Biology subjects

WHITE, M. J. V.

Publications and source records attributed to WHITE, M. J. V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Engineered collagen-targeting therapeutics reverse lung and kidney fibrosis in mice

Fibrotic diseases are involved in 45% of deaths in the United States. In particular, fibrosis of the kidney and lung are major public health concerns due to their high prevalence and lack of existing treatment options. Here, we harness the pathophysiological features of fibrotic diseases, namely leaky vasculature and aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) protein deposition (i.e. collagen), to target an anti-fibrotic biologic and a small molecule drug to disease sites of fibrosis, thus improving their therapeutic potential in mouse models of lung and kidney fibrosis. First, we identify and validate collagen-targeting drug delivery systems that preferentially accumulate in the diseased organs: von Willebrand Factors A3 domain (VWF-A3) and decorin-derived collagen-binding peptide-conjugated micelles (CBP-micelles). We then engineer and recombinantly express novel candidate biologic therapies based on the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10: A3-IL-10 and A3-Serum Albumin-IL-10 (A3-SA-IL-10). Simultaneously, we stably encapsulate the potential anti-fibrotic water-insoluble drug, rapamycin, in CBP-micelles. We show that these novel formulations of therapeutics bind to collagen in vitro and that their efficacy in mouse models of lung and kidney fibrosis is improved, compared to free, untargeted drugs. Our results demonstrate that collagen-targeted anti-fibrotic drugs may be next generation therapies of high clinical potential.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

VEGF-A, PDGF-BB and HB-EGF engineered for promiscuous super affinity to the extracellular matrix improve wound healing in a model of type 1 diabetes

Chronic non-healing wounds, frequently caused by diabetes, lead to lower quality of life, infection, and amputation. These wounds have limited treatment options. We have previously engineered growth factors to bind to exposed extracellular matrix (ECM) in the wound environment using the heparin-binding domain of placental growth factor-2 (PlGF-2123-144), which binds promiscuously to ECM proteins. Here, in the type 1 diabetic (T1D) NOD mouse model, engineered growth factors improved both re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation. Engineered growth factors were even more potent in combination, and the "triple therapy" of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-PlGF-2123-144), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144), and heparin-binding epidermal-growth factor (EGF-PlGF-2123-144) both improved wound healing and remained at the site of administration for significantly longer than wild-type growth factors. In addition, we also found that changes in the cellular milieu of a wound, including changing amounts of M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages and effector T cells, are most predictive of wound healing success in the NOD mouse model. These results suggest that the triple therapy of VEGF-PlGF-2123-144, PDGF-BB-PlGF-2123-144, and EGF-PlGF-2123-144 may be an effective therapy for chronic non-healing wounds in that occur as a complication of diabetes.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

Myofibroblast differentiation is governed by adhesion mechanics, and inhibition of the stress sensor Talin2 reverses lung fibrosis

Fibrosis is involved in 45% of deaths in the United States, and no treatment exists to reverse progression of the disease. In order to find novel targets for fibrosis therapeutics, we developed a model for the differentiation of monocytes to myofibroblasts that allowed us to screen for proteins involved in myofibroblast differentiation. Inhibition of a novel protein target generated by our model, talin2, reduces myofibroblast morphology, -smooth muscle actin content, collagen I content, and lowers the pro-fibrotic secretome of myofibroblasts. We find that knockdown of talin2 de-differentiates myofibroblasts, talin2 knockdown reverses bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice, and Tln2 -/-mice are resistant to unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced kidney fibrosis and are resistant to bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Talin2 inhibition is a potential treatment for reversing lung and kidney fibroses. One Sentence SummarySilencing the stress sensor Talin2 reverses myofibroblast differentiation and existing fibrosis.

immunology↗