Search

The dual-targeted immunogene therapy that inhibits PD-L1 and provides IL-2 can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of cancer vaccine., While immunotherapy holds great promise for combating cancer, the limited efficacy due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and systemic toxicity hinder the broader application of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report a combinatorial immunotherapy approach that uses a highly efficient and tumor-selective gene carrier to improve anticancer efficacy and circumvent the systemic toxicity. In this study, we engineered tumor-targeted lipid-dendrimer-calcium-phosphate (TT-LDCP) nanoparticles (NPs) with thymine-functionalized dendrimers that exhibit not only enhanced gene delivery capacity but also immune adjuvant properties by activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING)–cGAS pathway. TT-LDCP NPs delivered siRNA against immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 and immunostimulatory IL-2–encoding plasmid DNA to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), increased tumoral infiltration and activation of CD8+ T cells, augmented the efficacy of cancer vaccine immunotherapy, and suppressed HCC progression. Our work presents nanotechnology-enabled dual delivery of siRNA and plasmid DNA that selectively targets and reprograms the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). TRC8 is an ER-resident E3 ligase with roles in modulating lipid and protein biosynthesis. In this study we showed that TRC8 expression was downregulated in steatotic livers of patients and mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD) or a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet. To investigate the impact of TRC8 downregulation on steatosis and the progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), we placed TRC8 knockout (KO) mice and wild type (WT) controls on a HFD or MCD diet and the severities of steatosis and NASH developed were compared. We found that TRC8 deficiency did not significantly affect diet-induced steatosis. Nevertheless, MCD diet-induced NASH as characterized by hepatocyte death, inflammation and fibrosis were exacerbated in TRC8-KO mice. The hepatic ER stress response, as evidenced by increased eIF2α phosphorylation and expression of ATF4 and CHOP, and the level of activated caspase 3, an apoptosis indicator, were augmented by TRC8 deficiency. The hepatic ER stress and NASH induced in mice could be ameliorated by adenovirus-mediated hepatic TRC8 overexpression. Mechanistically, we found that TRC8 deficiency augmented lipotoxic-stress-induced unfolded protein response in hepatocytes by attenuating the arrest of protein translation and the misfolded protein degradation. These findings disclose a crucial role of TRC8 in the maintenance of ER protein homeostasis and its downregulation in steatotic liver contributes to the progression of NAFLD.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration play a key role in the development of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a redox-sensitive β-galactoside-binding lectin expressed in VSMCs with intracellular and extracellular localizations. Here we show that VSMCs deficient in Gal-1 (Gal-1-KO) exhibited greater motility than wild type (WT) cells. Likewise, Gal-1-KO-VSMC migration was inhibited by a redox-insensitive but activity-preserved Gal-1 (CSGal-1) in a glycan-dependent manner. Gal-1-KO-VSMCs adhered slower than WT cells on fibronectin. Cell spreading and focal adhesion (FA) formation examined by phalloidin and vinculin staining were less in Gal-1-KO-VSMCs. Concomitantly, FA kinase (FAK) phosphorylation was induced to a lower extent in Gal-1-KO cells. Analysis of FA dynamics by nocodazole washout assay demonstrated that FA disassembly, correlated with FAK de-phosphorylation, was faster in Gal-1-KO-VSMCs. Surface plasmon resonance assay demonstrated that CSGal-1 interacted with α5β1integrin and fibronectin in a glycan-dependent manner. Chemical crosslinking experiment and atomic force microscopy further revealed the involvement of extracellular Gal-1 in strengthening VSMC-fibronectin interaction. In vivo experiment showed that carotid ligation-induced neointimal hyperplasia was more severe in Gal-1-KO mice than WT counterparts. Collectively, these data disclose that Gal-1 restricts VSMC migration by modulating cell-matrix interaction and focal adhesion turnover, which limits neointimal formation post vascular injury.

Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant nonenzymatic antioxidant in living systems, actively scavenges various exogenous/endogenous oxidizing species, defending important biomolecules against oxidative damages. Although it is well established that the antioxidant activity of GSH originates from the cysteinyl thiol (-SH) group, the molecular origin that makes the thiol group of GSH a stronger reducing agent than other thiol-containing proteins is unclear. To gain insights into the molecular basis underlying GSH's superior antioxidant capability, here we report, for the first time, the valence electronic structures of solvated GSH in the aqueous aerosol form via the aerosol vacuum ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy technique. The pH-dependent electronic evolution of GSH is obtained, and the possible correlations between GSH and its constituting amino acids are interrogated. The valence band maxima (VBMs) for GSH aqueous aerosols are found at 7.81, 7.61, 7.52, and 5.51 ± 0.10 eV at a pH of 1.00, 2.74, 7.00, and 12.00, respectively, which appear to be lower than the values of their corresponding hybrid counterparts collectively contributed from the three isolated constituting amino acids of GSH. An additional photoelectron feature is observed for GSH aqueous aerosols at pH = 12.00, where the thiol group on its Cys residue becomes deprotonated and the relatively well-separated feature allows its vertical ionization energy (VIE) to be determined as 6.70 ± 0.05 eV. Compared to a VIE of 6.97 ± 0.05 eV obtained for a similar thiolate feature observed previously for isolated Cys aqueous aerosols ( Su et al. VUV Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Cysteine Aqueous Aerosols: A Microscopic View of Its Nucleophilicity at Varying pH Conditions . J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015 , 6 , 817 - 823 ), a 0.27 eV reduction in the VIE is found for GSH, indicating that the outermost electron corresponding to the nonbonding electron on the thiolate group can be removed more readily from the GSH tripeptide than that from Cys alone. The possible origins underlying the decrease in the VBM of GSH with respect to that of each corresponding hybrid counterpart and the decrease in the VIE of the thiolate feature of GSH with respect to that of the isolated Cys are discussed, providing hints to understand the superior antioxidant capability of GSH from a molecular level.

Angiogenesis plays a primary role in tumor growth and metastasis. Angiostatin, a proteolytic fragment containing the first four kringle domains of human plasminogen, can inhibit angiogenesis. The anti-angiogenic activities of kringle 1-5 (K(1-5)) and kringle 5 fragments of plasminogen are greater than angiostatin in inhibiting angiogenesis and angiogenesis-dependent tumor growth. To further optimize kringle fragment anti-angiogenic activities, mutations were created at the potential glycosylation sites Asn-289 and Thr-346 and the Lys binding site, Leu-532, at kringle 5, including K(1-5)N289A (replacing Asn by Ala at residue 289), K(1-5)T346A, K(1-5)L532R, K(1-5)N289A/T346A, K(1-5)T346A/L532R, K(1-5)N289A/L532R, and K(1-5)N289A/T346A/L532R. Wild-type and mutant K(1-5) proteins were expressed successfully by the Pichia pastoris expression system. Native K(1-5) from proteolytic cleavage and wild-type K(1-5) have similar activity in inhibiting basic fibroblast growth factor-induced endothelial cell proliferation. Among these mutated proteins, K(1-5)N289A/T346A/L532R exhibited the greatest effect in inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation and in inducing endothelial cell apoptosis. Integrin alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated adhesion of K(1-5)N289A/T346A/L532R to endothelial cells was more greatly enhanced when compared to wild type K(1-5). Furthermore, K(1-5)N289A/T346A/L532R was most potent in inhibiting basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel assay in vivo. Angiogenesis-dependent tumor growth was inhibited by systemically injected K(1-5)N289A/T346A/L532R into mice. These results demonstrate that alteration of glycosylation and Lys binding properties could increase the anti-angiogenic action of K(1-5), possibly via enhanced interaction with integrin alpha(v)beta(3) in endothelial cells.

Cysteine (Cys) is unique due to its highly reactive thiol group. It often regulates the biological function of proteins by acting as the redox site. Despite its biological significance, however, the valence electronic structure of Cys under the aqueous environments remains unavailable. Here, we report the VUV photoelectron spectroscopy of Cys aqueous aerosols via a newly built aerosol VUV photoelectron spectroscopy apparatus. The photoelectron spectra of Cys show distinct band shapes at varying pH conditions, reflecting the altered molecular orbital characters when its dominating form changes. The ionization energy of Cys is determined to be 8.98 ± 0.05 eV at low pH. A new feature at a binding energy of 6.97 ± 0.05 eV is observed at high pH, suggesting that the negative charge on the thiolate group becomes the first electron to be removed upon ionization. This work implies that when Cys is involved in redox processes, the charge transfer mechanism may be entirely altered under different pH conditions.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a heme degradation enzyme with antioxidant and immune-modulatory functions. HO-1 promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Whether HO-1 has an effect on cancer progression through stromal compartments is less clear. Here we show that the growth of tumor engrafted subcutaneously in syngeneic mice was not affected by host HO-1 expression. However, lung metastasis arisen from subcutaneous tumor or circulating tumor cells was significantly reduced in HO-1(+/-) mice comparing to wild type (WT) mice. The reduced lung metastasis was also observed in B6 mice bearing HO-1(+/-) bone marrow as comparing to WT chimeras, indicating that HO-1 expression in hematopoietic cells impacts tumor colonization at the metastatic site. Further experiments demonstrated that the numbers of myeloid cells recruited to pulmonary premetastatic niches and metastatic loci were significantly lower in HO-1(+/-) mice than in WT mice. Likewise, the extents of tumor cell extravasation and colonization at the metastatic loci in the early phase of metastasis were significantly lower in HO-1(+/-) mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that HO-1 impacted chemoattractant-induced myeloid cell migration by modulating p38 kinase signaling. Moreover, myeloid HO-1-induced expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-10 promoted tumor cell transendothelial migration and STAT3 activation in vitro. These data support a pathological role of myeloid HO-1 in metastasis and suggest a possibility of targeting myeloid HO-1 for cancer treatment.

Kringle 1-5 (K1-5), an endogenous proteolytic fragment of human plasminogen (Plg), is an angiostatin-related protein that inhibits angiogenesis. Many angiostatin-related proteins have been identified, but the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying their antiangiogenic effects remain unclear. Thrombomodulin (TM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a major role in the anticoagulation process in endothelial cells. Previously, we demonstrated that recombinant TM could interact with Plg to enhance Plg activation. In the present study, we investigated the interaction between TM and K1-5, and their functions in endothelial cells. We found that K1-5 colocalized with TM and directly interacted with TM through the TM lectin-like domain. After K1-5 interacted with TM, it induced TM internalization and degradation. In addition, the K1-5-induced TM internalization and degradation in proteasomes after ubiquitin modification were dependent on protein kinase A (PKA). Moreover, a PKA-specific inhibitor reversed the effects of K1-5 on cell migration and tube formation. Consistent with these findings, TM overexpression resulted in increased cell migration; moreover, K1-5 inhibited the increase of TM-mediated cell migration in a PKA-dependent manner. We determined that TM acts as a K1-5 receptor and that K1-5 induces TM internalization, ubiquitination, and degradation through the PKA pathway, by which K1-5 may inhibit endothelial cell migration and tube formation.

Aims Thrombin modulates the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by stimulating a variety of cellular effects through protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) activation. Thrombomodulin (TM) inhibits thrombin effects by binding thrombin through its domains 2 and 3 (TMD23). We investigated whether recombinant TMD23 (rTMD23) could inhibit atherosclerosis via its thrombin-binding ability. Methods and results Wild-type mouse rTMD23 and three mutants with altered thrombin-binding sites, rTMD23 (I425A), rTMD23 (D424A/D426A), and rTMD23 (D424A/I425A/D426A), were expressed and purified in the Pichia pastoris expression system. Wild-type rTMD23 and rTMD23 (D424A/D426A) could effectively bind thrombin, activate protein C, and prolong thrombin clotting time, whereas rTMD23 (I425A) and rTMD23 (D424A/I425A/D426A) lost these functions. Wild-type rTMD23, but not rTMD23 (I425A), decreased both the thrombin-induced surface PAR-1 internalization and the increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations in endothelial cells (ECs). Wild-type rTMD23 and rTMD23 (D424A/D426A) also inhibited thrombin-induced adhesion molecules and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression and increased permeability in ECs, whereas rTMD23 (I425A) and rTMD23 (D424A/I425A/D426A) had no such effects. Furthermore, wild-type rTMD23 and rTMD23 (D424A/D426A) were effective in reducing carotid ligation-induced neointima formation in C57BL/6 mice and atherosclerotic lesion formation in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice, whereas rTMD23 with the I425A mutation showed impairment of this function. Wild-type rTMD23, but not rTMD23 (I425A), also markedly suppressed the PAR-1, the adhesion molecules expression, and the macrophage content in the carotid ligation model and ApoE−/− mice. Conclusion rTMD23 protein significantly reduces atherosclerosis and neointima formation through its thrombin-binding ability.

Summary. Background: Activation of vascular endothelial cells plays an important role in atherogenesis and plaque instability. Recent research has demonstrated that late-stage inhibition of plaque angiogenesis by angiostatin (kringle 1–4) reduces macrophage accumulation and slows the progression of advanced atherosclerosis. Kringle 1–5 (K1–5) is a variant of angiostatin that contains the first five kringle domains of plasminogen. Objective: To investigate whether K1–5 has an inhibitory effect on early-stage atherosclerosis, using the apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mouse model and a carotid artery ligation model. Methods: ApoE-deficient mice received K1–5 treatment for 4 weeks, and the severity of aortic atherosclerosis was measured. In the ligation model, the left common carotid arteries of C57BL/6 mice were ligated near the carotid bifurcation, and the mice received K1–5 for 4 weeks. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were pretreated with K1–5 before tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) treatment to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of K1–5. Results: The areas of the lesion in the aortas of ApoE-deficient mice that received K1–5 treatment were notably decreased, and the formation of carotid neointima in the C57BL/6 mice was decreased by treatment with K1–5. Expression of TNF-α-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was inhibited by K1–5 treatment, possibly via downregulation of translocation of nuclear factor-κB and expression of reactive oxygen species. Conclusions: K1–5 reduced atherosclerosis and neointima formation in mice, possibly through inhibition of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in endothelial cells.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that has a major role in anticoagulation. It is also demonstrated that TM may possess functions distinct from its anticoagulant activity. In...

Chloroquine, a well-known lysosomotropic agent, has long been used for the treatment of malaria and rheumatologic disorders. However, therapeutic doses of chloroquine are known to cause behavioral side effects. In the present study, we investigated whether chloroquine stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in C6 glioma cells. Chloroquine caused dose-dependent increase in iNOS protein expression and NO production in C6 glioma cells. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (Ro 31-8220), and a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (SB 203580) all respectively suppressed chloroquine-induced iNOS expression and NO release from C6 glioma cells. Chloroquine activates p38 MAPK and stimulates PKC-alpha and -delta translocation from the cytosol to the membrane in C6 glioma cells. Chloroquine-stimulated p38 MAPK activation was blocked by genistein (20 microM), Ro 31-8220 (3 microM), and SB 203580 (10 microM). Incubation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells with chloroquine at non-toxic concentrations (10-100 microM) for 48 h increased iNOS expression, and led to a significant loss of adherent cells. Induction of DNA fragmentation in floating cells indicated that the C6 glioma cells were undergoing apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that chloroquine may activate tyrosine kinase and/or PKC to induce p38 MAPK activation, which in turn induces iNOS expression and NO production.

Advanced glycosylation end products induce inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression via a p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. Background Advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) accumulation in tissue has been implicated in diabetic related complications, including diabetic nephropathy. Activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) ameliorates diabetic nephropathy. Methods In the present study, we investigated the effects of AGEs on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide production, and the effects of rosiglitazone, an activator of PPAR-γ, on AGE-induced iNOS expression and nitrite release in glomerular mesangial cells. Results AGEs caused a dose- and time-dependent increase of iNOS induction and nitrite accumulation in mesangial cells. A protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein), or a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (SB203580) suppressed AGE-induced iNOS expression and nitrite release from mesangial cells. Addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-AGEs to mesangial cells increased p38 MAPK activities. Activation of PPAR-γ by rosiglitazone inhibited AGE-induced iNOS expression, nitrite release, and p38 MAPK activation in mesangial cells. AGE-stimulated nitrite release was attenuated by pretreatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and anti-transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) antibodies. AGE-induced iNOS expression was inhibited by treatment with a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, pyrrolidone dithiocarbamate. Addition of BSA-AGEs to mesangial cells stimulated p65 NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Conclusion These data suggest that cytokine release, NF-κB and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways may play a role in AGE-induced iNOS expression and subsequent nitric oxide production in mesangial cells. Rosiglitazone may prevent AGE-induced iNOS expression by interfering with p38 MAPK activity.