A series of experimental studies by British researchers show that small spherical particles called protocells, loaded with cargo that inhibits microRNA-223 (miR223), alter interactions between immune cells and cancer cells, It shows that it can ultimately reduce tumor burden.
“Protocells are chemically engineered artificial spherical particles/vesicles formed by aggregation of non-biological components with the aim of mimicking the structure and various properties of biological cells, thus It helps us better understand the processes that occur, explains study lead author Paco López-Cuevas, a fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol (UK).
López-Cuevas and team hypothesized that by loading synthetic ‘proteinosomes’ with anti-miR223 molecules, targeting miR223 would encourage immune cells to attack and destroy cancer cells. .
Previous studies in mice and zebrafish “showed that miR223 inhibition made immune cells more inflammatory and improved their ability to eliminate bacteria,” said López-Cuevas. . “Pro-inflammatory immune cells are also generally effective at killing cancer cells, so targeting miR223 can help immune cells attack cancer cells in the same way that they clear infection,” he said. I hypothesized that it would destroy
“Furthermore, clinical studies have previously reported that high levels of miR223 correlate with poor prognosis in cancer, suggesting that miR223 may be a good therapeutic target to combat cancer. ,” says López-Cuevas.
Researchers at the University of Bristol tested the tumor-suppressive properties of progenitor cells in a series of experiments in a zebrafish model. melanoma and in cultured human cells, advanced science This study is the first to use Protocell to target therapeutic agents to immune cells for cancer immunotherapy applications.
First, we showed in zebrafish larvae that protocells loaded with anti-miR223 molecules altered the interaction between immune cells and cancer cells, slowing cancer cell growth and increasing cancer cell death.
They then repeated the experiment in adult zebrafish with caudal fin melanoma and showed that their approach significantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation.
Finally, the team tested protocells in human macrophages and found that they could effectively deliver an anti-miR223 cargo and reprogram the cells towards a more persistent pro-inflammatory and thus potentially anti-cancer phenotype. was shown.
López-Cuevas told Inside Precision Medicine that the next step is to conduct preclinical studies in mouse models to “optimize the therapeutic dose of Protocel prior to human use.”
“One of our long-term goals is to confer immune cell activity on protocells, so that rather than relying on uptake of protocells by immune cells, protocells can self-incorporate regardless of the presence of immune cells. can find and kill cancer cells.”
The researchers also said their findings suggest that “inflammatory cell reprogramming may be effective as an anti-cancer therapy not only for melanoma, but also for other difficult-to-treat solid tumors that may be susceptible to pro-inflammatory effects.” The protocell system is also linked to immune cells in other inflammatory conditions where these cells play an important role, such as the chronic unresolved wounds common in diabetics. He said it could be adapted to regulate function.
