title: Target-selective activation of a TNF prodrug by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) mediated proteolytic processing at the cell surface.
abstract: We have previously developed TNF prodrugs comprised of a N-terminal scFv targeting, a TNF effector and a C-terminal TNFR1-derived inhibitor module linked to TNF via a MMP-2 motif containing peptide, allowing activation by MMP-2-expressing tumor cells. To overcome the known heterogeneity of matrix metalloprotease expression, we developed TNF prodrugs that become processed by other tumor and/or stroma-associated proteases. These TNF prodrugs comprise either an uPA-selective or a dual uPA-MMP-2-specific linker which displayed efficient, target-dependent and cleavage sequence-specific activation by the corresponding tumor cell-expressed proteases. Selective pharmacologic inhibition of endogenous uPA and MMP-2 confirm independent prodrug processing by these two model proteases and indicate the functional superiority of a prodrug containing a multi-specific protease linker. Processing optimised TNF prodrugs should increase the proportion of active therapeutic within the targeted tissue and thus potentially enhance tumor response rate.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerspach
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Münkel
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wajant
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfizenmaier
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D010450:Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010450:Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011355:Prodrugs; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha