What is it about?
Unlike virtually all other gene (and drug) delivery systems, the histidine-lysine peptide carrier (H2K) is not dependent on passive diffusion or the enhanced permeability and retention property to transfect tumors efficiently. Because H2K peptide has a repeating sequence pattern of –KHHK-, transcytosis of the H2K polyplex (peptide and plasmid) is mediated by the neuropilin-1 receptor (NRP1) through the tumor endothelium. Activation of the NRP1 transport system provides the rationale for enhanced tumor targeting and the widespread distribution of plasmids by the H2K carrier in murine tumor xenograft model.
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Perspectives
The fundamental problem of poor delivery to tumors with non-viral plasmid-based therapies has stymied investigators for over 30 years. We think that the current study is transformative and will go a long way in solving the problem of inefficient plasmid-based delivery to tumors. The peptide carrier described in this study should open doors to target effectively oncogenic targets (shRNA) and to test strategies (i.e., addition of tumor suppressor genes and/or chemotherapy) that result in tumor regression.
Dr. Archibald J Mixson
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The neuropilin-1 receptor mediates enhanced tumor delivery of H2K polyplexes, The Journal of Gene Medicine, July 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2886.
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