scholarly journals Evolutionarily conserved sequence motif analysis guides development of chemically defined hydrogels for therapeutic vascularization

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (28) ◽  
pp. eaaz5894
Author(s):  
Jia Jia ◽  
Eun Je Jeon ◽  
Mei Li ◽  
Dylan J. Richards ◽  
Soojin Lee ◽  
...  

Biologically active ligands (e.g., RGDS from fibronectin) play critical roles in the development of chemically defined biomaterials. However, recent decades have shown only limited progress in discovering novel extracellular matrix–protein–derived ligands for translational applications. Through motif analysis of evolutionarily conserved RGD-containing regions in laminin (LM) and peptide-functionalized hydrogel microarray screening, we identified a peptide (a1) that showed superior supports for endothelial cell (EC) functions. Mechanistic studies attributed the results to the capacity of a1 engaging both LM- and Fn-binding integrins. RNA sequencing of ECs in a1-functionalized hydrogels showed ~60% similarities with Matrigel in “vasculature development” gene ontology terms. Vasculogenesis assays revealed the capacity of a1-formulated hydrogels to improve EC network formation. Injectable alginates functionalized with a1 and MMPQK (a vascular endothelial growth factor–mimetic peptide with a matrix metalloproteinase–degradable linker) increased blood perfusion and functional recovery over decellularized extracellular matrix and (RGDS + MMPQK)–functionalized hydrogels in an ischemic hindlimb model, illustrating the power of this approach.

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (8) ◽  
pp. 3797-3808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh D. Silvertown ◽  
Jagdeep S. Walia ◽  
Alastair J. Summerlee ◽  
Jeffrey A. Medin

The peptide hormone relaxin is a known modulator of connective tissue and the extracellular matrix by virtue of its ability to regulate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Relaxin knockout mice exhibit age-related pulmonary fibrosis, and delivery of recombinant human H2 relaxin ameliorates fibrotic-like conditions in the mouse lung. We investigated whether lentiviral vectors (LVs) engineering the expression of murine relaxins could induce MMP activity in the mouse lung. Mouse relaxin and mouse relaxin-3 peptides engineered by recombinant LVs were biologically active as shown by stimulation of cAMP from both THP-1 and 293T cells stably expressing relaxin receptor LGR7 and by up-regulation of MMP-2 activity from primary C57BL/6 lung cell cultures. To provide the virions with enhanced tropism for the lung, LVs were pseudotyped with the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus glycoprotein (EboZ GP) and delivered by endotracheal intubation. LVs engineering luciferase pseudotyped with EboZ GP, but not with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein resulted in successful LV transduction and transgene expression in C57BL/6 mouse lung by as early as d 4. Mice treated via tracheal delivery with EboZ GP pseudotyped LVs that engineered expression of mouse relaxins exhibited increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in lung tissue up until the end of our study at d 21. Taken together, this study provides proof-of- principle that relaxin gene expression targeted to the mouse lungs can result in enhanced MMP activity offering potential for alleviating disease conditions characterized by dysregulation of extracellular matrix protein accumulation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 177 (4S) ◽  
pp. 421-422
Author(s):  
Ganka Nikolova ◽  
Christian O. Twiss ◽  
Hane Lee ◽  
Nelson Stanley ◽  
Janet Sinsheimer ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Aniel Moya-Torres ◽  
Monika Gupta ◽  
Fabian Heide ◽  
Natalie Krahn ◽  
Scott Legare ◽  
...  

Abstract The production of recombinant proteins for functional and biophysical studies, especially in the field of structural determination, still represents a challenge as high quality and quantities are needed to adequately perform experiments. This is in part solved by optimizing protein constructs and expression conditions to maximize the yields in regular flask expression systems. Still, work flow and effort can be substantial with no guarantee to obtain improvements. This study presents a combination of workflows that can be used to dramatically increase protein production and improve processing results, specifically for the extracellular matrix protein Netrin-1. This proteoglycan is an axon guidance cue which interacts with various receptors to initiate downstream signaling cascades affecting cell differentiation, proliferation, metabolism, and survival. We were able to produce large glycoprotein quantities in mammalian cells, which were engineered for protein overexpression and secretion into the media using the controlled environment provided by a hollow fiber bioreactor. Close monitoring of the internal bioreactor conditions allowed for stable production over an extended period of time. In addition to this, Netrin-1 concentrations were monitored in expression media through biolayer interferometry which allowed us to increase Netrin-1 media concentrations tenfold over our current flask systems while preserving excellent protein quality and in solution behavior. Our particular combination of genetic engineering, cell culture system, protein purification, and biophysical characterization permitted us to establish an efficient and continuous production of high-quality protein suitable for structural biology studies that can be translated to various biological systems. Key points • Hollow fiber bioreactor produces substantial yields of homogenous Netrin-1 • Biolayer interferometry allows target protein quantitation in expression media • High production yields in the bioreactor do not impair Netrin-1 proteoglycan quality Graphical abstract


2002 ◽  
Vol 267 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kapetanopoulos ◽  
F. Fresser ◽  
G. Millonig ◽  
Y. Shaul ◽  
G. Baier ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen R. Johnson ◽  
Douglas J. Wilkin ◽  
Hans L. Vos ◽  
Rosa Isela Ortiz De Luna ◽  
Anindya M. Dehejia ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndon Su ◽  
Louann W. Murray ◽  
Rodney A. White ◽  
George Kopchok ◽  
Carol Guthrie ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document