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Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive of all primary brain tumours and due to its highly invasive nature, surgical resection is nearly impossible. Patients typically rely on radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide (TMZ) treatment and face a median survival of ~ 14 months. Alterations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor gene (EGFR) are common in GB tumours, but therapies targeting EGFR have not shown significant clinical efficacy., Methods: Here, we investigated the influence of the EGFR regulatory genome on GB cells and identified novel EGFR enhancers located near the GB-associated SNP rs723527. We used CRISPR/Cas9-based approaches to target the EGFR enhancer regions, generating multiple modified GB cell lines, which enabled us to study the functional response to enhancer perturbation., Results: Epigenomic perturbation of the EGFR regulatory region decreases EGFR expression and reduces the proliferative and invasive capacity of glioblastoma cells, which also undergo a metabolic reprogramming in favour of mitochondrial respiration and present increased apoptosis. Moreover, EGFR enhancer-perturbation increases the sensitivity of GB cells to TMZ, the first-choice chemotherapeutic agent to treat glioblastoma., Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate how epigenomic perturbation of EGFR enhancers can ameliorate the aggressiveness of glioblastoma cells and enhance the efficacy of TMZ treatment. This study demonstrates how CRISPR/Cas9-based perturbation of enhancers can be used to modulate the expression of key cancer genes, which can help improve the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments and potentially the prognosis of difficult-to-treat cancers such as glioblastoma., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) is a homo-dimeric transmembrane protein which is typically expressed on the surface of natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, gamma delta T (γδT) cells, activated CD8 positive T-cells and activated macrophages. Bispecific molecules, capable of bridging NKG2D with a target protein expressed on the surface of tumor cells, may be used to redirect the cytotoxic activity of NK-cells towards antigen-positive malignant T-cells. In this work, we report the discovery of a novel NKG2D small molecule binder [K D =(410±60) nM], isolated from a DNA-Encoded Chemical Library (DEL). The discovery of small organic NKG2D ligands may facilitate the generation of fully synthetic bispecific adaptors, which may serve as an alternative to bispecific antibody products and which may benefit from better tumor targeting properties., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Preclinical studies indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), the primary nonaddictive component of cannabis, has a wide range of reported pharmacological effects such as analgesic and anxiolytic actions; however, the exact mechanisms of action for these effects have not been examined in chronic osteoarthritis (OA). Similar to other chronic pain syndromes, OA pain can have a significant affective component characterized by mood changes. Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter implicated in pain, depression, and anxiety. Pain is often in comorbidity with mood and anxiety disorders in patients with OA. Since primary actions of CBD are analgesic and anxiolytic, in this first in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging study, we investigate the interaction of CBD with serotonin 5-HT 1A receptor via a combination of in vivo neuroimaging and behavioral studies in a well-validated OA animal model., Methods: The first aim of this study was to evaluate the target involvement, including the evaluation of modulation by acute administration of CBD, or a specific target antagonist/agonist intervention, in control animals. The brain 5-HT 1A activity/availability was assessed via in vivo dynamic PET imaging (up to 60 min) using a selective 5-HT 1A radioligand ([ 18 F]MeFWAY). Tracer bindings of 17 ROIs were evaluated based on averaged SUVR values over the last 10 min using CB as the reference region. We subsequently examined the neurochemical and behavioral alterations in OA animals (induction with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) injection), as compared to control animals, via neuroimaging and behavioral assessment. Further, we examined the effects of repeated low-dose CBD treatment on mechanical allodynia (von Frey tests) and anxiety-like (light/dark box tests, L/D), depressive-like (forced swim tests, FST) behaviors in OA animals, as compared to after vehicle treatment., Results: The tracer binding was significantly reduced in control animals after an acute dose of CBD administered intravenously (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.), as compared to that for baseline. This binding specificity to 5-HT 1A was further confirmed by a similar reduction of tracer binding when a specific 5-HT 1A antagonist WAY1006235 was used (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.). Mice subjected to the MIA-induced OA for 13-20 days showed a decreased 5-HT 1A tracer binding (25% to 41%), consistent with the notion that 5-HT 1A plays a role in the modulation of pain in OA. Repeated treatment with CBD administered subcutaneously (5 mg/kg/day, s.c., for 16 days after OA induction) increased 5-HT 1A tracer binding, while no significant improvement was observed after vehicle. A trend of increased anxiety or depressive-like behavior in the light/dark box or forced swim tests after OA induction, and a decrease in those behaviors after repeated low-dose CBD treatment, are consistent with the anxiolytic action of CBD through 5HT 1A receptor activation. There appeared to be a sex difference: females seem to be less responsive at the baseline towards pain stimuli, while being more sensitive to CBD treatment., Conclusion: This first in vivo PET imaging study in an OA animal model has provided evidence for the interaction of CBD with the serotonin 5-HT 1A receptor. Behavioral studies with more pharmacological interventions to support the target involvement are needed to further confirm these critical findings., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Interleukin-2 (IL2) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in immunity, which is increasingly being used for therapeutic applications. There is growing interest in developing IL2-based therapeutics which do not interact with the alpha subunit of the IL2 receptor (CD25) as this protein is primarily found on immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (T regs ). Screenings of a new DNA-encoded library, comprising 669,240 members, provided a novel series of IL2 ligands, subsequently optimized by medicinal chemistry. One of these molecules (compound 18 ) bound to IL2 with a dissociation constant of 0.34 μM was able to form a kinetically stable complex with IL2 in size-exclusion chromatography and recognized the CD25-binding site as evidenced by competition experiments with the NARA1 antibody. Compound 18 and other members of the series may represent the starting point for the discovery of potent small-molecule modulators of IL2 activity, abrogating the binding to CD25.

Antibody-cytokine fusion proteins (immunocytokines) are gaining importance for cancer therapy, but those products are often limited by systemic toxicity related to the activity of the cytokine payload in circulation and in secondary lymphoid organs. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is used as a pro-inflammatory payload to trigger haemorrhagic necrosis and boost anti-cancer immunity at the tumor site. Here we describe a depotentiated version of TNF (carrying the single point mutation I97A), which displayed reduced binding affinity to its cognate receptor tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR-1) and lower biocidal activity. The fusion of the TNF(I97A) mutant to the L19 antibody promoted restoration of anti-tumor activity upon accumulation on the cognate antigen, the alternatively spliced EDB domain of fibronectin. In vivo administration of high doses (375 μg/Kg) of the fusion protein showed a potent anti-tumor effect without apparent toxicity compared with the wild type protein. L19-TNF I97A holds promise for the targeted delivery of TNF activity to neoplastic lesions, helping spare normal tissues.

Background: Organ culture models have been used over the past few decades to study development and disease. The in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture system of organoids is well known, however, these 3D systems are both costly and difficult to culture and maintain. As such, less expensive, faster and less complex methods to maintain 3D cell culture models would complement the use of organoids. Chick embryos have been used as a model to study human biology for centuries, with many fundamental discoveries as a result. These include cell type induction, cell competence, plasticity and contact inhibition, which indicates the relevance of using chick embryos when studying developmental biology and disease mechanisms., Results: Here, we present an updated protocol that enables time efficient, cost effective and long-term expansion of fetal organ spheroids (FOSs) from chick embryos. Utilizing this protocol, we generated FOSs in an anchorage-independent growth pattern from seven different organs, including brain, lung, heart, liver, stomach, intestine and epidermis. These three-dimensional (3D) structures recapitulate many cellular and structural aspects of their in vivo counterpart organs and serve as a useful developmental model. In addition, we show a functional application of FOSs to analyze cell-cell interaction and cell invasion patterns as observed in cancer., Conclusion: The establishment of a broad ranging and highly effective method to generate FOSs from different organs was successful in terms of the formation of healthy, proliferating 3D organ spheroids that exhibited organ-like characteristics. Potential applications of chick FOSs are their use in studies of cell-to-cell contact, cell fusion and tumor invasion under defined conditions. Future studies will reveal whether chick FOSs also can be applicable in scientific areas such as viral infections, drug screening, cancer diagnostics and/or tissue engineering.

We reassess progress in the field of biomolecular modeling and simulation, following up on our perspective published in 2011. By reviewing metrics for the field's productivity and providing examples of success, we underscore the productive phase of the field, whose short-term expectations were overestimated and long-term effects underestimated. Such successes include prediction of structures and mechanisms; generation of new insights into biomolecular activity; and thriving collaborations between modeling and experimentation, including experiments driven by modeling. We also discuss the impact of field exercises and web games on the field's progress. Overall, we note tremendous success by the biomolecular modeling community in utilization of computer power; improvement in force fields; and development and application of new algorithms, notably machine learning and artificial intelligence. The combined advances are enhancing the accuracy andscope of modeling and simulation, establishing an exemplary discipline where experiment and theory or simulations are full partners.

Introduction: Cytokine-based products are gaining importance for cancer immunotherapy. L19-TNF is a clinical-stage antibody-cytokine fusion protein that selectively accumulates to tumors and displays potent anticancer activity in preclinical models. Here, we describe an innovative approach to transiently inhibit off-target toxicity of L19-TNF, while maintaining antitumor activity., Methods: GSK'963, a potent small molecule inhibitor of RIPK1, was tested in tumor-bearing mice for its ability to reduce acute toxicity associated with TNF signaling. The biological effects of L19-TNF on tumor cells, lymphocytes and tumor vessels were investigated with the aim to enable the administration of TNF doses, which would otherwise be lethal., Results: Transient inhibition of RIPK1 allowed to increase the maximal tolerated dose of L19-TNF. The protective effect of GSK'963 did not affect the selective localization of the immunocytokine to tumors as evidenced by quantitative biodistribution analysis and allowed to reach high local TNF concentrations around tumor blood vessels, causing diffused vascular shutdown and hemorrhagic necrosis within the neoplastic mass., Conclusions: The selective inhibition of RIPK1 with small molecule inhibitors can be used as a pharmaceutical tool to transiently mask TNF activity and improve the therapeutic window of TNF-based biopharmaceuticals. Similar approaches may be applicable to other pro-inflammatory cytokines., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Dario Neri is a co-founder and shareholder of Philogen (www.philogen.com), a Swiss-Italian Biotech company that operates in the field of ligand-based pharmacodelivery. Sheila Dakhel, Tiziano Ongaro, Baptiste Gouyou, Mattia Matasci, Alessandra Villa and Samuele Cazzamalli are employees of Philochem AG, daughter company of Philogen acting as discovery unit of the group., (Copyright: © 2019 Dakhel et al.)

Secreted by tumor and stromal cells, S100 proteins exert their biological functions via the interaction with surface receptors. The most described receptor is the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), thereby participating in the S100-dependent cell migration, invasion, tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Several approaches have been described for determining this interaction. Here we describe an easy, specific and highly reproducible ELISA-based method, by optimizing several parameters such as the binding and blocking buffer, interaction time and concentrations, directed to screen chemical and biological inhibitors of this interaction for S100A4, S100A7 and S100P proteins. The efficiency of the protocol was validated by using well described neutralizing agents of the RAGE receptor and of the S100A4 activity. The methodology described here will allow future works with other members of the S100 protein family and their receptors., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

As a new approach for gene therapy, we recently developed a new type of molecule called polypurine reverse Hoogsteen hairpins (PPRHs). We decided to explore the in vitro and in vivo effect of PPRHs in cancer choosing survivin as a target since it is involved in apoptosis, mitosis and angiogenesis, and overexpressed in different tumors. We designed four PPRHs against the survivin gene, one of them directed against the template strand and three against different regions of the coding strand. These PPRHs were tested in PC3 prostate cancer cells in an in vitro screening of cell viability and apoptosis. PPRHs against the promoter sequence were the most effective and caused a decrease in survivin mRNA and protein levels. We confirmed the binding between the selected PPRHs and their target sequences in the survivin gene. In addition we determined that both the template- and the coding-PPRH targeting the survivin promoter were interfering with the binding of transcription factors Sp1 and GATA-3, respectively. Finally, we conducted two in vivo efficacy assays using the Coding-PPRH against the survivin promoter and performing two routes of administration, namely intratumoral and intravenous, in a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model of PC3 prostate cancer cells. The results showed that the chosen Coding-PPRH proved to be effective in decreasing tumor volume, and reduced the levels of survivin protein and the formation of blood vessels. These findings represent the preclinical proof of principle of PPRHs as a new silencing tool for cancer gene therapy., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

S100A4, a member of the S100 calcium-binding protein family secreted by tumor and stromal cells, supports tumorigenesis by stimulating angiogenesis. We demonstrated that S100A4 synergizes with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), via the RAGE receptor, in promoting endothelial cell migration by increasing KDR expression and MMP-9 activity. In vivo overexpression of S100A4 led to a significant increase in tumor growth and vascularization in a human melanoma xenograft M21 model. Conversely, when silencing S100A4 by shRNA technology, a dramatic decrease in tumor development of the pancreatic MiaPACA-2 cell line was observed. Based on these results we developed 5C3, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against S100A4. This antibody abolished endothelial cell migration, tumor growth and angiogenesis in immunodeficient mouse xenograft models of MiaPACA-2 and M21-S100A4 cells. It is concluded that extracellular S100A4 inhibition is an attractive approach for the treatment of human cancer.