title: RGD-based cell ligands for cell-targeted drug delivery act as potent trophic factors.
abstract: Integrin-binding, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptides are the most widely used agents to deliver drugs, nanoparticles, and imaging agents. Although in nature, several protein-mediated signal transduction events depend on RGD motifs, the potential of RGD-empowered materials in triggering undesired cell-signaling cascades has been neglected. Using an RGD-functionalized protein nanoparticle, we show here that the RGD motif acts as a powerful trophic factor, supporting extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2)-linked cell proliferation and partial differentiation of PC12 cells, a neuronlike model.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This work focuses on RGD peptides, which are among the most commonly used tags for targeted drug delivery. They also promote protoneurite formation and expression of neuronal markers (MAP2) in model PC12 cells, which is an unexpected but relevant event in the functionalization of drugs and their nanocarriers.
authors: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Domingo-Espín
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Petegnief
authors: Núria
authors: N
authors: de Vera
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Conchillo-Solé
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Saccardo
authors: Ugutz
authors: U
authors: Unzueta
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Vazquez
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Cedano
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Negro
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Daura
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Peluffo
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Planas
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Villaverde
authors: Neus
authors: N
authors: Ferrer-Miralles
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid