Bacterial ghosts (BGs)—Advanced antigen and drug delivery system

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial envelopes of Gram-negative bacteria produced by controlled expression of cloned gene E, forming a lysis tunnel structure within the envelope of the living bacteria. BGs are devoid of cytoplasmic content and possess all bacterial bio-adhesive surface properties in their original state while not posing any infectious threat. BGs are ideally suited as an advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) for toxic substances in tumor therapy. The inner space of BGs can be loaded with either single components or combinations of peptides, drugs or DNA which provides an opportunity to design new types of (polyvalent) drug delivery vehicles. Uptake of BGs loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) by CaCo2 cells led to effective Dox release from endo-lysosomal compartments and accumulation in the nucleus. Viability and proliferative capacity of the cells were significantly decreased (2–3 orders of magnitude) after internalization of Dox loaded BGs as compared to cells incubated with free Dox. The same effect was observed with leukemia cells. Melanoma cells also revealed a high capability to internalize BGs. These results indicate that BGs are able to target a range of types of cancer. BGs have also been investigated as DNA delivery vectors. Studies show DNA loaded BGs are efficiently phagocytosed and internalized by both professional APCs and tumor cells with up to 82% of cells expressing the plasmid-encoded reporter gene. Our studies with BGs as an ADDS system contribute (i) to optimize drug delivery for the treatment of cancer; (ii) define specific conditions for selection and preparation of BG formulations; (iii) and provide a background for the clinical application of BGs in cancer therapy.     

Effect of mast cell chymase on the morphology of thyroid cells in vitro.

We studied the effect of mast cell chymase on the thyroid cells in culture. Rat serosal mast cells, similar functionally to connective tissue mast cells, were obtained after lavage of the peritoneal cavity and lyzed by freezing. The resulting lysate was used as crude enzyme preparation. Mast cell chymase was purified from the crude preparation by anion exchange chromatography. Crude and purified chymase incubated with thyroid cells induced cellular retraction, the appearance of long processes and gradual cell detachment from the substratum. The effect of the enzyme was not cytotoxic. The immunofluorescence studies of thyroid cells showed a decreased amount of polymerized actin and tubulin after incubation with chymase. Neutral protease inhibitor abolished the effect of crude and purified chymase on thyroid cell morphology. The above findings suggest that mast cell chymase may have a function in the control of cell morphology and cell-matrix interaction.     

Investigation of the anti-complement agents, FUT-175 and K76COOH, in discordant xenotransplantation

Abstract: We examined whether hyperacute rejection (HAR) of a discordant xenograft in a nonhuman primate model could be inhibited by the anticomplement agents, FUT-175 (FUT) and K76COOH (K76). The inhibitory effect of FUT and K76 on baboon sera was studied in vitro by i) complement-mediated hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes (by measuring serum CH50) and ii) cytotoxicity to cultured pig kidney (PK15) cells. The in vivo administration of FUT (at 0.2–25 mg/kg/h i.v. continuously) and K76 (50 mg/kg i.v. bolus) allowed evaluation of the serum levels of these drugs. Both FUT and K76 inhibited serum CH50 in a concentration-dependent manner. An enhanced effect was obtained by combining K76 with FUT therapy. High concentrations of FUT (>10^-4 M) and K76 (>10³ μxg/ml) were necessary to suppress serum CH50 to <5% of the normal level. However, PK15 cytotoxicity remained at >50% in the presence of i) 10^-4 M of FUT, ii) 10³ μg/ml of K76, and iii) 10^-6 M of FUT + 10³ μg/ml of K76. Pig heart transplantation (HTX) was performed in two baboons receiving FUT (1 mg/kg/h i.v. continuously) and K76 (at 200 mg/kg ×1 or 400 mg/kg + 200 mg/kg × 2 i.v, respectively). Cytotoxicity of the serum to PK15 cells at the time of HTX showed 39% and 1% cell death, respectively, in these two baboons, and the CH50 level was 1% (of control level) and 0%, respectively. Graft survival was 4.5 hours and 10 hours (with death of the baboon), respectively (compared with a mean of 29 minutes in control experiments). Both excised grafts showed typical features of hyperacute rejection. Immunopathological studies revealed deposition of C1q, C3d, C6, properdin, and Factor B, demonstrating that complement activation was not fully inhibited by FUT and K76. We conclude that i) FUT and K76 are indeed potent complement inhibitors, ii) the dosages of FUT and K76 necessary to suppress complement-mediated injury cannot be extrapolated from previously reported data obtained from serum CH50 levels, and iii) higher (possibly toxic) dosages will be required to inhibit complement activation completely. It seems unlikely that HAR will be prevented by these drugs alone, although they may be beneficial when combined with other forms of therapy.