The efficacy of intracranial PLG-based vaccines is dependent on direct implantation into brain tissue.

We previously engineered a macroporous, polymer-based vaccine that initially produces GM-CSF gradients to recruit local dendritic cells and subsequently presents CpG oligonucleotides, and tumor lysate to cell infiltrates to induce immune cell activation and immunity against tumor cells in peripheral tumor models. Here, we demonstrate that this system eradicates established intracranial glioma following implantation into brain tissue, whereas implantation in resection cavities obviates vaccine efficacy. Rats bearing seven-day old, intracranial glioma tumors were treated with PLG vaccines implanted into the tumor bed, resulting in retention of contralateral forelimb function (day 17) that is compromised by tumor formation in control animals, and 90% long-term survival (>100 days). Similar benefits were observed in animals receiving tumor resection plus vaccine implants into the adjacent parenchyma, but direct implantation of PLG vaccines into the resection cavity conferred no benefit. This dissociation of efficacy was likely related to GM-CSF distribution, as implantation of PLG vaccines within brain tissue produced significant GM-CSF gradients for prolonged periods, which was not detected after implantation in resection cavities. These studies demonstrate that PLG vaccine efficacy is correlated to GM-CSF gradient formation, which requires direct implantation into brain tissue, and justify further exploration of this approach for glioma treatment.

Biomaterial-based vaccine induces regression of established intracranial glioma in rats.

PURPOSE: The prognosis for glioma patients is poor, and development of new treatments is critical. Previously, we engineered polymer-based vaccines that control GM-CSF, CpG-oligonucleotide, and tumor-lysate presentation to regulate immune cell trafficking and activation, which promoted potent immune responses against peripheral tumors. Here, we extend the use of this system to glioma. METHODS: Rats were challenged with an intracranial injection of glioma cells followed (1 week) by administration of the polymeric vaccine (containing GM-CSF, CpG, and tumor-lysate) in the tumor bed. Control rats were treated with blank matrices, matrices with GM-CSF and CpG, or intra-tumoral bolus injections of GM-CSF, CpG, and tumor lysate. Rats were monitored for survival and tested for neurological function. RESULTS: Survival studies confirmed a benefit of the polymeric vaccine as 90% of vaccinated rats survived for > 100 days. Control rats exhibited minimal benefit. Motor tests revealed that vaccination protected against the loss of forelimb use produced by glioma growth. Histological analysis quantitatively confirmed a robust and rapid reduction in tumor size. Long-term immunity was confirmed when 67% of survivors also survived a second glioma challenge. CONCLUSIONS: These studies extend previous reports regarding this approach to tumor therapy and justify further development for glioma treatment.

Aging reduces the neuroprotective capacity, VEGF secretion, and metabolic activity of rat choroid plexus epithelial cells.

Delivery of neurotrophic molecules to the brain has potential for preventing neuronal loss in neurodegenerative disorders. Choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells secrete numerous neurotrophic factors, and encapsulated CP transplants are neuroprotective in models of stroke and Huntington's disease (HD). To date, all studies examining the neuroprotective potential of CP transplants have used cells isolated from young donor animals. Because the aging process significantly impacts the cytoarchitecture and function of the CP the following studies determined whether age-related impairments occur in its neuroprotective capacity. CP was isolated from either young (3-4 months) or aged (24 months) rats. In vitro, young CP epithelial cells secreted more VEGF and were metabolically more active than aged CP epithelial cells. Additionally, conditioned medium from cultured aged CP was less potent than young CP at enhancing the survival of serum-deprived neurons. Finally, encapsulated CP was tested in an animal model of HD. Cell-loaded or empty alginate capsules (control group) were transplanted unilaterally into the rat striatum. Seven days later, the animals received an injection of quinolinic acid (QA; 225 nmol) adjacent to the implant site. Animals were tested for motor function 28 days later. In the control group, QA lesions severely impaired function of the contralateral forelimb. Implants of young CP were potently neuroprotective as rats receiving CP transplants were not significantly impaired when tested for motor function. In contrast, implants of CP from aged rats were only modestly effective and were much less potent than young CP transplants. These data are the first to directly link aging with diminished neuroprotective capacity of CP epithelial cells.

In vitro exposure of cultured porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells to immunosuppressant, anti-inflammatory, and psychoactive drugs.

Delivery of neurotrophic molecules to the CNS is a potential treatment for preventing the neuronal loss in neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease (HD). Choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cell transplants secrete several neurotrophic factors and are neuroprotective in rat and monkey animal models of HD. HD patients receiving CP transplants would likely receive a course of immunosuppressant/anti-inflammatory treatment postsurgery and would remain on psychoactive medications to treat their motor, psychiatric, and emotional symptoms. Therefore, we examined whether CP epithelial cells are impacted by incubation with cyclosporine A (CsA), dexmethasone, haloperidol, fluoxetine, and carbamezapine. In each case, DNA was quantified to determine cell number, a formazen dye-based assay was used to quantify cell metabolism, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were measured as a marker of protein secretion. Except for the highest dose of fluoxetine, none of the drugs tested exerted any detrimental effect on cell number. Incubation with CsA or dexamethasone did not have any consistent significant effect on VEGF secretion or cell metabolism. Carbamazepine was without effect while only the highest dose of haloperidol tested modestly lowered cell metabolism. VEGF secretion and cell metabolism was not measurable from CP cells exposed to 100 microM fluoxetine. These data continue to support the potential use of CP transplants in HD.

The in vitro expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor from free and alginate-polyornithine encapsulated choroid plexus epithelium.

The choroid plexus (CP) is a transplantable cell source secreting tropic and trophic factors for the treatment of brain and peripheral trauma characterized by cellular loss or dysfunction. Here we characterize the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from neonatal porcine CP. Light and electron microscopy revealed that enzymatic digestion of the CP produced a preparation consisting primarily of epithelial cells without notable contaminating cells. Microarray analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify the nuclear, cytoplasmic, and secretory compartmentalization of VEGF. In vitro, the kinetics of VEGF release were orderly, with stepwise increases in secretion over time. The secretory profile of VEGF from CP grown in configurations ranging from a simple monolayer to free-floating 3-dimensional clusters to clusters encapsulated within alginate-polyornithine microcapsules was similar. VEGF output was not affected notably when the cells were maintained in 90% stress medium or in other maintenance media devoid of serum proteins. Secreted VEGF was bioactive, as confirmed by demonstrating its continued ability to proliferate co-cultured human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. The robust ability of these cells to continue to secrete VEGF (and presumably other bioactive proteins) across a variety of dimensional configurations and medium types has implications for their use in clinical indications requiring novel and imaginative use of engineered ectopic transplant sites.

Structural basis for spinophilin-neurabin receptor interaction.

Neurabin and spinophilin are neuronal scaffolding proteins that play important roles in the regulation of synaptic transmission through their ability to target protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to dendritic spines where PP1 dephosphorylates and inactivates glutamate receptors. However, thus far, it is still unknown how neurabin and spinophilin themselves are targeted to these membrane receptors. Spinophilin and neurabin contain a single PDZ domain, a common protein-protein interaction recognition motif, which are 86% identical in sequence. We report the structures of both the neurabin and spinophilin PDZ domains determined using biomolecular NMR spectroscopy. These proteins form the canonical PDZ domain fold. However, despite their high degree of sequence identity, there are distinct and significant structural differences between them, especially between the peptide binding pockets. Using two-dimensional 1H-15N HSQC NMR analysis, we demonstrate that C-terminal peptide ligands derived from glutamatergic AMPA and NMDA receptors and cytosolic proteins directly and differentially bind spinophilin and neurabin PDZ domains. This peptide binding data also allowed us to classify the neurabin and spinophilin PDZ domains as the first identified neuronal hybrid class V PDZ domains, which are capable of binding both class I and II peptides. Finally, the ability to bind to glutamate receptor subunits suggests that the PDZ domains of neurabin and spinophilin are important for targeting PP1 to C-terminal phosphorylation sites in AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits.

Development of 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin hydroquinone hydrochloride (IPI-504), an anti-cancer agent directed against Hsp90.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an emerging therapeutic target of interest for the treatment of cancer. Its role in protein homeostasis and the selective chaperoning of key signaling proteins in cancer survival and proliferation pathways has made it an attractive target of small molecule therapeutic intervention. 17-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), the most studied agent directed against Hsp90, suffers from poor physical-chemical properties that limit its clinical potential. Therefore, there exists a need for novel, patient-friendly Hsp90-directed agents for clinical investigation. IPI-504, the highly soluble hydroquinone hydrochloride derivative of 17-AAG, was synthesized as an Hsp90 inhibitor with favorable pharmaceutical properties. Its biochemical and biological activity was profiled in an Hsp90-binding assay, as well as in cancer-cell assays. Furthermore, the metabolic profile of IPI-504 was compared with that of 17-AAG, a geldanamycin analog currently in clinical trials. The anti-tumor activity of IPI-504 was tested as both a single agent as well as in combination with bortezomib in myeloma cell lines and in vivo xenograft models, and the retention of IPI-504 in tumor tissue was determined. In conclusion, IPI-504, a potent inhibitor of Hsp90, is efficacious in cellular and animal models of myeloma. It is synergistically efficacious with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and is preferentially retained in tumor tissues relative to plasma. Importantly, it was observed that IPI-504 interconverts with the known agent 17-AAG in vitro and in vivo via an oxidation-reduction equilibrium, and we demonstrate that IPI-504 is the slightly more potent inhibitor of Hsp90.

Ethylmethanesulfonate saturation mutagenesis in Arabidopsis to determine frequency of herbicide resistance.

Plant resistance to glyphosate has been reported far less frequently than resistance to sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. However, these studies tend to be anecdotal, without side by side comparisons for a single species or natural isolate. In this study, we tested the frequencies of resistance of three herbicides in a controlled ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) saturation mutagenesis experiment, allowing a direct comparison of the frequencies at which resistant mutant plants arise. The 100% growth inhibition dose rates of glyphosate, chlorsulfuron (a sulfonylurea herbicide), and imazethapyr (an imidazolinone herbicide) were determined for Arabidopsis. Populations of EMS-mutagenized M(2) seedlings were sprayed with twice the 100% growth inhibition dose of glyphosate, chlorsulfuron, or imazethapyr, and herbicide-resistant mutants were identified. Although there were no glyphosate-resistant mutants among M(2) progeny of 125,000 Columbia and 125,000 Landsberg erecta M(1) lines, chlorsulfuron resistance and imazethapyr resistance each appeared at frequencies of 3.2 x 10(-5). Given the observed frequency of herbicide resistance mutations, we calculate that there are at least 700 mutations in each EMS-mutagenized Arabidopsis line and that fewer than 50,000 M(1) lines are needed to have a 95% chance of finding a mutation in any given G:C base pair in the genome. As part of this study, two previously unreported Arabidopsis mutations conferring resistance to imidazolinone herbicides, csr1-5 (Ala-122-Thr) and csr1-6 (Ala-205-Val), were discovered. Neither of these mutations caused enhanced resistance to chlorsulfuron in Arabidopsis.