Hybrid Nanoassemblies from Viruses and DNA Nanostructures

Viruses are among the most intriguing nanostructures found in nature. Their atomically precise shapes and unique biological properties, especially in protecting and transferring genetic information, have enabled a plethora of biomedical applications. On the other hand, structural DNA nanotechnology has recently emerged as a highly useful tool to create programmable nanoscale structures. They can be extended to user defined devices to exhibit a wide range of static, as well as dynamic functions. In this review, we feature the recent development of virus-DNA hybrid materials. Such structures exhibit the best features of both worlds by combining the biological properties of viruses with the highly controlled assembly properties of DNA. We present how the DNA shapes can act as “structured” genomic material and direct the formation of virus capsid proteins or be encapsulated inside symmetrical capsids. Tobacco mosaic virus-DNA hybrids are discussed as the examples of dynamic systems and directed formation of conjugates. Finally, we highlight virus-mimicking approaches based on lipid- and protein-coated DNA structures that may elicit enhanced stability, immunocompatibility and delivery properties. This development also paves the way for DNA-based vaccines as the programmable nano-objects can be used for controlling immune cell activation.

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The Art of Designing DNA Nanostructures with CAD Software

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26082287 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 2287

Author(s):

Martin Glaser ◽

Sourav Deb ◽

Florian Seier ◽

Amay Agrawal ◽

Tim Liedl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Error ◽

Dna Nanotechnology ◽

Holliday Junctions ◽

Dna Origami ◽

Dna Nanostructures ◽

Dna Structures ◽

Current State ◽

Software Packages ◽

Wide Range ◽

Time Required

Since the arrival of DNA nanotechnology nearly 40 years ago, the field has progressed from its beginnings of envisioning rather simple DNA structures having a branched, multi-strand architecture into creating beautifully complex structures comprising hundreds or even thousands of unique strands, with the possibility to exactly control the positions down to the molecular level. While the earliest construction methodologies, such as simple Holliday junctions or tiles, could reasonably be designed on pen and paper in a short amount of time, the advent of complex techniques, such as DNA origami or DNA bricks, require software to reduce the time required and propensity for human error within the design process. Where available, readily accessible design software catalyzes our ability to bring techniques to researchers in diverse fields and it has helped to speed the penetration of methods, such as DNA origami, into a wide range of applications from biomedicine to photonics. Here, we review the historical and current state of CAD software to enable a variety of methods that are fundamental to using structural DNA technology. Beginning with the first tools for predicting sequence-based secondary structure of nucleotides, we trace the development and significance of different software packages to the current state-of-the-art, with a particular focus on programs that are open source.

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AHCC Activation and Selection of Human Lymphocytes via Genotypic and Phenotypic Changes to an Adherent Cell Type: A Possible Novel Mechanism of T Cell Activation

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/508746 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Loretta Olamigoke ◽

Elvedina Mansoor ◽

Vivek Mann ◽

Ivory Ellis ◽

Elvis Okoro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

T Cell Activation ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Human Lymphocytes ◽

Gene Array ◽

Adherent Cell ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Wide Range

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is a fermented mushroom extract and immune supplement that has been used to treat a wide range of health conditions. It helps in augmentation of the natural immune response and affects immune cell activation and outcomes. The goal of this project was to study and understand the role and mechanisms of AHCC supplementation in the prevention of immunosuppression through T cell activation. The method described here involves “in vitro” culturing of lymphocytes, exposing them to different concentrations of AHCC (0 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL, and 500 μg/mL) at 0 hours. Interestingly, clumping and aggregation of the cells were seen between 24 and 72 hours of incubation. The cells lay down extracellular matrix, which become adherent, and phenotypical changes from small rounded lymphocytes to large macrophage-like, spindle shaped, elongated, fibroblast-like cells even beyond 360 hours were observed. These are probably translated from genotypic changes in the cells since the cells propagate for at least 3 to 6 generations (present observations). RNA isolated was subjected to gene array analysis. We hypothesize that cell adhesion is an activation and survival pathway in lymphocytes and this could be the mechanism of AHCC activation in human lymphocytes.

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Oxidized Haemoglobin–Driven Endothelial Dysfunction and Immune Cell Activation: Novel Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerosis

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/09298673113209990162 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (37) ◽

pp. 4806-4814 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Brigitta Buttari ◽

Elisabetta Profumo ◽

Rita Businaro ◽

Luciano Saso ◽

Raffaele Capoano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Therapeutic Targets ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Novel Therapeutic

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Neuronal guidance proteins in cardiovascular inflammation

Basic Research in Cardiology ◽

10.1007/s00395-021-00847-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 116 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marius Keller ◽

Valbona Mirakaj ◽

Michael Koeppen ◽

Peter Rosenberger

Keyword(s):

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Cytokines And Chemokines ◽

The Future ◽

Cardiovascular Pathologies ◽

Neuronal Guidance

AbstractCardiovascular pathologies are often induced by inflammation. The associated changes in the inflammatory response influence vascular endothelial biology; they complicate the extent of ischaemia and reperfusion injury, direct the migration of immune competent cells and activate platelets. The initiation and progression of inflammation is regulated by the classical paradigm through the system of cytokines and chemokines. Therapeutic approaches have previously used this knowledge to control the extent of cardiovascular changes with varying degrees of success. Neuronal guidance proteins (NGPs) have emerged in recent years and have been shown to be significantly involved in the control of tissue inflammation and the mechanisms of immune cell activation. Therefore, proteins of this class might be used in the future as targets to control the extent of inflammation in the cardiovascular system. In this review, we describe the role of NGPs during cardiovascular inflammation and highlight potential therapeutic options that could be explored in the future.

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Strategies to Build Hybrid Protein–DNA Nanostructures

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11051332 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1332

Author(s):

Armando Hernandez-Garcia

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Systems ◽

Dna Nanotechnology ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Hybrid Nanostructures ◽

Advanced Materials ◽

Dna Nanostructures ◽

Hybrid Protein ◽

Structural Protein ◽

The Individual ◽

Structural Dna Nanotechnology

Proteins and DNA exhibit key physical chemical properties that make them advantageous for building nanostructures with outstanding features. Both DNA and protein nanotechnology have growth notably and proved to be fertile disciplines. The combination of both types of nanotechnologies is helpful to overcome the individual weaknesses and limitations of each one, paving the way for the continuing diversification of structural nanotechnologies. Recent studies have implemented a synergistic combination of both biomolecules to assemble unique and sophisticate protein–DNA nanostructures. These hybrid nanostructures are highly programmable and display remarkable features that create new opportunities to build on the nanoscale. This review focuses on the strategies deployed to create hybrid protein–DNA nanostructures. Here, we discuss strategies such as polymerization, spatial directing and organizing, coating, and rigidizing or folding DNA into particular shapes or moving parts. The enrichment of structural DNA nanotechnology by incorporating protein nanotechnology has been clearly demonstrated and still shows a large potential to create useful and advanced materials with cell-like properties or dynamic systems. It can be expected that structural protein–DNA nanotechnology will open new avenues in the fabrication of nanoassemblies with unique functional applications and enrich the toolbox of bionanotechnology.

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Oxidative stress and immune cell activation quantification in sepsis and non-sepsis critical care patients by neopterin/7,8-dihydroneopterin analysis

Pteridines ◽

10.1515/pteridines-2020-0015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 68-82

Author(s):

Gregory Baxter-Parker ◽

Ravinder Reddy Gaddam ◽

Elena Moltchanova ◽

Anitra Carr ◽

Geoff Shaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Kidney Function ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Intensive Care Patients ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Immune System Activation ◽

System Activation ◽

Urinary Neopterin ◽

Critical Care Patients

AbstractIntroduction: Neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin are used as biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, but the effect of kidney function on these measurements has not been extensively explored. We examine the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation and kidney function in intensive patients and compare them to equivalent patients without sepsis.Methods: 34 Intensive care patients were selected for the study, 14 without sepsis and 20 with. Both groups had equivalent levels of trauma, assessed by SAPS II, SOFA, and APACHE II and III scores. Plasma and urinary neopterin and total neopterin (neopterin + 7,8-dihydroneopterin) values were measured.Results: Neopterin and total neopterin were significantly elevated in urine and plasma for multiple days in sepsis versus non-sepsis patients. Plasma neopterin and total neopterin have decreasing relationships with increased eGFR (p<0.008 and p<0.001, respectively). Plasma/urinary neopterin and total neopterin ratios demonstrate that total neopterin flux is more influenced by eGFR than neopterin, with significantce of p<0.02 and p<0.0002 respectively.Conclusion: Sepsis patients present with greater levels of oxidative stress and immune system activation than non-sepsis patients of equal levels of trauma, as measured by neopterin and total neopterin. eGFR may need to be taken into account when accessing the level of inflammation from urinary neopterin measurements.

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RhoA Signaling in Immune Cell Response and Cardiac Disease

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10071681 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1681

Author(s):

Lucia Sophie Kilian ◽

Derk Frank ◽

Ashraf Yusuf Rangrez

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Disease ◽

Cell Response ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Heart Diseases ◽

Small Gtpase ◽

Cardiac Inflammation ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell Response

Chronic inflammation, the activation of immune cells and their cross-talk with cardiomyocytes in the pathogenesis and progression of heart diseases has long been overlooked. However, with the latest research developments, it is increasingly accepted that a vicious cycle exists where cardiomyocytes release cardiocrine signaling molecules that spiral down to immune cell activation and chronic state of low-level inflammation. For example, cardiocrine molecules released from injured or stressed cardiomyocytes can stimulate macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and even T-cells, which then subsequently increase cardiac inflammation by co-stimulation and positive feedback loops. One of the key proteins involved in stress-mediated cardiomyocyte signal transduction is a small GTPase RhoA. Importantly, the regulation of RhoA activation is critical for effective immune cell response and is being considered as one of the potential therapeutic targets in many immune-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. In this review we provide an update on the role of RhoA at the juncture of immune cell activation, inflammation and cardiac disease.

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Antibody Conjugation of Fluorescent Nanodiamonds for Targeted Innate Immune Cell Activation

ACS Applied Nano Materials ◽

10.1021/acsanm.1c00256 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lorena P. Suarez-Kelly ◽

Steven H. Sun ◽

Casey Ren ◽

Isaac V. Rampersaud ◽

David Albertson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Activation ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Cell ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

Antibody Conjugation ◽

Fluorescent Nanodiamonds

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A bi-directional dialog between vascular cells and monocytes/macrophages regulates tumor progression

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews ◽

10.1007/s10555-021-09958-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Delprat ◽

Carine Michiels

Keyword(s):

Tumor Progression ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Immune Cell ◽

The Body ◽

Vascular Cells ◽

Tumor Associated Macrophage ◽

Immune Cell Activation ◽

The Impact

AbstractCancer progression largely depends on tumor blood vessels as well on immune cell infiltration. In various tumors, vascular cells, namely endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, strongly regulate leukocyte infiltration into tumors and immune cell activation, hence the immune response to cancers. Recently, a lot of compelling studies unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which tumor vascular cells regulate monocyte and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and phenotype, and consequently tumor progression. Reciprocally, TAMs and monocytes strongly modulate tumor blood vessel and tumor lymphatic vessel formation by exerting pro-angiogenic and lymphangiogenic effects, respectively. Finally, the interaction between monocytes/TAMs and vascular cells is also impacting several steps of the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, a process called metastasis. In this review, the impact of the bi-directional dialog between blood vascular cells and monocytes/TAMs in the regulation of tumor progression is discussed. All together, these data led to the design of combinations of anti-angiogenic and immunotherapy targeting TAMs/monocyte whose effects are briefly discussed in the last part of this review.

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