The dual role of tumor lymphatic vessels in dissemination of metastases and immune response development

Lymphatic vasculature plays a crucial role in the immune response, enabling transport of dendritic cells (DCs) and antigens (Ags) into the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, the lymphatic system has also a negative role in the progression of cancer diseases, by facilitating the metastatic spread of many carcinomas to the draining lymph nodes. The lymphatics can promote antitumor immune response as well as tumor tolerance. Here, we review the role of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in tumor progression and immunity and mechanism of action in the newest anti-lymphatic therapies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Adjuvant-free immunization with infective filarial larvae as lymphatic homing antigen carriers

International audienceControlled infection with intestinal nematodes has therapeutic potential for preventing the symptoms of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Here, we engineered larvae of the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis as a vaccine strategy to induce adaptive immunity against a foreign, crosslinked protein, chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA), in the absence of an external adjuvant. The acylation of filarial proteins with fluorescent probes or biotin was not immediately detrimental to larval movement and survival, which died 3 to 5 days later. At least some of the labeled and skin-inoculated filariae migrated through lymphatic vessels to draining lymph nodes. The immunization potential of OVA-biotin-filariae was compared to that of an OVA-bound nanoparticulate carrier co-delivered with a CpG adjuvant in a typical vaccination scheme. Production of IFNγ and TNFα by restimulated CD4+ cells but not CD8+ confirmed the specific ability of filariae to stimulate CD4+ T cells. This alternative method of immunization exploits the intrinsic adjuvancy of the attenuated nematode carrier and has the potential to shift the vaccination immune response towards cellular immunity

Local induction of lymphangiogenesis with engineered fibrin-binding VEGF-C promotes wound healing by increasing immune cell trafficking and matrix remodeling

Lymphangiogenesis occurs in inflammation and wound healing, yet its functional roles in these processes are not fully understood. Consequently, clinically relevant strategies for therapeutic lymphangiogenesis remain underdeveloped, particularly using growth factors. To achieve controlled, local capillary lymphangiogenesis with protein engineering and determine its effects on fluid clearance, leukocyte trafficking, and wound healing, we developed a fibrin-binding variant of vascular endothelial growth factor C (FB-VEGF-C) that is slowly released upon demand from infiltrating cells. Using a novel wound healing model, we show that implanted fibrin containing FB-VEGF-C, but not free VEGF-C, could stimulate local lymphangiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, the effects of FB-VEGF-C were restricted to lymphatic capillaries, with no apparent changes to blood vessels and downstream collecting vessels. Leukocyte intravasation and trafficking to lymph nodes were increased in hyperplastic lymphatics, while fluid clearance was maintained at physiological levels. In diabetic wounds, FB-VEGF-C-induced lymphangiogenesis increased extracellular matrix deposition and granulation tissue thickening, indicators of improved wound healing. Together, these results indicate that FB-VEGF-C is a promising strategy for inducing lymphangiogenesis locally, and that such lymphangiogenesis can promote wound healing by enhancing leukocyte trafficking without affecting downstream lymphatic collecting vessels. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Chemotherapy elicits pro-metastatic extracellular vesicles in breast cancer models

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is an effective treatment for invasive breast cancer. However, experimental studies in mice also suggest that chemotherapy has pro-metastatic effects. Primary tumours release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, that can facilitate the seeding and growth of metastatic cancer cells in distant organs, but the effects of chemotherapy on tumour-derived EVs remain unclear. Here we show that two classes of cytotoxic drugs broadly employed in pre-operative (neoadjuvant) breast cancer therapy, taxanes and anthracyclines, elicit tumour-derived EVs with enhanced pro-metastatic capacity. Chemotherapy-elicited EVs are enriched in annexin A6 (ANXA6), a Ca2+-dependent protein that promotes NF-κB-dependent endothelial cell activation, Ccl2 induction and Ly6C+CCR2+ monocyte expansion in the pulmonary pre-metastatic niche to facilitate the establishment of lung metastasis. Genetic inactivation of Anxa6 in cancer cells or Ccr2 in host cells blunts the prometastatic effects of chemotherapy-elicited EVs. ANXA6 is detected, and potentially enriched, in the circulating EVs of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Yağ asidi kökenli aşırı dallı polimer sentezi, özelliklerinin belirlenmesi ve anti-kanser ilaç salınımında kullanılması.

Conventional methods of chemotherapy requires novel therapy systems due to serious side effects and inefficiency of drug administration. In recent years many studies are carried out to improve drug delivery systems. Polymers are one of the most important elements for drug delivery research due to their versatility. By the discovery of dendritic polymers, drug delivery studies gained a new vision. Highly branched monodisperse structure, multiple sites of attachment, well-defined size and controllable physical and chemical properties make them efficient drug delivery systems. In this research hyperbranched dendritic polymers were sythesized and characterized for hydrophobic drug delivery. Dipentaerythritol which was used as core molecule, esterified with dimethylol propionic acid. Ricinoleic acid was esterified with the end groups of dimethylol propionic acid and hyperbranched resin (HBR) was formed. By considering the properties of HBR, hydrophobic tamoxifen and idarubicin were used for drug delivery study. The most efficient loading was determined as 73% for tamoxifen and 74% for idarubicin. Drug-HBR interactions and changes in properties of HBR were determined by FTIR, zeta potential and particle size measurements. FTIR results indicated that idarubicin chemically interacted with HBR while tamoxifen physically loaded to HBR. Drug delivery profile of HBR was studied in the absence and presence of lipase from Pseudomonas sp. and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Results revelaed that lipase and SDS increased the release rate of tamoxifen while idarubicin release rate was not affected. The effect of lipase was also tested for the degradation of HBR and it was indicated that lipase sustain a faster degradation. Finally toxicity of HBR and drug loaded HBR on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was determined with XTT proliferation assay. Empty HBR did not cause significant toxicity on MCF-7 cells while drug loaded HBR was more toxic than free drug. By this study the efficiency of novel synthesized hyperbranched polymer in drug delivery was shown.M.S. - Master of Scienc