ApoA-I mimetic administration, but not increased apoA-I-containing HDL, inhibits tumour growth in a mouse model of inherited breast cancer

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) have been associated with breast cancer risk, but several epidemiologic studies have reported contradictory results with regard to the relationship between apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and breast cancer. We aimed to determine the effects of human apoA-I overexpression and administration of specific apoA-I mimetic peptide (D-4F) on tumour progression by using mammary tumour virus-polyoma middle T-antigen transgenic (PyMT) mice as a model of inherited breast cancer. Expression of human apoA-I in the mice did not affect tumour onset and growth in PyMT transgenic mice, despite an increase in the HDLc level. In contrast, D-4F treatment significantly increased tumour latency and inhibited the development of tumours. The effects of D-4F on tumour development were independent of 27-hydroxycholesterol. However, D-4F treatment reduced the plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels in mice and prevented oxLDL-mediated proliferative response in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, our study shows that D-4F, but not apoA-I-containing HDL, hinders tumour growth in mice with inherited breast cancer in association with a higher protection against LDL oxidative modification.This work was partly funded by Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Instituto de Salud Carlos III: FIS PI11/01076 (to F.V-B.), PI12/00291 (to J.C.E-G.) and PI13/02507 (to A.C.), and RETIC RIC RD12/0042/0055 (to A.C.); by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, SAF2011-23402 (to A.F.V); by an intramural project of the Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau (IR15-P5); and by grant from the Academy of Finland #257545 (to M.J.). CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas is an Instituto de Salud Carlos III Project. A.M.F. and S.T.R. were funded by HL-30568 and by a Leducq Foundation Network grant, and J.M.C. is an APIF fellowship recipient (Universitat de Barcelona).Peer Reviewe

T22-PE24-H6 Nanotoxin Selectively Kills CXCR4-High Expressing AML Patient Cells In Vitro and Potently Blocks Dissemination In Vivo

Altres ajuts: EU COST Action CA 17140; CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya; ICREA AcademiaDespite advances in the development of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), most patients relapse. For that reason, it is still necessary to develop novel therapies that improve treatment effectiveness and overcome drug resistance. We developed T22-PE24-H6, a protein nanoparticle that contains the exotoxin A from the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is able to specifically deliver this cytotoxic domain to CXCR4 + leukemic cells. Next, we evaluated the selective delivery and antitumor activity of T22-PE24-H6 in CXCR4 + AML cell lines and BM samples from AML patients. Moreover, we assessed the in vivo antitumor effect of this nanotoxin in a disseminated mouse model generated from CXCR4 + AML cells. T22-PE24-H6 showed a potent, CXCR4-dependent antineoplastic effect in vitro in the MONO-MAC-6 AML cell line. In addition, mice treated with nanotoxins in daily doses reduced the dissemination of CXCR4 + AML cells compared to buffer-treated mice, as shown by the significant decrease in BLI signaling. Furthermore, we did not observe any sign of toxicity or changes in mouse body weight, biochemical parameters, or histopathology in normal tissues. Finally, T22-PE24-H6 exhibited a significant inhibition of cell viability in CXCR4 high AML patient samples but showed no activity in CXCR4 low samples. These data strongly support the use of T22-PE24-H6 therapy to benefit high-CXCR4-expressing AML patients

A multivalent Ara-C-prodrug nanoconjugate achieves selective ablation of leukemic cells in an acute myeloid leukemia mouse model

Altres ajuts: EU COST Action CA 17140 ; CIBER-BBN [CB06/01/1031 and 4NanoMets to R.M., VENOM4CANCER to A.V., NANOREMOTE to E.V. and NANOLINK to U·U.] ; CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya ; ICREA Academia Award. Fundació la Marató de TV3 201-941-30-31-32.Current therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is based on chemotherapeutic drugs administered at high doses, lacking targeting selectivity and displaying poor therapeutic index because of severe adverse effects. Here, we develop a novel nanoconjugate that combines a self-assembled, multivalent protein nanoparticle, targeting the CXCR4 receptor, with an Oligo-Ara-C prodrug, a pentameric form of Ara-C, to highly increase the delivered payload to target cells. This 13.4 nm T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C nanoconjugate selectively eliminates CXCR4 AML cells, which are protected by its anchoring to the bone marrow (BM) niche, being involved in AML progression and chemotherapy resistance. This nanoconjugate shows CXCR4-dependent internalization and antineoplastic activity in CXCR4 AML cells in vitro. Moreover, repeated T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C administration selectively eliminates CXCR4 leukemic cells in BM, spleen and liver. The leukemic dissemination blockage induced by T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C is significantly more potent than buffer or Oligo-Ara-C-treated mice, showing no associated on-target or off-target toxicity and, therefore, reaching a highly therapeutic window. In conclusion, T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C exploits its 11 ligands-multivalency to enhance target selectivity, while the Oligo-Ara-C prodrug multimeric form increases 5-fold its payload. This feature combination offers an alternative nanomedicine with higher activity and greater tolerability than current intensive or non-intensive chemotherapy for AML patients

Characterization of ApoJ-reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) nanodisc for the potential treatment of cerebral β-amyloidosis

Altres ajuts: Fundació La Marató de TV3 [40/U/2014]Cerebral β-amyloidosis is a major feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in the brain. Several studies have implicated lipid/lipoprotein metabolism in the regulation of β-amyloidosis. In this regard, HDL (High Density Lipoprotein)-based therapies could ameliorate pathological features associated with AD. As apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) is a natural chaperone that interacts with Aβ, avoiding its aggregation and toxicity, in this study we propose to prepare reconstituted rHDL-rApoJ nanoparticles by assembling phospholipids with recombinant human ApoJ (rApoJ). Hence, rHDL particles were prepared using the cholate dialysis method and characterized by N-PAGE, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism and electron transmission microscopy. The preparation of rHDL particles showed two-sized populations with discoidal shape. Functionally, rHDL-rApoJ maintained the ability to prevent the Aβ fibrillization and mediated a higher cholesterol efflux from cultured macrophages. Fluorescently-labelled rHDL-rApoJ nanoparticles were intravenously administrated in mice and their distribution over time was determined using an IVIS Xenogen® imager. It was confirmed that rHDL-rApoJ accumulated in the cranial region, especially in old transgenic mice presenting a high cerebral Aβ load. In conclusion, we have standardized a reproducible protocol to produce rHDL-rApoJ nanoparticles, which may be potentially considered as a therapeutic option for β-amyloid-related pathologies

A multivalent Ara-C-prodrug nanoconjugate achieves selective ablation of leukemic cells in an acute myeloid leukemia mouse model

Current therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is based on chemotherapeutic drugs administered at high doses, lacking targeting selectivity and displaying poor therapeutic index because of severe adverse effects. Here, we develop a novel nanoconjugate that combines a self-assembled, multivalent protein nanoparticle, targeting the CXCR4 receptor, with an Oligo-Ara-C prodrug, a pentameric form of Ara-C, to highly increase the delivered payload to target cells. This 13.4 nm T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C nanoconjugate selectively eliminates CXCR4+ AML cells, which are protected by its anchoring to the bone marrow (BM) niche, being involved in AML progression and chemotherapy resistance. This nanoconjugate shows CXCR4-dependent internalization and antineoplastic activity in CXCR4+ AML cells in vitro. Moreover, repeated T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C administration selectively eliminates CXCR4+ leukemic cells in BM, spleen and liver. The leukemic dissemination blockage induced by T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C is significantly more potent than buffer or Oligo-Ara-C-treated mice, showing no associated on-target or off-target toxicity and, therefore, reaching a highly therapeutic window. In conclusion, T22-GFP-H6-Ara-C exploits its 11 ligands-multivalency to enhance target selectivity, while the Oligo-Ara-C prodrug multimeric form increases 5-fold its payload. This feature combination offers an alternative nanomedicine with higher activity and greater tolerability than current intensive or non-intensive chemotherapy for AML patients.This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, Co-funding from FEDER) [PI18/00650, PIE15/00028, PI15/00378 and EU COST Action CA 17 140 to R.M.; FIS PI17/01246 and RD16/0011/0028 to J.S.; and PI20/00400 to U·U.]; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (grant BIO2016-76063-R, AEI/FEDER, UE) to A.V.; (grant PID2019-105416RB-I00) to E.V.; CIBER-BBN [CB06/01/1031 and 4NanoMets to R.M., VENOM4CANCER to A.V., NANOREMOTE to E.V. and NANOLINK to U·U.]; AGAUR [2017 FI_B 00680 to A.F., 2018 FI_B2_00051 to L.S.G.; 2017-SGR-865 to R.M., 2017-SGR-1395 to J.S. and 2017SGR-229 to A.V.]; Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute [P/AG to R.M.]; La Marató TV3 [201 941-30-31-32 to J.S. and A.V.]; a grant from the Cellex Foundation, Barcelona [to J.S.]; a grant from La Generalitat de Catalunya (PERIS) [SLT002/16/00433to J.S.]; a grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya CERCA Programme. U.U. is supported by Miguel Servet fellowship (CP19/00028) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III co-funded by Fondo Social Europeo (ESF investing in your future). Finally, A.V. received an ICREA ACADEMIA Award supported by the Catalan Government. We are also indebted to the ISCIII Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) and its ICTS Nanbiosis Platform for their funding. The bioluminescent follow-up of cancer cells and toxicity studies has been performed in the ICTS-141007 Nanbiosis Platform, using its CIBER-BBN Nanotoxicology Unit (http://www.nanbiosis.es/portfolio/u18-nanotoxicology-unit/). Protein production has been partially performed by the ICTS “NANBIOSIS”, more specifically by the Protein Production Platform of CIBER-BBN/IBB (http://www.nanbiosis.es/unit/u1-protein-production-platform-ppp/). Finally, we are very grateful to Servei de Microscopia from UAB for their excellent confocal and electron microscopy services and especially to Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi for its excellent support and contribution in TEM and FESEM images.Peer reviewe

ApoA-I Mimetic administration, but not increased apoA-I-containing HDL, inhibits tumour growth in a mouse model of inherited breast cancer.

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) have been associated with breast cancer risk, but several epidemiologic studies have reported contradictory results with regard to the relationship between apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and breast cancer. We aimed to determine the effects of human apoA-I overexpression and administration of specific apoA-I mimetic peptide (D-4F) on tumour progression by using mammary tumour virus-polyoma middle T-antigen transgenic (PyMT) mice as a model of inherited breast cancer. Expression of human apoA-I in the mice did not affect tumour onset and growth in PyMT transgenic mice, despite an increase in the HDLc level. In contrast, D-4F treatment significantly increased tumour latency and inhibited the development of tumours. The effects of D-4F on tumour development were independent of 27-hydroxycholesterol. However, D-4F treatment reduced the plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels in mice and prevented oxLDL-mediated proliferative response in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, our study shows that D-4F, but not apoA-I-containing HDL, hinders tumour growth in mice with inherited breast cancer in association with a higher protection against LDL oxidative modificatio

ApoA-I mimetic administration, but not increased apoA-I-containing HDL, inhibits tumour growth in a mouse model of inherited breast cancer

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) have been associated with breast cancer risk, but several epidemiologic studies have reported contradictory results with regard to the relationship between apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and breast cancer. We aimed to determine the effects of human apoA-I overexpression and administration of specific apoA-I mimetic peptide (D-4F) on tumour progression by using mammary tumour virus-polyoma middle T-antigen transgenic (PyMT) mice as a model of inherited breast cancer. Expression of human apoA-I in the mice did not affect tumour onset and growth in PyMT transgenic mice, despite an increase in the HDLc level. In contrast, D-4F treatment significantly increased tumour latency and inhibited the development of tumours. The effects of D-4F on tumour development were independent of 27-hydroxycholesterol. However, D-4F treatment reduced the plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels in mice and prevented oxLDL-mediated proliferative response in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, our study shows that D-4F, but not apoA-I-containing HDL, hinders tumour growth in mice with inherited breast cancer in association with a higher protection against LDL oxidative modification

The nuclear receptor LXR limits bacterial infection of host macrophages through a mechanism that impacts cellular NAD metabolism

Macrophages exert potent effector functions against invading microorganisms but constitute, paradoxically, a preferential niche for many bacterial strains to replicate. Using a model of infection by Salmonella Typhimurium, we have identified a molecular mechanism regulated by the nuclear receptor LXR that limits infection of host macrophages through transcriptional activation of the multifunctional enzyme CD38. LXR agonists reduced the intracellular levels of NAD+ in a CD38-dependent manner, counteracting pathogen-induced changes in macrophage morphology and the distribution of the F-actin cytoskeleton and reducing the capability of nonopsonized Salmonella to infect macrophages. Remarkably, pharmacological treatment with an LXR agonist ameliorated clinical signs associated with Salmonella infection in vivo, and these effects were dependent on CD38 expression in bonemarrow- derived cells. Altogether, this work reveals an unappreciated role for CD38 in bacterial-host cell interaction that can be pharmacologically exploited by activation of the LXR pathway