Targeting ferritin receptors for the selective delivery of imaging and therapeutic agents to breast cancer cells.

In this work the selective uptake of native horse spleen ferritin and apoferritin loaded with MRI contrast agents has been assessed in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The higher expression of L-ferritin receptors (SCARA5) led to an enhanced uptake in MCF-7 as shown in T2 and T1 weighted MR images, respectively. The high efficiency of ferritin internalization in MCF-7 has been exploited for the simultaneous delivery of curcumin, a natural therapeutic molecule endowed with antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory action, and the MRI contrast agent Gd-HPDO3A. This theranostic system is able to treat selectively breast cancer cells over-expressing ferritin receptors. By entrapping in apoferritin both Gd-HPDO3A and curcumin, it was possible to deliver a therapeutic dose of 167 µg ml(-1) (as calculated by MRI) of this natural drug to MCF-7 cells, thus obtaining a significant reduction of cell proliferation.

Evaluation of the dose enhancement of combined ¹°B + ¹57Gd neutron capture therapy (NCT).

An innovative molecule, GdBLDL, for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been developed and its effectiveness as a BNCT carrier is currently under evaluation using in vivo experiments on small animal tumour models. The molecule contains both (10)B (the most commonly used NCT agent) and (157)Gd nuclei. (157)Gd is the second most studied element to perform NCT, mainly thanks to its high cross section for the capture of low-energy neutrons. The main drawback of (157)Gd neutron capture reaction is the very short range and low-energy secondary charged particles (Auger electrons), which requires (157)Gd to be very close to the cellular DNA to have an appreciable biological effect. Treatment doses were calculated by Monte Carlo simulations to ensure the optimised tumour irradiation and the sparing of the healthy organs of the irradiated animals. The enhancement of the absorbed dose due to the simultaneous presence of (10)B and (157)Gd in the experimental set-up was calculated and the advantage introduced by the presence of (157)Gd was discussed.

WIP null mice display a progressive immunological disorder that resembles Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked immunodeficiency syndrome caused by mutations in the WAS protein (WASP). This participates in signalling and cytoskeletal homoeostasis, and some of its activities are regulated by its binding to the WASP interacting protein (WIP). WIP deficiency, however, has not yet been shown to be of pathological significance in humans. Here we show that, in WIP null (WIP(-/-)) mice, it produces haematological alterations and anatomical abnormalities in several organs, most probably as a consequence of autoimmune attacks. Granulocytosis and severe lymphopenia are associated with a proportional increase in segmented cells and fewer bone marrow erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Splenomegaly is accompanied by an increase of haematopoietic tissue and red pulp, reduction of the white pulp, and fewer B (B220(+)) lymphocytes (also apparent in the lymph nodes and Peyer's patches). Ulcerative colitis, interstitial pneumonitis, glomerular nephropathy with IgA deposits, autoantibodies, and joint inflammation are also evident. These progressive immunological disorders closely mimic those seen in WAS. WIP deficiency may thus be implicated in some cases in which mutations in the gene encoding WASP are not detected.