A platform for discovery of functional cell-penetrating peptides for efficient multi-cargo intracellular delivery.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) offer great potential to deliver therapeutic molecules to previously inaccessible intracellular targets. However, many CPPs are inefficient and often leave their attached cargo stranded in the cell's endosome. We report a versatile platform for the isolation of peptides delivering a wide range of cargos into the cytoplasm of cells. We used this screening platform to identify multiple "Phylomer" CPPs, derived from bacterial and viral genomes. These peptides are amenable to conventional sequence optimization and engineering approaches for cell targeting and half-life extension. We demonstrate potent, functional delivery of protein, peptide, and nucleic acid analog cargos into cells using Phylomer CPPs. We validate in vivo activity in the cytoplasm, through successful transport of an oligonucleotide therapeutic fused to a Phylomer CPP in a disease model for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. This report thus establishes a discovery platform for identifying novel, functional CPPs to expand the delivery landscape of druggable intracellular targets for biological therapeutics.

Lipoprotein metabolism in an apoB-80 familial hypobetalipoproteinemia heterozygote.

OBJECTIVE: Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is characterized by mutations in APOB, the majority of these causing protein truncations, and low plasma levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B. The hypobetalipoproteinemia may be due to enhanced clearance and possibly reduced production of apoB-containing lipoproteins; the mechanism may depend on the length of the apoB truncation. We studied fasting lipoprotein metabolism in an FHBL subject heterozygous for a mutation causing a truncated apoB, apoB-80. DESIGN AND METHODS: Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)-, and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apoB kinetics were determined in the fasting state using stable isotope methods and compartmental modeling. RESULTS: Compared with lean normolipidemic controls the apoB-80 FHBL subject had an elevated VLDL-apoB fractional catabolic rate and lower LDL production. ApoB production rates and IDL- and LDL-apoB fractional catabolic rates were not different. CONCLUSION: FHBL subjects heterozygous for a mutation truncating apoB to 80% of full-length are able to produce VLDL-apoB normally, but have rapid clearance of these particles, resulting in low levels of circulating apoB.

Lipoprotein Metabolism in APOB L343V Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia.

CONTEXT: Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is a codominant disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterized by decreased plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the effect of heterozygous APOB L343V FHBL on postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) and fasting lipoprotein metabolism. METHODS: Plasma incremental area under the curve apoB-48 and apoB-48 kinetics were determined after ingestion of a standardized oral fat load using compartmental modeling. Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL)-, and LDL-apoB kinetics were determined in the fasting state using stable isotope methods and compartmental modeling. RESULTS: The postprandial incremental area under the curve (0-10 h) in FHBL subjects (n = 3) was lower for large TRL-triglyceride (-77%; P < .0001), small TRL-cholesterol (-83%; P < .001), small TRL-triglyceride (-88%; P < .001), and for plasma triglyceride (-70%; P < .01) and apoB (-63%; P < .0001) compared with controls. Compartmental analysis showed that apoB-48 production was lower (-91%; P < .05) compared with controls. VLDL-apoB concentrations in FHBL subjects (n = 2) were lower by more than 75% compared with healthy, normolipidemic control subjects (P < .01). The VLDL-apoB fractional catabolic rate (FCR) was more than 5-fold higher in the FHBL subjects (P = .07). ApoB production rates and IDL- and LDL-apoB FCRs were not different between FHBL subjects and controls. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that when compared to controls, APOB L343V FHBL heterozygotes show lower TRL production with normal postprandial TRL particle clearance. In contrast, VLDL-apoB production was normal, whereas the FCR was higher in heterozygotes compared with lean control subjects. These mechanisms account for the marked hypolipidemic state observed in these FHBL subjects.

Progressive decrease of amyloid precursor protein carboxy terminal fragments (APP-CTFs), associated with tau pathology stages, in Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) dysfunction is a key aetiologic agent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The processing of this transmembrane protein generates carboxy terminal fragments (CTFs) upstream of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) production. The physiologic significance of APP-CTFs is still poorly understood, as well as the relationship that could link APP dysfunction and tau pathology in familial and non-familial AD (non-FAD). In the present study, we have investigated the quantitative and qualitative changes of APP-CTFs in different brain areas of non-demented and demented patients from a prospective and multidisciplinary study. A significant decrease of the five APP-CTFs was observed, which correlated well with the progression of tau pathology, in most cases with infraclinical AD and AD, either familial or non-FAD. Furthermore, solubility properties and the ratio between the five bands were also modified, both in the Triton-soluble and/or -insoluble fractions. Together, we show here for the first time a modification directly observed on APP-CTFs upstream of Abeta products and its relationship with tau pathology, which could reflect the basic aetiological mechanisms of AD.