Engineering Cytokines for Super-Affinity Binding to Matrix in Regenerative Medicine

Obiettivo

In physiological situations, the extracellular matrix (ECM) sequesters cytokines, localizes them, and modulates their signaling. Thus, physiological signaling from cytokines occurs primarily when the cytokines are interacting with the ECM. In therapeutic use of cytokines, however, this interaction and balance have not been respected; rather the growth factors are merely injected or applied as soluble molecules, perhaps in controlled release forms. This has led to modest efficacy and substantial concerns on safety. Here, we will develop a protein engineering design for second-generation cytokines to lead to their super-affinity binding to ECM molecules in the targeted tissues; this would allow application to a tissue site to yield a tight association with ECM molecules there, turning the tissue itself into a reservoir for cytokine sequestration and presentation. To accomplish this, we have undertaken preliminary work screening a library of cytokines for extraordinarily high affinity binding to a library of ECM molecules. We have thereby identified a small peptide domain within placental growth factor-2 (PlGF-2), namely PlGF-2123-144, that displays super-affinity for a number of ECM proteins. Also in preliminary work, we have demonstrated that recombinant fusion of this domain to low-affinity binding cytokines, namely VEGF-A, PDGF-BB and BMP-2, confers super-affinity binding to ECM molecules and accentuates their functionality in vivo in regenerative medicine models. In the proposed project, based on this preliminary data, we will push forward this protein engineering design, pursuing super-affinity variants of VEGF-A and PDGF-BB in chronic wounds, TGF-beta3 and CXCL11 in skin scar reduction, FGF-18 in osteoarthritic cartilage repair and CXCL12 in stem cell recruitment to ischemic cardiac muscle. Thus, we seek to demonstrate a fundamentally new concept and platform for second-generation growth factor protein engineering.

Campo scientifico

Meccanismo di finanziamento

ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant

Istituzione ospitante

ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE

Contributo UE

€ 2 368 170,00

Indirizzo

BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1
1015 Lausanne
Svizzera

Regione

Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud

Tipo di attività

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Contatto amministrativo

Caroline Vandevyver (Dr.)

Ricercatore principale

Jeffrey Alan Hubbell (Prof.)

Collegamenti

Contatta l’organizzazione Sito web

Costo totale

Nessun dato

Beneficiari (1)