scholarly journals Harnessing the potential of Lactobacillus species for therapeutic delivery at the lumenal-mucosal interface

2021 ◽  
pp. FSO671
Author(s):  
Joseph R Spangler ◽  
Julie C Caruana ◽  
Igor L Medintz ◽  
Scott A Walper

Lactobacillus species have been studied for over 30 years in their role as commensal organisms in the human gut. Recently there has been a surge of interest in their abilities to natively and recombinantly stimulate immune activities, and studies have identified strains and novel molecules that convey particular advantages for applications as both immune adjuvants and immunomodulators. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in Lactobacillus-related activity at the gut/microbiota interface, the efforts to probe the boundaries of the direct and indirect therapeutic potential of these bacteria, and highlight the continued interest in harnessing the native capacity for the production of biogenic compounds shown to influence nervous system activity. Taken together, these aspects underscore Lactobacillus species as versatile therapeutic delivery vehicles capable of effector production at the lumenal-mucosal interface, and further establish a foundation of efficacy upon which future engineered strains can expand.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiah D. Smith ◽  
Leah N. Cardwell ◽  
David Porciani ◽  
Andrew J. Greenwald ◽  
Aiden C. Ellis ◽  
...  

AbstractPoly(amino acid)s are a diverse and capable class of polymers with significant potential for utilization in a wide variety of drug delivery applications. A sub-class of these biomaterials known as lipidated poly(amino acid)s (LPAAs) are amphiphiles composed of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains yielding interesting physical properties. In this article, we describe our efforts in developing a novel class of lysine and valine containing LPAAs synthesized via hexadecylamine initiated N-carboxyanhydride ring-opening polymerization (NCA-ROP). These highly hydrophobic LPAAs were found capable of undergoing hydrophobically-driven self-assembly into small nanostructures as well as being forced into larger nanostructures using a novel dump-and-stir nanoprecipitation process. This process yielded fine control over resulting nanoparticle size and cargo entrapment. Furthermore, cell-targeting DNA aptamer modification of doxorubicin-loaded LPAA nanoparticles induced significant death of co-incubated Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma cells providing exciting evidence of the therapeutic potential of this novel biomaterials-based delivery device.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (28) ◽  
pp. 3333-3352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Pessoa Rocha ◽  
Ana Cristina Simoes e Silva ◽  
Thiago Ruiz Rodrigues Prestes ◽  
Victor Feracin ◽  
Caroline Amaral Machado ◽  
...  

Background: The Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is a key regulator of cardiovascular and renal homeostasis, but also plays important roles in mediating physiological functions in the central nervous system (CNS). The effects of the RAS were classically described as mediated by angiotensin (Ang) II via angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptors. However, another arm of the RAS formed by the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Ang-(1-7) and the Mas receptor has been a matter of investigation due to its important physiological roles, usually counterbalancing the classical effects exerted by Ang II. Objective: We aim to provide an overview of effects elicited by the RAS, especially Ang-(1-7), in the brain. We also aim to discuss the therapeutic potential for neuropsychiatric disorders for the modulation of RAS. Method: We carried out an extensive literature search in PubMed central. Results: Within the brain, Ang-(1-7) contributes to the regulation of blood pressure by acting at regions that control cardiovascular functions. In contrast with Ang II, Ang-(1-7) improves baroreflex sensitivity and plays an inhibitory role in hypothalamic noradrenergic neurotransmission. Ang-(1-7) not only exerts effects related to blood pressure regulation, but also acts as a neuroprotective component of the RAS, for instance, by reducing cerebral infarct size, inflammation, oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. Conclusion: Pre-clinical evidence supports a relevant role for ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including stress-related and mood disorders, cerebrovascular ischemic and hemorrhagic lesions and neurodegenerative diseases. However, very few data are available regarding the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis in human CNS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (26) ◽  
pp. 2892-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Jamwal ◽  
Ashish Mittal ◽  
Puneet Kumar ◽  
Dana M. Alhayani ◽  
Amal Al-Aboudi

Adenosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside and an essential component of the energy production and utilization systems of the body. Adenosine is formed by the degradation of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) during energy-consuming processes. Adenosine regulates numerous physiological processes through activation of four subtypes of G-protein coupled membrane receptors viz. A1, A2A, A2B and A3. Its physiological importance depends on the affinity of these receptors and the extracellular concentrations reached. ATP acts as a neurotransmitter in both peripheral and central nervous systems. In the peripheral nervous system, ATP is involved in chemical transmission in sensory and autonomic ganglia, whereas in central nervous system, ATP, released from synaptic terminals, induces fast excitatory postsynaptic currents. ATP provides the energetics for all muscle movements, heart beats, nerve signals and chemical reactions inside the body. Adenosine has been traditionally considered an inhibitor of neuronal activity and a regulator of cerebral blood flow. Since adenosine is neuroprotective against excitotoxic and metabolic dysfunctions observed in neurological and ocular diseases, the search for adenosinerelated drugs regulating adenosine transporters and receptors can be important for advancement of therapeutic strategies against these diseases. This review will summarize the therapeutic potential and recent SAR and pharmacology of adenosine and its receptor agonists and antagonists.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhou ◽  
Luyao Ao ◽  
Yunyi Yan ◽  
Wanting Li ◽  
Anqi Ye ◽  
...  

Background: Some of the current challenges and complications of cancer therapy are chemotherapy- induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and the neuropathic pain that are associated with this condition. Many major chemotherapeutic agents can cause neurotoxicity, significantly modulate the immune system and are always accompanied by various adverse effects. Recent evidence suggests that cross-talk occurs between the nervous system and the immune system during treatment with chemotherapeutic agents; thus, an emerging concept is that neuroinflammation is one of the major mechanisms underlying CIPN, as demonstrated by the upregulation of chemokines. Chemokines were originally identified as regulators of peripheral immune cell trafficking, and chemokines are also expressed on neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system. Objective: In this review, we collected evidence demonstrating that chemokines are potential mediators and contributors to pain signalling in CIPN. The expression of chemokines and their receptors, such as CX3CL1/CX3CR1, CCL2/CCR2, CXCL1/CXCR2, CXCL12/CXCR4 and CCL3/CCR5, is altered in the pathological conditions of CIPN, and chemokine receptor antagonists attenuate neuropathic pain behaviour. Conclusion: By understanding the mechanisms of chemokine-mediated communication, we may reveal chemokine targets that can be used as novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CIPN.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Amin Mirzaaghasi ◽  
Yunho Han ◽  
So-Hee Ahn ◽  
Chulhee Choi ◽  
Ji-Ho Park

Exosomes have attracted considerable attention as drug delivery vehicles because their biological properties can be utilized for selective delivery of therapeutic cargoes to disease sites. In this context, analysis of the in vivo behaviors of exosomes in a diseased state is required to maximize their therapeutic potential as drug delivery vehicles. In this study, we investigated biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of HEK293T cell-derived exosomes and PEGylated liposomes, their synthetic counterparts, into healthy and sepsis mice. We found that biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of exosomes were significantly affected by pathophysiological conditions of sepsis compared to those of liposomes. In the sepsis mice, a substantial number of exosomes were found in the lung after intravenous injection, and their prolonged blood residence was observed due to the liver dysfunction. However, liposomes did not show such sepsis-specific effects significantly. These results demonstrate that exosome-based therapeutics can be developed to manage sepsis and septic shock by virtue of their sepsis-specific in vivo behaviors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 6115
Author(s):  
Boris Mravec

Research on the neurobiology of cancer, which lies at the border of neuroscience and oncology, has elucidated the mechanisms and pathways that enable the nervous system to modulate processes associated with cancer initiation and progression. This research has also shown that several drugs which modulate interactions between the nervous system and the tumor micro- and macroenvironments significantly reduced the progression of cancer in animal models. Encouraging results were also provided by prospective clinical trials investigating the effect of drugs that reduce adrenergic signaling on the course of cancer in oncological patients. Moreover, it has been shown that reducing adrenergic signaling might also reduce the incidence of cancer in animal models, as well as in humans. However, even if many experimental and clinical findings have confirmed the preventive and therapeutic potential of drugs that reduce the stimulatory effect of the nervous system on processes related to cancer initiation and progression, several questions remain unanswered. Therefore, the aim of this review is to critically evaluate the efficiency of these drugs and to discuss questions that need to be answered before their introduction into conventional cancer treatment and prevention.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 492
Author(s):  
Charlotte A. René ◽  
Robin J. Parks

The central nervous system (CNS) is surrounded by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), a semipermeable border of endothelial cells that prevents pathogens, solutes and most molecules from non-selectively crossing into the CNS. Thus, the BBB acts to protect the CNS from potentially deleterious insults. Unfortunately, the BBB also frequently presents a significant barrier to therapies, impeding passage of drugs and biologicals to target cells within the CNS. This review provides an overview of different approaches to deliver therapeutics across the BBB, with an emphasis in extracellular vesicles as delivery vehicles to the CNS.


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