Publications [#87741] of Virginia B Kraus

Papers Published

1. MF Shamji, H Betre, VB Kraus, J Chen, A Chilkoti, R Pichika, K Masuda, LA Setton, Development and characterization of a fusion protein between thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptide and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: sustained release of a local antiinflammatory therapeutic., Arthritis and rheumatism, vol. 56 no. 11 (November, 2007), pp. 3650-61, ISSN 0004-3591 [doi]
   (last updated on 2013/05/16)

   Abstract:
   OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) has been evaluated for the intraarticular treatment of osteoarthritis. Such administration of proteins may have limited utility because of their rapid clearance and short half-life in the joint. The fusion of a drug to elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) promotes the formation of aggregating particles that form a "drug depot" at physiologic temperatures, a phenomenon intended to prolong the presence of the drug. The purpose of this study was to develop an injectable drug depot composed of IL-1Ra and ELP domains and to evaluate the properties and bioactivity of the recombinant ELP-IL-1Ra fusion protein. METHODS: Fusion proteins between IL-1Ra and 2 distinct sequences and molecular weights of ELP were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Environmental sensitivity was demonstrated by turbidity and dynamic light scattering as a function of temperature. IL-1Ra domain activity was evaluated by surface plasmon resonance, and in vitro antagonism of IL-1-mediated lymphocyte and thymocyte proliferation, as well as IL-1-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) expression and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and ADAMTS-4 messenger RNA expression in human intervertebral disc fibrochondrocytes. IL-1Ra immunoreactivity was assessed before and after proteolytic degradation of the ELP partner. RESULTS: Both fusion proteins underwent supramolecular aggregation at subphysiologic temperatures and slowly resolubilized at 37 degrees C. Interaction with IL-1 receptor was slower in association but equivalent in dissociation as compared with the commercial antagonist. Anti-IL-1 activity was demonstrated by inhibition of lymphocyte and thymocyte proliferation and by decreased TNFalpha expression and ADAMTS-4 and MMP-3 transcription by fibrochondrocytes. ELP domain proteolysis liberated a peptide of comparable size and immunoreactivity as the commercial IL-1Ra. This peptide was more bioactive against lymphocyte proliferation, nearly equivalent to the commercial antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: The ELP-IL-1Ra fusion protein proved to retain the characteristic ELP inverse phase-transitioning behavior as well as the bioactivity of the IL-1Ra domain. This technology represents a novel drug carrier designed to prolong the presence of bioactive peptides following intraarticular delivery.

   Keywords:
   Animals • Anti-Inflammatory Agents • Cell Division • Chondrocytes • Drug Delivery Systems • Drug Design • Elastin • Humans • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein • Intervertebral Disc • Lymphocytes • Mice • Mice, Inbred C57BL • Peptides • Receptors, Interleukin-1 • Recombinant Fusion Proteins • Temperature • Thymus Gland • U937 Cells • cytology • drug effects • genetics • genetics* • immunology • metabolism • methods • pharmacokinetics*