title: Materials composed of the Drosophila Hox protein Ultrabithorax are biocompatible and nonimmunogenic.
abstract: Although the in vivo function of the Drosophila melanogaster Hox protein Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is to regulate transcription, in vitro Ubx hierarchically self-assembles to form nanoscale to macroscale materials. The morphology, mechanical properties, and functionality (via protein chimeras) of Ubx materials are all easily engineered. Ubx materials are also compatible with cells in culture. These properties make Ubx attractive as a potential tissue engineering scaffold, but to be used as such they must be biocompatible and nonimmunogenic. In this study, we assess whether Ubx materials are suitable for in vivo applications. When implanted into mice, Ubx fibers attracted few immune cells to the implant area. Sera from mice implanted with Ubx contain little to no antibodies capable of recognizing Ubx. Furthermore, Ubx fibers cultured with macrophages in vitro did not lyse or activate the macrophages, as measured by TNF-α and NO secretion. Finally, Ubx fibers do not cause hemolysis when incubated with human red blood cells. The minimal effects observed are comparable with those induced by biomaterials used successfully in vivo. We conclude Ubx materials are biocompatible and nonimmunogenic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, 77843.
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arenas-Gamboa
authors.forename: Ting-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pellois
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rice-Ficht
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bondos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016207:Cytokines; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Ultrabithorax; biocompatible; hemolysis; macrophage; protein-based materials