Chrysin,Apigenin and Acacetin Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis—Inducing Ligand Receptor-1 (TRAIL-R1) on Activated RAW264.7 Macrophages

Expression level of Tumor Necrosis Factor—related apoptosis—inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors is one of the most important factors of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. We here report for the first time data concerning TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 receptor expression on RAW264.7 macrophages. Three substances belonging to flavones: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin which differ from their substituents at the 4'' position in the phenyl ring were used in assays because of the variety of biological activities (e.g., anticancer activity) of the polyphenol compounds. The expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 death receptors on non-stimulated and LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated macrophages was determined using flow cytometry. We demonstrate that RAW264.7 macrophages exhibit TRAIL-R1 surface expression and that the tested compounds: chrysin, apigenin and acacetin can inhibit TRAIL-R1 death receptor expression level on macrophages.     

表达重组人可溶性TRAIL的毕氏酵母发酵工艺

目的优化rhsTRAIL毕氏酵母工程菌在5L发酵罐中的发酵表达工艺参数。方法研究培养基种类、细胞密度、甘油含量、pH值、甲醇浓度、甲醇流加速率及诱导时间等参数对工程菌生长及目的蛋白表达的影响,并用电镜观察其诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡特征。结果在无机盐培养基中,按10%接种A600=8～12的种菌后,24h酵母菌增殖至A600=76;甘油含量为1%时,菌体生长速度快(A600=160);培养基pH值5.0,甲醇终浓度为1%时,诱导96h表达量最高达到120mg/L,并具有诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡特征。结论rhsTRAIL毕氏酵母的发酵工艺参数为无机盐培养基,pH值5.0,接种10%A600=8～12的种菌,甘油含量1%,甲醇终浓度1%,诱导96h。     

Regulation of TRAIL-Receptor Expression by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand- receptor (TRAIL-R) family has emerged as a key mediator of cell fate and survival. Ligation of TRAIL ligand to TRAIL-R1 or TRAIL-R2 initiates the extrinsic apoptotic pathway characterized by the recruitment of death domains, assembly of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), caspase activation and ultimately apoptosis. Conversely the decoy receptors TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4, which lack the pro-apoptotic death domain, function to dampen the apoptotic response by competing for TRAIL ligand. The tissue restricted expression of the decoy receptors on normal but not cancer cells provides a therapeutic rational for the development of selective TRAIL-mediated anti-tumor therapies. Recent clinical trials using agonistic antibodies against the apoptosis-inducing TRAIL receptors or recombinant TRAIL have been promising; however the number of patients in complete remission remains stubbornly low. The mechanisms of TRAIL resistance are relatively unexplored but may in part be due to TRAIL-R down-regulation or shedding of TRAIL-R by tumor cells. Therefore a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying TRAIL resistance is required. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been shown to regulate TRAIL-R members suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of the UPS may be a novel strategy to augment TRAIL-based therapies and increase efficacies. We recently identified b-AP15 as an inhibitor of proteasome deubiquitinase (DUB) activity. Interestingly, exposure of tumor cell lines to b-AP15 resulted in increased TRAIL-R2 expression and enhanced sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and cell death in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, targeting the UPS may represent a novel strategy to increase the cell surface expression of pro-apoptotic TRAIL-R on cancer cells and should be considered in clinical trials targeting TRAIL-receptors in cancer patients.     

重组2型腺相关病毒肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体基因治疗制剂的质量分析

目的对重组2型腺相关病毒肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand,r AAV2-TRAIL)基因治疗制剂进行质量分析,并针对其关键质量属性建立质控方法。方法采用PCR法对r AAV2-TRAIL基因治疗制剂中插入的启动子CAG和目的基因TRAIL进行鉴别;在腺病毒(Ad5)的辅助下,将r AAV2-TRAIL体外感染293T细胞后,采用ELISA法检测培养上清中目的蛋白TRAIL的表达量,检测r AAV2-TRAIL对神经胶质瘤U251细胞的体外杀伤活性;设计引物及探针,采用Q-PCR法检测r AAV2-TRAIL基因治疗制剂中的r AAV2-TRAIL滴度、可能存在的复制型rc AAV滴度以及残余辅助病毒1型单纯疱疹病毒(herpes simplex virus 1,HSV1)滴度。结果启动子CAG和目的基因TRAIL的PCR鉴定结果与理论及理化对照品相符;r AAV2-TRAIL感染293T细胞48 h后,上清中TRAIL表达量为(0.36±0.18)ng/ml,RSD为50.0%;r AAV2-TRAIL体外作用于神经胶质瘤细胞U251,细胞生长相对抑制率为(26.6±3.75)%,RSD为14.1%;制剂中r AAV2-TRAIL滴度为(4.72×1011±0.52×1011)copies/ml,RSD为11.0%,rc AAV滴度为(2.49×107±0.18×107)copies/ml,RSD为7.2%,HSV1滴度为(6.02×106±0.51×106)copies/ml,RSD为8.5%。r AAV2-TRAIL/rc AAV为1.90×104,r AAV2-TRAIL/HSV1为7.84×104。结论建立的质控方法可用于r AAV2-TRAIL的质量控制,为该产品质量标准的建立奠定了基础,同时对以AAV为载体的基因治疗制剂的质量研究提供参考。     

Enhancing the Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Signaling and Arginine Deprivation in Melanoma

Melanoma as a very aggressive type of cancer is still in urgent need of improved treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) are two of many suggested drugs for treating melanoma. Both have shown anti-tumor activities without harming normal cells. However, resistance to both drugs has also been noted. Studies on the mechanism of action of and resistance to these drugs provide multiple targets that can be utilized to increase the efficacy and overcome the resistance. As a result, combination strategies have been proposed for these drug candidates with various other agents, and achieved enhanced or synergistic anti-tumor effect. The combination of TRAIL and ADI-PEG20 as one example can greatly enhance the cytotoxicity to melanoma cells including those resistant to the single component of this combination. It is found that combination treatment generally can alter the expression of the components of cell signaling in melanoma cells to favor cell death. In this paper, the signaling of TRAIL and ADI-PEG20-induced arginine deprivation including the main mechanism of resistance to these drugs and exemplary combination strategies is discussed. Finally, factors hampering the clinical application of both drugs, current and future development to overcome these hurdles are briefly discussed.     

Hierarchically Responsive Tumor-Microenvironment-Activated Nano-Artificial Virus for Precise Exogenous and Endogenous Apoptosis Coactivation

Targeting apoptotic pathways in tumor cells is recognized as a potent anticancer strategy. However, monotherapies that target a single apoptotic pathway often do not meet expectations and the nonspecific and uncontrolled activation of apoptotic pathways can overshadow potential application prospects. Here, a novel tumor-microenvironment-activated nano-artificial virus (TMAN) with hierarchically responsive capacity is fabricated and loaded with the plasmid encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and mitochondria-targeted red fluorescent phototoxic protein (KillerRed) simultaneously for precise and controllable exogenous and endogenous apoptosis coactivation. The inert TMAN is endowed with in vivo longevity and undergoes orderly acidity-triggered deshielding of a masking layer, enzyme-responsive charge-reversal, and oxidative stress-sensitive structural fragmentation in the tumor extra/intracellular microenvironment to exert precise tumor recognition, deep penetration, cellular internalization, rapid endosomes escape, and effective gene release ability, leading to the effective and tumor-specific delivery of payloads. Given the virtues of TMAN, a favorable collaboration of TRAIL-triggered exogenous apoptosis and mitochondria-targeted KillerRed induced endogenous apoptosis is achieved synchronously under the control of light irradiation, thus remarkably improving antitumor efficacy with minimal toxicity. Taken together, this strategy highlights the significance of exogenous and endogenous apoptosis coactivation in cancer treatments and offers a promising paradigm for precise exo/endogenous dual-augmented antitumor therapy.     

TRAIL与导向肽融合基因的克隆、表达及其表达产物的生物学活性

目的获得具有生物学活性的与导向肽融合表达的重组TRAIL蛋白,提高TRAIL对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用。方法构建TRAIL与导向多肽PEPHC1的融合基因,克隆入质粒pGEM-3zf(-)中进行测序,序列正确后,亚克隆入表达载体pBV220中,转化大肠杆菌DH5α,温度诱导表达。结果42℃诱导4h,融合基因得到了表达,SDS-PAGE表明目的蛋白占菌体总蛋白的15%以上,以包涵体形式存在。经包涵体洗涤、变性、复性,并经离子交换层析柱纯化后可得到融合蛋白PE-TRAIL,经体外试验证明具有生物学活性。结论成功克隆并表达了具有生物学活性的与导向肽融合表达的重组TRAIL蛋白。     

Surface modification of TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles with polyethyleneimine as a co-delivery system of TRAIL and endostatin for cervical cancer gene therapy

The efficient delivery of therapeutic genes into cells of interest is a critical challenge to broad application of non-viral vector systems. In this research, a novel TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticle modified with polyethyleneimine was applied to be a vector of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and endostatin for cervical cancer gene therapy. Firstly, a novel biodegradable copolymer, TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA), was synthesized and characterized. The nanoparticles were fabricated by an emulsion/solvent evaporation method and then further modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) carrying TRAIL and/or endostatin genes. The uptake of pIRES2-EGFP and/or pDsRED nanoparticles by HeLa cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cell viability of TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles in HeLa cells was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Severe combined immunodeficient mice carrying HeLa tumor xenografts were treated in groups of six including phosphate-buffered saline control, blank TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles, blank TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/PEI nanoparticles, and three types of gene nanoparticles. The activity was assessed using average increase in survival time, body weight, and solid tumor volume. All the specimens were then prepared as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data showed that the nanoparticles could efficiently deliver plasmids into HeLa cells. The cytotoxicity of the HeLa cells was significantly increased by TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles when compared with control groups. The use of TPGS in combination with TRAIL and endostatin had synergistic antitumor effects. In conclusion, the TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles offer considerable potential as an ideal candidate for in vivo cancer gene delivery.     

Cytotoxic Efficacy and Resistance Mechanism of a TRAIL and VEGFA-Peptide Fusion Protein in Colorectal Cancer Models

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a type II transmembrane protein capable of selectively inducing apoptosis in cancer cells by binding to its cognate receptors. Here, we examined the anticancer efficacy of a recently developed chimeric AD-O51.4 protein, a TRAIL fused to the VEGFA-originating peptide. We tested AD-O51.4 protein activity against human colorectal cancer (CRC) models and investigated the resistance mechanism in the non-responsive CRC models. The quantitative comparison of apoptotic activity between AD-O51.4 and the native TRAIL in nine human colorectal cancer cell lines revealed dose-dependent toxicity in seven of them; the immunofluorescence-captured receptor abundance correlated with the extent of apoptosis. AD-O51.4 reduced the growth of CRC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) with good efficacy. Cell lines that acquired AD-O51.4 resistance showed a significant decrease in surface TRAIL receptor expression and apoptosis-related proteins, including Caspase-8, HSP60, and p53. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of AD-O51.4 protein in CRC preclinical models and identify the potential mechanism underlying acquired resistance. Progression of AD-O51.4 to clinical trials is expected.     

Pichia酵母表达重组人可溶性TRAIL的纯化与生物活性

目的分离纯化Pichia酵母表达的重组人可溶性TRAIL,并检测其生物活性。方法以Pichia酵母分泌型表达TRAIL,采用硫酸铵沉淀和柱层析纯化可溶性TRAIL蛋白。以SDSPAGE、ESIMS和Westernblot法鉴定其纯度及特异性。以细胞透射电镜、DNALadder和MTT法检测其诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡活性。结果目的蛋白以可溶形式存在,蛋白相对分子质量22000,纯化后纯度95%。Westernblot证实为TRAIL蛋白。电镜、DNALadder和MTT均证实其具有诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡活性。结论Pichia酵母表达rhsTRAIL可用柱层析法纯化,并具有诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的生物活性。