Sondas moleculares para a deteção de placas β-amilóide na doença de Alzheimer

The formation of amyloid structures is a neuropathological feature that characterizes several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s disease. Up to now, the definitive diagnosis of these diseases can only be accomplished by immunostaining of post mortem brain tissues with dyes such Thioflavin T and congo red. Aiming at early in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease (AD), several amyloid-avid radioprobes have been developed for b-amyloid imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of this paper is to present a perspective of the available amyloid imaging agents, special those that have been selected for clinical trials and are at the different stages of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approval.RESUMO: A formação de estruturas amilóides é uma característica neuropatológica comum nas várias doenças neurodegenerativas, como a doença de Alzheimer e de Parkinson. Até à data, o diagnóstico destas doenças apenas é conseguido post mortem por estudos histoquímicos com corantes, como a Tioflavina T e o vermelho do congo. Durante os últimos anos têm sido desenvolvidos vários compostos com afinidade para agregados de ß-amilóide para visualização dessas estruturas por tomografia de emissão de positrões (PET) e tomografia computadorizada de emissão de fotão único (SPECT). Neste trabalho pretendemos apresentar as principais sondas radioativas com potencial para imagiologia de estruturas amilóides, em especial aquelas que entraram em ensaios clínicos e se encontram em diferentes etapas de aprovação pela FDA

Glycosyl disulfides: importance, synthesis and application to chemical and biological systems

YesThe disulfide bond plays an important role in the formation and stabilisation of higher order structures of peptides and proteins, while in recent years interest in this functional group has been extended to carbohydrate chemistry. Rarely found in nature, glycosyl disulfides have attracted significant attention as glycomimetics, with wide biological applications including lectin binding, as key components of dynamic libraries to study carbohydrate structures, the study of metabolic and enzymatic studies, and even as potential drug molecules. This interest has been accompanied and fuelled by the continuous development of new methods to construct the disulfide bond at the anomeric centre. Glycosyl disulfides have also been exploited as versatile intermediates in carbohydrate synthesis, particularly as glycosyl donors. This review focuses on the importance of the disulfide bond in glycobiology and in chemistry, evaluating the different methods available to synthesise glycosyl disulfides. Furthermore, we review the role of glycosyl disulfides as intermediates and/or glycosyl donors for the synthesis of neoglycoproteins and oligosaccharides, before finally considering examples of how this important class of carbohydrates have made an impact in biological and therapeutic contexts.The authors thank the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (University of Bradford) Doctoral Training Centre for financial support

Molecular imaging agents for detection of β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease

The formation of amyloid structures is a neuropathological feature that characterizes several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s disease. Up to now, the definitive diagnostic of these diseases can only be accomplished by immunostaining of post-mortem brain tissues with dyes such as Thioflavin T and congo red. Aiming at early in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease (AD), several amyloid-avid radioprobes have been developed for β-amyloid imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emitted computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of this paper is to present a perspective of the available amyloid imaging agents, special those that have been selected for clinical trials and are at the different stages of US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approval

Molecular imaging agents for detection of β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease

The formation of amyloid structures is a neuropathological feature that characterizes several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s disease. Up to now, the definitive diagnosis of these diseases can only be accomplished by immunostaining of post mortem brain tissues with dyes such Thioflavin T and congo red. Aiming at early in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease (AD), several amyloid-avid radioprobes have been developed for b-amyloid imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The aim of this paper is to present a perspective of the available amyloid imaging agents, special those that have been selected for clinical trials and are at the different stages of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approval

Novel strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical glycosyl disulfides

yesNovel strategies for the efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical glycosyl disulfides are reported. Glycosyl disulfides are increasingly important as glycomimetics and molecular probes in glycobiology. Sialosyl disulfides are synthesised directly from the chlorosialoside Neu5Ac2Cl, proceeding via a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction between the sialosyl thiolate and symmetrical disulfides. This methodology was adapted and found to be successfully applicable to the synthesis of unsymmetrical glucosyl disulfides under mild conditions

An efficient assay for identification and quantitative evaluation of potential polysialyltransferase inhibitors

YesThe polysialyltransferases (polySTs) catalyse the polymerisation of polysialic acid, which plays an important role in tumour metastasis. While assays are available to assess polyST enzyme activity, there is no methodology available specifically optimised for identification and quantitative evaluation of potential polyST inhibitors. The development of an HPLC-fluorescence-based enzyme assay described within includes a comprehensive investigation of assay conditions, including evaluation of metal ion composition, enzyme, substrate and acceptor concentrations, temperature, pH, and tolerance to DMSO, followed by validation using known polyST inhibitors. Thorough analysis of each of the assay components provided a set of optimised conditions. Under these optimised conditions, the experimentally observed Ki value for CMP, a competitive polyST inhibitor, was strongly correlated with the predicted Ki value, based on the classical Cheng-Prusoff equation [average fold error (AFE) = 1.043]. These results indicate that this assay can provide medium-throughput analysis for enzyme inhibitors with high accuracy, through determining the corresponding IC50 values with substrate concentration at the KM, without the need to perform extensive kinetic studies for each compound. In conclusion, an in vitro cell-free assay for accurate assessment of polyST inhibition is described. The utility of the assay for routine identification of potential polyST inhibitors is demonstrated, allowing quantitative measurement of inhibition to be achieved, and exemplified through assessment of full competitive inhibition. Given the considerable and growing interest in the polySTs as important anti-metastatic targets in cancer drug discovery, this is a vital tool to enable preclinical identification and evaluation of novel polyST inhibitors.Yorkshire Cancer Research, Wellcome Trus

Probing cytochrome P450 bioactivation and fluorescent properties with morpholinyl-tethered anthraquinones

YesStructural features from the anticancer prodrug nemorubicin (MMDX) and the DNA-binding molecule DRAQ5™ were used to prepare anthraquinone-based compounds, which were assessed for their potential to interrogate cytochrome P450 (CYP) functional activity and localisation. 1,4-disubstituted anthraquinone 8 was shown to be 5-fold more potent in EJ138 bladder cancer cells after CYP1A2 bioactivation. In contrast, 1,5-bis((2-morpholinoethyl)amino) substituted anthraquinone 10 was not CYP-bioactivated but was shown to be fluorescent and subsequently photo-activated by a light pulse (at a bandwidth 532–587 nm), resulting in punctuated foci accumulation in the cytoplasm. It also showed low toxicity in human osteosarcoma cells. These combined properties provide an interesting prospective approach for opto-tagging single or a sub-population of cells and seeking their location without the need for continuous monitoring

Pharmacological Inhibition of polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII Modulates Tumour Cell Migration

YesPolysialic acid (polySia), an α-2,8-glycosidically linked polymer of sialic acid, is a developmentally regulated posttranslational modification predominantly found on NCAM (neuronal cell adhesion molecule). Whilst high levels are expressed during development, peripheral adult organs do not express polySia-NCAM. However, tumours of neural crest-origin re-express polySia-NCAM: its occurrence correlates with aggressive and invasive disease and poor clinical prognosis in different cancer types, notably including small cell lung cancer (SCLC), pancreatic cancer and neuroblastoma. In neuronal development, polySia-NCAM biosynthesis is catalysed by two polysialyltransferases, ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV, but it is ST8SiaII that is the prominent enzyme in tumours. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ST8SiaII inhibition by a small molecule on tumour cell migration, utilising cytidine monophosphate (CMP) as a tool compound. Using immunoblotting we showed that CMP reduced ST8iaII-mediated polysialylation of NCAM. Utilizing a novel HPLC-based assay to quantify polysialylation of a fluorescent acceptor (DMB-DP3), we demonstrated that CMP is a competitive inhibitor of ST8SiaII (Ki = 10 μM). Importantly, we have shown that CMP causes a concentration-dependent reduction in tumour cell-surface polySia expression, with an absence of toxicity. When ST8SiaII-expressing tumour cells (SH-SY5Y and C6-STX) were evaluated in 2D cell migration assays, ST8SiaII inhibition led to significant reductions in migration, while CMP had no effect on cells not expressing ST8SiaII (DLD-1 and C6-WT). The study demonstrates for the first time that a polysialyltransferase inhibitor can modulate migration in ST8SiaII-expressing tumour cells. We conclude that ST8SiaII can be considered a druggable target with the potential for interfering with a critical mechanism in tumour cell dissemination in metastatic cancers.Yorkshire Cancer Research; EPSRC; Association for International Cancer Research; Jordanian Government PhD scholarshi

Theranostic nanoparticles enhance the response of glioblastomas to radiation

YesDespite considerable progress with our understanding of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and the precise delivery of radiotherapy, the prognosis for GBM patients is still unfavorable with tumor recurrence due to radioresistance being a major concern. We recently developed a cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticle conjugated to azademethylcolchicine (CLIO-ICT) to target and eradicate a subpopulation of quiescent cells, glioblastoma initiating cells (GICs), which could be a reason for radioresistance and tumor relapse. The purpose of our study was to investigate if CLIO-ICT has an additive therapeutic effect to enhance the response of GBMs to ionizing radiation. Methods: NSG™ mice bearing human GBMs and C57BL/6J mice bearing murine GBMs received CLIO-ICT, radiation, or combination treatment. The mice underwent pre- and post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and histological analysis. Tumor nanoparticle enhancement, tumor flux, microvessel density, GIC, and apoptosis markers were compared between different groups using a one-way ANOVA and two-tailed Mann-Whitney test. Additional NSG™ mice underwent survival analyses with Kaplan–Meier curves and a log rank (Mantel–Cox) test. Results: At 2 weeks post-treatment, BLI and MRI scans revealed significant reduction in tumor size for CLIO-ICT plus radiation treated tumors compared to monotherapy or vehicle-treated tumors. Combining CLIO-ICT with radiation therapy significantly decreased microvessel density, decreased GICs, increased caspase-3 expression, and prolonged the survival of GBM-bearing mice. CLIO-ICT delivery to GBM could be monitored with MRI. and was not significantly different before and after radiation. There was no significant caspase-3 expression in normal brain at therapeutic doses of CLIO-ICT administered. Conclusion: Our data shows additive anti-tumor effects of CLIO-ICT nanoparticles in combination with radiotherapy. The combination therapy proposed here could potentially be a clinically translatable strategy for treating GBMs

A novel theranostic strategy for MMP-14 expressing glioblastomas impacts survival

YesGlioblastoma (GBM) has a dismal prognosis. Evidence from preclinical tumor models and human trials indicates the role of GBM initiating cells (GIC) in GBM drug resistance. Here, we propose a new treatment option with tumor enzyme-activatable, combined therapeutic and diagnostic (theranostic) nanoparticles, which caused specific toxicity against GBM tumor cells and GICs. The theranostic cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles (CLIO) were conjugated to a highly potent vascular disrupting agent (ICT) and secured with a matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP-14) cleavable peptide. Treatment with CLIO-ICT disrupted tumor vasculature of MMP-14 expressing GBM, induced GIC apoptosis and significantly impaired tumor growth. In addition, the iron core of CLIO-ICT enabled in vivo drug tracking with MR imaging. Treatment with CLIO-ICT plus temozolomide achieved tumor remission and significantly increased survival of human GBM bearing mice by more than 2 fold compared to treatment with temozolomide alone. Thus, we present a novel therapeutic strategy with significant impact on survival and great potential for clinical translation.Heike E Daldrup-Link, NIH, R21CA176519 and R21CA190196; Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, NIH, 1U54CA199075; Jessica Klockow, NCI training grant, T32CA118681, Robert A. Falconer, University of Bradford, UoB-6603