Genetically Engineered Cell-Derived Nanoparticles for Targeted Breast Cancer Immunotherapy.

Exosomes are nanosized membranous vesicles secreted by a variety of cells. Due to their unique and pharmacologically important properties, cell-derived exosome nanoparticles have drawn significant interest for drug development. By genetically modifying exosomes with two distinct types of surface-displayed monoclonal antibodies, we have developed an exosome platform termed synthetic multivalent antibodies retargeted exosome (SMART-Exo) for controlling cellular immunity. Here, we apply this approach to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-expressing breast cancer by engineering exosomes through genetic display of both anti-human CD3 and anti-human HER2 antibodies, resulting in SMART-Exos dually targeting T cell CD3 and breast cancer-associated HER2 receptors. By redirecting and activating cytotoxic T cells toward attacking HER2-expressing breast cancer cells, the designed SMART-Exos exhibited highly potent and specific anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. This work demonstrates preclinical feasibility of utilizing endogenous exosomes for targeted breast cancer immunotherapy and the SMART-Exos as a broadly applicable platform technology for the development of next-generation immuno-nanomedicines.

Integrated Multi-Class Classification and Prediction of GPCR Allosteric Modulators by Machine Learning Intelligence.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse group of cell surface receptors that respond to various extracellular signals. The allosteric modulation of GPCRs has emerged in recent years as a promising approach for developing target-selective therapies. Moreover, the discovery of new GPCR allosteric modulators can greatly benefit the further understanding of GPCR cell signaling mechanisms. It is critical but also challenging to make an accurate distinction of modulators for different GPCR groups in an efficient and effective manner. In this study, we focus on an 11-class classification task with 10 GPCR subtype classes and a random compounds class. We used a dataset containing 34,434 compounds with allosteric modulators collected from classical GPCR families A, B, and C, as well as random drug-like compounds. Six types of machine learning models, including support vector machine, naïve Bayes, decision tree, random forest, logistic regression, and multilayer perceptron, were trained using different combinations of features including molecular descriptors, Atom-pair fingerprints, MACCS fingerprints, and ECFP6 fingerprints. The performances of trained machine learning models with different feature combinations were closely investigated and discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on the multi-class classification of GPCR allosteric modulators. We believe that the classification models developed in this study can be used as simple and accurate tools for the discovery and development of GPCR allosteric modulators.

Comparison of Pinoresinol and its Diglucoside on their ADME Properties and Vasorelaxant Effects on Phenylephrine-Induced Model.

Pinoresinol (PINL) and pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG), two natural lignans found in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (Duzhong), have several pharmacological activities. However, there is no report available on their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) properties. Given the possible wide spectrum of their application in therapeutic areas, this area should be investigated. This work studied the in vitro ADME properties of PDG and PINL, including their kinetic solubility, permeability across monolayer cells (PAMPA), protein binding, and metabolic stabilities in liver microsomes. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study and in vitro vasorelaxant effects on isolated phenylephrine-induced aortic rings of PINL and PDG were also investigated. It was found that both of their kinetic solubility in PBS (pH 7.4) was greater than 100 µM, indicating that they are both soluble compounds. The permeability investigations (P eff ) by PAMPA indicated that PINL had higher permeability than PDG (p < 0.05). Both components represented moderate plasma protein binding activities (average binding rate in human plasma: PINL 89.03%, PDG 45.21%) and low metabolic rate (t 1/2 in human liver microsome: PINL 1509.5 min, PDG 1004.8 min). Furthermore, the results of pharmacokinetic studies indicated that PINL might be eliminated less quickly than PDG from the rat plasma, and its cumulative urinary excretion was much lower than that of PDG. The phenylephrine-induced aortic rings demonstrated concentration-dependent vasorelaxation in PDG, PINL, or their combination group. The vasorelaxant effects of PINL were more obvious than those of PDG, whereas the vasorelaxant effect of the combinations was significantly better than that of the single component (p < 0.05). The similarity or difference between PINL and its diglucoside in these pharmaceutical aspects may offer valuable insights into the further exploration of lignans and might contribute to relevant studies involving natural products with similar molecular structure and their glucosides.

Expanding the toolbox of exosome-based modulators of cell functions.

Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles and play important roles in mediating intercellular communications. Due to their unique advantages in transporting a variety of biomolecules, exosomes have been emerging as a new class of nanocarriers with great potential for therapeutic applications. Despite advancements in loading chemotherapeutics and interfering RNAs into exosomes, active incorporation of protein molecules into exosomes remains challenging owing to their distinctive physicochemical properties and/or a lack of knowledge of cargo sorting during exosome biogenesis. Here we report the generation of a novel type of engineered exosomes with actively incorporated membrane proteins or soluble protein cargos, named genetically infused functionally tailored exosomes (GIFTed-Exos). Through genetic fusion with exosome-associated tetraspanin CD9, transmembrane protein CD70 and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related ligand (GITRL) could be displayed on exosome surface, resulting in GIFTed-Exos with excellent T-cell co-stimulatory activities. By genetically linking to a CD9-photocleavable protein fusion, fluorescent protein mCherry, apoptosis-inducing protein apoptin, and antioxidant enzyme catalase could be effectively packed into exosomes for light-controlled release. The generated GIFTed-Exos display notable in vitro and in vivo activities for delivering distinct types of protein cargos to target cells. As a possibly general approach, GIFTed-Exos provide new opportunities to create exosomes with new functions and properties for biomedical research.

Site-specific antibody-drug conjugates with variable drug-to-antibody-ratios for AML therapy.

Random conjugations of chemotherapeutics to monoclonal antibodies result in heterogeneous antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with suboptimal pharmacological properties. We recently developed a new technology for facile generation of homogeneous ADCs by harnessing human CD38 catalytic domain and its dinucleotide-derived covalent inhibitor, termed ADP-ribosyl cyclase-enabled ADCs (ARC-ADCs). Herein we advance this technology by designing and synthesizing ARC-ADCs with customizable drug-to-antibody ratios (DARs). Through varying numbers and locations of CD38 fused to an antibody targeting human C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (hCLL-1), ARC-ADCs featuring DARs of 2 and 4 were rapidly generated via a single step with cytotoxic monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) as payloads. In contrast to anti-hCLL-1 ARC-ADC carrying 2 drug molecules, anti-hCLL-1 ARC-ADC with a DAR of 4 shows highly potent activity in killing hCLL-1-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells both in vitro and in vivo. This work provides novel ADC candidates for combating AML and supports ARC-ADC as a general and versatile approach for producing site-specific ADCs with defined DARs.

Binding Characterization of GPCRs-Modulator by Molecular Complex Characterizing System (MCCS).

Increasing attention has been devoted to allosteric modulators as the preferred therapeutic agents for their colossal advantages such as higher selectivity, fewer side effects, and lower toxicity since they bind at allosteric sites that are topographically distinct from the classic orthosteric sites. However, the allosteric binding pockets are not conserved and there are no cogent methods to comprehensively characterize the features of allosteric sites with the binding of modulators. To overcome this limitation, our lab has developed a novel algorithm that can quantitatively characterize the receptor-ligand binding feature named Molecular Complex Characterizing System (MCCS). To illustrate the methodology and application of MCCS, we take G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) as an example. First, we summarized and analyzed the reported allosteric binding pockets of class A GPCRs using MCCS. Sequentially, a systematic study was conducted between cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and its allosteric modulators, where we used MCCS to analyze the residue energy contribution and the interaction pattern. Finally, we validated the predicted allosteric binding site in CB2 via MCCS in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our results demonstrate that the MCCS program is advantageous in recapitulating the allosteric regulation pattern of class A GPCRs of the reported pockets as well as in predicting potential allosteric binding pockets. This MCCS program can serve as a valuable tool for the discovery of small-molecule allosteric modulators for class A GPCRs.

Macrophage-based nanotherapeutic strategies in ulcerative colitis.

Macrophages, an important component of the innate immune response, are a key regulator of intestinal microenvironment homeostasis. These cells essentially contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases due to their strong plasticity. As is known, ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory disease, is closely related to immune dysfunction. A growing body of evidence suggests that the macrophage is a promising drug target for modulating the intestinal immune systems and regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, thus alleviating the inflammatory responses in UC. The macrophage-based therapy strategies for UC are still at an emerging stage. The advanced drug delivery systems can improve the macrophage-based therapy. This article will review the molecular mechanisms related to macrophage polarization and the interactions between signaling pathways that regulate the pathogenesis of UC and summarize the macrophage-based nanotherapeutic strategies in UC.

Potential therapeutic effects of Cordyceps cicadae and Paecilomyces cicadae on adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats and their phytochemical analysis.

BACKGROUND: Natural Cordyceps cicadae (C. cicadae) has been utilized extensively in traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic renal diseases, heart palpitations, infantile convulsions, and dizziness. However, given its slow growth and immoderate exploitation, C. cicadae resources have been severely depleted. By contrast, Paecilomyces cicadae (P. cicadae), as the anamorph stage of C. cicadae, is easy to cultivate, and this kind of cultivated P. cicadae has good and controllable quality. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of C. cicadae and P. cicadae on adenine-induced chronic renal failure (CRF) rats. In accordance with the aforementioned studies, our work subsequently analyzed the intrinsic relationships between the efficacy and pharmacodynamic substances of C. cicadae and P. cicadae to conclude whether or not P. cicadae could be used as an alternative to C. cicadae in treating CRF. METHODS: Rats were administered with C. cicadae (1.0 g/kg) or P. cicadae (1.0 g/kg) by gavage for 4 weeks. Furthermore, we applied Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry to comprehensively detect and analyze the chemical constituent differences from ten batches each of C. cicadae and P. cicadae. RESULTS: This study revealed that both C. cicadae and P. cicadae exerted obvious therapeutic effects on CRF and were more consistent with their chemical compositions. CONCLUSION: P. cicadae can be used as an alternative to C. cicadae for treating CRF to cater to market demands.