Alphastatin-C a new inhibitor of endothelial cell activation is a pro-arteriogenic agent in vivo and retards B16-F10 melanoma growth in a preclinical model.

Most characterized angiogenic modulators are proteolytic fragments of structural plasma and/or matrix components. Herein, we have identified a novel anti-angiogenic peptide generated by the in vitro hydrolysis of the C-terminal moiety of the fibrinogen alpha chain, produced by the snake venom metalloprotease bothropasin (SVMP), a hemorrhagic proteinase in Bothrops jararaca venom. The 14-amino acids peptide (alphastatin-C) is a potent antagonist of basic fibroblast growth factor, induced endothelial cell (HUVEC-CS) proliferation, migration and capillary tube formation in matrigel. It also inhibits cell adhesion to fibronectin. The basis of the antagonism between bFGF and alphastatin-C is elucidated by the inhibition of various bFGF induced signaling pathways and their molecular components modification, whenever the combination of the stimuli is provided, in comparison to the treatment with bFGF only. To corroborate to the potential therapeutic use of alphastatin-C, we have chosen to perform in vivo assays in two distinct angiogenic settings. In chick model, alphastatin-C inhibits chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis. In mouse, it efficiently reduces tumor number and volume in a melanoma model, due to the impairment of tumor neovascularization in treated mice. In contrast, we show that the alphastatin-C peptide induces arteriogenesis, increasing pial collateral density in neonate mice. alphastatin-C is an efficient new antiangiogenic FGF-associated agent in vitro, it is an inhibitor of embryonic and tumor vascularization in vivo while, it is an arteriogenic agent. The results also suggest that SVMPs can be used as in vitro biochemical tools to process plasma and/or matrix macromolecular components unraveling new angiostatic peptides.

Isolation and characterization of a novel bradykinin potentiating peptide (BPP) from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis.

Bradykinin potentiating peptides (BPPs) from Bothrops jararaca venom were first described in the middle of 1960s and were the first natural inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). BPPs present a classical motif and can be recognized by their typical pyroglutamyl (Pyr)/proline rich sequences presenting, invariably, a proline residue at the C-terminus. In the present study, we describe the isolation and biological characterization of a novel BPP isolated from the skin secretion of the Brazilian tree-frog Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis. This new BPP, named Phypo Xa presents the sequence Pyr-Phe-Arg-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro and is able to potentiate bradykinin activities in vivo and in vitro, as well as efficiently and competitively inhibit ACE. This is the first canonical BPP (i.e. Pyr-Aaa(n)-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro) to be found not only in the frog skin but also in any other natural source other than the snake venoms.

Design, Immune Responses and Anti-Tumor Potential of an HPV16 E6E7 Multi-Epitope Vaccine.

Cervical cancer is a common type of cancer among women worldwide and infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPVs) types represents the major risk factor for the etiopathogenesis of the disease. HPV-16 is the most frequently identified HPV type in cervical lesions and expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins is required for the uncontrolled cellular proliferation. In the present study we report the design and experimental testing of a recombinant multi-epitope protein containing immunogenic epitopes of HPV-16 E6 and E7. Tumor preventive assays, based on the engraftment of TC-1 cells in mice, showed that the E6E7 multi-epitope protein induced a full preventive anti-tumor protection in wild-type mice, as well as in mice deficient in expression of CD4+ T cells and TLR4 receptor. Nonetheless, no anti-tumor protection was observed in mice deficient in CD8+ T cells. Also, the vaccine promoted high activation of E6/E7-specific T cells and in a therapeutic-approach, E6E7 protein conferred full anti-tumor protection in mice. These results show a potential use of this E6E7 multi-epitope antigen as a new and promising antigen for the development of a therapeutic vaccine against tumors induced by HPV.

Echinometrin: a novel mast cell degranulating peptide from the coelomic liquid of Echinometra lucunter sea urchin.

Echinometra lucunter is an abundant sea urchin found in Brazilian waters. Accidents caused by this animal are common and are characterized by the penetration of the spines in the skin, which raises an inflammatory reaction through mechanical trauma as well as by the presumable action of toxins. Additionally, there have been reports of inflammatory reaction after the consumption of raw sea urchin eggs. In this work, we have isolated a peptide from E. lucunter coelomic fluid that could elicit inflammatory reactions, such as paw edema, leukocyte recruitment and diminishment of the pain threshold. This peptide was termed Echinometrin. Moreover, the peptide administration was able to produce in vivo degranulation of mouse mast cells, in a dose-response manner. The peptide was 'de novo' sequenced by mass spectrometry and its synthetic analog could reproduce all the observed effects. Sequence alignment indicates that this peptide is comprised in vitellogenin, an abundant nutrient protein present in the gametogenic cells of sea urchins, making it possible that echinometrin would be a cryptide with pro-inflammatory effects.

Identification of new snake venom metalloproteinase inhibitors using compound screening and rational Peptide design.

The majority of snakebite envenomations in Central America are caused by the viperid species Bothrops asper, whose venom contains a high proportion of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases that play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhage characteristic of these envenomations. Broad metalloproteinase inhibitors, such as the peptidomimetic hydroxamate Batimastat, have been shown to inhibit snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP). However, the difficulty in having open public access to Batimastat and similar molecules highlights the need to design new inhibitors of SVMPs that could be applied in the treatment of snakebite envenomations. We have chosen the SVMP BaP1 as a model to search for new inhibitors using different strategies, that is, screening of the Prestwick Chemical Library and rational peptide design. Results from these approaches provide clues on the structural requirements for efficient BaP1 inhibition and pave the way for the design of new inhibitors of SVMP.