Significant Enhancement of Fibroblast Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation by Exosomes Loaded with Human Fibroblast Growth Factor 1.

Exosomes possess several inherent properties that make them ideal for biomedical applications, including robust stability, biocompatibility, minimal immunogenicity, and the ability to cross biological barriers. These natural nanoparticles have recently been developed as drug delivery vesicles. To do so, therapeutic molecules must be efficiently loaded into exosomes first. Very recently, we developed a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-based platform for loading of nucleic acids and small molecules into exosomes by taking advantage of the membrane-penetration power of CPPs. Here, we extended this simple but effective platform by loading a protein cargo into exosomes isolated from either mesenchymal stem cells from three different sources or two different cancer cell lines. The protein cargo is a fusion protein YARA-FGF1-GFP through the covalent conjugation of a model CPP called YARA to human fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and green fluorescence protein (GFP). Loading of YARA-FGF1-GFP into exosomes was time-dependent and reached a maximum of about 1600 YARA-FGF1-GFP molecules in each exosome after 16 h. The ladened exosomes were effectively internalized by mammalian cells, and subsequently, the loaded protein cargo YARA-FGF1-GFP was delivered intracellularly. In comparison to YARA, YARA-FGF1-GFP, the unloaded exosomes, and the exosomes loaded with YARA, the exosomes loaded with YARA-FGF1-GFP substantially promoted the migration, proliferation, and invasion capabilities of mouse and human fibroblasts, which are important factors for wound repair. The work extended our CPP-based exosomal cargo loading platform and established a foundation for developing novel wound-healing therapies using exosomes loaded with FGF1 and other growth factors.

An Effective Peptide-Based Platform for Efficient Exosomal Loading and Cellular Delivery of a microRNA.

Exosomes, membrane-bound nanosized vesicles of biologic origin, are known to contain various molecules, e.g., proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which contribute to the exosomes' ability to mediate cell-to-cell communication. Recent impediments of artificial nanoparticles in drug delivery, including low cellular uptake, activation of the immune system, and tissue obstacles, have led scientists to engineer exosomes as drug delivery vehicles. Though exosomes possess inherent properties of stability, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and capability to cross biological barriers, there is a need to develop technologies that allow the efficient loading of therapeutic materials into exosomes. Here, we introduced a simple peptide-equipped technology that can enhance the cargo-loading potential of exosomes in a mild loading environment. Specifically, a known cell-penetrating peptide, YARA, derived from human immunodeficiency virus-1 trans-activator of transcription, was covalently conjugated with miR-21-5p, a mammalian microRNA. The conjugate YARA-miR-21-5p was then incubated with exosomes, isolated from either mesenchymal stem cells or cancer cells, for loading. Exosomal loading of YARA-miR-21-5p was time-dependent and demonstrated an impressive 18.6-fold increase in efficiency over exosomal loading of miR-21-5p through incubation. After effective cellular uptake, the loaded exosomes rapidly delivered YARA-miR-21-5p into mammalian cells. Relative to unloaded exosomes and free YARA-miR-21-5p, the loaded exosomes significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human and mouse fibroblasts, which are vital steps in wound healing. This study lays the groundwork for using cell-penetrating peptides as an innovative approach to efficiently load therapeutic cargos, e.g., microRNAs, into exosomes, which can then be employed to deliver the cargos into cells to yield biological effects.

Extracellular vesicles: Emerging frontiers in wound healing.

Extracellular vesicles are membranous particles, ranging from 30 nm to 10 µm in diameter, which are released by nearly all cell types to aid in intercellular communication. These complex vesicles carry a multitude of signaling moieties from their cell of origin, such as proteins, lipids, cell surface receptors, enzymes, cytokines, metabolites, and nucleic acids. A growing body of evidence suggests that in addition to delivering cargos into target cells to facilitate intercellular communication, extracellular vesicles may also play roles in such processes as cell differentiation and proliferation, angiogenesis, stress response, and immune signaling. As these vesicles have natural biocompatibility, stability in circulation, low toxicity, and low immunogenicity, and serve as efficient carriers of molecular cargos, these nanoparticles are ideal therapeutic candidates for regenerative medicine. Exploring and identifying the homeostatic functions of extracellular vesicles may facilitate the development of new regenerative therapies. In this review, we summarize the wound healing process, difficulties in stem cell therapies for regenerative medicine, and the applications of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles in improving and accelerating the wound healing process.

Extracellular Vesicles in Type 1 Diabetes: A Versatile Tool.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting nearly 35 million people. This disease develops as T-cells continually attack the ß-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, which leads to ß-cell death, and steadily decreasing secretion of insulin. Lowered levels of insulin minimize the uptake of glucose into cells, thus putting the body in a hyperglycemic state. Despite significant progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease, there is a need for novel developments in the diagnostics and management of type 1 diabetes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bound nanoparticles that contain diverse content from their cell of origin and can be used as a biomarker for both the onset of diabetes and transplantation rejection. Furthermore, vesicles can be loaded with therapeutic cargo and delivered in conjunction with a transplant to increase cell survival and long-term outcomes. Crucially, several studies have linked EVs and their cargos to the progression of type 1 diabetes. As a result, gaining a better understanding of EVs would help researchers better comprehend the utility of EVs in regulating and understanding type 1 diabetes. EVs are a composition of biologically active components such as nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, and lipids that can be transported to particular cells/tissues through the blood system. Through their varied content, EVs can serve as a flexible aid in the diagnosis and management of type 1 diabetes. In this review, we provide an overview of existing knowledge about EVs. We also cover the role of EVs in the pathogenesis, detection, and treatment of type 1 diabetes and the function of EVs in pancreas and islet ß-cell transplantation.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes: Applications in Regenerative Medicine.

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicles, produced within multivesicular bodies, that are then released into the extracellular space through a merging of the multivesicular body with the plasma membrane. These vesicles are secreted by almost all cell types to aid in a vast array of cellular functions, including intercellular communication, cell differentiation and proliferation, angiogenesis, stress response, and immune signaling. This ability to contribute to several distinct processes is due to the complexity of exosomes, as they carry a multitude of signaling moieties, including proteins, lipids, cell surface receptors, enzymes, cytokines, transcription factors, and nucleic acids. The favorable biological properties of exosomes including biocompatibility, stability, low toxicity, and proficient exchange of molecular cargos make exosomes prime candidates for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Exploring the functions and molecular payloads of exosomes can facilitate tissue regeneration therapies and provide mechanistic insight into paracrine modulation of cellular activities. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of exosome biogenesis, composition, and isolation methods. We also discuss emerging healing properties of exosomes and exosomal cargos, such as microRNAs, in brain injuries, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19 amongst others. Overall, this review highlights the burgeoning roles and potential applications of exosomes in regenerative medicine.

Targeting Insulin-Degrading Enzyme in Insulin Clearance.

Hepatic insulin clearance, a physiological process that in response to nutritional cues clears ~50-80% of circulating insulin, is emerging as an important factor in our understanding of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a highly conserved Zn2+-metalloprotease that degrades insulin and several other intermediate-size peptides. Both, insulin clearance and IDE activity are reduced in diabetic patients, albeit the cause-effect relationship in humans remains unproven. Because historically IDE has been proposed as the main enzyme involved in insulin degradation, efforts in the development of IDE inhibitors as therapeutics in diabetic patients has attracted attention during the last decades. In this review, we retrace the path from Mirsky's seminal discovery of IDE to the present, highlighting the pros and cons of the development of IDE inhibitors as a pharmacological approach to treating diabetic patients.

Hydroxypyridinethione Inhibitors of Human Insulin-Degrading Enzyme.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a human mononuclear Zn2+ -dependent metalloenzyme that is widely regarded as the primary peptidase responsible for insulin degradation. Despite its name, IDE is also critically involved in the hydrolysis of several other disparate peptide hormones, including glucagon, amylin, and the amyloid ß-protein. As such, the study of IDE inhibition is highly relevant to deciphering the role of IDE in conditions such as type-2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer disease. There have been few reported IDE inhibitors, and of these, inhibitors that directly target the active-site Zn2+ ion have yet to be fully explored. In an effort to discover new, zinc-targeting inhibitors of IDE, a library of ∼350 metal-binding pharmacophores was screened against IDE, resulting in the identification of 1-hydroxypyridine-2-thione (1,2-HOPTO) as an effective Zn2+ -binding scaffold. Screening a focused library of HOPTO compounds identified 3-sulfonamide derivatives of 1,2-HOPTO as inhibitors of IDE (Ki values of ∼50 µM). Further structure-activity relationship studies yielded several thiophene-sulfonamide HOPTO derivatives with good, broad-spectrum activity against IDE that have the potential to be useful pharmacological tools for future studies of IDE.

Cathepsin D: A Candidate Link between Amyloid ß-protein and Tauopathy in Alzheimer Disease.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular deposition of the amyloid ß-protein (Aß) and intraneuronal accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein, tau. Despite a wealth of experimental and genetic evidence implicating both Aß and tau in the pathogenesis of AD, the precise molecular links between these two pathological hallmarks have remained surprisingly elusive. Here, we review emerging evidence for a critical nexus among Aß, tau, and the lysosomal protease cathepsin D (CatD) that we hypothesize may play a pivotal role in the etiology of AD. CatD degrades both Aß and tau in vitro, but the in vivo relevance of this lysosomal protease to these principally extracellular and cytosolic proteins, respectively, had remained undefined for many decades. Recently, however, our group found that genetic deletion of CatD in mice results in dramatic accumulation of Aß in lysosomes, revealing that Aß is normally trafficked to lysosomes in substantial quantities. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that tau is also trafficked to the lysosome via chaperone-mediated autophagy and other trafficking pathways. Thus, Aß, tau and CatD are colocalized in the lysosome, an organelle that shows dysfunction early in AD pathogenesis, where they can potentially interact. Notably, we discovered that Aß42-the Aß species most strongly linked to AD pathogenesis-is a highly potent, low-nanomolar, competitive inhibitor of CatD. Taking these observations together, we hypothesize that Aß42 may trigger tauopathy by competitive inhibition of CatD-mediated degradation of tau-pathogenic forms of tau, in particular. Herein, we review the evidence supporting this hypothesis and explore the implications for the molecular pathogenesis of AD. Future research into these novel mechanistic links among Aß, tau and CatD promises to expand our understanding of the etiology of AD and could potentially lead to novel therapeutic approaches for combatting this devastating disease of brain and mind.

Quantitative, High-Throughput Assays for Proteolytic Degradation of Amylin.

Amylin is a pancreatic peptide hormone that regulates glucose homeostasis but also aggregates to form islet amyloid in type-2 diabetes. Given its role in both health and disease, there is renewed interest in proteolytic degradation of amylin by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and other proteases. Here, we describe the development and detailed characterization of three novel assays for amylin degradation, two based on a fluoresceinated and biotinylated form of rodent amylin (fluorescein-rodent amylin-biotin, FrAB), which can be used for any amylin protease, and another based on an internally quenched fluorogenic substrate (FRET-based amylin, FRAM), which is more specific for IDE. The FrAB-based substrate can be used in a readily implemented fluorescence-based protocol or in a fluorescence polarization (FP)-based protocol that is more amenable to high-throughput screening (HTS), whereas the FRAM substrate has the advantage of permitting continuous monitoring of proteolytic activity. All three assays yield highly quantitative data and are resistant to DMSO, and the FRAM and FP-based FrAB assay are ideally suited to HTS applications.

Cathepsin D regulates cerebral Aß42/40 ratios via differential degradation of Aß42 and Aß40.

BACKGROUND: Cathepsin D (CatD) is a lysosomal protease that degrades both the amyloid ß-protein (Aß) and the microtubule-associated protein, tau, and has been genetically linked to late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD). Here, we sought to examine the consequences of genetic deletion of CatD on Aß proteostasis in vivo and to more completely characterize the degradation of Aß42 and Aß40 by CatD. METHODS: We quantified Aß degradation rates and levels of endogenous Aß42 and Aß40 in the brains of CatD-null (CatD-KO), heterozygous null (CatD-HET), and wild-type (WT) control mice. CatD-KO mice die by ~ 4 weeks of age, so tissues from younger mice, as well as embryonic neuronal cultures, were investigated. Enzymological assays and surface plasmon resonance were employed to quantify the kinetic parameters (KM, kcat) of CatD-mediated degradation of monomeric human Aß42 vs. Aß40, and the degradation of aggregated Aß42 species was also characterized. Competitive inhibition assays were used to interrogate the relative inhibition of full-length human and mouse Aß42 and Aß40, as well as corresponding p3 fragments. RESULTS: Genetic deletion of CatD resulted in 3- to 4-fold increases in insoluble, endogenous cerebral Aß42 and Aß40, exceeding the increases produced by deletion of an insulin-degrading enzyme, neprilysin or both, together with readily detectable intralysosomal deposits of endogenous Aß42-all by 3 weeks of age. Quite significantly, CatD-KO mice exhibited ~ 30% increases in Aß42/40 ratios, comparable to those induced by presenilin mutations. Mechanistically, the perturbed Aß42/40 ratios were attributable to pronounced differences in the kinetics of degradation of Aß42 vis-à-vis Aß40. Specifically, Aß42 shows a low-nanomolar affinity for CatD, along with an exceptionally slow turnover rate that, together, renders Aß42 a highly potent competitive inhibitor of CatD. Notably, the marked differences in the processing of Aß42 vs. Aß40 also extend to p3 fragments ending at positions 42 vs. 40. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings identify CatD as the principal intracellular Aß-degrading protease identified to date, one that regulates Aß42/40 ratios via differential degradation of Aß42 vs. Aß40. The finding that Aß42 is a potent competitive inhibitor of CatD suggests a possible mechanistic link between elevations in Aß42 and downstream pathological sequelae in AD.

Development and Characterization of Quantitative, High-Throughput-Compatible Assays for Proteolytic Degradation of Glucagon.

Glucagon is a vital peptide hormone involved in the regulation of blood sugar under fasting conditions. Although the processes underlying glucagon production and secretion are well understood, far less is known about its degradation, which could conceivably be manipulated pharmacologically for therapeutic benefit. We describe here the development of novel assays for glucagon degradation, based on fluoresceinated and biotinylated glucagon (FBG) labeled at the N- and C-termini, respectively. Proteolysis at any peptide bond within FBG separates the fluorescent label from the biotin tag, which can be quantified in multiple ways. In one method requiring no specialized equipment, intact FBG is separated from the cleaved fluoresceinated fragments using NeutrAvidin agarose beads, and hydrolysis is quantified by fluorescence. In an alternative, high-throughput-compatible method, the degree of hydrolysis is quantified using fluorescence polarization after addition of unmodified avidin. Using a known glucagon protease, we confirm that FBG is cleaved at similar sites as unmodified glucagon and use both methods to quantify the kinetic parameters of FBG degradation. We show further that the fluorescence polarization-based assay performs exceptionally well ( Z'-factor values >0.80) in a high-throughput, mix-and-measure format.

Mice lacking the transcriptional regulator Bhlhe40 have enhanced neuronal excitability and impaired synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.

Bhlhe40 is a transcription factor that is highly expressed in the hippocampus; however, its role in neuronal function is not well understood. Here, we used Bhlhe40 null mice on a congenic C57Bl6/J background (Bhlhe40 KO) to investigate the impact of Bhlhe40 on neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Bhlhe40 KO CA1 neurons had increased miniature excitatory post-synaptic current amplitude and decreased inhibitory post-synaptic current amplitude, indicating CA1 neuronal hyperexcitability. Increased CA1 neuronal excitability was not associated with increased seizure severity as Bhlhe40 KO relative to +/+ (WT) control mice injected with the convulsant kainic acid. However, significant reductions in long term potentiation and long term depression at CA1 synapses were observed in Bhlhe40 KO mice, indicating impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Behavioral testing for spatial learning and memory on the Morris Water Maze (MWM) revealed that while Bhlhe40 KO mice performed similarly to WT controls initially, when the hidden platform was moved to the opposite quadrant Bhlhe40 KO mice showed impairments in relearning, consistent with decreased hippocampal synaptic plasticity. To investigate possible mechanisms for increased neuronal excitability and decreased synaptic plasticity, a whole genome mRNA expression profile of Bhlhe40 KO hippocampus was performed followed by a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) screen of the validated candidate genes for Bhlhe40 protein-DNA interactions consistent with transcriptional regulation. Of the validated genes identified from mRNA expression analysis, insulin degrading enzyme (Ide) had the most significantly altered expression in hippocampus and was significantly downregulated on the RNA and protein levels; although Bhlhe40 did not occupy the Ide gene by ChIP-Seq. Together, these findings support a role for Bhlhe40 in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and that indirect regulation of Ide transcription may be involved in these phenotypes.

Peptidic inhibitors of insulin-degrading enzyme with potential for dermatological applications discovered via phage display.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is an atypical zinc-metalloendopeptidase that hydrolyzes insulin and other intermediate-sized peptide hormones, many of which are implicated in skin health and wound healing. Pharmacological inhibitors of IDE administered internally have been shown to slow the breakdown of insulin and thereby potentiate insulin action. Given the importance of insulin and other IDE substrates for a variety of dermatological processes, pharmacological inhibitors of IDE suitable for topical applications would be expected to hold significant therapeutic and cosmetic potential. Existing IDE inhibitors, however, are prohibitively expensive, difficult to synthesize and of undetermined toxicity. Here we used phage display to discover novel peptidic inhibitors of IDE, which were subsequently characterized in vitro and in cell culture assays. Among several peptide sequences tested, a cyclic dodecapeptide dubbed P12-3A was found to potently inhibit the degradation of insulin (Ki = 2.5 ± 0.31 µM) and other substrates by IDE, while also being resistant to degradation, stable in biological milieu, and highly selective for IDE. In cell culture, P12-3A was shown to potentiate several insulin-induced processes, including the transcription, translation and secretion of alpha-1 type I collagen in primary murine skin fibroblasts, and the migration of keratinocytes in a scratch wound migration assay. By virtue of its potency, stability, specificity for IDE, low cost of synthesis, and demonstrated ability to potentiate insulin-induced processes involved in wound healing and skin health, P12-3A holds significant therapeutic and cosmetic potential for topical applications.

In a randomized trial in prostate cancer patients, dietary protein restriction modifies markers of leptin and insulin signaling in plasma extracellular vesicles.

Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hyperleptinemia are associated with aging and age-associated diseases including prostate cancer. One experimental approach to inhibit tumor growth is to reduce dietary protein intake and hence levels of circulating amino acids. Dietary protein restriction (PR) increases insulin sensitivity and suppresses prostate cancer cell tumor growth in animal models, providing a rationale for clinical trials. We sought to demonstrate that biomarkers derived from plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) reflect systemic leptin and insulin signaling and respond to dietary interventions. We studied plasma samples from men with prostate cancer awaiting prostatectomy who participated in a randomized trial of one month of PR or control diet. We found increased levels of leptin receptor in the PR group in total plasma EVs and in a subpopulation of plasma EVs expressing the neuronal marker L1CAM. Protein restriction also shifted the phosphorylation status of the insulin receptor signal transducer protein IRS1 in L1CAM+ EVs in a manner suggestive of improved insulin sensitivity. Dietary PR modifies indicators of leptin and insulin signaling in circulating EVs. These findings are consistent with improved insulin and leptin sensitivity in response to PR and open a new window for following physiologic responses to dietary interventions in humans.

Walking speed decline in older adults is associated with elevated pro-BDNF in plasma extracellular vesicles.

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is produced by cleavage of proBDNF, and BDNF and proBDNF may play antagonistic roles in nervous system development, learning, memory and neuronal stress resistance. BDNF and proBDNF are present in blood, but the origin and relative contributions of soluble and extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated levels are unknown. METHODS: In this study we used validated immunoassays to measure proBDNF and BDNF levels in plasma, total plasma EVs and a subpopulation of EVs enriched for neuronal origin (expressing the neuronal marker L1CAM) in 150 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants with and without decline in walking speed (reflecting aging-associated motor decline). RESULTS: Levels of BDNF and proBDNF were highest in L1CAM+ EVs. Participants with walking speed decline had higher levels of proBDNF in L1CAM+ EVs compared to non-decliners, but no differences in proBDNF levels in plasma and total EV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that levels of proBDNF and BDNF in circulating L1CAM+ EVs might be used as biomarkers for conditions involving altered BDNF signaling.