IL4 receptor targeting enables nab-paclitaxel to enhance reprogramming of M2-type macrophages into M1-like phenotype via ROS-HMGB1-TLR4 axis and inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.

Nab-paclitaxel (Abx) is widely employed in malignant tumor therapy. In tumor cells and pro-tumoral M2-type macrophages, the IL4 receptor (IL4R) is upregulated. This study aimed to elucidate the selective delivery of Abx to M2-type macrophages by targeting IL4R and reprogramming them into an anti-tumoral M1-type.

Peptides as multifunctional players in cancer therapy.

Peptides exhibit lower affinity and a shorter half-life in the body than antibodies. Conversely, peptides demonstrate higher efficiency in tissue penetration and cell internalization than antibodies. Regardless of the pros and cons of peptides, they have been used as tumor-homing ligands for delivering carriers (such as nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, and cells) and cargoes (such as cytotoxic peptides and radioisotopes) to tumors.

Epigenetic therapy reprograms M2-type tumor-associated macrophages into an M1-like phenotype by upregulating miR-7083-5p.

Reprogramming M2-type, pro-tumoral tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into M1-type, anti-tumoral macrophages is a key strategy in cancer therapy. In this study, we exploited epigenetic therapy using the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and the histone deacetylation inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), to reprogram M2-type macrophages into an M1-like phenotype. Treatment of M2-type macrophages with the combination of 5-aza-dC and TSA decreased the levels of M2 macrophage cytokines while increasing those of M1 macrophage cytokines, as compared to the use of either therapy alone.

Interleukin-4 Receptor Targeting Peptide Decorated Extracellular Vesicles as a Platform for In Vivo Drug Delivery to Thyroid Cancer.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been demonstrated to deliver therapeutic drugs in preclinical studies. However, their use is limited, as they lack the ability to specifically deliver drugs to tumor tissues in vivo. In the present study, we propose the use of a targeting peptide, IL-4R-binding peptide (IL4RPep-1), to specifically deliver intravenously (i.

M1 macrophage exosomes engineered to foster M1 polarization and target the IL-4 receptor inhibit tumor growth by reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages into M1-like macrophages.

M2-polarized, pro-tumoral tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) express the interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R) at higher levels compared with M1-polarized, anti-tumoral macrophages. In this study, we harnessed M1 macrophage-derived exosomes engineered to foster M1 polarization and target IL4R for the inhibition of tumor growth by reprogramming TAMs into M1-like macrophages. M1 exosomes were transfected with NF-κB p50 siRNA and miR-511-3p to enhance M1 polarization and were surface-modified with IL4RPep-1, an IL4R-binding peptide, to target the IL4 receptor of TAMs (named IL4R-Exo(si/mi).

The macrophage odorant receptor Olfr78 mediates the lactate-induced M2 phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages.

Expression and function of odorant receptors (ORs), which account for more than 50% of G protein-coupled receptors, are being increasingly reported in nonolfactory sites. However, ORs that can be targeted by drugs to treat diseases remain poorly identified. Tumor-derived lactate plays a crucial role in multiple signaling pathways leading to generation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).

Identification of novel CD44v6-binding peptides that block CD44v6 and deliver a pro-apoptotic peptide to tumors to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in mice.

CD44v6, a splice variant of the cell surface glycoprotein CD44, acts as a co-receptor for c-Met and is upregulated in tumors with high metastatic potential. We screened a phage-displayed peptide library for peptides that selectively bind to CD44v6-overexpressing cells and exploited them to block CD44v6 and deliver a pro-apoptotic peptide to tumors for cancer therapy. CNLNTIDTC (NLN) and CNEWQLKSC (NEW) peptides bound preferentially to CD44v6-high cells than to CD44v6-low cells.

Designed ferritin nanocages displaying trimeric TRAIL and tumor-targeting peptides confer superior anti-tumor efficacy.

TRAIL is considered a promising target for cancer therapy because it mediates activation of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway in a tumor-specific manner by binding to and trimerizing its functional receptors, DR4 or DR5. Although recombinant human TRAIL has shown high potency and specificity for killing cancer cells in preclinical studies, it has failed in multiple clinical trials for several reasons, including a very short half-life mainly caused by instability of the monomeric form of TRAIL and rapid renal clearance of the off-targeted TRAIL. To overcome such obstacles, we developed a TRAIL-active trimer nanocage (TRAIL-ATNC) that presents the TRAIL ligand in its trimer-like conformation by connecting it to a triple helix sequence that links to the threefold axis of the ferritin nanocage.

Phage display-identified PD-L1-binding peptides reinvigorate T-cell activity and inhibit tumor progression.

Blockade of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) restores T-cell activity and enhances anti-tumor immunity. Screening a phage-displayed peptide library for peptides that selectively bind to PD-L1-overexpressing cells identified two peptides, CLQKTPKQC and CVRARTR (PD-L1Pep-1 and PD-L1Pep-2, respectively) that appeared to block PD-L1. PD-L1Pep-1 and PD-L1Pep-2 preferentially bound to high PD-L1-expressing cells over low PD-L1-expressing cells; binding was further enhanced by interferon-γ, an inducer of PD-L1 expression.

Peptide-based targeted therapeutics and apoptosis imaging probes for cancer therapy.

Peptides have advantages over antibodies in terms of deep tissue penetration, low immunogenicity, and cost-effective production, but they have short circulation time and poor stability in vivo. Peptides have been extensively used as targeting moieties for the delivery of drug-loaded nanoparticles and function as targeted therapeutics in cancer treatment. Here, we review peptides that are exploited as targeted therapeutics in cancer therapy and apoptosis imaging probes for the monitoring of treatment responses.

Non-genetic engineering of cytotoxic T cells to target IL-4 receptor enhances tumor homing and therapeutic efficacy against melanoma.

Adoptive transfer of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) has been used as an immunotherapy in melanoma. However, the tumor homing and therapeutic efficacy of transferred CTLs against melanoma remain unsatisfactory. Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) is commonly up-regulated in tumors including melanoma.

IL4 Receptor-Targeted Proapoptotic Peptide Blocks Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Enhancing Antitumor Immunity.

Cellular cross-talk between tumors and M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) favors tumor progression. Upregulation of IL4 receptor (IL4R) is observed in diverse tumors and TAMs. We tested whether an IL4R-targeted proapoptotic peptide could inhibit tumor progression.

Enhanced delivery of liposomes to lung tumor through targeting interleukin-4 receptor on both tumor cells and tumor endothelial cells.

A growing body of evidence suggests that pathological lesions express tissue-specific molecular targets or biomarkers within the tissue. Interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) is overexpressed in many types of cancer cells, including lung cancer. Here we investigated the properties of IL-4R-binding peptide-1 (IL4RPep-1), a CRKRLDRNC peptide, and its ability to target the delivery of liposomes to lung tumor.