluated. Safety of the extract in the liver and kidney was investigated by chromosomal aberration. The results showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and saponins present in the extract as phytochemical constituents. The extract at 200 mg/kg b.w. significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the gastric pH, volume, and acidity of the stomach. It also significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the glycoprotein and mucus contents in the mucosal membrane of rats. The status of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reductase, and transferase) in both tissues was also significantly improved. Study on safety evaluation revealed that the extract is relatively safe at the most active dose investigated. The study concluded that A. mexicana could serve as an alternative therapy for the development of a safer antiulcer drug.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"4 1","pages":"e133 - e142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84374379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate the acetylation status of histones and structural status of chromatin. The chromatin structure becomes relaxed after inhibition of HDAC, leading to DNA exposed to DNA disrupting agents, and eventually causing DNA dysfunction. Recently, more and more dual inhibitors targeting DNA and HDACs have been reported to be applied to cancer treatment. In this review, we describe the current status of dual inhibitors targeting DNA and HDACs, summarize their pharmacological characters, and predict their further trend in the field.
{"title":"Dual Inhibitors Targeting DNA and Histone Deacetylases","authors":"Chen Chen, Xinying Yang, Xuben Hou, H. Fang","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1713873","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1713873","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate the acetylation status of histones and structural status of chromatin. The chromatin structure becomes relaxed after inhibition of HDAC, leading to DNA exposed to DNA disrupting agents, and eventually causing DNA dysfunction. Recently, more and more dual inhibitors targeting DNA and HDACs have been reported to be applied to cancer treatment. In this review, we describe the current status of dual inhibitors targeting DNA and HDACs, summarize their pharmacological characters, and predict their further trend in the field.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"49 1","pages":"e88 - e93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74207270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This review covers the recent development on the natural occurrence, functional elucidations, and analysis of amino acids of the D (dextro) configuration. In the pharmaceutical field, amino acids are not only used directly as clinical drugs and nutriments, but also widely applied as starting materials, catalysts, or chiral ligands for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Earler belief hold that only L-amino acids exist in nature and D-amino acids were artificial products. However, increasing evidence indicates that D-amino acids are naturally occurring in living organisms including human beings, plants, and microorganisms, playing important roles in biological processes. While D-amino acids have similar physical and chemical characteristics with their respective L-enantiomers in an achiral measurement, the biological functions of D-amino acids are remarkably different from those of L-ones. With the rapid development of chiral analytical techniques for D-amino acids, studies on the existence, formation mechanisms, biological functions as well as relevant physiology and pathology of D-amino acids have achieved great progress; however, they are far from being sufficiently explored.
{"title":"Natural Occurrence, Biological Functions, and Analysis of D-Amino Acids","authors":"Shuang‐Xi Gu, Haifeng Wang, Yuan-Yuan Zhu, Fener Chen","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1713820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1713820","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This review covers the recent development on the natural occurrence, functional elucidations, and analysis of amino acids of the D (dextro) configuration. In the pharmaceutical field, amino acids are not only used directly as clinical drugs and nutriments, but also widely applied as starting materials, catalysts, or chiral ligands for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Earler belief hold that only L-amino acids exist in nature and D-amino acids were artificial products. However, increasing evidence indicates that D-amino acids are naturally occurring in living organisms including human beings, plants, and microorganisms, playing important roles in biological processes. While D-amino acids have similar physical and chemical characteristics with their respective L-enantiomers in an achiral measurement, the biological functions of D-amino acids are remarkably different from those of L-ones. With the rapid development of chiral analytical techniques for D-amino acids, studies on the existence, formation mechanisms, biological functions as well as relevant physiology and pathology of D-amino acids have achieved great progress; however, they are far from being sufficiently explored.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"7 1","pages":"e79 - e87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87801276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ying Zheng, Xinyi Xiao, Zhuoyi Yang, Mei-Yi Zhou, Hui Chen, S. Bai, Jian-jia Zhu, Y. Yuan
Abstract Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is an important acute-phase protein and an immune mediator, and its expression is associated with the development of hepatitis or acute liver failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist directly targets and improves cell survival in a carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte injury model in vitro. A human hepatoma cell line and a mouse hepatocyte cell line were used to establish carbon tetrachloride-induced cell injury models in vitro, and cell viability, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species level were determined to assess the degree of hepatocellular damage. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the level of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA in cells; extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 phosphorylation in hepatocytes was analyzed using western blotting. Recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist could directly target hepatocytes, improve cell survival, and decrease carbon tetrachloride-induced cell apoptosis in vitro. In hepatocytes, recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist remarkably downregulated expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in hepatocytes exposed to carbon tetrachloride. It also decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species and abrogated the suppression of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 phosphorylation induced by carbon tetrachloride. However, stimulation of cells with an extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 inhibitor blocked the recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist-induced upregulation of extracellular regulated protein kinase1/2 activation and abrogated the improvement in hepatocyte survival following carbon tetrachloride treatment. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the hepatocyte-protective mechanism of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.
{"title":"IL-1Ra Protects Hepatocytes from CCl4-Induced Hepatocellular Apoptosis via Activating the ERK1/2 Pathway","authors":"Ying Zheng, Xinyi Xiao, Zhuoyi Yang, Mei-Yi Zhou, Hui Chen, S. Bai, Jian-jia Zhu, Y. Yuan","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1714139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1714139","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is an important acute-phase protein and an immune mediator, and its expression is associated with the development of hepatitis or acute liver failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist directly targets and improves cell survival in a carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte injury model in vitro. A human hepatoma cell line and a mouse hepatocyte cell line were used to establish carbon tetrachloride-induced cell injury models in vitro, and cell viability, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species level were determined to assess the degree of hepatocellular damage. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the level of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA in cells; extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 phosphorylation in hepatocytes was analyzed using western blotting. Recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist could directly target hepatocytes, improve cell survival, and decrease carbon tetrachloride-induced cell apoptosis in vitro. In hepatocytes, recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist remarkably downregulated expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in hepatocytes exposed to carbon tetrachloride. It also decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species and abrogated the suppression of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 phosphorylation induced by carbon tetrachloride. However, stimulation of cells with an extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 inhibitor blocked the recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist-induced upregulation of extracellular regulated protein kinase1/2 activation and abrogated the improvement in hepatocyte survival following carbon tetrachloride treatment. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the hepatocyte-protective mechanism of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"58 1","pages":"e109 - e116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74290040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), which are closely related to their proliferation and survival. Cancer treatments that target a single signaling pathway may result in immune pathway escape or drug resistance. Based on the correlation between the HER2 and VEGFR2 signaling pathways, we speculated that targeting the two pathways simultaneously may produce a synergistic effect and avoid occurrence of drug resistance, resulting in improved efficacy. Anti-VEGFR2 nanobody 3VGR19–3 and anti-HER2 nanobody 2D3 were combined to construct a bispecific nanobody (Bi-Nb). They can recognize both HER2 and VEGFR2 (both highly expressed in HT-29 cells) to simultaneously block the two signaling pathways. We verified the affinity of the Bi-Nb to its targets using the surface plasmon resonance technology, and test its effects to inhibit tumor cell growth and promote cell apoptosis in vitro by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and apoptosis assay. In summary, we have successfully constructed a Bi-Nb, and verified its tumor-suppressing effects in vitro. Compared with a single monospecific nanobody, our Bi-Nb showed superior antitumor effect, which provides a new perspective for treatment of tumors with high HER2 and VEGFR2 expression.
{"title":"Generating a Novel Bispecific Nanobody to Enhance Antitumor Activity","authors":"Q. Ge, Tianyuan Sun, Yan-lin Bian, Xiaodong Xiao, Jianwei Zhu","doi":"10.1055/s-0040-1714138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1714138","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), which are closely related to their proliferation and survival. Cancer treatments that target a single signaling pathway may result in immune pathway escape or drug resistance. Based on the correlation between the HER2 and VEGFR2 signaling pathways, we speculated that targeting the two pathways simultaneously may produce a synergistic effect and avoid occurrence of drug resistance, resulting in improved efficacy. Anti-VEGFR2 nanobody 3VGR19–3 and anti-HER2 nanobody 2D3 were combined to construct a bispecific nanobody (Bi-Nb). They can recognize both HER2 and VEGFR2 (both highly expressed in HT-29 cells) to simultaneously block the two signaling pathways. We verified the affinity of the Bi-Nb to its targets using the surface plasmon resonance technology, and test its effects to inhibit tumor cell growth and promote cell apoptosis in vitro by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and apoptosis assay. In summary, we have successfully constructed a Bi-Nb, and verified its tumor-suppressing effects in vitro. Compared with a single monospecific nanobody, our Bi-Nb showed superior antitumor effect, which provides a new perspective for treatment of tumors with high HER2 and VEGFR2 expression.","PeriodicalId":19767,"journal":{"name":"Pharmaceutical Fronts","volume":"124 1","pages":"e100 - e108"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88088196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}