Blockade of experimental atopic dermatitis via topical NF-kappaB decoy oligonucleotide.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin inflammatory disease. Long-term use of topical corticosteroids in skin inflammation poses risks of systemic and local side effects. The NF-kappaB transcription factor family plays a central role in the progression and maintenance of AD. This study explores the possibility of using topical NF-kappaB Decoy as a novel therapeutic alternative for targeting Th1/Th2-driven skin inflammation in experimental AD. A high-affinity, topical NF-kappaB Decoy developed for human efficacy demonstrates: (i) efficient NF-kappaB Decoy penetration in pig skin, (ii) NF-kappaB Decoy nuclear localization in keratinocytes and key immune cells, and (iii) potent "steroid-like" efficacy in a chronic dust-mite antigen skin inflammation treatment model. NF-kappaB Decoy exerts its anti-inflammatory action through the effective inhibition of essential regulators of inflammation and by induction of apoptosis of key immune cells. Unlike betamethasone valerate (BMV), long-term NF-kappaB Decoy treatment does not induce skin atrophy. Moreover, topical NF-kappaB Decoy, in contrast to BMV, restores compromised stratum corneum integrity and barrier function. Steroid withdrawal causes rapid rebound of inflammation, while the NF-kappaB Decoy therapeutic benefit was maintained for weeks. Thus, topical NF-kappaB Decoy provides a novel mechanism of reducing chronic skin inflammation with improved skin homeostasis and minimal side effects.

Perlecan Domain V Inhibits Amyloid-ß Induced Activation of the α2ß1 Integrin-Mediated Neurotoxic Signaling Cascade.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal death, neurofibrillary tangles, and senile plaques. Amyloid-beta (Aß) is the major component of plaques and consists of two prominent isoforms, Aß40 and Aß42. As many risk factors for AD are vascular in origin and blood vessel defects in clearing Aß from the brain are a potential key component of AD pathology, we have focused on the neuron-blood vessel interface, and in particular, the vascular basement membrane, which coats blood vessels and physically separates them from neurons. A prominent component of the vascular basement membrane is the extracellular matrix proteoglycan perlecan. Domain V (DV) is the C-terminal domain and is generated by perlecan proteolysis. DV interacts with the α2 integrin and Aß is a ligand for both α2ß1 and αvß1. Due to the known interaction of DV with α2ß1 and α2ß1's requirement for Aß deposition and neurotoxicity, we hypothesized that DV and/or its C-terminal domain, LG3, might alter neurotoxic signaling pathways by directly blocking or otherwise interfering with α2ß1 binding by Aß. Our study suggests that α2ß1 mediates Aß-induced activation of c-Jun and caspase-3, key components of the neurotoxic pathway, in primary cortical and hippocampal neurons. We further demonstrate that DV and/or LG3 may therapeutically modulate these α2ß1 mediated neurotoxic effects suggesting that they or other α2ß1 integrin modulators could represent a novel approach to treat AD. Finally, our results suggest different neurotoxicity susceptibilities between cortical and hippocampal neurons to Aß40 and Aß42 as further underscored by differing neuroprotective potencies of LG3 in each cell type.

Perlecan domain V inhibits amyloid-ß induced brain endothelial cell toxicity and restores angiogenic function.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid-ß (Aß) deposits in the cerebrovasculature can result in neurovascular dysfunction and/or cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The accumulation of Aß in blood vessels can cause endothelial cell damage, resulting in impaired Aß clearance by the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, impaired endothelial cell function can result in decreased angiogenesis in the brains of AD patients, affecting cognitive function. VEGF is a crucial mediator of angiogenesis and is deficient in AD brains thus promoting angiogenesis could be an important component of successful AD treatment. The C-terminal portion of the extracellular matrix proteoglycan perlecan, Domain V (DV), promotes brain-derived endothelial cell proliferation and is proangiogenic in that it increases VEGFR2 expression and production of VEGF. In this study, we show that Aß25-35 reduces proliferation of a mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line (MBEC) in vitro and that DV and mouse LG3 (C-terminal fragment of DV) block these effects of Aß25-35. Additionally, we show that DV restores the ability of MBECs to form tube-like structures on Matrigel in the presence of Aß25-35 and that this is α5ß1 dependent. Interestingly, the reduction in tube-like structure formation by Aß25-35 was not due to endothelial cell death, suggesting that Aß25-35 induces the downregulation of a cell surface molecule required for adhesion events critical to the angiogenic process. We propose a model suggesting that DV works through both the α5ß1 integrin receptor and VEGFR2 to increase VEGF production, causing competition with Aß25-35 for VEGFR2 binding, thus ultimately increasing VEGF expression and restoring angiogenesis. This supports DV as a potential anti-amyloid therapy.

Perlecan Domain V induces VEGf secretion in brain endothelial cells through integrin α5ß1 and ERK-dependent signaling pathways.

Perlecan Domain V (DV) promotes brain angiogenesis by inducing VEGF release from brain endothelial cells (BECs) following stroke. In this study, we define the specific mechanism of DV interaction with the α(5)ß(1) integrin, identify the downstream signal transduction pathway, and further investigate the functional significance of resultant VEGF release. Interestingly, we found that the LG3 portion of DV, which has been suggested to possess most of DV's angio-modulatory activity outside of the brain, binds poorly to α(5)ß(1) and induces less BEC proliferation compared to full length DV. Additionally, we implicate DV's DGR sequence as an important element for the interaction of DV with α(5)ß(1). Furthermore, we investigated the importance of AKT and ERK signaling in DV-induced VEGF expression and secretion. We show that DV increases the phosphorylation of ERK, which leads to subsequent activation and stabilization of eIF4E and HIF-1α. Inhibition of ERK activity by U0126 suppressed DV-induced expression and secretion of VEGR in BECs. While DV was capable of phosphorylating AKT we show that AKT phosphorylation does not play a role in DV's induction of VEGF expression or secretion using two separate inhibitors, LY294002 and Akt IV. Lastly, we demonstrate that VEGF activity is critical for DV increases in BEC proliferation, as well as angiogenesis in a BEC-neuronal co-culture system. Collectively, our findings expand our understanding of DV's mechanism of action on BECs, and further support its potential as a novel stroke therapy.

Perlecan domain V inhibits α2 integrin-mediated amyloid-ß neurotoxicity.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide is a key component of amyloid plaques, one of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. Another feature is pronounced cell loss in the brain leading to an enlargement of the ventricular area and a decrease in brain weight and volume. Aß plaque deposition and neuronal toxicity can be modeled by treating human cortical neuronal cultures with Aß and showing robust Aß deposition and neurotoxicity that is mediated by α2ß1 and αvß1 integrins. The current study expands on these findings by showing that the domain V of perlecan, a known α2 integrin ligand, inhibits Aß neurotoxicity in an α2 integrin-dependent manner. Additionally, Aß binds more efficiently to cells expressing activated α2 integrin. Finally the inhibition of Aß neurotoxicity with domain V is synergistic with inhibitors of αv integrin and ß1 integrin. We propose that domain V and potentially other α2 integrin ligands could be a new therapeutic approach for inhibiting the Aß plaque deposition and neurotoxicity observed in Alzheimer's disease.

Picoplatin overcomes resistance to cell toxicity in small-cell lung cancer cells previously treated with cisplatin and carboplatin.

PURPOSE: Picoplatin is a new generation platinum designed to overcome platinum resistance. The goal of this study was to assess picoplatin anti-tumor activity and measure various cellular parameters in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells resistant to cell killing by cisplatin and carboplatin. METHODS: We developed several platinum-resistant SCLC cell lines to evaluate picoplatin activity and drug resistance mechanisms in vitro. Drug cytotoxicity was measured by MTS assay. Total cellular platinum accumulation was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Whole genome gene expression profiling was carried out by microarray analysis. RESULTS: Picoplatin retained significant cytotoxic activity in platinum-resistant SCLC lines compared to cisplatin and carboplatin. Cellular picoplatin accumulation in platinum-resistant and parental cells was high relative to levels of cellular platinum found in the same cell lines after cisplatin or carboplatin treatment. Gene expression analyses revealed substantial differences in gene expression and highlighted specific annotation clusters in carboplatin-resistant cells. In addition, a similar gene expression pattern was observed in picoplatin-treated carboplatin-resistant and parental cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that picoplatin can overcome carboplatin and cisplatin resistance. The results suggest decreased platinum accumulation as a potential mechanism of platinum resistance in SCLC cells, provide candidate markers (e.g. several genes in the Hox, glutathione biosynthetic process, and MAGE families) that may serve as signatures for platinum resistance, support distinct effects of picoplatin on SCLC cells compared to other platinums, and provide a rationale to develop picoplatin for the treatment of recurrent SCLC following initial therapy with cisplatin or carboplatin.

Perlecan domain V is neuroprotective and proangiogenic following ischemic stroke in rodents.

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. While most research thus far has focused on acute stroke treatment and neuroprotection, the exploitation of endogenous brain self-repair mechanisms may also yield therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe a distinct type of stroke treatment, the naturally occurring extracellular matrix fragment of perlecan, domain V, which we found had neuroprotective properties and enhanced post-stroke angiogenesis, a key component of brain repair, in rodent models of stroke. In both rat and mouse models, Western blot analysis revealed elevated levels of perlecan domain V. When systemically administered 24 hours after stroke, domain V was well tolerated, reached infarct and peri-infarct brain vasculature, and restored stroke-affected motor function to baseline pre-stroke levels in these multiple stroke models in both mice and rats. Post-stroke domain V administration increased VEGF levels via a mechanism involving brain endothelial cell α5ß1 integrin, and the subsequent neuroprotective and angiogenic actions of domain V were in turn mediated via VEGFR. These results suggest that perlecan domain V represents a promising approach for stroke treatment.

Endostatin binds nerve growth factor and thereby inhibits neurite outgrowth and neuronal migration in-vitro.

Endostatin (ES), the C-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII known for its anti-angiogenic properties, is associated with neurological diseases in mammals. In this study, we investigated the effect of ES on nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neuronal differentiation, migration, neuritogenesis, and neurite extension. ES partially inhibited PC12 cell differentiation and cerebellar granule cell migration. In addition, neurite outgrowth was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was also matrix-dependent, as we observed better inhibition on PC12 cells grown on collagen compared to laminin matrices. Furthermore, we observed partial NGF depletion by collagen and ES, but not by laminin suggesting that NGF-matrix interactions may be important for promoting neuritogenesis, competitive inhibition by ES or low affinity matrix impairs PC12 differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Finally, using a biosensor technique, we demonstrated a direct interaction between NGF and ES suggesting the mechanism of action of ES may involve NGF sequestration. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of ES on different steps of neurogenesis including cell differentiation and migration and neuritogenesis by NGF sequestration. Such sequestration may compromise brain repair following injury, but also may play important role in axon finding as well as a potent therapeutical target in diseases involving abnormal elevated neurotrophic growth factor levels. Taken together, this study raises the consideration of ES as a double-edge sword that carries both deleterious and putative therapeutical effects.

Non-viral delivery of nuclear factor-kappaB decoy ameliorates murine inflammatory bowel disease and restores tissue homeostasis.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a key transcriptional regulator of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIM: To investigate the therapeutic potential of a locally administered "non-viral" nuclear factor-kappaB decoy (NFkappaBD) in multiple experimental models of IBD. METHODS: A fully phosphorothioated decoy oligonucleotide with improved stability that specifically binds NF-kappaB and blocks inflammatory mediators regulated by this transcription factor without the help of viral envelope-assisted delivery was developed. The therapeutic effects of NFkappaBD were studied in the trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid, oxazolone and dextran sodium sulphate induced colitis models. RESULTS: Intracolonic administration of NFkappaBD results in the delivery of NFkappaBD to inflammatory cells and a reduction of NF-kappaB heterodimers. In the T helper cell 1-driven trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis model, mice receiving NFkappaBD treatment exhibit a dose-dependent reduction in disease severity and a more rapid recovery to normal body weight, similar to a clinically relevant dose of budesonide. Clinical efficacy was corroborated by considerable reductions in colitis pathology and tissue levels of several pro-inflammatory markers, including tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, interleukin 1beta and monocyte chemotactic protein 1. NFkappaBD also mitigates disease activity in the T helper cell 2-like oxazolone colitis and epithelial injury-related acute dextran sodium sulphate colitis models. Interestingly, restoration of tissue homeostasis is observed in NFkappaBD-treated animals with the rapid re-emergence of functional goblet cells and a return to normal patterns of cell proliferation in the mucosal epithelium and smooth muscle cell layers. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the potential use of "naked" NFkappaBD as a cross-functional therapeutic in IBD, and show for the first time that it can facilitate the restoration of colon homeostasis and function.

A receptor for the heterodimeric cytokine IL-23 is composed of IL-12Rbeta1 and a novel cytokine receptor subunit, IL-23R.

IL-23 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of the IL-12p40 "soluble receptor" subunit and a novel cytokine-like subunit related to IL-12p35, termed p19. Human and mouse IL-23 exhibit some activities similar to IL-12, but differ in their capacities to stimulate particular populations of memory T cells. Like IL-12, IL-23 binds to the IL-12R subunit IL-12Rbeta1. However, it does not use IL-12Rbeta2. In this study, we identify a novel member of the hemopoietin receptor family as a subunit of the receptor for IL-23, "IL-23R." IL-23R pairs with IL-12Rbeta1 to confer IL-23 responsiveness on cells expressing both subunits. Human IL-23, but not IL-12, exhibits detectable affinity for human IL-23R. Anti-IL-12Rbeta1 and anti-IL-23R Abs block IL-23 responses of an NK cell line and Ba/F3 cells expressing the two receptor chains. IL-23 activates the same Jak-stat signaling molecules as IL-12: Jak2, Tyk2, and stat1, -3, -4, and -5, but stat4 activation is substantially weaker and different DNA-binding stat complexes form in response to IL-23 compared with IL-12. IL-23R associates constitutively with Jak2 and in a ligand-dependent manner with stat3. The ability of cells to respond to IL-23 or IL-12 correlates with expression of IL-23R or IL-12Rbeta2, respectively. The human IL-23R gene is on human chromosome 1 within 150 kb of IL-12Rbeta2.