title: Peptide gH625 enters into neuron and astrocyte cell lines and crosses the blood-brain barrier in rats.
abstract: Peptide gH625, derived from glycoprotein H of herpes simplex virus type 1, can enter cells efficiently and deliver a cargo. Nanoparticles armed with gH625 are able to cross an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the present study, in vitro experiments were performed to investigate whether gH625 can enter and accumulate in neuron and astrocyte cell lines. The ability of gH625 to cross the BBB in vivo was also evaluated. gH625 was administered in vivo to rats and its presence in the liver and in the brain was detected. Within 3.5 hours of intravenous administration, gH625 can be found beyond the BBB in proximity to cell neurites. gH625 has no toxic effects in vivo, since it does not affect the maximal oxidative capacity of the brain or the mitochondrial respiration rate. Our data suggest that gH625, with its ability to cross the BBB, represents a novel nanocarrier system for drug delivery to the central nervous system. These results open up new possibilities for direct delivery of drugs into patients in the field of theranostics and might address the treatment of several human diseases.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Valiante
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy ; DFM Scarl, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Annarita
authors: A
authors: Falanga
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Cigliano
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Iachetta
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Rosa Anna
authors: RA
authors: Busiello
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: La Marca
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine, II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Galdiero
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Assunta
authors: A
authors: Lombardi
authors: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy ; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Galdiero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D050997:Nanomedicine; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D010455:Peptides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C569201:gH625 peptide, Herpes simplex virus type I
keywords: astrocytes; blood–brain barrier; drug delivery; neurons; peptide