Researcher Profile and Settings

Master

Affiliation (Master)

• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences　Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy　Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy

Affiliation (Master)

• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences　Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy　Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy

researchmap

Profile and Settings

Profile and Settings

• Name (Japanese)

  Harashima

• Name (Kana)

  Hideyoshi

• Name

  201201024910673912

Alternate Names

http://kaken.nii.ac.jp/d/r/00183567.ja.html

Achievement

Research Interests

• MITO-Porter   Nucleic Nanomedicine   Precision Medicine   Nanomedicine   pH-responsive cationic lipid   リポソーム   薬物送達システム   エンドサイトーシス   siRNA   細胞内動態制御   MEND   オクタアルギニン   がん   エンドソーム   細胞内動態   遺伝子診断   遺伝子ベクター   遺伝子デリバリー   遺伝子治療   多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体   KALA   非ウイルスベクター   ミトコンドリア   ワクチン   ターゲティング   薬物速度論   

Research Areas

• Life sciences / Pharmaceuticals - analytical and physicochemistry
• Life sciences / Clinical pharmacy
• Life sciences / Biomaterials
• Life sciences / Biomedical engineering
• Life sciences / Pharmaceuticals - chemistry and drug development
• Life sciences / Pharmacology
• Life sciences / Pharmaceuticals - health and biochemistry
• Life sciences / Infectious disease

Research Experience

• 2022/04 - Today Hokkaido University
• 2009/04 - Today Hokkaido University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 2006/04 - Today Hokkaido University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 1999/07 - 2006/03 北海道大学 大学院薬学研究科 薬剤分子設計学分野 教授
• 1989/07 - 1999/06 The University of Tokushima Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 1987/07 - 1989/06 スタンフォード大学 医学部麻酔科 JSPS特別研究員
• 1985/10 - 1987/07 The University of Tokyo Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Education

• 1983/04 - 1985/10  The University of Tokyo
• 1981/04 - 1983/03  The University of Tokyo
• 1977/04 - 1981/03  The University of Tokyo  Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Awards

• 2023/03 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Awad of Phamaceutical Society of Japan
   細胞内動態制御に基づいた遺伝子・核酸送達システムの創製とナノ医療への展開 

  受賞者: Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2021/09 International Federation of Pharmaceutics Høst Madsen Medal
   Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device: From controlled intracellular trafficking to clinical application for Nanomedicine 

  受賞者: Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2019/02 Hokkaido University Presidential Award
   

  受賞者: Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2016/11 Song Eum Academy Foundation 19th SONG EUM Med-Pharm Award
   

  受賞者: Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2016/05 公益社団法人日本薬剤学会 学会賞
   多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創製とナノ医療への展開 

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 2016/02 北海道大学 総長賞（優秀賞）
   

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 2016/02 一般財団法人油脂工業会館 優秀論文表彰（優秀賞）
   

  受賞者: 秋田英万;原島秀吉
• 2015/02 北海道大学 総長賞（優秀賞）
   

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 2013/07 国際コントロールドリリース学会 Fellow
   

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 2011/10 米国薬学会 AAPS Journal Manuscript Award
   

  受賞者: A. El-Sayed;Shiro Futaki;Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2010/08 FIP Distinguished Science Award
   

  受賞者: Hideyoshi Harashima
• 2007/06 日本DDS学会 永井賞
   多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による人工遺伝子デリバリーシステムの創製 

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 2007/03 公益社団法人日本薬学会 学術振興賞
   多機能性エンベロープ型人工遺伝子デリバリーシステムの創製 

  受賞者: 原島秀吉
• 1994/11 日本薬物動態学会 奨励賞
   薬物速度論に基づいたリポソームによる薬物送達システムの構築 

  受賞者: 原島秀吉

Published Papers

• Duchenne型筋ジストロフィーモデルラット細胞を用いたミトコンドリア呼吸能活性化による治療介入検討

  佐藤 逸美, 日比野 光恵, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉, 山田 勇磨

  脳と発達 (一社)日本小児神経学会 56 (Suppl.) S237 - S237 0029-0831 2024/05
• Investigation of the Nanoparticulation Method and Cell-Killing Effect following the Mitochondrial Delivery of Hydrophobic Porphyrin-Based Photosensitizers

  Rina Naganawa, Hanjun Zhao, Yuta Takano, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024/04/12 [Refereed]
  
• Activation of Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption Rate by Delivering Coenzyme Q10 to Mitochondria of Rat Skeletal Muscle Cell (L6)

  Itsumi Sato, Mitsue Hibino, Atsuhito Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 0022-3549 2024/02
• Human cardiosphere-derived cells with activated mitochondria for better myocardial regenerative therapy.

  Masahiro Shiraishi, Daisuke Sasaki, Mitsue Hibino, Atsuhito Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 2024/01/29 

  Cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial regeneration therapy. To improve therapeutic effects, we developed a culture medium additive that enhances the mitochondrial function of cardiomyocytes for transplantation. A mitochondrial targeting drug delivery system (MITO-Porter system) was used to deliver mitochondrial activation molecules to mouse-derived cardiac progenitor cells. In this study, we investigated whether the mitochondrial function of human-derived myocardial precursor cells could be enhanced using MITO-Porter. Human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) were isolated from myocardium which was excised during surgery for congenital heart disease. MITO-Porter was added to the cell culture medium to generate mitochondrial activated CDCs (human MITO cells). The human MITO cells were transplanted into myocardial ischemia-reperfusion rat model rat, and the effect was investigated. The transplanted human MITO cells improved the cardiac function and suppressed myocardial fibrosis compared to conventional cell transplantation methods. These effects were observed not only with myocardial administration but also by intravenous administration of human MITO cells. This study is the first study that assessed whether the mitochondrial delivery of functional compounds improved the outcome of human-derived myocardial cell transplantation therapy.
• Development of Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Large-Sized Plasmid DNA Transfection.

  Masatoshi Maeki, Shuya Uno, Kaisei Sugiura, Yusuke Sato, Yoichiro Fujioka, Akihiko Ishida, Yusuke Ohba, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  ACS applied materials & interfaces 16 (2) 2110 - 2119 2024/01/17 

  RNA and DNA delivery technologies using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have advanced significantly, as demonstrated by their successful application in mRNA vaccines. To date, commercially available RNA therapeutics include Onpattro, a 21 bp siRNA, and mRNA vaccines comprising 4300 nucleotides for COVID-19. However, a significant challenge remains in achieving efficient transfection, as the size of the delivered RNA and DNA increases. In contrast to RNA transfection, plasmid DNA (pDNA) transfection requires multiple steps, including cellular uptake, endosomal escape, nuclear translocation, transcription, and translation. The low transfection efficiency of large pDNA is a critical limitation in the development of artificial cells and their cellular functionalization. Here, we introduce polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles designed for efficient, large-sized pDNA transfection. We demonstrated that LNPs loaded with positively charged pDNA-polycation core nanoparticles exhibited a 4-fold increase in transfection efficiency for 15 kbp pDNA compared with conventional LNPs, which encapsulate a negatively charged pDNA-polycation core. Based on assessments of the size and internal structure of the polymer-lipid nanoparticles as well as hemolysis and cellular uptake analysis, we propose a strategy to enhance large-sized pDNA transfection using LNPs. This approach holds promise for accelerating the in vivo delivery of large-sized pDNA and advancing the development of artificial cells.
• Development of Liposomes That Target Axon Terminals Encapsulating Berberine in Cultured Primary Neurons

  Ikuma Hori, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Pharmaceutics 16 (1) 49 - 49 2023/12/28 

  Most of the energy in neurons is produced in mitochondria. Mitochondria generate the ATP that is essential for neuronal growth, function, and regeneration. Mitochondrial axonal transport plays a crucial role in maintaining neuronal homeostasis and biological activity. Decreased mitochondrial axonal transport at axon terminals, where the metabolism of substances is likely to be delayed, may contribute to neurological dysfunction. Therefore, regulation of mitochondrial dynamics at axon terminals has attracted considerable interest as a strategy to modulate neuronal function. Nanoparticles may be useful in controlling local mitochondrial dynamics. Nevertheless, there are few reports on the influence of drug delivery that nanoparticles impart on the mitochondrial dynamics in neurons. This paper reports the results of a study using liposomes (LPs) to examine local drug delivery and pharmacological actions on neurons. We tested berberine (BBR), which is an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), to examine the utility of this drug as a cellular energy sensor. Axon terminals targeting LPs were prepared. The amount of axon terminals targeting LPs was increased compared with treatment using cationic LPs. Moreover, axon terminal-targeting LPs increased anterograde transport by about 40% compared with that of either naked BBR or cationic LPs and suppressed axonal retraction. Our findings suggest that local drug delivery to neurons is important for enhancing pharmacological activity in axon terminals.
• π-extended porphyrin-based near-infrared photosensitizers for mitochondria-targeted photodynamic therapy

  Hanjun Zhao, Rina Naganawa, Yuma Yamada, Yasuko Osakada, Mamoru Fujitsuka, Hideyuki Mitomo, Yukiko Miyatake, Hideyoshi Harashima, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Yuta Takano

  Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 115397 - 115397 1010-6030 2023/12
• Reprogramming activated hepatic stellate cells by siRNA-loaded nanocarriers reverses liver fibrosis in mice

  Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H.A. Elewa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 361 592 - 603 0168-3659 2023/09 

  We report on a novel strategy for treating liver fibrosis through reprogramming activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (aHSCs) into quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells (qHSCs) using siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The in vivo screening of an array of molecularly-diverse ionizable lipids identified two candidates, CL15A6 and CL15H6, with a high siRNA delivery efficiency to aHSCs. Optimization of the composition and physico-chemical properties of the LNPs enabled the ligand-free, selective, and potent siRNA delivery to aHSCs post intravenous administration, with a median effective siRNA dose (ED50) as low as 0.08 mg/Kg. The biosafety of the LNPs was confirmed by escalating the dose to 50-fold higher than the ED50 or by chronic administration. The recruitment of the novel LNPs for the simultaneous knockdown of Hedgehog (Hh) and Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGFβ1) signaling pathways using an siRNA cocktail enabled the reversal of liver fibrosis and the restoration of the normal liver function in mice. Analysis of the key transcription factors in aHSCs suggested that the reprogramming of aHSCs into qHSCs mediated the therapeutic outcomes. The scalable ligand-free platform developed in this study as well as the novel therapeutic strategy reported herein are promising for clinical translation.
• Harnessing Topology and Stereochemistry of Glycidylamine‐Derived Lipid Nanoparticles for in Vivo mRNA Delivery to Immune Cells in Spleen and Their Application for Cancer Vaccination

  Mahmoud M. Abd Elwakil, Ryota Suzuki, Alaa M. Khalifa, Rania M. Elshami, Takuya Isono, Yaser H.A. Elewa, Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Toshifumi Satoh, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced Functional Materials 1616-301X 2023/07/26 

  Abstract mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have reached an inflection point and are now paving the way for a new wave of precision therapies. The design of nonhepatocyte RNA delivery systems without targeting ligands, however, remains a challenge. It is reported that the development of ligand‐free glycidylamine (GA) derivatives containing LNPs (GA‐LNPs) that preferentially deliver mRNA to immune cells in the spleen. Notably, it is demonstrated that the stereochemistry of GA‐lipids has a significant impact on their self‐assembly and in vitro and in vivo RNA delivery efficiency and tropism. This impact is dependent on the monomeric structure of GA and number of stereogenic centers. Furthermore, the nonlinear topology of GA lipid derivatives induced a sevenfold improvement in mRNA delivery efficiency. The top‐performing estriol‐GA05‐30 LNPs elicited strong antitumor activity in a therapeutic and prophylactic cancer model and are well tolerated in mice. These results highlight the significance of the chemistry of ionizable lipids for extrahepatic RNA delivery and indicated a promising direction for the development of next‐generation mRNA immunotherapies.
• 骨格筋細胞ミトコンドリアに対する薬物送達および機能活性化についての検討

  佐藤 逸美, 日比野 光恵, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉, 山田 勇磨

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 39回 144 - 144 2023/07
• ミトコンドリア活性化幹細胞(MITO cell)を用いた心筋虚血再灌流モデルマウスにおける細胞移植治療の検証

  佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉, 山田 勇磨

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 39回 176 - 176 2023/07
• オミックス解析がもたらす小児心血管疾患研究の新たな展開 メタボローム解析を用いたミトコンドリア活性化ヒト心筋前駆細胞移植法の効果検証

  白石 真大, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉, 山田 勇磨

  日本小児循環器学会総会・学術集会抄録集 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 59回 [III - 04] 2023/07
• Development of light-induced disruptive liposomes (LiDL) as a photoswitchable carrier for intracellular substance delivery.

  Taichi Tsuneishi, Keiichi Kojima, Fumika Kubota, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada, Yuki Sudo

  Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) 59 (49) 7591 - 7594 2023/06/15 

  Light-driven inward proton pump rhodopsin RmXeR was embedded in pH-sensitive liposomes. Substance release from the proteoliposomes was observed following light illumination both in vitro and in cells, indicating the successful production of light-induced disruptive liposomes (LiDL). Thus, LiDL is a photoswitchable carrier utilized for intracellular substance delivery.
• Differences in the Intracellular Localization of Methylated β-Cyclodextrins-Threaded Polyrotaxanes Lead to Different Cellular States

  Yuma Yamada, Shinnosuke Daikuhara, Atsushi Tamura, Kei Nishida, Nobuhiko Yui, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biomolecules 13 (6) 903 - 903 2023/05/29 

  Activation of autophagy represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diseases that are caused by the accumulation of defective proteins and the formation of abnormal organelles. Methylated β-cyclodextrins-threaded polyrotaxane (Me-PRX), a supramolecular structured polymer, induces autophagy by interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum. We previously reported on the successful activation of mitochondria-targeted autophagy by delivering Me-RRX to mitochondria using a MITO-Porter, a mitochondria-targeted nanocarrier. The same level of autophagy induction was achieved at one-twentieth the dosage for the MITO-Porter (Me-PRX) compared to the naked Me-PRX. We report herein on the quantitative evaluation of the intracellular organelle localization of both naked Me-PRX and the MITO-Porter (Me-PRX). Mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes were selected as target organelles because they would be involved in autophagy induction. In addition, organelle injury and cell viability assays were performed. The results showed that the naked Me-PRX and the MITO-Porter (Me-PRX) were localized in different intracellular organelles, and organelle injury was different, depending on the route of administration, indicating that different organelles contribute to autophagy induction. These findings indicate that the organelle to which the autophagy-inducing molecules are delivered plays an important role in the level of induction of autophagy.
• A system that delivers an antioxidant to mitochondria for the treatment of drug-induced liver injury.

  Mitsue Hibino, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Yoichi Ishitsuka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Scientific reports 13 (1) 6961 - 6961 2023/05/10 [Refereed]
   

  Mitochondria, a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), are intimately involved in the response to oxidative stress in the body. The production of excessive ROS affects the balance between oxidative responses and antioxidant defense mechanisms thus perturbing mitochondrial function eventually leading to tissue injury. Therefore, antioxidant therapies that target mitochondria can be used to treat such diseases and improve general health. This study reports on an attempt to establish a system for delivering an antioxidant molecule coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to mitochondria and the validation of its therapeutic efficacy in a model of acetaminophen (APAP) liver injury caused by oxidative stress in mitochondria. A CoQ10-MITO-Porter, a mitochondrial targeting lipid nanoparticle (LNP) containing encapsulated CoQ10, was prepared using a microfluidic device. It was essential to include polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the lipid composition of this LNP to ensure stability of the CoQ10, since it is relatively insoluble in water. Based on transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, the CoQ10-MITO-Porter was estimated to be a 50 nm spherical particle without a regular layer structure. The use of the CoQ10-MITO-Porter improved liver function and reduced tissue injury, suggesting that it exerted a therapeutic effect on APAP liver injury.
• Delivering mRNA to a human NK cell line, NK-92 cells, by lipid nanoparticles.

  Takashi Nakamura, Taisei Nakade, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International journal of pharmaceutics 636 122810 - 122810 2023/04/05 

  In cancer immunotherapy, therapeutic methods targeting NK are highly expected. NK cell-based therapy using NK-92, a human NK cell line, has been clinically evaluated. Delivering mRNA into NK-92 cells is a potent strategy for enhancing its functions. However, the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for this purpose has not yet been evaluated. We previously developed a LNP that was composed of CL1H6 (CL1H6-LNP) for the efficient delivery of siRNA to NK-92 cells, and the use of this material for delivering mRNA to NK-92 cells is reported in this study. Compared with a DLin-MC3-DMA based LNP, used as a benchmark, the CL1H6-LNP caused a high mRNA expression intensity and a cell transfection efficiency of 100%. The efficient mRNA delivery by this CL1H6-LNP is attributed to the high affinity for NK-92 cells and the intense, rapid fusion with the endosomal membrane. It therefore appears that the CL1H6-LNP could be a useful non-viral vector for modifying the NK-92 functions by mRNA. Our findings also provide some insights into the design and development of LNPs for delivering mRNA to NK-92 and NK cells.
• Microenvironmental Changes in Mediastinal Fat-associated Lymphoid Clusters and Lungs in Early and Late Stages of Metastatic Lung Cancer Induction

  Yaser Hosny Ali Elewa, Mahmoud M Abd Elwakil, Hideyoshi Harashima, Sherif Kh A Mohamed, Mahmoud Hosny Zahran

  Microscopy and Microanalysis 29 (3) 1228 - 1243 1431-9276 2023/04/01 

  Abstract The prognosis of metastatic lung melanoma (MLM) has been reported to be poor. An increasing number of studies have reported the function of several immune cells in cancer regression. Although the function of mediastinal fat-associated lymphoid clusters (MFALCs) in the progression of inflammatory lung lesions has been previously reported, the association between MLM progression and MFALCs development has remained unexplored. Herein, we compared the microenvironmental changes in the lungs and MFALCs among phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and cancer groups at early (1 week) and late (2 weeks) stages following the intravenous injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells into C57BL/6 mice. Except for lung CD4+ helper T-cells and Iba1+ macrophage populations of early stage, we observed a significant increase in the proliferating and immune cell (CD20+ B-lymphocytes, CD3+ T-lymphocytes, CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells, CD16+ natural killer (NK) cells populations, area of high endothelial venules, and lung lymphatic vessels in cancer groups at both the stages as compared with the PBS groups. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between immune cell populations in MFALCs and the lungs (B- and T-lymphocytes, and NK cells in both stages). Collectively, our findings suggest a promising cancer therapeutic strategy via targeting immune cells in MFALCs.
• Mass production system for RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles using piling up microfluidic devices

  Masatoshi Maeki, Yuto Okada, Shuya Uno, Kaisei Sugiura, Yuichi Suzuki, Kento Okuda, Yusuke Sato, Masao Ando, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Masaki Takeuchi, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  Applied Materials Today 2023/04 [Refereed]
  
• Development of a Mitochondrial Targeting Lipid Nanoparticle Encapsulating Berberine

  Ikuma Hori, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 (2) 903 - 903 2023/01/04 

  Delivering drugs to mitochondria, the main source of energy in neurons, can be a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, acts on mitochondria and is involved in mechanisms associated with the normalization and regulation of intracellular metabolism. Therefore, BBR has attracted considerable interest as a possible therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases. While BBR has been reported to act on mitochondria, there are few reports on the efficient delivery of BBR into mitochondria. This paper reports on the mitochondrial delivery of BBR using a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), a “MITO-Porter” that targets mitochondria, and its pharmacological action in Neuro2a cells, a model neuroblastoma. A MITO-Porter containing encapsulated BBR (MITO-Porter (BBR)) was prepared. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) increased the amount of BBR that accumulated in mitochondria compared with a treatment with naked BBR. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) resulted in increased ATP production in Neuro2a cells, which are important for maintaining life phenomena, compared with treatment with naked BBR. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) also increased the level of expression of mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase (MITOL), which is involved in mitochondrial quality control. Our findings indicate that increasing the accumulation of BBR into mitochondria is important for inducing enhanced pharmacological actions. The use of this system has the potential for being important in terms of the regulation of the metabolic mechanism of mitochondria in nerve cells.
• Self-homing nanocarriers for mRNA delivery to the activated hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis

  Mahmoud A. Younis, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H.A. Elewa, Yasuhiro Kon, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 353 685 - 698 0168-3659 2023/01
• Fine-tuning the encapsulation of a photosensitizer in nanoparticles reveals the relationship between internal structure and phototherapeutic effects.

  Fumika Kubota, Satrialdi, Yuta Takano, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Journal of biophotonics 16 (3) e202200119  2022/09/01 

  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer therapy that uses a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of oxygen molecules. Since singlet oxygen is highly reactive, it is important to deliver it to the target site. Thus, an efficient drug delivery system (DDS) is essential for enhancing the efficacy of such a treatment and protecting against the side effects of PDT. Here, we report on attempts to increase the therapeutic effect of PDT by using a DDS, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). We prepared a porphyrin analog, rTPA (PS) that was encapsulated in LNPs using a microfluidic device. The findings indicated that the internal structure of the prepared particles changed depending on the amount of rTPA in LNPs. The photoactivity and cell-killing effect of PS in LNPs also changed when the amount of the cargo increased. These results suggest that the internal structure of LNPs is important factors that affect drug efficacy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
• Interval- and cycle-dependent combined effect of STING agonist loaded lipid nanoparticles and a PD-1 antibody.

  Alaa M Khalifa, Takashi Nakamura, Yusuke Sato, Takanori Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International journal of pharmaceutics 624 122034 - 122034 2022/08/25 

  Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) blockade combination to other drugs have attracted the interest of scientists for treating tumors resistant to PD-1 blockade. In this study, the impact of the interval, order of administration, and number of cycles of immunotherapeutic combination of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway agonist loaded lipid nanoparticle (STING-LNP) and PD-1 antibody for inducing the optimal combined antitumor activity against a melanoma lung metastasis is reported. One cycle had no effect, but two and three cycles resulted in a combinedantitumor effect. The interval between the administration was found to influence the induction of the combined effect. The second and third doses increased the gene expression of the NK cell activation marker, interferon γ (IFN-γ), PD-1 and a ligand of PD-1 (PD-L1), whereas the first dose failed. NK cells in the lung showed an increase in the expression of the activation markers and PD-1 after the second dose. The combined antitumor effect of this combination therapy against melanoma lung metastasis model could be dependent on the interval as well as the number of doses of STING-LNP.These findings suggest the importance of the protocol setting when combining a nano system loaded with an immune adjuvant and PD-1 antibody.
• Inhibitory role of Annexin A1 in pathological bone resorption and therapeutic implications in periprosthetic osteolysis.

  Hend Alhasan, Mohamad Alaa Terkawi, Gen Matsumae, Taku Ebata, Yuan Tian, Tomohiro Shimizu, Yoshio Nishida, Shunichi Yokota, Fayna Garcia-Martin, Mahmoud M Abd Elwakil, Daisuke Takahashi, Mahmoud A Younis, Hideyoshi Harashima, Ken Kadoya, Norimasa Iwasaki

  Nature communications 13 (1) 3919 - 3919 2022/07/07 

  There is currently no therapy available for periprosthetic osteolysis, the most common cause of arthroplasty failure. Here, the role of AnxA1 in periprosthetic osteolysis and potential therapeutics were investigated. Reducing the expression of AnxA1 in calvarial tissue was found to be associated with increased osteolytic lesions and the osteolytic lesions induced by debris implantation were more severe in AnxA1-defecient mice than in wild-type mice. AnxA1 inhibits the differentiation of osteoclasts through suppressing NFκB signaling and promoting the PPAR-γ pathway. Administration of N-terminal-AnxA1 (Ac2-26 peptide) onto calvariae significantly reduced osteolytic lesions triggered by wear debris. These therapeutic effects were abrogated in mice that had received the PPAR-γ antagonist, suggesting that the AnxA1/PPAR-γ axis has an inhibitory role in osteolysis. The administration of Ac2-26 suppressed osteolysis induced by TNF-α and RANKL injections in mice. These findings indicate that AnxA1 is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of periprosthetic osteolysis.
• Extrahepatic targeting of lipid nanoparticles in vivo with intracellular targeting for future nanomedicines.

  Takashi Nakamura, Yusuke Sato, Yuma Yamada, Mahmoud M Abd Elwakil, Seigo Kimura, Mahmoud A Younis, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced drug delivery reviews 188 114417 - 114417 2022/07/03 

  A new era of nanomedicines that involve nucleic acids/gene therapy has been opened after two decades in 21st century and new types of more efficient drug delivery systems (DDS) are highly expected and will include extrahepatic delivery. In this review, we summarize the possibility and expectations for the extrahepatic delivery of small interfering RNA/messenger RNA/plasmid DNA/genome editing to the spleen, lung, tumor, lymph nodes as well as the liver based on our studies as well as reported information. Passive targeting and active targeting are discussed in in vivo delivery and the importance of controlled intracellular trafficking for successful therapeutic results are also discussed. In addition, mitochondrial delivery as a novel strategy for nucleic acids/gene therapy is introduced to expand the therapeutic dimension of nucleic acids/gene therapy in the liver as well as the heart, kidney and brain.
• ミトコンドリア活性化心筋幹細胞移植療法の臨床応用に向けた取り組み

  白石 真大, 山田 勇磨, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会総会・学術集会抄録集 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 58回 [III - 03] 2022/07
• On the size-regulation of RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles synthesized by microfluidic device.

  Kento Okuda, Yusuke Sato, Kazuki Iwakawa, Kosuke Sasaki, Nana Okabe, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 348 648 - 659 2022/06/18 

  The use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for nucleic acid delivery is now becoming a promising strategy with a number of clinical trials as vaccines or as novel therapies against a variety of genetic and infectious diseases. The use of microfluidics for the synthesis of the LNPs has attracted interest because of its considerable advantages over other conventional synthetic methods including scalability, reproducibility, and speed. However, despite the potential usefulness of large particles for nucleic acid delivery to dendritic cells (DCs) as a vaccine, the particle size of the LNPs prepared using microfluidics is typically limited to approximately from 30 to 100 nm. In this study, focusing on Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, the effect of some synthetic parameters, including total flow rate, flow rate ratio, buffer pH, lipid concentration, molar ratio of PEG-lipid as well as salt concentration, on particle size was systematically examined by means of the design of experiment approaches. The findings indicated that the simple addition of salt (e.g. NaCl) to a buffer containing nucleic acids contributed greatly to the synthesis of large LNPs over 200 nm and this effect was concentration-dependent with respect to the salt. The effect of salt on particle size was consistent with a Hofmeister series. The systemic injection of larger mRNA-loaded LNPs resulted in a higher transgene expression in mouse splenic DCs, a higher activation of various splenic immune cells, and had a superior effect as a therapeutic cancer vaccine in a syngeneic mouse model compared to the smaller-sized counterpart with constant lipid composition prepared with lower NaCl concentration. Collectively, size-regulation by the simple addition of salt is a promising strategy for developing potent LNPs.
• Retrograde Axonal Transport of Liposomes from Peripheral Tissue to Spinal Cord and DRGs by Optimized Phospholipid and CTB Modification.

  Takafumi Fukui, Hironao Tateno, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Yusuke Sato, Norimasa Iwasaki, Hideyoshi Harashima, Ken Kadoya

  International journal of molecular sciences 23 (12) 2022/06/15 

  Despite recent advancements in therapeutic options for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), the lack of an efficient drug-delivery system (DDS) hampers their clinical application. We hypothesized that liposomes could be optimized for retrograde transport in axons as a DDS from peripheral tissues to the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Three types of liposomes consisting of DSPC, DSPC/POPC, or POPC in combination with cholesterol (Chol) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid were administered to sciatic nerves or the tibialis anterior muscle of mature rats. Liposomes in cell bodies were detected with infrared fluorescence of DiD conjugated to liposomes. Three days later, all nerve-administered liposomes were retrogradely transported to the spinal cord and DRGs, whereas only muscle-administered liposomes consisting of DSPC reached the spinal cord and DRGs. Modification with Cholera toxin B subunit improved the transport efficiency of liposomes to the spinal cord and DRGs from 4.5% to 17.3% and from 3.9% to 14.3% via nerve administration, and from 2.6% to 4.8% and from 2.3% to 4.1% via muscle administration, respectively. Modification with octa-arginine (R8) improved the transport efficiency via nerve administration but abolished the transport capability via muscle administration. These findings provide the initial data for the development of a novel DDS targeting the spinal cord and DRGs via peripheral administration.
• Innovative cancer nanomedicine based on immunology, gene editing, intracellular trafficking control.

  Yuma Yamada, Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 348 357 - 369 2022/06/09 

  The recent rapid progress in the area of drug delivery systems (DDS) has opened a new era in medicine with a strong linkage to understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with cancer survival. In this review, we summarize new cancer strategies that have recently been developed based on our DDS technology. Cancer immunotherapy will be improved based on the concept of the cancer immunity cycle, which focuses on dynamic interactions between various types of cancer and immune cells in our body. The new technology of genome editing will also be discussed with reference to how these new DDS technologies can be used to introduce therapeutic cargoes into our body. Lastly, a new organelle, mitochondria will be the focus of creating a new cancer treatment strategy by a MITO-Porter which can deliver macromolecules directly to mitochondria of cancer cells via a membrane fusion approach and the impact of controlled intracellular trafficking will be discussed.
• Validation of a therapeutic strategy involving the mitochondrial delivery of thiamine pyrophosphate using brain damage induced mouse model

  Yuma Yamada, Takuya Ishimaru, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Clinical and Translational Discovery 2 (2) 2768-0622 2022/06
• Recent advances in delivering RNA-based therapeutics to mitochondria.

  Yuma Yamada, Sen Ishizuka, Manae Arai, Minako Maruyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Expert opinion on biological therapy 1 - 11 2022/05/11 

  INTRODUCTION: After the emergence of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) containing therapeutic mRNA as vaccines for use against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the clinical usefulness of nucleic acid-encapsulated LNPs is now a fact. In addition to the nucleus and cytoplasm, mitochondria, which have their own genome, are a site where nucleic acids function in the cell. Gene therapies targeting mitochondria are expected to pave the way for the next generation of therapies. AREAS COVERED: Methods for delivering nucleic acids to mitochondria are needed in order to realize such innovative therapies. However, only a few reports on delivery systems targeting mitochondria have appeared. In this review, we summarize the current state of research on RNA-based therapeutics targeted to mitochondria, with emphasis on mitochondrial RNA delivery therapies and on therapies that involve the use of mitochondrial genome editing devices. EXPERT OPINION: We hope that this review article will focus our attention to this area of research, stimulate more interest in this field of research, and lead to the development of mitochondria-targeted nucleic acid medicine. It has the potential to become a major weapon against urgent and unknown diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 infections.
• Combined nano cancer immunotherapy based on immune status in a tumor microenvironment.

  Takashi Nakamura, Kyoko Kawakami, Momoka Nomura, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 345 200 - 213 2022/05 

  Since the effect of cancer immunotherapy is largely dependent on the status of the immune system in the tumor microenvironment (TME), choice of therapy and the development of new therapies based on the immune status in the TME would be predicted to be effective. Unfortunately, the development of delivery systems for such therapy has been slow. Here, we defined a parameter of immune status in TME showing antitumor effects and demonstrated the cancer immunotherapy with an adjuvant loaded lipid nanoparticle (LNP), which was taken advantage the parameter. An analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between antitumor effects and gene expression (22 target genes) in tumors (MC38 and E.G7-OVA) that respond to the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody and non-responding tumors (B16-F10 and 4T1). The immune status showing an effective antitumor effect, which consisted of 10 genes, was then extracted. Treatment with the adjuvant loaded LNP caused a significant antitumor effect against an E.G7-OVA tumor, and the gene expression in the E.G7-OVA tumor was completely within the range of gene expression for showing an effective antitumor effect, as defined by the identified immune status panel (IS-panel-10). Although the treatment with the adjuvant loaded LNP failed to induce a sufficient antitumor effect against the 4T1 tumor, we succeeded in enhancing the antitumor effect by using a combination therapy that was adopted based on the analysis by the IS-panel-10 in the TME. The 10 genes were found to affect the prognosis in a variety of human cancers. Collectively, the findings reported herein demonstrate the potential of immune status analysis in the TME for developing cancer immunotherapies using a delivery system.
• Non-invasive gene delivery across the blood-brain barrier: present and future perspectives.

  Seigo Kimura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Neural regeneration research 17 (4) 785 - 787 2022/04 [Refereed][Invited]
  
• Transplantation of MITO cells, mitochondria activated cardiac progenitor cells, to the ischemic myocardium of mouse enhances the therapeutic effect.

  Daisuke Sasaki, Jiro Abe, Atsuhito Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Scientific reports 12 (1) 4344 - 4344 2022/03/22 

  Given the potential for myocardial stem cell transplantation as a promising treatment for heart failure, numerous clinical trials have been conducted and its usefulness has been clearly confirmed. However, the low rate of engraftment of transplanted cells has become a clinical problem, and this needs to be improved in the case of transplanting cells to the heart. To address this issue, we report on attempts to prepare mitochondria-activated stem cells (MITO cells) for use in transplantation. MITO cells, which is cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) activated by the mitochondrial delivery of resveratrol with an anti-oxidant and mitochondrial activation effects were successfully prepared using a mitochondrial targeting nanocarrier (MITO-Porter). The purpose of this study was to validate the therapeutic effect of cell transplantation by the MITO cells using a mouse model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Mouse CPCs were used as transplanted cells. The transplantation of CPCs and MITO cells were conducted after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, and the therapeutic effect was determined. The MITO cells transplanted group showed increase in postoperative weight gain, improve cardiac function and inhibition of fibrosis compared to the non-transplanted group and the CPC group. The transplantation of MITO cells to the ischemic myocardium showed a stronger transplantation effect compared to conventional CPC transplantation.
• Novel antiangiogenic therapy targeting biglycan using tumor endothelial cell-specific liposomal siRNA delivery system.

  Nako Maishi, Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yui Umeyama, Takashi Nakamura, Rikito Endo, Mohammad Towfik Alam, Cong Li, Dorcas Akuba-Muhyia Annan, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Hirofumi Morimoto, Masahiro Morimoto, Kosuke Akiyama, Noritaka Ohga, Yasuhiro Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kyoko Hida

  Cancer science 113 (5) 1855 - 1867 2022/03/09 

  Tumor blood vessels play important roles in tumor progression and metastasis. Targeting tumor endothelial cells (TECs) is one of the strategies for cancer therapy. We previously reported that biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, is highly expressed in TECs. TECs utilize biglycan in an autocrine manner for migration and angiogenesis. Furthermore, TEC-derived biglycan stimulates tumor cell migration in a paracrine manner leading to tumor cell intravasation and metastasis. In this study, we explored the therapeutic effect of biglycan inhibition in the TECs of renal cell carcinoma using an in vivo siRNA delivery system known as a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND), which contains a unique pH-sensitive cationic lipid. To specifically deliver MEND into TECs, we incorporated cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) (cRGD) into MEND because αV β3 integrin, a receptor for cRGD, is selective and highly expressed in TECs. We developed RGD-MEND-encapsulating siRNA against biglycan. First, we confirmed that MEND was delivered into OS-RC-2 tumor-derived TECs and induced in vitro RNAi-mediated gene silencing. MEND was then injected intravenously into OS-RC-2 tumor-bearing mice. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that MEND was specifically delivered into TECs. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that biglycan was knocked down by biglycan siRNA-containing MEND. Finally, we analyzed the therapeutic effect of biglycan silencing by MEND in TECs. Tumor growth was inhibited by biglycan siRNA-containing MEND. Tumor microenvironmental factors such as fibrosis were also normalized using biglycan inhibition in TECs. Biglycan in TECs can be a novel target for cancer treatment.
• ミトコンドリア標的型DDSによるミトコンドリア病治療戦略の検証

  荒井 愛永, 山田 勇磨, 佐々木 大輔, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬学会年会要旨集 (公社)日本薬学会 142年会 27I - am02S 0918-9823 2022/03
• Strategies for fighting pandemic virus infections: Integration of virology and drug delivery.

  Takashi Nakamura, Norikazu Isoda, Yoshihiro Sakoda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 343 361 - 378 2022/02/03 [Refereed]
   

  Respiratory viruses have sometimes resulted in worldwide pandemics, with the influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) being major participants. Long-term efforts have made it possible to control the influenza virus, but seasonal influenza continues to take many lives each year, and a pandemic influenza virus sometimes emerges. Although vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been developed, we are not yet able to coexist with the SARS-CoV-2. To overcome such viruses, it is necessary to obtain knowledge about international surveillance systems, virology, ecology and to determine that immune responses are effective. The information must then be transferred to drugs. Delivery systems would be expected to contribute to the rational development of drugs. In this review, virologist and drug delivery system (DDS) researchers discuss drug delivery strategies, especially the use of lipid-based nanocarriers, for fighting to respiratory virus infections.
• Resveratrol-Encapsulated Mitochondria-Targeting Liposome Enhances Mitochondrial Respiratory Capacity in Myocardial Cells.

  Takao Tsujioka, Daisuke Sasaki, Atsuhito Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  International journal of molecular sciences 23 (1) 2021/12/22 

  The development of drug delivery systems for use in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is an area of great interest. We report herein on an evaluation of the therapeutic potential of a myocardial mitochondria-targeting liposome, a multifunctional envelope-type nano device for targeting pancreatic β cells (β-MEND) that was previously developed in our laboratory. Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenol compound that has a cardioprotective effect, was encapsulated in the β-MEND (β-MEND (RES)), and its efficacy was evaluated using rat myocardioblasts (H9c2 cells). The β-MEND (RES) was readily taken up by H9c2 cells, as verified by fluorescence-activated cell sorter data, and was observed to be colocalized with intracellular mitochondria by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Myocardial mitochondrial function was evaluated by a Seahorse XF Analyzer and the results showed that the β-MEND (RES) significantly activated cellular maximal respiratory capacity. In addition, the β-MEND (RES) showed no cellular toxicity for H9c2 cells as evidenced by Premix WST-1 assays. This is the first report of the use of a myocardial mitochondria-targeting liposome encapsulating RES for activating mitochondrial function, which was clearly confirmed based on analyses using a Seahorse XF Analyzer.
• An effective in vivo mitochondria-targeting nanocarrier combined with a pi-extended porphyrin-type photosensitizer

  Satrialdi, Yuta Takano, Eri Hirata, Natsumi Ushijima, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  NANOSCALE ADVANCES 3 (20) 5919 - 5927 2516-0230 2021/10 

  A photochemical reaction mediated by light-activated molecules (photosensitizers) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) causes molecular oxygen to be converted into highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are beneficial for cancer therapy. As the active oxygen consumer and the primary regulator of apoptosis, mitochondria are known as an important target for optimizing PDT outcomes. However, most of the clinically used photosensitizers exhibited a poor tumor accumulation profile as well as lack of mitochondria targeting ability. Therefore, by applying a nanocarrier platform, mitochondria-specific delivery of photosensitizers can be materialized. The present research develops an effective mitochondria-targeting liposome-based nanocarrier system (MITO-Porter) encapsulating a pi-extended porphyrin-type photosensitizer (rTPA), which results in a significant in vivo antitumor activity. A single PDT treatment of the rTPA-MITO-Porter resulted in a dramatic tumor inhibition against both human and murine tumors that had been xenografted in a mouse model. Furthermore, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane was observed, implying the damage of the mitochondrial membrane due to the photochemical reaction that occurred specifically in the mitochondria of tumor cells. The findings presented herein serve to verify the significance of the mitochondria-targeted nanocarrier system for advancing the in vivo PDT effectivity in cancer therapy regardless of tumor type.
• The hydrophobic tail of a pH-sensitive cationic lipid influences siRNA transfection activity and toxicity in human NK cell lines.

  Takashi Nakamura, Taisei Nakade, Koharu Yamada, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International journal of pharmaceutics 609 121140 - 121140 2021/09/27 [Refereed]
   

  The use of natural killer (NK) cells in cell therapy is an attractive next generation strategy for cancer immunotherapy. NK-92 cells (a human NK cell line) have been tested in clinical trial stages, making them an off-the-shelf medicine. Controlling gene expression in NK-92 cells by an artificial delivery system is an available for enhancing NK-92 cell therapy. We report here on the development of a siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticle (LNP) composed of CL1H6 (CL1H6-LNP), an optimized, pH-sensitive cationic lipid, with efficient gene silencing and low cytotoxicity in NK-92 cells. The hydrophilic head group of the lipid molecule used in preparing these particles largely influences the pKa of the final LNP, and lipids with an amino moiety substituted with a methyl group showed a high gene silencing activity. Compared with myristate and palmitate, the hydrophobic tail of oleate had a high gene silencing activity and cell viability. Analyses of intracellular trafficking indicated that the CL1H6-LNP appeared to escape from the endosomes via membrane fusion, without disrupting the membrane. The mechanism of endosomal escape should contribute to our understanding of efficient gene silencing with a low degree of cytotoxicity. These results therefore suggest that a CL1H6-LNP has promise for delivering siRNA to NK-92 cells.
• Maximizing the Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs Using Novel Oil-Like Materials in Lipid-Based Formulations.

  Saed Abbasi, Haruki Higashino, Yusuke Sato, Keiko Minami, Makoto Kataoka, Shinji Yamashita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular pharmaceutics 18 (9) 3281 - 3289 2021/09/06 [Refereed]
   

  Lipid-based formulations, such as self-microemulsifying drug-delivery systems (SMEDDSs), are promising tools for the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, failure to maintain adequate aqueous solubility after coming into contact with gastrointestinal fluids is a major drawback. In this study, we examined the use of a novel cinnamic acid-derived oil-like material (CAOM) that binds drugs with a high affinity through π-π stacking and hydrophobic interactions, as an oil core in a SMEDDS for the oral delivery of fenofibrate in rats. The use of the CAOM in the SMEDDS resulted in an unprecedented enhancement in fenofibrate bioavailability, which exceeded the bioavailability values obtained using SMEDDSs based on corn oil, a conventional triglyceride oil, or Labrasol, an enhancer of intestinal permeation. Further characterization revealed that the CAOM SMEDDS does not alter the intestinal permeability and has no inhibitory activity on P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux. The results reported herein demonstrate the strong potential of CAOM formulations as new solubilizers for the efficient and safe oral delivery of drugs that have limited water solubility.
• Validation of the mitochondrial delivery of vitamin B1 to enhance ATP production using SH-SY5Y cells, a model neuroblast.

  Yuma Yamada, Takuya Ishimaru, Kohei Ikeda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 111 (2) 432 - 439 2021/08/31 [Refereed]
   

  Large amounts of ATP are produced in mitochondria especially in the brain and heart, where energy consumption is high compared with other organs. Thus, a decrease in ATP production in such organs could be a cause of many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and heart disease. Based on thus assumption, increasing intracellular ATP production in such organs could be a therapeutic strategy. In this study, we report on the delivery of vitamin B1, a coenzyme that activates the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, to the inside of mitochondria. Since the TCA cycle is responsible for ATP production, we hypothesized delivering vitamin B1 to mitochondria would enhance ATP production. To accomplish this, we used a mitochondrial targeted liposome a "MITO-Porter" as the carrier. Using SH-SY5Y cells, a model neuroblast, cellular uptake and intracellular localization were analyzed using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The optimized MITO-Porter containing encapsulated vitamin B1 (MITO-Porter (VB1)) was efficiently accumulated in mitochondria of SH-SY5Y cells. Further studies confirmed that the level of ATP production after the MITO-Porter (VB1) treatment was significantly increased as compared to a control group that was treated with naked vitamin B1. This study provides the potential for an innovative therapeutic strategy in which the TCA cycle is activated, thus enhancing ATP production. Relative ATP ratio (%) = IS/IU × 100, where IS and IU represent the intracellular ATP amounts for the treated and untreated cells with samples, respectively.
• イメージングと操作で見るミトコンドリア機能 ミトコンドリア機能を操作するDrug Delivery System

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉

  バイオイメージング 日本バイオイメージング学会 30 (2) 38 - 38 1342-2634 2021/08
• 心筋症の基礎と臨床の架け橋を探る ヒト心筋前駆細胞を用いたミトコンドリア活性化心筋前駆細胞の製造および、心筋虚血再灌流モデルに対する細胞移植の治療効果の検討

  佐々木 大輔, 山田 勇磨, 後藤 悠太, 白石 真大, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会総会・学術集会抄録集 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 57回 [I - 5] 2021/07
• 心筋ミトコンドリアを標的としたリポソーム製剤の開発研究

  辻岡 孝郎, 山田 勇磨, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会総会・学術集会抄録集 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 57回 [OR31 - 1] 2021/07
• STING agonist loaded lipid nanoparticles overcome anti-PD-1 resistance in melanoma lung metastasis via NK cell activation.

  Takashi Nakamura, Takanori Sato, Rikito Endo, Shun Sasaki, Naomichi Takahashi, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 9 (7) 2021/07 [Refereed]
   

  BACKGROUND: Resistance to an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) is a major obstacle in cancer immunotherapy. The causes of ICI resistance include major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA) class I loss, neoantigen loss, and incomplete antigen presentation. Elimination by natural killer (NK) cells would be expected to be an effective strategy for the treatment of these ICI-resistant tumors. We previously demonstrated that a lipid nanoparticle containing a stimulator of an interferon gene (STING) agonist (STING-LNP) efficiently induced antitumor activity via the activation of NK cells. Thus, we evaluated the potential of reducing ICI resistance by STING-LNPs. METHODS: Lung metastasis of a B16-F10 mouse melanoma was used as an anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1)-resistant mouse model. The mice were intravenously injected with the STING-LNP and the mechanism responsible for the improvement of anti-PD-1 resistance by the STING-LNPs was analyzed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. The dynamics of STING-LNP were also investigated. RESULTS: Although anti-PD-1 monotherapy failed to induce an antitumor effect, the combination of the STING-LNP and anti-PD-1 exerted a synergistic antitumor effect. Our results indicate that the STING-LNP treatment significantly increased the expression of CD3, CD4, NK1.1, PD-1 and interferon (IFN)-γ in lung metastases. This change appears to be initiated by the type I IFN produced by liver macrophages that contain the internalized STING-LNPs, leading to the systemic activation of NK cells that express PD-1. The activated NK cells appeared to produce IFN-γ, resulting in an increase in the expression of the PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) in cancer cells, thus leading to a synergistic antitumor effect when anti-PD-1 is administered. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a demonstration to show that a STING-LNP treatment can overcome PD-1 resistance in a B16-F10 lung metastasis model. The mechanism responsible for this indicates that NK cells are activated by stimulating the STING pathway which, in turn, induced the expression of PD-L1 on cancer cells. Based on the findings reported herein, the STING-LNP represents a promising candidate for use in combination therapy with anti-PD-1-resistant tumors.
• ミトコンドリア人工共生による細胞機能制御の試み

  山田 勇磨, 日比野 光恵, 伊藤 百, 荒井 愛永, 佐々木 大輔, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 太田 善浩, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 37回 111 - 111 2021/06
• 心筋虚血再灌流モデルラットに対するヒトミトコンドリア強化心筋幹細胞移植療法の治療効果の検討

  佐々木 大輔, 山田 勇磨, 後藤 悠太, 白石 真大, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 37回 99 - 99 2021/06
• 心筋虚血再灌流モデルラットに対するヒトミトコンドリア強化心筋幹細胞移植療法の治療効果の検討

  佐々木 大輔, 山田 勇磨, 後藤 悠太, 白石 真大, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 37回 99 - 99 2021/06
• ミトコンドリア人工共生による細胞機能制御の試み

  山田 勇磨, 日比野 光恵, 伊藤 百, 荒井 愛永, 佐々木 大輔, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 太田 善浩, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 37回 111 - 111 2021/06
• Interferon signaling suppresses the unfolded protein response and induces cell death in hepatocytes accumulating hepatitis B surface antigen.

  Ian Baudi, Masanori Isogawa, Federica Moalli, Masaya Onishi, Keigo Kawashima, Yuji Ishida, Chise Tateno, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyasu Ito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Takaji Wakita, Matteo Iannacone, Yasuhito Tanaka

  PLoS pathogens 17 (5) e1009228  2021/05 [Refereed]
   

  Virus infection, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), occasionally causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is counteractive machinery to ER stress, and the failure of UPR to cope with ER stress results in cell death. Mechanisms that regulate the balance between ER stress and UPR are poorly understood. Type 1 and type 2 interferons have been implicated in hepatic flares during chronic HBV infection. Here, we examined the interplay between ER stress, UPR, and IFNs using transgenic mice that express hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (HBs-Tg mice) and humanized-liver chimeric mice infected with HBV. IFNα causes severe and moderate liver injury in HBs-Tg mice and HBV infected chimeric mice, respectively. The degree of liver injury is directly correlated with HBsAg levels in the liver, and reduction of HBsAg in the transgenic mice alleviates IFNα mediated liver injury. Analyses of total gene expression and UPR biomarkers' protein expression in the liver revealed that UPR is induced in HBs-Tg mice and HBV infected chimeric mice, indicating that HBsAg accumulation causes ER stress. Notably, IFNα administration transiently suppressed UPR biomarkers before liver injury without affecting intrahepatic HBsAg levels. Furthermore, UPR upregulation by glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) suppression or low dose tunicamycin alleviated IFNα mediated liver injury. These results suggest that IFNα induces ER stress-associated cell death by reducing UPR. IFNγ uses the same mechanism to exert cytotoxicity to HBsAg accumulating hepatocytes. Collectively, our data reveal a previously unknown mechanism of IFN-mediated cell death. This study also identifies UPR as a potential target for regulating ER stress-associated cell death.
• Novel PEGylated Lipid Nanoparticles Have a High Encapsulation Efficiency and Effectively Deliver MRTF-B siRNA in Conjunctival Fibroblasts.

  Amisha Sanghani, Konstantinos N Kafetzis, Yusuke Sato, Salsabil Elboraie, Julia Fajardo-Sanchez, Hideyoshi Harashima, Aristides D Tagalakis, Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man

  Pharmaceutics 13 (3) 2021/03/13 [Refereed]
   

  The master regulator of the fibrosis cascade is the myocardin-related transcription factor/serum response factor (MRTF/SRF) pathway, making it a key target for anti-fibrotic therapeutics. In the past, inhibitors and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting the MRTF-B gene have been deployed to counter fibrosis in the eye, with the latter showing promising results. However, the biggest challenge in implementing siRNA therapeutics is the method of delivery. In this study, we utilised the novel, pH-sensitive, cationic lipid CL4H6, which has previously demonstrated potent targeting of hepatocytes and endosomal escape, to safely and efficiently deliver an MRTF-B siRNA into human conjunctival fibroblasts. We prepared two lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations, incorporating targeting cleavable peptide cY in one of them, and measured their physicochemical properties and silencing effect in human conjunctival fibroblasts. Both proved to be non-cytotoxic at a concentration of 50 nM and effectively silenced the MRTF-B gene in vitro, with the targeting cleavable peptide not affecting the silencing efficiency [LNP with cY: 62.1% and 81.5% versus LNP without cY: 77.7% and 80.2%, at siRNA concentrations of 50 nM (p = 0.06) and 100 nM (p = 0.09), respectively]. On the other hand, the addition of the targeting cleavable peptide significantly increased the encapsulation efficiency of the LNPs from 92.5% to 99.3% (p = 0.0005). In a 3D fibroblast-populated collagen matrix model, both LNP formulations significantly decreased fibroblast contraction after a single transfection. We conclude that the novel PEGylated CL4H6-MRTF-B siRNA-loaded LNPs represent a promising therapeutic approach to prevent conjunctival fibrosis after glaucoma filtration surgery.
• Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles encapsulating sorafenib and midkine-siRNA selectively-eradicate sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo.

  Mahmoud A Younis, Ikramy A Khalil, Yaser H A Elewa, Yasuhiro Kon, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 331 335 - 349 2021/03/10 [Refereed]
   

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease with limited therapeutic choices. The stroma-rich tumor microenvironment hinders the in vivo delivery of most nanomedicines. Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles (usLNPs) were designed for the selective co-delivery of the cytotoxic drug, sorafenib (SOR), and siRNA against the Midkine gene (MK-siRNA) to HCC in mice. The usLNPs composed of a novel pH-sensitive lipid, a diversity of phospholipids and a highly-selective targeting peptide. A microfluidic device, iLiNP, was used and a variety of factors were controlled to tune particle size aiming at maximizing tumor penetration efficiency. Optimizing the composition and physico-chemical properties of the usLNPs resulted in an enhanced tumor accumulation, selectivity and in vivo gene silencing. The optimized usLNPs exerted potent gene silencing in the tumor (median effective dose, ED50~0.1 mg/Kg) with limited effect on the healthy liver. The novel combination synergistically-eradicated HCC in mice (~85%) at a surprisingly-low dose of SOR (2.5 mg/Kg) which could not be achieved via individual monotherapy. Toxicity studies revealed the biosafety of the usLNPs upon either acute or chronic treatment. Furthermore, the SOR-resistant HCC established in mice was eradicated by 70% using this approach. We conclude that our strategy is promising for potential clinical applications in HCC treatment.
• リポソームを応用した末梢組織から脊髄への低侵襲薬物輸送システムの開発

  福井 隆史, 角家 健, 舘野 寛直, 中村 孝司, 山田 勇磨, 佐藤 悠介, 岩崎 倫政, 原島 秀吉

  日本整形外科学会雑誌 (公社)日本整形外科学会 95 (2) S123 - S123 0021-5325 2021/03
• ミトコンドリア強化ヒト心筋幹細胞(hMITO Cell)の製造および心虚血再灌流モデルを用いた細胞移植療法の検証

  後藤 悠太, 山田 勇磨, 日比野 光恵, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬学会年会要旨集 (公社)日本薬学会 141年会 29V09 - pm09S 0918-9823 2021/03
• GALA-Modified Lipid Nanoparticles for the Targeted Delivery of Plasmid DNA to the Lungs.

  Yuta Hagino, Ikramy A Khalil, Seigo Kimura, Kenji Kusumoto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular pharmaceutics 18 (3) 878 - 888 2021/03/01 [Refereed]
   

  This study describes the development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the efficient and selective delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to the lungs. The GALA peptide was used as a ligand to target the lung endothelium and as an endosomal escape device. Transfection activity in the lungs was significantly improved when pDNA was encapsulated in double-coated LNPs. The inner coat was composed of dioleoylphsophoethanolamine and a stearylated octaarginine (STR-R8) peptide, while the outer coat was largely a cationic lipid, di-octadecenyl-trimethylammonium propane, mixed with YSK05, a pH-sensitive lipid, and cholesterol. Optimized amounts of YSK05 and GALA were used to achieve an efficient and lung-selective system. The optimized system produced a high gene expression level in the lungs (>107 RLU/mg protein) with high lung/liver and lung/spleen ratios. GALA/R8 modification and the double-coating design were indispensable for efficient gene expression in the lungs. Despite the fact that NPs prepared with 1-step or 2-step coating have the same lipid amount and composition and the same pDNA dose, the transfection activity was dramatically higher in the lungs in the case of 2-step coating. Surprisingly, 1-step or 2-step coatings had no effect on the amount of nanoparticles that were delivered to the lungs, suggesting that the double-coating strategy substantially improved the efficiency of gene expression at the intracellular level.
• Lipid nanoparticles loaded with ribonucleoprotein-oligonucleotide complexes synthesized using a microfluidic device exhibit robust genome editing and hepatitis B virus inhibition.

  Yuichi Suzuki, Haruno Onuma, Risa Sato, Yusuke Sato, Akari Hashiba, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Mohammad Enamul Hoque Kayesh, Michinori Kohara, Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 330 61 - 71 2021/02/10 [Refereed]
   

  The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) system has considerable therapeutic potential for use in treating a wide range of intractable genetic and infectious diseases including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. While non-viral delivery technologies for the CRISPR/Cas system are expected to have clinical applications, difficulties associated with the clinically relevant synthesis of formulations and the poor efficiency of delivery severely hinder therapeutic genome editing. We report herein on the production of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery nanoplatform synthesized using a clinically relevant mixer-equipped microfluidic device. DNA cleavage activity and the aggregation of Cas enzymes was completely avoided under the optimized synthetic conditions. The optimized formulation, which was identified through 2 steps of design of experiments, exhibited excellent gene disruption (up to 97%) and base substitution (up to 23%) without any apparent cytotoxicity. The addition of negative charges to the RNPs by complexing single-stranded oligonucleotide (ssON) significantly enhanced the delivery of both Cas9 and Cpf1 RNPs. The optimized formulation significantly suppressed both HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBV-infected human liver cells compared to adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2). These findings represent a significant contribution to the development of CRISPR/Cas RNP delivery technology and its practical applications in genome editing therapy.
• The nanomedicine rush: New strategies for unmet medical needs based on innovative nano DDS.

  Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 330 305 - 316 2021/02/10 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  The era of Nanomedicine has arrived with the approval of ONPATTRO™ by the FDA in 2018. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has succeeded in delivering siRNA to the human liver in genetic diseases and has also been applied to mRNA vaccinations for COVID-19 using a similar LNP technology. In this review, we focus on the current status of new lipids for use in LNP formulations including our original lipids (CL4H6/CL4C6/CL4D6) as well as mechanisms of targeting without a ligand. Clinical applications of nano DDS are moving forward rapidly in the field of cancer immunology since the successful introduction of OPDIVO™ in 2014. Antigen presentation and the maturation of immune cells can be controlled by nano DDS for cancer immunotherapy. YSK12-C4, a newly designed ionizable amino lipid can induce successful immune activation by silencing mRNA in DC and NK cells, which are expected to be evaluated for clinical use. Finally, new cancer therapy by targeting mitochondria involving the use of a MITO-Porter, a membrane fusion-type mitochondrial delivery system, has been introduced. The importance of delivering a photo sensitizer to mitochondria was clearly demonstrated in photodynamic cancer therapy. Clinical applications of MITO-Porters started in collaborative efforts with LUCA Science Co., Ltd. And was established in 2018. The future direction of Nanomedicine is discussed.
• Novel lipid combination for delivery of plasmid DNA to immune cells in the spleen.

  Seigo Kimura, Ikramy A Khalil, Yaser H A Elewa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 330 753 - 764 2021/02/10 [Refereed]
   

  This study reports on the development of a novel lipid combination that permits the efficient and highly selective delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to immune cells in the spleen. Using DODAP, an ionizable lipid that was previously thought to be inefficient for gene delivery, we show for the first time, that this ignored lipid can be successfully used for efficient and targeted gene delivery in vivo, but only when combined with DOPE, a specific helper lipid. Using certain DODAP and DOPE ratios resulted in the formation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with a ~ 1000-fold higher gene expression, and this expression was specific for the spleen, making it the most spleen-selective system for transfection using pDNA. The developed DODAP/DOPE-LNPs target immune cells in the spleen via receptors for complement C3 and this pathway is critical for efficient gene expression. We hypothesize that the high spleen transfection activity of DODAP/DOPE-LNPs is caused by the promotion of gene expression associated with B cell activation via complement receptors. LNPs encapsulating tumor-antigen encoding pDNA showed both prophylactic and therapeutic anti-tumor effects. The optimized LNPs resulted in the production of different cytokines and antigen-specific antibodies as well as exerting antigen-specific cytotoxic effects. This study revives the use of DODAP in gene delivery and highlights the importance of using appropriate lipid combinations for delivering genes to specific cells.
• A novel dual-targeted rosiglitazone-loaded nanoparticle for the prevention of diet-induced obesity via the browning of white adipose tissue.

  Ryu Hiradate, Ikramy A Khalil, Aya Matsuda, Mika Sasaki, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 329 665 - 675 2021/01/10 [Refereed]
   

  Adipose tissue in the body is classified as white adipose tissue (WAT); a fat-accumulating tissue, or brown adipose tissue (BAT); an energy-dissipating tissue. Transforming WAT-to-BAT (browning) is a promising strategy for the treatment of obesity, since it would lead to an increase in energy expenditure. Rosiglitazone (Rosi), an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), is known to be a potent browning inducer in subcutaneous WAT. However, the effectiveness of Rosi has been quite limited because of several off-target effects. The objective of this study was to develop locally administered Rosi-loaded nanoparticles (Rs-NPs) with the ability to target adipocytes to achieve the adipose tissue-specific activation of PPARγ, thus causing the browning of WAT. We prepared dual targeted Rs-NPs that were modified with a specific peptide that targets prohibitin that are expressed in adipocytes, and a cell penetrating peptide for enhancing cellular uptake and controlling intracellular trafficking. The Rs-NPs modified with a single ligand were internalized into mature adipocytes and induced browning activity in vitro but they failed to significantly affect the body weight of the diet-induced obese mice model. The dual-targeted Rs-NPs induced a strong browning activity, both in vitro and in vivo, and successfully inhibited the progression of obesity, as evidenced by the shrinkage of hypertrophied adipocytes without any detectable systemic adverse effects. Meanwhile, free Rosi aggravated hepatic steatosis and did not cause adipose tissue browning nor the inhibition of body weight gain. We conclude that the increased energy expenditure via adipose tissue browning using dual-targeted Rs-NP is a promising strategy for the treatment of obesity and its related metabolic syndrome.
• Engineered ε-decalactone lipomers bypass the liver to selectively in vivo deliver mRNA to the lungs without targeting ligands

  Mahmoud M. Abd Elwakil, Tianle Gao, Takuya Isono, Yusuke Sato, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Toshifumi Satoh, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Materials Horizons 2051-6347 2021 

  Engineered lipomers coming from sustainable sources can efficiently bypass the liver to deliver a genetic message to the lungs after systemic administration without targeting ligands.

• Three-dimensional, symmetrically assembled microfluidic device for lipid nanoparticle production

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Kosuke Sasaki, Yusuke Sato, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  RSC ADVANCES 11 (3) 1430 - 1439 2021/01 

  Sub 100 nm-sized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been widely used in drug delivery systems (DDSs). The size of the LNPs is an important parameter for the DDS performance, such as biodistribution and gene silencing using siRNAs. However, the LNPs prepared by the conventional preparation method show a wide size distribution. To improve the LNP size distribution, we developed a microfluidic device, named the iLiNP (TM) device, in a previous study. This device could produce LNPs in the size range of 20 to 150 nm, but the size distribution of the large-sized LNPs needs to be further improved. From the viewpoint of the LNP formation process, a homogeneous and slow rate dilution of ethanol plays an important role in improving the large-size LNP size distribution. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional, symmetrically assembled microfluidic device named the 3D-iLiNP device with the aim of precise size control of large-sized LNPs. We designed the 3D-iLiNP device using a computational fluid dynamics simulation and demonstrated that the 3D-iLiNP device can improve the LNP size distribution. The gene silencing activity of four kinds of siRNA-loaded LNPs was investigated via in vitro and in vivo experiments to elucidate the effect of the LNP size distribution. The results revealed that the LNPs with a size between 90 and 120 nm showed higher gene silencing activity than those with other sizes. The 3D-iLiNP device is expected to improve DDS performance by precisely controlling the size of LNPs.
• Targeting the Mitochondrial Genome Via a MITO-Porter : Evaluation of mtDNA and mtRNA Levels and Mitochondrial Function.

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2275 227 - 245 2021 [Refereed]
   

  Genetic mutations and defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with certain types of mitochondrial dysfunctions, ultimately resulting in the emergence of a variety of human diseases. To achieve an effective mitochondrial gene therapy, it will be necessary to deliver therapeutic agents to the innermost mitochondrial space (the mitochondrial matrix), which contains the mtDNA pool. We recently developed a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based nanocarrier that delivers cargo to mitochondria via a membrane-fusion mechanism. In this chapter, we discuss the methodology used to deliver bioactive molecules to the mitochondrial matrix using a Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter, a liposome-based nanocarrier that delivers it cargo by means of a stepwise process, and an evaluation of mtDNA levels and mitochondrial activities in living cells. We also discuss mitochondrial gene silencing by the mitochondrial delivery of antisense RNA oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting mtDNA-encoded mRNA using the MITO-Porter system.
• Current Status and Challenges Associated with CNS-Targeted Gene Delivery across the BBB.

  Seigo Kimura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Pharmaceutics 12 (12) 2020/12/15 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  The era of the aging society has arrived, and this is accompanied by an increase in the absolute numbers of patients with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Such neurological disorders are serious costly diseases that have a significant impact on society, both globally and socially. Gene therapy has great promise for the treatment of neurological disorders, but only a few gene therapy drugs are currently available. Delivery to the brain is the biggest hurdle in developing new drugs for the central nervous system (CNS) diseases and this is especially true in the case of gene delivery. Nanotechnologies such as viral and non-viral vectors allow efficient brain-targeted gene delivery systems to be created. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of the development of successful drug delivery to the CNS for the treatment of CNS-related disorders especially by gene therapy. We mainly address three aspects of this situation: (1) blood-brain barrier (BBB) functions; (2) adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, currently the most advanced gene delivery vector; (3) non-viral brain targeting by non-invasive methods.
• The use of design of experiments with multiple responses to determine optimal formulations for in vivo hepatic mRNA delivery.

  Akari Hashiba, Manaya Toyooka, Yusuke Sato, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 327 467 - 476 2020/11/10 [Refereed]
   

  Although great advances have been made in the delivery of short RNAs by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the optimal formulation composition and physicochemical properties of LNPs for long RNA (including mRNA) remain unclear. In the present study, we optimized the lipid composition of liver-targeted mRNA-loaded LNPs that were prepared with pH-sensitive cationic lipids that had been previously designed for siRNA delivery through a two stepped design of experiment (DoE). Multiple responses including physicochemical properties, gene expression, and liver-specificity were analyzed in order, not only to understand the role of each formulation parameter, but also to examine parameters that would be difficult to predict. We found that particle size and the PEG-to-phospholipid (PEG/PL) ratio were additional key factors for liver-specific gene expression in addition to the other formulation factors. The optimized formulation showed a better gene expression compared to other lipid formulations from industry leaders. These findings suggest that a "DoE with multiple responses" approach can be used to predict significant parameters and permit optimized formulations to be prepared more efficiently.
• Evolution of drug delivery system from viewpoint of controlled intracellular trafficking and selective tissue targeting toward future nanomedicine.

  Yuma Yamada, Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 327 533 - 545 2020/11/10 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  Due to the rapid changes that have occurred in the field of drug discovery and the recent developments in the early 21st century, the role of drug delivery systems (DDS) has become increasingly more important. For the past 20 years, our laboratory has been developing gene delivery systems based on lipid-based delivery systems. One of our efforts has been directed toward developing a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) by modifying the particle surface with octaarginine, which resulted in a remarkably enhanced cellular uptake and improved intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA (pDNA). When we moved to in vivo applications, however, we were faced with the PEG-dilemma and we shifted our strategy to the incorporation of ionizable cationic lipids into our system. This resulted in some dramatic improvements over our original design and this can be attributed to the development of a new lipid library. We have also developed a mitochondrial targeting system based on a membrane fusion mechanism using a MITO-Porter, which can deliver nucleic acids/pDNA into the matrix of mitochondria. After the appearance of antibody medicines, Opdivo, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, has established cancer immunology as the 4th strategy in cancer therapy. Our DDS technologies can also be applied to this new field of cancer therapy to cure cancer by controlling our immune mechanisms. The latest studies are summarized in this review article.
• ミトコンドリア病(Leigh脳症)モデルマウスの心機能の評価とモデルマウス由来心筋前駆細胞のミトコンドリア機能の検討

  佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会雑誌 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 36 (Suppl.2) s2 - 358 0911-1794 2020/11
• The use of a MITO-Porter to deliver exogenous therapeutic RNA to a mitochondrial disease's cell with a A1555G mutation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene results in an increase in mitochondrial respiratory activity.

  Yuma Yamada, Minako Maruyama, Tomoko Kita, Shin-Ichi Usami, Shin-Ichiro Kitajiri, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Mitochondrion 55 134 - 144 2020/11 [Refereed]
   

  We report on validating a mitochondrial gene therapeutic strategy using fibroblasts derived from patients with an A1555G point mutation in mitochondrial DNA coding 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA (12S)). Wild-type rRNA (12S) as a therapeutic RNA was encapsulated in a mitochondrial targeting liposome, a MITO-Porter (rRNA-MITO-Porter), and an attempt was made to deliver the MITO-Porter to mitochondria of the diseased cells. It was confirmed that the rRNA-MITO-Porter treatment significantly decreased the ratio of the mutant rRNA content. Moreover, it was shown that the mitochondrial respiratory activities of the diseased cells were improved as the result of the mitochondrial transfection of the rRNA-MITO-Porter.
• New Design Strategies for Controlling the Rate of Hydrophobic Drug Release from Nanoemulsions in Blood Circulation.

  Saed Abbasi, Yusuke Sato, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular pharmaceutics 17 (10) 3773 - 3782 2020/10/05 [Refereed]
   

  The intravenous administration of drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) is needed to achieve passive or active targeting in disease tissues. However, when the loaded drug is a hydrophobic small molecule, the NPs fail to reach adequate plasma drug concentrations mainly because of premature drug release. The pharmacokinetics of such drugs can be controlled by covalent modification, but this approach could compromise the safety or potency of the drug. In this study, we investigated two formulation parameters that could be used to improve the plasma concentrations of unmodified drugs that are loaded in a nanoemulsion (NE), a core-shell type NP. The first parameter is the loading ratio, and the second is the affinity of the drug to the core. Optimized NEs with reduced drug loading and with a high drug-core affinity resulted in a 12.4- and 11.2-fold increase in the plasma retention of curcumin and paclitaxel, respectively. Our strategy for enhancing the drug-core interaction affinity relied on mixing oils and surfactants to achieve cooperativity in noncovalent interactions, such as hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking, which was further confirmed by theoretical calculations of interaction affinities. Finally, we report on the development of a cinnamic acid-derived oil-like material as a novel drug vehicle with exceptional solubilizing ability that could be used in intravenous formulations of NEs.
• リポソームsiRNAデリバリーシステムを用いた腫瘍血管biglycanを標的とした新規血管新生阻害療法

  間石 奈湖, 櫻井 遊, 畠山 浩人, Li Cong, Alam Mohammad T., 菊地 央, 森本 浩史, 森本 真弘, 樋田 泰浩, 原島 秀吉, 樋田 京子

  日本癌学会総会記事 79回 OE16 - 5 0546-0476 2020/10
• 核酸医薬とナノメディシン 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の開発とナノ医療への展開

  原島 秀吉, 佐藤 悠介, 中村 孝司, 山田 勇磨

  日本癌学会総会記事 79回 ML13 - ML13 0546-0476 2020/10
• Manipulating the function of tumor-associated macrophages by siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy.

  Nour Shobaki, Yusuke Sato, Yuichi Suzuki, Nana Okabe, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 325 235 - 248 2020/09/10 [Refereed]
   

  The tumor-microenvironment contains large numbers of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which are largely M2 phenotypes and are involved in pro-tumorous functions. Targeting TAMs so as to manipulate them and to modify their functions could be a novel immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Such a strategy would involve targeting TAMs with short interfering RNA (siRNA) to modify their functions by silencing certain genes that are responsible for their M2 polarization. In this study, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation was used to target and deliver siRNA to TAMs. The LNP was mainly composed of a novel, pH-sensitive cationic lipid, referred to as the CL4H6 lipid, which had previously been optimized to target hepatocytes. The optimized siRNA-loaded CL4H6-LNPs were selectively and efficiently taken up and showed strong gene silencing activity in TAMs in a human tumor xenograft model in nude mice. Furthermore, an anti-tumor therapeutic response in the same tumor model was obtained by targeting TAMs using the optimized siRNA-loaded CL4H6-LNPs. The anti-tumor therapeutic response was obtained through the silencing of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and hypoxia inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), which resulted in an increase in the level of infiltrated macrophage (CD11b+ cells) into the tumor-microenvironment (TME) as well as a tendency to increase the concentration of M1 macrophages (CD169+ cells). The treatment also resulted in reversing the pro-tumorous functions of TAMs -mainly angiogenesis and tumor cell activation-, as evidenced by a decrease in the related gene expression at the mRNA level. This research has promising clinical and pharmaceutical applications for achieving novel macrophage-based cancer immunotherapy.
• Challenges in Promoting Mitochondrial Transplantation Therapy.

  Yuma Yamada, Momo Ito, Manae Arai, Mitsue Hibino, Takao Tsujioka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International journal of molecular sciences 21 (17) 2020/09/02 [Refereed]
   

  Mitochondrial transplantation therapy is an innovative strategy for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction. The approach has been reported to be useful in the treatment of cardiac ischemic reperfusion injuries in human clinical trials and has also been shown to be useful in animal studies as a method for treating mitochondrial dysfunction in various tissues, including the heart, liver, lungs, and brain. On the other hand, there is no methodology for using preserved mitochondria. Research into the pharmaceutical formulation of mitochondria to promote mitochondrial transplantation therapy as the next step in treating many patients is urgently needed. In this review, we overview previous studies on the therapeutic effects of mitochondrial transplantation. We also discuss studies related to immune responses that occur during mitochondrial transplantation and methods for preserving mitochondria, which are key to their stability as medicines. Finally, we describe research related to mitochondrial targeting drug delivery systems (DDS) and discuss future perspectives of mitochondrial transplantation.
• ミトコンドリアDDSを用いたビタミンB1の脳内送達・治療効果の検証

  山田 勇磨, 石丸 拓也, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 36回 169 - 169 2020/08
• Mitochondrial Delivery of an Anticancer Drug Via Systemic Administration Using a Mitochondrial Delivery System That Inhibits the Growth of Drug-Resistant Cancer Engrafted on Mice.

  Yuma Yamada, Reina Munechika, Satrialdi, Fumika Kubota, Yusuke Sato, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 109 (8) 2493 - 2500 2020/08 [Refereed]
   

  Mitochondrial delivery of an anticancer drug targeting cancer cells would eventually result in cell death. To achieve this, a drug delivery system targeting mitochondria is needed. We recently developed a MITO-Porter, a liposome that delivers its cargo to mitochondria. We reported that such a MITO-Porter could deliver doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, to mitochondria in OS-RC-2 cells, a drug resistant cancer cell, resulting in inhibiting the cell growth, based in in vitro experiments. Herein, we report on validating the benefit of such a therapeutic strategy for treating drug resistant cancers by the in vivo targeting of mitochondria. We prepared a DOX-MITO-Porter, in which DOX was encapsulated in the MITO-Porter and optimized its retention in blood circulation. When the DOX-MITO-Porter was administered to mice bearing OS-RC-2 cells via tail vein injection, tumor size was significantly decreased, compared to DOX itself and to the DOX-encapsulated polyethylene glycol-modified liposome (DOX-PEG-LP). Intracellular observation confirmed that the DOX-MITO-Porter had accumulated in tumor mitochondria. It was also found a relationship between anti-tumor effect and the mitochondrial function, as indicated by the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. This study provides support for the utility of an in vivo mitochondrial delivery system in drug resistant cancer therapies.
• Development of a Microfluidic-Based Post-Treatment Process for Size-Controlled Lipid Nanoparticles and Application to siRNA Delivery.

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Yusuke Sato, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  ACS applied materials & interfaces 12 (30) 34011 - 34020 2020/07/29 [Refereed]
   

  Microfluidic methodologies for preparation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) based on an organic solvent injection method enable precise size control of the LNPs. After preparation of LNPs, the organic solvent injection method needs some post-treatments, such as overnight dialysis or direct dilution with a buffer solution. LNP production using the microfluidic-based organic solvent injection method is dominated by kinetics rather than thermodynamics. Kinetics of ethanol removal from the inner and outer membranes of LNPs could induce a structural change in the membrane that could lead to fusion of LNPs. However, the effects of microfluidic post-treatment on the final size of LNPs have not been sufficiently understood. Herein, we investigated the effect of the post-treatment processes on the final product size of LNPs in detail. A simple baffle device and a model lipid system composed of a neutral phospholipid (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, POPC) and cholesterol were used to produce the LNPs. We demonstrated that flow conditions of the post-treatment diluting the remaining ethanol in the LNP suspension affected the final product size of LNPs. Based on the findings, we developed an integrated baffle device composed of an LNP production region and a post-treatment region for a microfluidic-based LNP production system; this integrated baffle device prevented the undesirable aggregation or fusion of POPC LNPs even for the high-lipid-concentration condition. Finally, we applied our concept to small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery and confirmed that no significant effects due to the continuous process occurred on the siRNA encapsulation efficiency, biological distribution, and knockdown activity. The microfluidic post-treatment method is expected to contribute to the production of LNPs for practical applications and the development of novel LNP-based nanomedicines.
• Lipid nanoparticles fuse with cell membranes of immune cells at low temperatures leading to the loss of transfection activity.

  Takashi Nakamura, Koharu Yamada, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International journal of pharmaceutics 587 119652 - 119652 2020/07/17 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Delivering nucleic acid using a non-viral vector is a potent strategy for gene modification and controlling gene expression in immune cell therapy. Since the low-temperature storage (0-4 °C) or cryopreservation of cells are indispensable for performing immune cell therapy, we investigated the interactions between an siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticle (LNP), a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) containing YSK12-C4 (YSK12-MEND), and human immune cell lines (NK-92 and Jurkat) at low-temperature and its effect on transfection activity. The YSK12-MEND readily bound to the cell membrane of NK-92 cells at low-temperature, but no internalization of the YSK12-MEND by cells was observed, even after returning the temperature to 37 °C. Gene silencing activity was completely impaired. The cause of this inhibition appears to be membrane fusion between the YSK12-MEND and cell membrane at the low-temperature. Collectively, our results suggest that the exposure of siRNA-loaded LNPs to cells at low-temperature should be avoided in defining transfection protocols in immune cell therapy.
• Different kinetics for the hepatic uptake of lipid nanoparticles between the apolipoprotein E/low density lipoprotein receptor and the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine/asialoglycoprotein receptor pathway

  Yusuke Sato, Yoshiyuki Kinami, Kazuki Hashiba, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 322 217 - 226 1873-4995 2020/06/10 

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are one of the more promising technologies for efficiently delivering nucleic acids in vivo. Hepatocytes are the primary target cells of LNPs that are delivered via the apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) pathway, an endogenous targeting pathway. This robust targeting mechanism results in the specific and efficient delivery of nucleic acids to hepatocytes. Trivalent N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) is known to be a high-affinity exogenous ligand against the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), which is highly expressed on hepatocytes. In this study, we report that the kinetics of the hepatic uptake process between the two types of targeting pathways are different. Rapid blood clearance, accumulation to the space of Disse and a subsequent slow cellular uptake was observed in the case of the endogenous ApoE-LDLR pathway. On the other hand, both blood clearance and cellular uptake were more gradual in the case of the exogenous GalNAc-ASGPR pathway. Interactions between ApoE-bound LNPs and hepatic heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) were involved in the rapid blood clearance and accumulation to the space of Disse in the case of the endogenous pathway. The findings presented here contribute to a more precise understanding of the mechanism of hepatic uptake and to the rational design of hepatocyte-targeting nanoparticles.
• Erratum: The optimization of cancer photodynamic therapy by utilization of a pi-extended porphyrin-type photosensitizer in combination with MITO-Porter (Chem. Commun. (2020) 56 (1145–1148) DOI: 10.1039/C9CC08563G)

  Satrialdi, Reina Munechika, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Yuta Takano, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Chemical Communications 56 (45) 6153  1364-548X 2020/06/07 

  Yuta Takano is also a corresponding author of this manuscript which was not indicated in the published article. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.
• Dawn of lipid nanoparticles in lymph node targeting: Potential in cancer immunotherapy.

  Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced drug delivery reviews 167 78 - 88 2020/06/06 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  It is generally known that the lymph nodes (LNs) are important tissues in cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, delivering immune functional compounds to LNs is a useful strategy for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Lipid-based nanocarriers have been widely used as delivery systems that target LNs, but lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has recently attracted increased interest. High levels of nucleic acids can be efficiently loaded in LNPs, they can be used to actively deliver nucleic acids into the cytoplasm, and they can be produced on an industrial scale. The use of microfluidic devices has been particularly valuable for producing small-sized LNPs, thus paving the way for successful LN targeting. In the review, we focus on the potential of LNP technology for targeting LNs.
• Validation of Gene Therapy for Mutant Mitochondria by Delivering Mitochondrial RNA Using a MITO-Porter.

  Eriko Kawamura, Minako Maruyama, Jiro Abe, Akira Sudo, Atsuhito Takeda, Shingo Takada, Takashi Yokota, Shintaro Kinugawa, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids 20 687 - 698 2020/06/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Here, we report on validating a mitochondrial gene therapy by delivering nucleic acids to mitochondria of diseased cells by a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier for mitochondrial delivery. We used cells derived from a patient with a mitochondrial disease with a G625A heteroplasmic mutation in the tRNAPhe of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It has been reported that some mitochondrial gene diseases are caused by heteroplasmic mutations, in which both mutated and wild-type (WT) genes are present, and the accumulation of pathological mutations leads to serious, intractable, multi-organ diseases. Therefore, the decrease of the mutated gene rate is considered to be a useful gene therapy strategy. To accomplish this, wild-type mitochondrial pre-tRNAPhe (pre-WT-tRNAPhe), prepared by in vitro transcription, was encapsulated in the MITO-Porter. The pre-WT-tRNAPhe encapsulated in the MITO-Porter was transfected into diseased mitochondrial cells, and the resulting mutant levels were examined by an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-quantitative PCR. The mutation rate of tRNAPhe was decreased, and this therapeutic effect was sustained even on the 8th day after transfection. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory activity of the disease cells was increased after the transfection of therapeutic pre-WT-tRNAPhe. These results support the conclusion that the mitochondrial delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids represents a viable strategy for mitochondrial gene therapy.
• Distribution of BCG-CWS-Loaded Nanoparticles in the Spleen After Intravenous Injection Affects Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Activity.

  Hideyuki Masuda, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 109 (6) 1943 - 1950 2020/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Interest has developed in the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) as a noninfectious adjuvant. Although BCG-CWS readily undergoes aggregation, in a previous study, we applied it to cancer immunotherapy via intravenous administration by encapsulating the BCG-CWS into nanoparticles (CWS-NPs). The CWS-NPs were taken up by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ (MHC-II+) cells and induced antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. However, the nature of the contribution of MHC-II+ cells to the CTL response continues to be unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the distribution of CWS-NPs in the spleen and CTL activity. The main MHC-II+ cells that internalized the CWS-NPs were B cells. Decreasing the level of polyethylene glycol modification increased the uptake of CWS-NPs by B cells, leading to an increased CTL activity. A comparison of CWS-NPs with different uptake efficiencies into dendritic cells and B cells suggested that the DCs with internalized CWS-NPs may contribute to CTL activation compared with B cells. We succeeded in enhancing CTL activity by the CWS-NPs, and the findings reported herein should provide important information regarding target cells for the development of CWS-NP.
• Validation of a mitochondrial RNA therapeutic strategy using fibroblasts from a Leigh syndrome patient with a mutation in the mitochondrial ND3 gene.

  Yuma Yamada, Kana Somiya, Akihiko Miyauchi, Hitoshi Osaka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Scientific reports 10 (1) 7511 - 7511 2020/05/05 

  We report on the validation of a mitochondrial gene therapeutic strategy using fibroblasts from a Leigh syndrome patient by the mitochondrial delivery of therapeutic mRNA. The treatment involves delivering normal ND3 protein-encoding mRNA as a therapeutic RNA to mitochondria of the fibroblasts from a patient with a T10158C mutation in the mtDNA coding the ND3 protein, a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. The treatment involved the use of a liposome-based carrier (a MITO-Porter) for delivering therapeutic RNA to mitochondria via membrane fusion. The results confirmed that the mitochondrial transfection of therapeutic RNA by the MITO-Porter system resulted in a decrease in the levels of mutant RNA in mitochondria of diseased cells based on reverse transcription quantitative PCR. An evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory activity by respirometry also showed that transfection using the MITO-Porter resulted in an increase in maximal mitochondrial respiratory activity in the diseased cells.
• 脂質ナノ粒子の特性がリンパ節送達とリンパ節内分布へ与える影響

  中村 孝司, 河合 美典, 佐藤 悠介, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集 (公社)日本薬剤学会 35年会 171 - 171 2020/05
• MELAS A3243G変異型ミトコンドリアDNAを標的とした遺伝子治療戦略の検証

  山田 勇磨, 宗宮 加奈, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集 (公社)日本薬剤学会 35年会 169 - 169 2020/05
• Involvement of Caveolin-1-mediated transcytosis in the intratumoral accumulation of liposomes.

  Yu Sakurai, Akari Kato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biochemical and biophysical research communications 525 (2) 313 - 318 2020/04/30 

  For achieving efficient cancer treatment, it is important to elucidate the mechanism responsible for the accumulation of nanoparticles in tumor tissue. Recent studies suggest that nanoparticles are not delivered merely through gaps between tumor endothelial cells. We previously reported that the maturation of the vascular structure by the vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) using a previously developed siRNA delivery technology (RGD-MEND) significantly enhanced the accumulation of nanoparticles in types of cancers that area vessel-rich (renal cell carcinoma). This result was completely inconsistent with the generally accepted theory of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. We hypothesized that a caveolin-1 (Cav1)-mediated transcellular route would be involved with the penetration of nanoparticles into tumor vasculature. To reveal the exact mechanism responsible for this enhancement, we observed the delivery of long-circulating liposomes (LPs) after Cav1 was co-suppressed by RGD-MEND with VEGFR2. The enhanced delivery of LPs by siRNA against VEGFR2 (siVEGFR2) was accompanied by the elevated expression of the Cav1 protein. In addition, Cav1 knockdown by siRNA against Cav1 (siCav1) canceled the enhanced delivery of LPs by siVEGFR2. The injection of siCav1 had no effect on the formation of alpha smooth muscle actin or vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecules. These results suggest that a Cav1-induced transcellular route and not a paracellular route, at least partially, contributes to the accumulation of nanoparticles in tumors.
• Improved Stability of siRNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles Prepared with a PEG-Monoacyl Fatty Acid Facilitates Ligand-Mediated siRNA Delivery.

  Yu Sakurai, Wataru Mizumura, Kenichiro Ito, Kazuhiro Iwasaki, Takayuki Katoh, Yuki Goto, Hiroaki Suga, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular pharmaceutics 17 (4) 1397 - 1404 2020/04/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Peptide modification is a popular strategy for developing an active targeting lipid nanoparticle (LNP). In modifying the surface of an LNP with a peptide, the sequence and structure of the peptide strongly affects the formation of the LNP. Specifically, a peptide with a high hydrophobicity can induce coarsening and aggregation of the LNP. In an attempt to prevent this from occurring, we incorporated monoacyl and diacyl group-conjugated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) into a LNP. We previously developed an original LNP, a multifunctional envelope type nanodevice (MEND) modified with an Epi-1 peptide, a ligand with a high affinity for the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Using this peptide-modified MEND, the efficiency of delivery of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) encapsulated in the MEND was significantly improved. Although increasing the ratio of modification enhanced cellular uptake, the increase also induced aggregation of the LNP, particularly in the case of a large scale preparation. Our results indicate that a monoacyl PEG-lipid can prevent aggregation, even when the LNP is modified with higher molar ratios of peptide, but that this also results in a decrease in delivery efficiency. Moreover, the Epi-1-modified MEND exhibited a strong silencing effect in an ovarian cancer peritoneal dissemination model. Our results suggest that the simple incorporation of a monoacyl derivative into the PEG-lipid resulted in the formation of a peptide-modified LNP with improved characteristics.
• Vitamin E Scaffolds of pH-Responsive Lipid Nanoparticles as DNA Vaccines in Cancer and Protozoan Infection.

  Mio Maeta, Naoya Miura, Hiroki Tanaka, Takashi Nakamura, Ryo Kawanishi, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, Kenichi Asano, Masato Tanaka, Shinya Tamagawa, Yuta Nakai, Kota Tange, Hiroki Yoshioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  Molecular pharmaceutics 17 (4) 1237 - 1247 2020/04/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  DNA vaccinations are promising strategies for treating diseases that require cellular immunity (i.e., cancer and protozoan infection). Here, we report on the use of a liposomal nanocarrier (lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)) composed of an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipidlike material (ssPalm) as an in vivo DNA vaccine. After subcutaneous administration, the LNPs containing an ssPalmE, an ssPalm with vitamin E scaffolds, elicited a higher gene expression activity in comparison with the other LNPs composed of the ssPalms with different hydrophobic scaffolds. Immunization with the ssPalmE-LNPs encapsulating plasmid DNA that encodes ovalbumin (OVA, a model tumor antigen) or profilin (TgPF, a potent antigen of Toxoplasma gondii) induced substantial antitumor or antiprotozoan effects, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis of the cells that had taken up the LNPs in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) showed that the ssPalmE-LNPs were largely taken up by macrophages and a small number of dendritic cells. We found that the transient deletion of CD169+ macrophages, a subpopulation of macrophages that play a key role in cancer immunity, unexpectedly enhanced the activity of the DNA vaccine. These data suggest that the ssPalmE-LNPs are effective DNA vaccine carriers, and a strategy for avoiding their being trapped by CD169+ macrophages will be a promising approach for developing next-generation DNA vaccines.
• Lipid Nanoparticles for Cell-Specific in Vivo Targeted Delivery of Nucleic Acids

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Mahmoud A. Younis, Seigo Kimura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 43 (4) 584 - 595 0918-6158 2020/04/01 [Refereed]
  
• The Effect of Size and Charge of Lipid Nanoparticles Prepared by Microfluidic Mixing on Their Lymph Node Transitivity and Distribution.

  Takashi Nakamura, Minori Kawai, Yusuke Sato, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular pharmaceutics 17 (3) 944 - 953 2020/03/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Because the lymph node (LN) is a critical organ for inducing immune responses against pathogens and cancers, the transport of immune functional molecules such as antigens and adjuvants to LNs by delivery systems is a useful strategy for the effective outcome of an immune response. The size and charge of a delivery system largely affect the transitivity to and distribution within LN. Although pH-sensitive lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) prepared by microfluidic mixing are the latest delivery system to be applied clinically, the effects of their size and charge on the transitivity to and distribution within LN are currently unknown. We investigated the size and charge effect of LNPs prepared by microfluidic mixing on transitivity to and distribution within LNs. A 30 nm-sized LNP (30-LNP) was efficiently translocated to LNs and was taken up by CD8+ dendritic cells, while the efficiency was drastically decreased in the cases of 100 and 200 nm-sized LNPs. Furthermore, a comparative study between neutral, positively, and negatively charged 30-LNP revealed that the negative 30-LNP moved to the LN more efficiently than the other LNPs. Interestingly, the negative 30-LNP reached the deep cortex, namely, the T cell zone. Our findings provide informative insights for designing LN-targeting LNPs prepared by microfluidic mixing and for the translocation of nanoparticles in LNs.
• The gala peptide: multiple roles in drug and gene delivery

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences 43 (1) 39 - 51 1110-0052 2020/03/01 

  Therapeutic nucleic acids must be formulated in delivery systems that permit them to be efficiently targeted to specific tissues within the body and to overcome the endosomal barrier to deliver these molecules to their intracellular target sites. GALA is a synthetic amphipathic 30 amino acids peptide that performs both functions. It has the ability to target the lung endothelium and induce membrane fusion, which facilitates endosomal escape of therapeutic nucleic acids. In this review, we introduce the GALA peptide and discuss its multiple roles in drug and gene delivery. We first describe the peptide and its ability to induce membrane fusion and pore-formation. We next focus on applications of this peptide in gene delivery in-vitro and in-vivo. We also discuss the synergistic combination between GALA and oligoargnine peptides and their applicability to active tumor targeting. The GALA peptide introduced in this review has great promise as an efficient tool for gene delivery.
• 光増感分子rTPAを搭載したミトコンドリア標的型ナノカプセルの構築および担癌モデルマウスを用いた癌光治療戦略の検証

  山田 勇磨, Satrialdi, 高野 勇太, Biju Vasudevanpillai, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬学会年会要旨集 (公社)日本薬学会 140年会 26X - am11 0918-9823 2020/03
• Development of a nanoparticle that releases nucleic acids in response to a mitochondrial environment.

  Yuma Yamada, Yutaka Fukuda, Daisuke Sasaki, Minako Maruyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Mitochondrion 52 67 - 74 2020/02/22 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The delivery of nucleic acids targeting mutant mtDNA represent a potential strategy for addressing a variety of mitochondria-related diseases. We previously developed a MITO-Porter, a nano carrier that is capable of delivering nanoparticles of nucleic acids to mitochondria of human cells. Here, we report on an investigation of a series of nanoparticles formed with various poly cationic peptides that can release nucleic acids in response to a mitochondrial environment. A significant relationship was found between the number of and the location of arginine and histidine residues in the peptide sequence and the release of nucleic acids in a mitochondrial environment.
• The optimization of cancer photodynamic therapy by utilization of a pi-extended porphyrin-type photosensitizer in combination with MITO-Porter.

  Satrialdi, Reina Munechika, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Yuta Takano, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) 56 (7) 1145 - 1148 2020/01/23 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species during photodynamic therapy (PDT) induces oxidative stress. The full potential of PDT is accomplished by delivery of a pi-extended porphyrin-type photosensitizer into mitochondria of tumor cells using a MITO-Porter, a mitochondrial targeting nanodevice. This strategy can be implemented for innovative cancer therapy.
• Therapeutic Strategies for Regulating Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress.

  Yuma Yamada, Yuta Takano, Satrialdi, Jiro Abe, Mitsue Hibino, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biomolecules 10 (1) 2020/01/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  There have been many reports on the relationship between mitochondrial oxidative stress and various types of diseases. This review covers mitochondrial targeting photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy as a therapeutic strategy for inducing mitochondrial oxidative stress. We also discuss other mitochondrial targeting phototherapeutic methods. In addition, we discuss anti-oxidant therapy by a mitochondrial drug delivery system (DDS) as a therapeutic strategy for suppressing oxidative stress. We also describe cell therapy for reducing oxidative stress in mitochondria. Finally, we discuss the possibilities and problems associated with clinical applications of mitochondrial DDS to regulate mitochondrial oxidative stress.
• A small-sized lipid nanoparticles production method using microfluidic devices with baffle structures

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Yusuke Note, Yusuke Sato, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  21st International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2017 965 - 966 2020 

  This paper reports a lipid nanoparticles (LNP) production method and its formation behavior using microfluidic devices with baffle structures. The microfluidic devices showed great mixing efficiency at 500 μL/min, and we achieved 20 nm-sized LNPs production that chaotic micromixers were not able to produce at the same flow rate condition. Additionally, we found that the smaller-sized LNPs/siRNA prepared by baffle structures have higher penetration efficiency than that of the larger-sized LNPs, but all of them showed the gene silencing activity. The microfluidic devices with baffle structures are expected to be a practicable apparatus for DDSs application.
• Power of mitochondrial drug delivery systems to produce innovative nanomedicines.

  Yuma Yamada, Satrialdi, Mitsue Hibino, Daisuke Sasaki, Jiro Abe, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced drug delivery reviews 154-155 187 - 209 2020 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  Mitochondria carry out various essential functions including ATP production, the regulation of apoptosis and possess their own genome (mtDNA). Delivering target molecules to this organelle, it would make it possible to control the functions of cells and living organisms and would allow us to develop a better understanding of life. Given the fact that mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of human disorders, delivering therapeutic molecules to mitochondria for the treatment of these diseases is an important issue. To date, several mitochondrial drug delivery system (DDS) developments have been reported, but a generalized DDS leading to therapy that exclusively targets mitochondria has not been established. This review focuses on mitochondria-targeted therapeutic strategies including antioxidant therapy, cancer therapy, mitochondrial gene therapy and cell transplantation therapy based on mitochondrial DDS. A particular focus is on nanocarriers for mitochondrial delivery with the goal of achieving mitochondria-targeting therapy. We hope that this review will stimulate the accelerated development of mitochondrial DDS.
• Editorial: Advanced Liposome Research.

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Tatsuhiro Ishida

  Advanced drug delivery reviews 154-155 1 - 1 2020 [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• Hydrophobic scaffolds of pH-sensitive cationic lipids contribute to miscibility with phospholipids and improve the efficiency of delivering short interfering RNA by small-sized lipid nanoparticles

  Yusuke Sato, Nana Okabe, Yusuke Note, Kazuki Hashiba, Masatoshi Maeki, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Acta Biomaterialia Elsevier {BV} 102 341 - 350 1742-7061 2020/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Despite the fact that small-sized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are important for improved tissue penetration and efficient drug delivery, their poor stability and intracellular trafficking significantly hinders their use as potent small-sized LNPs. It has been reported that both the diffusion of lipid components from LNPs and the adsorption of proteins on the surface of LNPs are responsible for their decreased potency. To overcome this issue, we focused on the chemical structure of hydrophobic scaffolds of pH-sensitive cationic lipids with various lengths and shapes. LNPs composed of a pH-sensitive cationic lipid with long, linear scaffolds induced gene silencing in a dose-dependent manner, while LNPs with a classical scaffold length (C18) failed. Replacing the helper lipid from cholesterol to egg sphingomyelin (ESM) resulted in the formation of smaller LNPs with a diameter of similar to 22 nm and enhanced gene silencing activity. Most of the ESMs were located in the outer layer and functioned to stabilize the LNPs. Long, linear scaffolds contributed to immiscibility with phosphocholine-containing lipids including ESM. This contribution was dependent on the scaffold length of pH-sensitive cationic lipids. Although phosphocholine-containing lipids usually inhibit membrane fusion-mediated endosomal escape, long, linear scaffolds contributed to avoiding the inhibitory effect and to enhance the potency of the LNPs. These findings provide useful information needed for the rational design of pH-sensitive cationic lipid structures and the selection of appropriate helper lipids and will facilitate the development of highly potent small-sized LNPs.Statement of significanceDespite the fact that small-sized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are important for improved tissue penetration and efficient drug delivery, the size reduction-associated decrease in the stability and intracellular trafficking significantly hinders the development of potent small-sized LNPs. Our limited understanding of the mechanism underlying the reduced potency has also hindered the development of more potent small-sized LNPs. The findings of the present study indicate that long and linear hydrophobic scaffolds of pH-sensitive cationic lipids could overcome the loss of efficiency for nucleic acid delivery. In addition, the long hydrophobic scaffolds led to immiscibility with neutral phospholipids, resulting in efficient endosomal escape. These findings provide useful information needed for the rational design of pH-sensitive cationic lipid structures and will facilitate the development of highly potent small-sized LNPs. (C) 2019 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• Spleen selective enhancement of transfection activities of plasmid DNA driven by octaarginine and an ionizable lipid and its implications for cancer immunization

  Seigo Kimura, Ikramy A. Khalil, Yaser H.A. Elewa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 313 70 - 79 0168-3659 2019/11
• Targeting Tumor Endothelial Cells with Nanoparticles.

  Sakurai Y, Akita H, Harashima H

  International journal of molecular sciences 20 (23) 2019/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Innovative nanotechnologies for enhancing nucleic acids/gene therapy: Controlling intracellular trafficking to targeted biodistribution.

  Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Sato Y, Khalil IA, Harashima H

  Biomaterials 218 119329 - 119329 0142-9612 2019/10 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  Nanomedicine promises to play an important role in next generation therapy, including Nucleic acid/Gene therapy. To accomplish this, innovative nanotechnologies will be needed to support nanomedicine by controlling not only the biodistribution but also the intracellular trafficking of macromolecules such as RNA/DNA. A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) was developed to meet this requirement. We herein provide an update regarding the functions of the MEND system focusing on the introduction of different functional biomaterials that enhance efficiency. The octaarginine (R8) peptide enhances cellular uptake and controls intracellular trafficking to induce synergism in transgene expression. The R8 was also used for developing a MITO-Porter system for mitochondrial targeting. The function of the MITO-Porter system was extended by developing a mitochondrial reporter gene for mitochondrial gene therapy. For efficient in vivo gene delivery, new pH-sensitive lipids have been introduced to achieve controlled biodistribution and to enhance endosomal escape. For example, the CL4H6 lipid exerts a more efficient in vivo gene silencing than that of ONPATTROTM, a preparation that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. We further summarize new technologies that have been successfully applied to cancer immunotherapy leading to the introduction of a new strategy based on the concept of the Cancer-Immunity Cycle.
• A nanocarrier for the mitochondrial delivery of nucleic acids to cardiomyocytes.

  Yamada Y, Fujishita N, Harashima H

  Nucleosides, nucleotides & nucleic acids 1 - 15 1525-7770 2019/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Synergistic Enhancement of Cellular Uptake With CD44-Expressing Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma by Combining Cationic Liposome and Hyaluronic Acid-Lipid Conjugate.

  Yu Sakurai, Akari Kato, Yasuhiro Hida, Junichi Hamada, Nako Maishi, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 108 (10) 3218 - 3224 2019/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive form of cancer, with a median survival of less than 1 year. It is well known that the hyaluronan (HA) receptor CD44 is highly expressed by MPM cells and is reported to be correlated with a poor prognosis. We herein report on the development of a new type if drug delivery system against CD44 that involves the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) equipped with a new type of HA derivative. In this study, we evaluated HA-lipid conjugation (HAL) via the end of the HA molecule through reductive amination, a process that allowed the carboxylate group to remain intact. As a result, the HAL-modified LNP appears to be a potent nanoparticle for dealing with MPM. Surprisingly, the use of a combination of a cationic lipid and HAL had a synergistic effect on cellular uptake in MPM and consequently permitted an anti-cancer drug such as cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II) (CDDP). Intrapleural injection of CDDP-loaded HAL-LNP (1.5 mg/kg as CDDP) per week significantly suppressed the progression of this type of cancer in an MPM orthotopic model. These results suggest that HAL-modified LNP represents a potent delivery system for MPM cells that express high levels of CD44.
• A Multifunctional Lipid-Based Nanodevice for the Highly Specific Codelivery of Sorafenib and Midkine siRNA to Hepatic Cancer Cells

  Mahmoud A. Younis, Ikramy A. Khalil, Mahmoud M. Abd Elwakil, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular Pharmaceutics 16 (9) 4031 - 4044 1543-8384 2019/09/03 

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common deadly malignancy, requires novel therapeutic strategies to improve the survival rate. Combining chemotherapy and gene therapy is a promising approach for increasing efficiency and reducing side effects. We report on the design of highly specific lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating both the chemotherapeutic drug, sorafenib (SOR), and siRNA against the midkine gene (MK), thereby conferring a novel highly efficient anticancer effect on HCC. The LNPs were modified with a targeting peptide, SP94, which is selective for hepatic cancer cells (HCCs), thus permitting the specific delivery of the payload. MK-siRNA increased the sensitivity of HCCs, HepG2, to SOR (IC50 for SOR+MK-siRNA: 5 ± 1.50 µM compared to 9 ± 2.20 and 17 ± 2.60 µM for SOR+control siRNA and MK-siRNA, respectively). The selectivity was confirmed by cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and gene-silencing studies in HCCs, HepG2, and Hepa 1-6, compared to other cancerous cells, HeLa, and normal cells, FL83B. The use of a novel pH-sensitive lipid, YSK05, increased the cytotoxic and gene knockdown efficiencies and limited extracellular drug release. The nanoparticles were also compatible with serum and showed no aggregation after long storage. The efficient and specific codelivery system reported here is a highly promising strategy for the treatment of HCC.
• Hyaluronan-modified nanoparticles for tumor-targeting.

  Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Expert opinion on drug delivery 16 (9) 915 - 936 2019/09 

  Introduction: Hyaluronan (HA), a natural polysaccharide, is produced in large amounts by the human body. Since its receptor CD44 is highly expressed in many types of cancers, HA is a promising ligand for cancer-targeting nanoparticles (NPs). Since the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect-based strategy faces difficulties in terms of efficiency in clinical studies, studies focusing on HA-modified NPs that can actively target cancer cells should be prominent for further progress in NP-based cancer treatment. Areas covered: Various materials combined with HA composed of lipid nanoparticles and polymers as well as iron, gold and other metals have been examined. In addition, their cargos have been quite diverse and include small molecule drugs, imaging agents, proteins and nucleic acids. We summarize recent studies on varieties of NPs and describe the properties of HA as a ligand of CD44. Expert opinion: In spite of a number of studies on HA-based NPs, there is few examples of HA-based NPs in clinical. In order to make a progress in clinical study, an evaluation methodology of HA-NPs should be unified and normalized.
• The silencing of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in dendritic cells by siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles enhances cell-based cancer immunotherapy.

  Endo R, Nakamura T, Kawakami K, Sato Y, Harashima H

  Scientific reports 9 (1) 11335 - 11335 2019/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Cell-based therapy using dendritic cells (DC) represents a potent cancer immunotherapy. However, activated DC express indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a counter-regulatory and tolerogenic molecule, leading to the inhibition of T cell activation and the promotion of T cell differentiation into regulatory T cells. Silencing the IDO1 gene in DC by small interfering RNA (siRNA) represents a potent therapeutic strategy. We report on the successful and efficient introduction of a siRNA targeting IDO1 into mouse DCs by a means of a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) containing a YSK12-C4 (YSK12-MEND). The YSK12-C4 has both fusogenic and cationic properties. The YSK12-MEND induced an effective level of gene silencing of IDO1 at siRNA doses in the range of 1-20 nM, a concentration that commercially available transfection reagents are not able to silence. The YSK12-MEND mediated IDO1 silencing had no effect on the characteristic determinants of DC phenotype such as CD11c, CD80 and MHC class II. The silencing of IDO1 in DC by the YSK12-MEND significantly enhanced the antitumor effect against E.G7-OVA tumor. Moreover, a decrease in the numbers of regulatory T cells in the tumor was observed in mice that were treated with the IDO1-silenced DC. The YSK12-MEND appears to be a potent delivery system for IDO1-silenced DC based cancer immunotherapy.
• Targeted mitochondrial delivery of antisense RNA-containing nanoparticles by a MITO-Porter for safe and efficient mitochondrial gene silencing.

  Kawamura E, Hibino M, Harashima H, Yamada Y

  Mitochondrion 49 178 - 188 1567-7249 2019/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial gene therapy will be needed to treat mitochondrial diseases. We previously demonstrated mitochondrial gene silencing by the mitochondrial delivery of antisense RNA oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting mtDNA-encoded mRNA using a MITO-Porter, a liposomal nano carrier system designed for mitochondrial delivery. Here, we report on the efficient packaging of ASO in the MITO-Porter via a nanoparticle packaging method, which showed a 10-fold higher packaging efficiency than the conventional method. The constructed carrier showed a decrease in the target mRNA levels and ATP production. These results indicate that such a MITO-Porter has potential for use in therapies designed to regulate mitochondrial function.
• A study of the endocytosis mechanism and transendothelial activity of lung-targeted GALA-modified liposomes.

  Santiwarangkool S, Akita H, Khalil IA, Abd Elwakil MM, Sato Y, Kusumoto K, Harashima H

  Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society 307 55 - 63 0168-3659 2019/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The GALA peptide (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA) was originally designed to induce the destabilization of endosomal membranes based on its ability to undergo a pH-dependent conformational change from a random coil to an α-helix. We recently found that liposomes modified with GALA peptide (GALA-LPs) extensively accumulate in lung endothelial cells (ECs) after intravenous injection. However, the uptake mechanism of GALA-LPs and their ability to reach alveolar epithelium was unclear. We report herein that GALA-LPs are internalized into ECs via a clathrin-mediated pathway. Surprisingly, GALA-LPs had the ability to pass lung ECs and reach other cells through transcytosis. GALA-LPs were taken up by >70% of lung ECs, while they also accumulated in ~30% of type I alveolar epithelium (ATI). GALA-modified gold nanoparticles were detected in ECs, in the basement membrane and in other cells such as ATI, type II alveolar epithelium (ATII) and alveolar macrophages. Consistent with this result, a significant gene knockdown was achieved in lung epithelium cells using GALA-LPs encapsulating anti-podoplanin siRNA. This indicates that GALA-LPs can be used as a carrier for delivering macromolecules to parenchymal as well as to endothelial cells in the lung. Although caveolae are commonly linked to the transendothelial transport of proteins and antibodies, our data indicate that clathrin-mediated endocytosis might also participate in the transcytosis process.
• The Use of a Microfluidic Device to Encapsulate a Poorly Water-Soluble Drug CoQ(10) in Lipid Nanoparticles and an Attempt to Regulate Intracellular Trafficking to Reach Mitochondria

  Hibino Mitsue, Yamada Yuma, Fujishita Naoki, Sato Yusuke, Maeki Masatoshi, Tokeshi Manabu, Harashima Hideyoshi

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 108 (8) 2668 - 2676 0022-3549 2019/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  © 2019 A number of drugs that are currently on the market, as well as new candidates for drugs, are poorly water soluble. Because of this, a need exists to develop drug formulations that will permit the expanded use of such drugs. The use of liposomes and lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery has attracted attention as a technique for solubilizing molecules that are poorly water soluble, but this technique faces serious scale-up risks. In this study, we report on attempts to encapsulate Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a model of a poorly water-soluble drug in an MITO-Porter, a liposome for mitochondrial delivery using a microfluidic device (a CoQ10-MITO-Porter [μ]). The physical properties of the CoQ10-MITO-Porter [μ] including homogeneity, size, and preparation volume were compared with those for a CoQ10-MITO-Porter prepared by the ethanol dilution method (a CoQ10-MITO-Porter [ED]). In the case where a microfluidic device was used, a small-sized CoQ10-MITO-Porter was formed homogeneously, and it was possible to prepare it on a large scale. Intracellular observations using HeLa cells showed that the CoQ10-MITO-Porter [μ] was efficiently internalized by cells to reach mitochondria. These results indicate that the CoQ10-MITO-Porter [μ] represents a potential candidate for use in mitochondrial nanomedicine.
• A mitochondrial delivery system using liposome-based nanocarriers that target myoblast cells.

  Katayama T, Kinugawa S, Takada S, Furihata T, Fukushima A, Yokota T, Anzai T, Hibino M, Harashima H, Yamada Y

  Mitochondrion 49 66 - 72 1567-7249 2019/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Enhanced autophagy induction via the mitochondrial delivery of methylated beta-cyclodextrin-threaded polyrotaxanes using a MITO-Porter

  Yuma Yamada, Shinnosuke Daikuhara, Atsushi Tamura, Kei Nishida, Nobuhiko Yui, Hideyoshi Harashima

  CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS 55 (50) 7203 - 7206 1359-7345 2019/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Failure of autophagy induction results in the accumulation of abnormal mitochondria to cause neurodegenerative diseases. Artificial autophagy activation via the mitochondrial delivery of polyrotaxane with autophagy induced activity is achieved using a MITO-Porter, a nanodevice for mitochondrial delivery. This strategy can be applied to innovative research and therapy.
• Lung-Endothelium-Targeted Nanoparticles Based on a pH-Sensitive Lipid and the GALA Peptide Enable Robust Gene Silencing and the Regression of Metastatic Lung Cancer

  Mahmoud M. Abd Elwakil, Ikramy A. Khalil, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Kenji Kusumoto, Yusuke Sato, Nour Shobaki, Yasuhiro Kon, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced Functional Materials 29 (18) 1616-3028 2019/05/02 

  The development of efficient gene delivery systems targeting the lung endothelium remains a serious challenge. This study reports on the design and optimization of a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) for an efficient siRNA delivery to the lung endothelium based on GALA-peptide targeting ability. The incorporation of a pH-sensitive lipid (YSK05) results in a dramatic improvement in silencing efficiency by enhancing endosomal escape, but this also causes a reduction in the lung selectivity. Contrary to the assumption that active targeting is largely dependent on the presence of a targeting ligand, the findings of the present study indicate that nanocarrier composition is critical for achieving the organ selectivity. Interestingly, helper lipids substantially mask the liver delivery resulting in optimum lung targeting. The optimized YSK05-MEND is 40-fold more efficient than a previously developed MEND, with a robust lung endothelium gene knockdown at small doses. The YSK05-MEND strongly inhibits a metastatic lung cancer model and exerts superior control over lung metastasis compared to chemotherapy or the previously developed MEND. The YSK05-MEND is well-tolerated in mice after acute or chronic administration. As far as it is known, YSK05-MEND achieves the most efficient lung endothelium gene silencing reported thus far with a median effective dose of 0.01 mg siRNA kg −1 while minimally affecting the endothelium of other organs.
• MITO-Porterを用いた治療用mRNA送達によるミトコンドリア遺伝子治療戦略の検証

  山田 勇磨, 宗宮 加奈, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集 (公社)日本薬剤学会 34年会 179 - 179 2019/05
• Understanding structure-activity relationships of pH-sensitive cationic lipids facilitates the rational identification of promising lipid nanoparticles for delivering siRNAs in vivo

  Sato Yusuke, Hashiba Kazuki, Sasaki Kosuke, Maeki Masatoshi, Tokeshi Manabu, Harashima Hideyoshi

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 295 140 - 152 0168-3659 2019/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are one of the more promising technologies for efficiently delivering short interfering RNA (siRNA) in vivo. A pH-sensitive cationic lipid that facilitates the targeting of hepatocytes and endosomal escape, strongly influences the availability of siRNA, thus making it a key material for efficient siRNA delivery. A systematic knowledge regarding lipid structure-activity relationships would greatly facilitate the development of sophisticated pH-sensitive cationic lipids for use in siRNA-based therapeutics. The systemic derivatization of a hydrophilic head group and hydrophobic tails of YSK12-C4, a pH-sensitive cationic lipid that was developed in our laboratory, revealed that hydrophilic head significantly affected the apparent pKa of the final product, a key factor in both intrahepatic distribution and endosomal escape. The clogP value of a hydrophilic head group was found to be associated with the apparent pKa of the product. In contrast, the hydrophobic tail structure strongly affected intrahepatic distribution without depending on apparent pKa. A structure-activity relationship study enabled the selection of an adequate combination of a hydrophilic head group and hydrophobic tails and permitted a potent LNP composed of a pH-sensitive cationic lipid CL4H6 (CL4H6-LNPs) to be developed that showed efficient gene silencing activity (50% effective dose: 0.0025 mg/kg), biodegradability and was tolerated. In vivo experiments revealed that the CL4H6-LNPs showed a superior efficiency for endosomal escape, cytosolic release and the RNA-induced silencing for the complex-loading of siRNAs compared to the previously developed LNPs.
• Development of a three-dimensional micromixer device for production of various lipid-based nucleic acid nanocarriers

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Yusuke Sato, Kosuke Sasaki, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  23rd International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2019 368 - 369 2019 

  This paper describes development of a three-dimensional (3D) baffle mixer device for precise size control of various types of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with high encapsulation efficiency of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The 3D baffle mixer device achieved more precise size control of various LNPs than that of the conventional micromixer device. In addition, the 3D baffle mixer enabled effective capturing of siRNAs into LNPs without any assistance of electrostatic interaction between lipid molecules and siRNAs. The 3D baffle mixer device is expected to become one of the key platforms for production of novel lipid-based nucleic acid nanocarriers.
• Two modes of toxicity of lipid nanoparticles containing a pH-sensitive cationic lipid on human A375 and A375-SM melanoma cell lines

  Ahmed Y AlBaloul, Yusuke Sato, Nako Maishi, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BPB Reports 2 48 - 55 2019 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Critical parameters dictating efficiency of membrane-mediated drug transfer using nanoparticles.

  Abbasi S, Kajimoto K, Harashima H

  International journal of pharmaceutics 553 (1-2) 398 - 407 0378-5173 2018/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effective Therapy Using a Liposomal siRNA that Targets the Tumor Vasculature in a Model Murine Breast Cancer with Lung Metastasis.

  Sakurai Y, Hada T, Kato A, Hagino Y, Mizumura W, Harashima H

  Molecular therapy oncolytics 11 102 - 108 2018/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Although metastatic cancer is a major cause of death for cancer patients, no efficacious treatment for metastasis is available. We previously showed that the growth of a primary tumor could be inhibited by the administration of an anti-angiogenic small interfering RNA (siRNA) that is encapsulated in an RGD peptide-modified lipid nanoparticle (RGD-LNP). We herein report on the delivery of siRNA by an RGD-LNP to the vasculature is also effective for treating metastatic tumors. We compared the RGD-LNP with the polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated LNP (PEG-LNP) in terms of accumulation in a lung-metastasized model. Despite malformed structure of vasculature in the metastasized lung, the accumulation of the PEG-LNP in the metastasized lung was lower than that for the RGD-LNP, which suggests that the delivery strategy based on vascular permeability is not completely effective for targeting metastasis tumors. The systemic injection of the RGD-LNP induced a significant silencing in the metastasized vasculature, but not in the normal lung. In addition, the continuous injection of the RGD-LNP encapsulating siRNA against a delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) drastically prolonged the overall survival of metastasized model mice. Accordingly, our current findings suggest that vasculature targeting would be more effective than enhanced permeability and retention effect-based therapy for the treatment of metastatic cancer.
• The delivery of mRNA to colon inflammatory lesions by lipid-nano-particles containing environmentally-sensitive lipid-like materials with oleic acid scaffolds.

  Tanaka H, Watanabe A, Konishi M, Nakai Y, Yoshioka H, Ohkawara T, Takeda H, Harashima H, Akita H

  Heliyon 4 (12) e00959  2018/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  An mRNA gene therapy represents a potentially promising therapeutic for curing inflammatory diseases. The transient nature of the gene expression of mRNA would be expected to be beneficial for avoiding undesired side effects. Since the mRNA is a vulnerable molecule, a development of a carrier that can deliver the mRNA to the cytoplasm has a high priority. We report herein on the development of a system for delivering mRNA to the inflammatory lesion in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. We modulated molecular structures of an ionizable lipid, an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm). Among the fatty acids investigated, oleic acid scaffolds (ssPalmO) appeared to be more biocompatible than either myristic acid or linoleic acid scaffolds with the colitis model. The structural modification of the hydrophilic head groups from linear tertiary amines to piperazine rings (ssPalmO-Paz4-C2) resulted in a more than 10-fold higher increasing in the transgene activity in inflammatory colon. The most notable observation is that the transgene activity in the inflammatory colon is significantly higher than that in liver, the major clearance organ of lipid nanoparticles. Collectively, the ssPalmO-Paz4-C2 represents a promising material for the delivery of an mRNA to inflammatory lesions.
• ミトコンドリア強化幹細胞(MITO Cell)を用いた細胞移植療法の検証

  山田 勇磨, 阿部 二郎, 佐々木 大輔, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本バイオマテリアル学会大会予稿集 日本バイオマテリアル学会 40回 180 - 180 2018/11
• DNA-loaded nano-adjuvant formed with a vitamin E-scaffold intracellular environmentally-responsive lipid-like material for cancer immunotherapy.

  Kawai M, Nakamura T, Miura N, Maeta M, Tanaka H, Ueda K, Higashi K, Moribe K, Tange K, Nakai Y, Yoshioka H, Harashima H, Akita H

  Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine 14 (8) 2587 - 2597 1549-9634 2018/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Cytoplasmic DNA triggers cellular immunity via activating the stimulator of interferon genes pathway. Since DNA is degradable and membrane impermeable, delivery system would permit cytoplasmic delivery by destabilizing the endosomal membrane for the use as an adjuvant. Herein, we report on the development of a plasmid DNA (pDNA)-encapsulating lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The structural components include an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material that mounts vitamin E as a hydrophobic scaffold, and dual sensing motifs that are responsive to the intracellular environment (ssPalmE). The pDNA-encapsulating LNP (ssPalmE-LNP) induced a high interferon-β production in Raw 264.7 cells. The subcutaneous injection of ssPalmE-LNP strongly enhanced antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell activity. The ssPalmE-LNP treatment efficiently induced antitumor effects against E.G7-OVA tumor and B16-F10 melanoma metastasis. Furthermore, when combined with an anti-programmed death 1 antibody, an extensive therapeutic antitumor effect was observed. Therefore, the ssPalmE-LNP is a promising carrier of adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy.
• Optimization of siRNA delivery to target sites: issues and future directions.

  Khalil IA, Yamada Y, Harashima H

  Expert opinion on drug delivery 15 (11) 1053 - 1065 1742-5247 2018/11 [Refereed][Invited]
  
• Application of BCG-CWS as a Systemic Adjuvant by Using Nanoparticulation Technology.

  Masuda H, Nakamura T, Noma Y, Harashima H

  Molecular pharmaceutics 15 (12) 5762 - 5771 1543-8384 2018/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intravesical instillation of live Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for treating bladder cancer is a powerful cancer immunotherapy. The BCG cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) is the main component of the adjuvant, leading to the induction of antitumor immunity. However, the use of live BCG and BCG-CWS is currently limited to local administration because of the infectiousness of live BCG and the insolubility of BCG-CWS. We previously developed a water-dispersible nanoparticle (NP) formulation of BCG-CWS (CWS-NP), which could be used to apply BCG components for use as a systemically injected adjuvant for the treatment of cancers other than bladder cancer. In the present study, we examined the possible use of CWS-NP for cancer immunotherapy, when intravenously administered. The CWS-NP was a highly uniform dispersion and showed no aggregation in serum. The intravenously injected CWS-NP accumulated in the spleen and was efficiently taken up by dendritic cells, leading to their maturation. The coadministration of CWS-NP and ovalbumin (OVA) loaded NP resulted in the generation of OVA-specific cytotoxic T cells and inhibited the growth of E.G7-OVA tumors. These results represent the first findings related to the use of systemically injected CWS-NP as an adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy.
• Neutralization of negative charges of siRNA results in improved safety and efficient gene silencing activity of lipid nanoparticles loaded with high levels of siRNA

  Yusuke Sato, Hideki Matsui, Risa Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 284 179 - 187 1873-4995 2018/08/28 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are one of the leading technologies for the in vivo delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA). Cationic lipids are an important component for efficient endosomal escape via membrane fusion followed by release of siRNAs in cytosol where the site of action is located. A high cationic lipid/siRNA charge ratio is usually necessary for maximizing the gene silencing activity of the siRNA-loaded LNPs. However, high levels of cationic lipids are known to cause cytotoxicity through interactions with negatively charged biocomponents. A strategy for solving this dilemma is important, in terms of producing clinically applicable LNPs with a wide therapeutic window. We herein report on the development of LNPs with a high gene silencing activity and a low cationic lipid/siRNA charge ratio, which we refer to as low lipid core-nanoparticles (LLC-NPs). The negative charges of the siRNAs were neutralized by protamines, cationic proteins, to reduce the net dose of cationic lipid, YSK05, which was developed in our laboratory, for endosomal escape, resulting in preserved fusogenic activity and gene silencing activity, both in vitro and in vivo factor VII mouse model. In addition, the LLC-NPs showed an improved hepatotoxicity compared to conventional LNPs, which have a relatively higher cationic lipid/siRNA charge ratio. The concept of the LLC-NPs helps to realize clinically applicable LNPs with a wide therapeutic window and has the potential for use in various applications and for the delivery of different classes of nucleic acid.
• The use of cardiac progenitor cells for transplantation in congenital heart disease and an innovative strategy for activating mitochondrial function in such cells.

  Abe J, Yamada Y, Harashima H

  Journal of thoracic disease 10 (Suppl 18) S2119 - S2121 2072-1439 2018/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• A hepatic pDNA delivery system based on an intracellular environment sensitive vitamin E-scaffold lipid-like material with the aid of an anti-inflammatory drug

  Ryohei Togashi, Hiroki Tanaka, Sakiko Nakamura, Hideo Yokota, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hiroki Yoshioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  Journal of Controlled Release 279 262 - 270 1873-4995 2018/06/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Non-viral vectors are considered to be an attractive approach for gene delivery, since an artificial material is less immunogenic and oncogenic compared to a viral vector. We previously reported on the hepatic delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) by using lipid-like material (an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material: ssPalm) which mounts two hydrophobic scaffolds, proton-accepting motifs (tertiary amines), and a cleavable unit (disulfide bonding). In the present study, we report on an advanced hepatic gene delivery system that uses a new type of ssPalm derivative: ssPalmE-Paz4-C2. The hepatic transgene expression of the intravenously administrated lipid nanoparticle (LNP) that was formed with the ssPalmE-Paz4-C2 (LNPssPalmE-Paz4-C2) was significantly higher than that of conventional LNPs formed with a myristic acid-scaffold ssPalm (LNPssPalmM). However, the LNPssPalmE-Paz4-C2 particle induced a severe innate immune response that involved the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα), intracellular DNA sensor-related cytokine (IL-1β) and interferon (IFNβ), even when a pDNA free from CpG-motifs was encapsulated. The production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the DNA sensor-related cytokines is attributed to the combination of vitamin E scaffolds and encapsulated pDNA. The depletion of macrophages by chlodronate-encapsulating liposomes dramatically reduced inflammatory gene expression. Based on the above findings, we conclude that the use of a certain type of non-viral carrier that shows a robust gene expression activity is attended by a risk of eliciting an innate immune response. When a highly hydrophobic derivative of dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid compound, was co-loaded to the particle, this inflammatory response was relieved, and gene expression efficiency was enhanced. It is thus concluded that the co-delivery of dexamethasone and pDNA is a promising approach for reducing these risks.
• Reducing the Cytotoxicity of Lipid Nanoparticles Associated with a Fusogenic Cationic Lipid in a Natural Killer Cell Line by Introducing a Polycation-Based siRNA Core

  Takashi Nakamura, Koharu Yamada, Yuki Fujiwara, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular Pharmaceutics 15 (6) 2142 - 2150 1543-8392 2018/06/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Introducing siRNA into human immune cells by an artificial delivery system continues to be a challenging issue. We previously developed a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) containing the YSK12-C4, a fusogenic cationic lipid, (YSK12-MEND) and succeeded in the efficient delivery of siRNA into human immune cell lines. Significant cytotoxicity, however, was observed at siRNA doses needed for gene silencing in NK-92 cells. NK-92 cells, a unique natural killer (NK) cell line, would be applicable for use in clinical NK therapy. Thus, reducing the cytotoxicity of the YSK12-MEND in NK-92 cells would strengthen the efficacy of NK-92 cell-based therapy. The amount of the YSK12-C4 in the MEND needed to be reduced to reduce the cytotoxicity, because the cytotoxicity was directly associated with the YSK12-C4. In the present study, we decreased the total amount of lipid, including the YSK12-C4, by introducing a core formed by electrostatic interactions of siRNA with a polycation (protamine) (siRNA core), which led to a decrease in cytotoxicity in NK-92 cells. We prepared a YSK12-MEND containing an siRNA core (YSK12-MEND/core) at charge ratios (CR: YSK12-C4/siRNA) of 10, 5, 3, and 2.5 and compared the YSK12-MEND/core with that for a YSK12-MEND (CR16.9). Cell viability was increased by more than 2 times at a CR5 or less. On the other hand, the YSK12-MEND/core (CR5) maintained the same gene silencing efficiency (60%) as the YSK12-MEND. Interestingly, the cellular uptake efficiency and hemolytic activity of the YSK12-MEND/core (CR5) was reduced compared to that for the YSK12-MEND. In calculating the silencing activity per cellular uptake efficiency and hemolytic activity, the value for the YSK12-MEND/core (CR5) was more than 2 times as high as that of the YSK12-MEND. The fact indicates that after endosomal escape, the process can be enhanced by using a YSK12-MEND/core (CR5). Thus, introducing an siRNA core into lipid nanoparticles can be a potent strategy for decreasing cytotoxicity without an appreciable loss of gene silencing activity in NK-92 cells.
• Development of the iLiNP Device: Fine Tuning the Lipid Nanoparticle Size within 10 nm for Drug Delivery

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Yusuke Sato, Yusuke Note, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  ACS Omega 3 (5) 5044 - 5051 2470-1343 2018/05/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The precise size control of the lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based nanodrug delivery system (DDS) carriers, such as 10 nm size tuning of LNPs, is one major challenge for the development of next-generation nanomedicines. Size-controlled LNPs would realize size-selective tumor targeting and deliver DNA and RNA to target tumor tissues effectively by passing through the stromal cells. Herein, we developed a baffle mixer device named the invasive lipid nanoparticle production device, or iLiNP device for short, which has a simple two-dimensional microchannel and mixer structure, and we achieved the first reported LNP size tuning at 10 nm intervals in the size range from 20 to 100 nm. In comparison with the conventional LNP preparation methods and reported micromixer devices, our iLiNP device showed better LNP size controllability, robustness of device design, and LNP productivity. Furthermore, we prepared 80 nm sized LNPs with encapsulated small interfering RNA (siRNA) using the iLiNP device these LNPs effectively performed as nano-DDS carriers in an in vivo experiment. We expect iLiNP devices will become novel apparatuses for LNP production in nano-DDS applications.
• In Vivo Introduction of mRNA Encapsulated in Lipid Nanoparticles to Brain Neuronal Cells and Astrocytes via Intracerebroventricular Administration.

  Hiroki Tanaka, Taichi Nakatani, Tomomi Furihata, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hiroki Yoshioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  Molecular pharmaceutics 15 (5) 2060 - 2067 1543-8384 2018/05/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene therapy is a promising strategy for curing certain types of brain diseases. Supplementation of therapeutic proteins such as aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) or nerve growth factor (NGF) have been reported to be successful examples of such treatments. However, there are safety concerns because these systems are based on virus-based gene vectors. A safe and efficient artificial carrier is thus urgently needed as an alternative. In this study, an mRNA based artificial gene carrier was introduced into the mouse brain via intracerebroventricular administration. As a carrier, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) composed of environmentally sensitive lipid-like materials called an SS-cleavable proton-activated lipid-like material is used. The apolipoprotein E mediated cellular uptake of the lipid nanoparticles is one of the key features for its superior and homogeneous transfection activity compared to commercially available transfection reagents in both in vitro and in vivo situations. Immunostaining of brain specimens suggested that exogenous proteins can be introduced into neuronal cells as well as astrocytes using the mRNA-based gene carrier. This cannot be achieved using DNA-based artificial gene carriers. The findings suggest that a combination of an mRNA and a lipid based delivery system have great promise as a platform for the treatment of brain disorders.
• 微小化脂質ナノ粒子によるアジュバントのリンパ節送達

  中村 孝司, 河合 美典, 佐藤 悠介, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集 (公社)日本薬剤学会 33年会 193 - 193 2018/05
• Synergism between a cell penetrating peptide and a pH-sensitive cationic lipid in efficient gene delivery based on double-coated nanoparticles

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Seigo Kimura, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 275 107 - 116 1873-4995 2018/04/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We report on the development of a highly efficient gene delivery system based on synergism between octaarginine (R8), a representative cell penetrating peptide, and YSK05, a recently developed pH-sensitive cationic lipid. Attaching a high density of R8 on the surface of YSK05 nanoparticles (NPs) that contained encapsulated plasmid DNA resulted in the formation of positively charged NPs with improved transfection efficiency. To avoid the development of a net positive charge, we controlled the density and topology of the R8 peptide through the use of a two-step coating methodology, in which the inner lipid coat was modified with a low density of R8 which was then covered with an outer neutral YSK05 lipid layer. Although used in low amounts, the R8 peptide improved cellular uptake and endosomal escape of the DNA encapsulated in YSK05 NPs, which resulted in a high transfection efficiency. The two-step coating design was essential for achieving a high degree of transfection, as evidenced by the low activity of NPs modified with the same amount of R8 in a regular single-coated design. In addition, a high transfection efficiency was not observed when R8 or YSK05 were used alone, which confirms the existence of a synergistic effect between both components. The results of this study indicate that cationic cell penetrating peptides have the ability to improve transfection activities without imparting a net positive charge when used in the proper amount and in conjunction with the appropriate design. This is expected to significantly increase the potential applications of these peptides as tools for augmenting the activity of lipid nanoparticles used in gene delivery.
• Mitochondrial transgene expression via an artificial mitochondrial DNA vector in cells from a patient with a mitochondrial disease

  Takuya Ishikawa, Kana Somiya, Reina Munechika, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuma Yamada

  Journal of Controlled Release 274 109 - 117 1873-4995 2018/03/28 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To achieve mitochondrial gene therapy, developing a mitochondrial transgene expression system that produces therapeutic proteins in mitochondria of disease cells is essential. We previously reported on the design of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) containing a CMV promotor and a NanoLuc (Nluc) luciferase gene that records adjustments to the mitochondrial codon system, and showed that the mitochondrial transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) resulted in the efficient production of the Nluc luciferase protein in human HeLa cells. This mitochondrial transfection was achieved using a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier for delivering a cargo to mitochondria via membrane fusion. We report herein that mitochondrial transfection using the MITO-Porter results in mitochondrial transgene expression in G625A fibroblasts obtained from a patient with a mitochondrial disease. We investigated the effect of promoters and the basic structure of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) on gene expression efficiency, and were able to construct a high performance mitochondrial DNA vector, pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) [hND4] that contains a human mitochondrial endogenous gene. We also constructed an RP/KALA-MITO-Porter composed of the KALA peptide (cell-penetrating peptide) with a mitochondrial RNA aptamer to enhance cellular uptake and mitochondrial targeting. Finally, the mitochondrial transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) [hND4] in G625A fibroblasts using the RP/KALA-MITO-Porter resulted in strong mitochondrial transgene expression.
• Targeting the mitochondrial genome through a nanocarrier and the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Mitochondrial Biology and Experimental Therapeutics 491 - 498 2018/03/21 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria are attractive organelles that have the potential to contribute greatly to medical therapy. This organnelle is responsible for a variety of essential functions including ATP production and the regulation of apoptosis, and they have their own genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It has recently become evident that a variety of human diseases are associated with mitochondrial dysfunctions caused by mutations and defects in mtDNA. Therefore, the ability to successfully target the mitochondrial genome and to regulate mitochondrial gene expression would contribute to mitochondrial gene therapy for various human diseases. To achieve such an innovative objective, it will be necessary to deliver various cargoes to mitochondria in living cells. However, only a limited number of approaches are available for accomplishing this. In this chapter, we discuss problems associated with mitochondrial delivery systems and mitochondrial gene expression, and propose a strategy for overcoming these problems based our current efforts. To this end, we highlight a MITO-Porter, a mitochondrial delivery system, and show some examples of the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression including mitochondrial RNA knockdown and mitochondrial transgene expression.
• Advances in microfluidics for lipid nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles and applications in drug delivery systems

  Masatoshi Maeki, Niko Kimura, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 128 84 - 100 1872-8294 2018/03/15 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid-based nanobiomaterials as liposomes and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most widely used nanocarriers for drug delivery systems (DDSs). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exosomes are also expected to be applied as DDS nanocarriers. The performance of nanomedicines relies on their components such as lipids, targeting ligands, encapsulated DNA, encapsulated RNA, and drugs. Recently, the importance of the nanocarrier sizes smaller than 100 nm is attracting attention as a means to improve nanomedicine performance. Microfluidics and lab-on-a chip technologies make it possible to produce size-controlled LNPs by a simple continuous flow process and to separate EVs from blood samples by using a surface marker, ligand, or electric charge or by making a mass or particle size discrimination. Here, we overview recent advances in microfluidic devices and techniques for liposomes, LNPs, and EVs and their applications for DDSs.
• がん組織における浸潤性向上を目指した極小脂質ナノ粒子の開発

  岡部 奈々, 佐藤 悠介, 真栄城 正寿, 渡慶次 学, 原島 秀吉

  日本薬学会年会要旨集 (公社)日本薬学会 138年会 (4) 78 - 78 0918-9823 2018/03
• An efficient PEGylated gene delivery system with improved targeting: Synergism between octaarginine and a fusogenic peptide

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics 538 (1-2) 179 - 187 1873-3476 2018/03/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Because of their ability to translocate different cargos into cells, arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising vehicles for drug and gene delivery. The use of CPP-based carriers, however, is hampered by the lack of specificity and by interactions with negative serum components. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used to decrease such non-specific interactions, albeit its use is associated with reduced transfection efficiency. In this study, we describe the development of PEGylated CPP-based gene carrier with an improved targeting and a high transfection activity. The system was prepared by condensing DNA with a polycation followed by coating with a lipid envelope containing the octaarginine (R8) peptide as a model CPP. R8-modified nanoparticles produced high transfection activities, but the efficiency was reduced by PEG shielding. The reduced activity could be fully restored by the addition of a targeting ligand and a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide. The efficiency of the proposed system is quite high, even in the presence of serum, and shows improved targeting and selectivity. Surprisingly, the effect of the fusogenic peptide was dramatically reduced in the absence of R8. Although shielded, R8 augmented the activity of the fusogenic peptide, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two peptides at the intracellular level.
• In Vivo Transgene Expression in the Pancreas by the Intraductal Injection of Naked Plasmid DNA

  Yuma Yamada, Mai Tabata, Jiro Abe, Masatoshi Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 107 (2) 647 - 653 1520-6017 2018/02/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Patients with type I diabetes, which is caused by the destruction of pancreatic islets, now require regular therapeutic injections of insulin. The use of transgene therapy represents an alternate and potent strategy for the treatment of type I diabetes. However, only a limited number of studies regarding in vivo gene delivery targeting the pancreas and islets have been reported. Here, we report on the possibility of in vivo transgene expression in the pancreas by the intraductal injection of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA). Gene expression activities were detected in the pancreas of mice after the injection of naked pDNA encoding luciferase into the common bile duct. We then investigated the effects of injection dose, volume, and speed on gene delivery and determined the optimal conditions for the delivery of pDNA to the pancreas. Exogenous luciferase mRNA was detected in the pancreatic islets by reverse transcription PCR analysis. Moreover, no injury was detected in the liver, the common bile duct, or the pancreas over time after the injection. These findings indicate that the intraductal injection of naked pDNA promises to be a useful technique for in vivo gene delivery targeted to pancreatic tissue and islets.
• Failure of active targeting by a cholesterol-anchored ligand and improvement by altering the lipid composition to prevent ligand desorption

  Shoshiro Yamamoto, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics 536 (1) 42 - 49 1873-3476 2018/01/30 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Although anti-angiogenic therapy is predicted to be an effective therapy for treating cancer, selectively targeting tumor endothelial cells (TECs), and not normal endothelial cells, remains a major obstacle. Modifying a drug carrier with a targeting ligand is a popular strategy for developing an active-targeting type drug delivery system (DDS). We previously reported that a cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) (cRGD)-equipped liposome that contains encapsulated siRNA (RGD-MEND) achieved an efficient therapeutic outcome in a murine cancer model. To develop a more efficient TEC-targeting DDS, we examined the effect of the length of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) that is used as a peptide-linker on the cholesterol-scaffold, and liposomal composition on the efficiency of delivery of siRNA to cRGD receptor αVβ3 integrin positive cells. An RGD-MEND modified with shorter linker/no-linker, PEG350 or no-PEG, showed a higher cellular uptake in vitro. However, a shorter or no-linker RGD-cholesterol-modified MEND showed no silencing effect despite its high, in vitro silencing efficiency. To examine the possibility that the cholesterol-scaffold ligand was removed from the surface of the RGD-MEND by interactions with serum proteins, the RGD-MEND was incubated in the presence of a 50% serum solution. The cellular uptake of the cholesterol-scaffold ligand was drastically reduced by the incubation in serum. Increasing the cholesterol ratio in the lipid envelope and adding a helper lipid improved the in vivo knockdown efficiency, probably due to an enhanced ligand retention, even in in vivo conditions. The findings reported herein suggest that the lipid composition and the ligand scaffold of the MEND are major factors in successfully developing an efficient active-targeting DDS.
• Mixing lipids to manipulate the ionization status of lipid nanoparticles for specific tissue targeting

  Nour Shobaki, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International Journal of Nanomedicine 13 8395 - 8410 1178-2013 2018 

  Introduction: The development of targeted drug delivery systems is a rapidly growing area in the field of nanomedicine. Methods: We report herein on optimizing the targeting efficiency of a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) by manipulating the acid dissociation constant (pKa) value of its membrane, which reflects its ionization status. Instead of changing the chemical structure of the lipids to achieve this, we used a mixture of two types of pH-sensitive cationic lipids that show different pKa values in a single LNP. We mixed various ratios of YSK05 and YSK12-C4 lipids, which have pKa values of 6.50 and 8.00, respectively, in one formulation (referred to as YSK05/12-LNP). Results: The pKa of the YSK05/12-LNP was dependent not only on the molar ratio of each lipid but also on the individual contribution of each lipid to the final pKa (the YSK12-C4 lipid showed a higher contribution). Furthermore, we succeeded in targeting and delivering short interfering RNA to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells using one of the YSK05/12-LNPs which showed an optimum pKa value of 7.15 and an appropriate ionization status (~36% cationic charge) to permit the particles to be taken up by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Conclusion: This strategy has the potential for preparing custom LNPs with endless varieties of structures and final pKa values, and would have poten tial applications in drug delivery and ionic-based tissue targeting.
• A post-treatment methodology for precise size control of lipid nanoparticles by stepwise and rapid ethanol dilution

  Niko Kimura, Masatoshi Maeki, Nana Okabe, Yusuke Sato, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  22nd International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2018 3 1404 - 1405 2018 

  This paper reports a methodology for precise controlling the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) size by stepwise and rapid ethanol dilution using an integrated microfluidic device with baffle mixers. The integrated microfluidic device coupling the LNP synthesis and the post-treatment regions had better size controllability of LNPs than the conventional preparation methods. Additionally, 30 nm-sized siRNA-loaded LNPs prepared by the post-treatment process using the integrated microfluidic device showed great gene-silencing activity and specific intrahepatic biodistribution. The stepwise and rapid ethanol dilution methodology using the integrated microfluidic device provides LNPs with homogeneous size distribution for improving the efficacy of nanomedicines.
• EPR effect and development of new strategy for nanoparticle delivery via remodeling tumor microenvironment based on tumor vasculature targeting

  Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Drug Delivery System 33 (2) 98 - 104 1881-2732 2018 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  A discovery of the EPR effect allowed for remarkable progress in a delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics using cancer-targeting nanoparticle. However, recent report on meta-analysis among several clinical trial with patients treated with liposomal doxorubicin revealed that liposomal doxorubicin was not superior to free doxorubicin in terms of therapeutic effect. This difference would be caused by the difference between non-clinical model and clinical model with regard to growth speed, tumor growth speed, tumor microenvironment, endpoint (tumor size vs. over survival). We would like to introduce this report in detail. In addition, to evaluate the effect of tumor microenvironment on the delivery of nanoparticle and to enhance that through remodeling tumor microenvironment, we have recently developed a new strategy that remodeling tumor microenvironment by siRNA delivery to tumor vasculature enhanced the intratumoral distribution of nanoparticles. Specifically in hyperangiogenic cancer, anti-angiogenic therapy by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) enhanced the delivery of nanoparticles to tumor tissue, which was inconsistent with previous report. We herein would like to explain this contradiction in terms of tumor microenvironment and introduce our new strategy.
• Liposome Microencapsulation for the Surface Modification and Improved Entrapment of Cytochrome c for Targeted Delivery

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Tatsuhito Katsumi, Takashi Nakamura, Masatoshi Kataoka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JAOCS, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 95 (1) 101 - 109 0003-021X 2018/01/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, we established a procedure based on the microencapsulation vesicle (MCV) method for preparing surface-modified liposomes, using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a site-directed ligand, with high entrapment efficiency of cytochrome c (Cyt c). For preparing a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were dissolved in organic solvents (O phase) and emulsified by sonication with aqueous solution of Cyt c (W1). Although the dispersion stability of the W1/O emulsion was low when n-hexane was used to dissolve the lipids in the O phase, it was substantially improved by using mixed solvents consisting of n-hexane and other organic solvents, such as ethanol and dichloromethane (DCM). The W1/O emulsion was then added to another water phase (W2) to prepare the W1/O/W2 emulsion. PEG- and/or ligand-modified lipids were introduced into the W2 phase as external emulsifiers not only for stabilizing the W1/O/W2 emulsion but also for modifying the surface of liposomes obtained later. After solvent evaporation and extrusion for downsizing the liposomes, approximately 50% of Cyt c was encapsulated in the liposomes when the mixed solvent consisting of n-hexane and DCM at a volume ratio of 75/25 was used in the O phase. Finally, the fluorescence-labeled liposomes, with a peptide ligand having affinity to the vasculature in adipose tissue, were prepared by the MCV method and intravenously injected into mice. Confocal microscopy showed the substantial accumulation of these liposomes in the adipose tissue vessels. Taken together, the MCV technique, along with solvent optimization, could be useful for generating surface-modified liposomes with high drug entrapment efficiency for targeted delivery.
• Cardiac progenitor cells activated by mitochondrial delivery of resveratrol enhance the survival of a doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy mouse model via the mitochondrial activation of a damaged myocardium

  Jiro Abe, Yuma Yamada, Atsuhito Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 269 177 - 188 0168-3659 2018/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been reported that transplanting native cells would lack efficiency without producing artificial cell-tissue, due to the exaggerated oxidative stress in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. We attempted to activate cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) by delivering resveratrol to mitochondria using a mitochondrial drug delivery system (MITO-Porter system). We first evaluated the viability of H9c2 cells (a cardio myoblast cell line) after doxorubicin treatment, where H9c2 cells were co-cultured with or without the mitochondria activated CPCs (referred to herein as MITO cell). We next evaluated the survival rate of doxorubicin treated mice, with or without the injection of MITO cells into the myocardium. Finally, we examined the molecular mechanism of the cell therapy by detecting oxidative stress and the induction of apoptosis in addition to quantification of the mRNA and protein levels about oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The MITO cell transplanted mice lived significantly longer than the conventional CPC transplanted ones. Oxidative stress and massive cell death were both significantly reduced in the MITO cell transplanted hearts, in which the expression levels of OXPHOS protein and gene were also higher than the control group. In doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy, the transplantation of MITO cells, which possess activated mitochondria, is more efficient compared to conventional CPC transplantation.
• Nano-sized drug carriers: Extravasation, intratumoral distribution, and their modeling

  Joseph W. Nichols, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima, You Han Bae

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 267 31 - 46 0168-3659 2017/12 [Refereed][Invited]
   

  Navigating intratumoral drug distribution has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of drug delivery. The barriers are significant and varied; increased diffusional distances, elevated interstitial fluid pressure, regions of dense extracellular matrix and high cell density, and overall heterogeneity. Such a long list imposes significant requirements on nano-sized carriers. Unfortunately, other capabilities are eclipsed by the distribution requirements. A drug can do no good until it reaches its target. Numerous strategies to improve drug distribution have been developed, taking account of various unique characteristics of solid tumors, including some mechanisms that are still not fully understood. Most of these strategies were from small animal tumor models which are our primary tool for understanding cancer physiology. The small animal tumor model is the most versatile and effective means of understanding tumor transport, but its prevalence belies some of its weaknesses. Tumors grown under lab conditions are developed much more quickly than naturally developed cancers, potentially impacting tumor heterogeneity, blood vessel development, extracellular matrix organization, cell diversity, and many other features of structure and physiology that may impact transport. These problems come in addition to the difficulties of making precise measurements within a living tumor. Resolving these problems is best done by improving our analysis methods, and by finding complementary models that can clarify and expound the details. In this review, we will first discuss some of the strategies employed to improve transport and then highlight some of the new models that have recently been developed in the Bae lab and how they may aid in the study of tumor transport in the future.
• Preparation of envelope-type lipid nanoparticles containing gold nanorods for photothermal cancer therapy

  West Kristian D. Paraiso, Hiroki Tanaka, Yusuke Sato, Daiki Shirane, Noriyuki Suzuki, Yasumitsu Ogra, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hiroki Yoshioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES 160 715 - 723 0927-7765 2017/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The use of gold nanorods (AuNRs) that produce heat in response to near infrared (NIR) irradiation is an attractive approach to cancer photothermal therapy. AuNRs are usually prepared by using a highly toxic detergent: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Thus, the removal of CTAB from the reaction mixture, and further stabilization of the surface of the AuNRs is required. In the present study, AuNRs were encapsulated in a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (AuNR-MEND) formed with an SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material. In the process of encapsulation, AuNRs were first stabilized with bovine serum albumin (AuNR-BSA), and then further encapsulated in the lipid envelope by the ethanol dilution method. The in vitro photothermal cytotoxicity of AuNR-MEND was further demonstrated on 4T1 breast cancer cells. After NIR radiation, the temperature of the medium was increased to approximately 60 degrees C, and cell viability was drastically decreased to approximately 11%. However, this cytotoxic effect cannot simply be explained by medium heating. It therefore appears that intracellular delivery of the AuNRs is a key factor for achieving a high degree of cytotoxicity. Dose dependent cytotoxicity data revealed that a higher dose of AuNR-MEND resulted in the complete destruction of the cells when they were subjected to NIR irradiation, while the cell survival rate reached a plateau at 30% in the case of AuNR-BSA. Apoptosis was induced after treatment with the nanoparticles. AuNR-MEND showed superior cellular uptake activity over AuNR-BSA. Thus, delivering AuNR by means of functionalized lipid nanoparticles represents a promising approach to induce NIR-triggered apoptosis. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Optical control of mitochondrial reductive reactions in living cells using an electron donor-acceptor linked molecule

  Yuta Takano, Reina Munechika, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroshi Imahori, Yuma Yamada

  NANOSCALE 9 (47) 18690 - 18698 2040-3364 2017/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been known for decades that intracellular redox reactions control various vital functions in living systems, which include the synthesis of biomolecules, the modulation of protein functions, and cell signaling. Although there have been several reports on the control of such functions using DNA and RNA, the non-invasive optical control of biological functions is an important ongoing challenge. In this study, a hybrid of an electron donor-acceptor linked molecule based on a ferrocene(Fc)-porphyrin(ZnP)-fullerene-(C-60) analogue and an elaborately designed nano-carrier, referred to herein as a MITO-Porter, resulted in a successful photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer reaction via the long-lived intramolecular charge separation, leading to site-specific reductive reactions in the mitochondria of living HeLa cells. A Fc-ZnP-C-60 linked molecule, 1-Oct, was designed and prepared for taking advantage of the unique photophysical properties with excellent efficiency (i.e. a long lifetime and a high quantum yield) for photoinduced charge separation. The targeted delivery of 1-Oct to mitochondria was accomplished by using a combination of the Fc-ZnP-C-60 molecule and a drug delivery nano-carrier, MITO-Porter, that was recently established by our group for intracellular cargo delivery. The successful delivery of 1-Oct by the MITO-Porter permitted the optically-controlled generation of O-2(-) in the mitochondria of HeLa cells and the following induction of apoptosis as a cell signalling response was observed in confocal laser microscopy experiments. The obtained results indicate the use of an electron donor-acceptor system such as this can be a promising tool for the non-invasive triggering of redox-coupled cellular activities in living systems.
• Packaging of the Coenzyme Q(10) into a Liposome for Mitochondrial Delivery and the Intracellular Observation in Patient Derived Mitochondrial Disease Cells

  Yuma Yamada, Laila Burger, Eriko Kawamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 40 (12) 2183 - 2190 0918-6158 2017/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  While Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) is thought to be effective for the treatment of a variety of diseases, it limits its cellular uptake. Because of the hydrophobic nature of CoQ(10), it is reasonable to assume that it could be encapsulated within a liposomal carrier. Several reports regarding the packaging of CoQ(10) in liposomes have appeared, but detailed investigations of the preparation of CoQ(10) encapsulated liposomes have not been reported. As a result, information regarding the optimal method of packaging CoQ(10) in liposomes is not available. In this study, several types of liposomes were prepared using different methods and their characteristics were compared. Since CoQ(10) is mainly located in the inner mitochondria! membrane, a liposome that targets mitochondria, a MITO-Porter, was used as a model liposome. It was possible to incorporate high levels of CoQ(10) into the carrier. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that an empty MITO-Porter and the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter were structurally different from one another. Even though significant structural differences were observed, mitochondria! delivery was not affected in mitochondria! disease fibroblast cells, as evidenced by confocal laser scanning microscopy observations. The results reported herein suggest that the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter might be a suitable candidate for the potential medical therapy of mitochondria-related diseases.
• Highly specific delivery of siRNA to hepatocytes circumvents endothelial cell-mediated lipid nanoparticle-associated toxicity leading to the safe and efficacious decrease in the hepatitis B virus

  Yusuke Sato, Hideki Matsui, Naoki Yamamoto, Risa Sato, Tsubasa Munakata, Michinori Kohara, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 266 216 - 225 0168-3659 2017/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the leading technology for delivering short interfering RNA (siRNA) in vivo. While numerous attempts to improve the efficiency of siRNA delivery have been reported, only a few studies of the mechanism of LNP-mediated toxicity and attempts to develop safe LNPs in vivo have been reported, in spite of the significance of such systems, in the light of treatment and clinical applications. We herein report on the elucidation of the mechanism of hepatotoxicity following the intravenous injection of a high dose of hepatotropic LNPs. The LNPs accumulated in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), resulting in their activation and the induction of several cytokines related to neutrophils, followed by neutrophilic inflammation. To circumvent this toxic cascade, the LNPs were modified with a hepatocyte-specific ligand, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc), which resulted in a substantial improvement of hepatocyte-specificity and in a dramatic reduction in toxicity. Moreover, modification of the GalNAc-LNPs with polyethyleneglycol abrogated the LNP-associated toxicity without any detectable loss of gene silencing activity in hepatocytes. Finally, we observed that a single injection of the LNPs resulted in a significant reduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomic DNA and their antigens without any sign of toxicity in chimeric mice with humanized livers that had been persistently infected with HBV. These lines of the fact suggest that the newly designed siRNA-loaded LNPs promise to be a useful technology for the treatment of liver diseases.
• Integration of nano drug-delivery system with cancer immunotherapy

  Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Therapeutic Delivery 8 (11) 987 - 1000 2041-6008 2017/11/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Immune checkpoint therapy represents a new, revolutionary type of cancer therapy, but emerging evidence indicates that only a minority of patients will benefit from it. The issue of how to improve and widen the clinical response is a pivotal issue, and combining other types of therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is currently under development. A nanotechnology-based drug-delivery system (nano DDS) could be an important contribution to the development of an effective combination therapy. In this document, we review recent findings in the field of tumor immunology, which provide a strategy for an efficient combination therapy, and discuss nano DDS that are associated with cancer immunotherapy and nano DDS strategies based on the immune status in tumor microenvironments.
• Understanding the formation mechanism of lipid nanoparticles in microfluidic devices with chaotic micromixers

  Masatoshi Maeki, Yuka Fujishima, Yusuke Sato, Takao Yasui, Noritada Kaji, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  PLOS ONE 12 (11) e0187962  1932-6203 2017/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) or liposomes are the most widely used drug carriers for nanomedicines. The size of LNPs is one of the essential factors affecting drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficiency. Here, we demonstrated the effect of lipid concentration and mixing performance on the LNP size using microfluidic devices with the aim of understanding the LNP formation mechanism and controlling the LNP size precisely. We fabricated microfluidic devices with different depths, 11 mu m and 31 mu m, of their chaotic micromixer structures. According to the LNP formation behavior results, by using a low concentration of the lipid solution and the microfluidic device equipped with the 31 mu m chaotic mixer structures, we were able to produce the smallest-sized LNPs yet with a narrow particle size distribution. We also evaluated the mixing rate of the microfluidic devices using a laser scanning confocal microscopy and we estimated the critical ethanol concentration for controlling the LNP size. The critical ethanol concentration range was estimated to be 60-80% ethanol. Ten nanometer-sized tuning of LNPs was achieved for the optimum residence time at the critical concentration using the microfluidic devices with chaotic mixer structures. The residence times at the critical concentration necessary to control the LNP size were 10, 15-25, and 50 ms time-scales for 30, 40, and 50 nm-sized LNPs, respectively. Finally, we proposed the LNP formation mechanism based on the determined LNP formation behavior and the critical ethanol concentration. The precise size-controlled LNPs produced by the microfluidic devices are expected to become carriers for next generation nanomedicines and they will lead to new and effective approaches for cancer treatment.
• Identification and Evaluation of the Minimum Unit of a KALA Peptide Required for Gene Delivery and Immune Activation

  Naoya Miura, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hiroki Yoshioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 106 (10) 3113 - 3119 0022-3549 2017/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The KALA peptide (WEAKLAKALAKALAKHLAKALAKALKA) is an amphiphilic peptide that forms an a-helical structure at physiological pH. We previously reported that, when a plasmid DNA-encapsulating liposomal membrane is modified with the KALA peptide, transgene expression and immune activation are facilitated in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). However, the minimum unit of the KALA peptide and the importance of its secondary structure for these activities are not completely known at this time. We herein report on the identification of the minimum unit of the KALA peptide (short-KALA) required for activity, as determined by the stepwise removal of "K-A-L-A" units. We evaluated the activities of 4 types of short-KALAs by modifying plasmid DNA-encapsulating multi-functional envelop-type nano devices. Among the peptides tested, a short-KALA3 (WEAKLAKALAKALA) was the shortest KALA peptide that could form an alpha-helical structure, as well as to elicit transgene expression and immune activation in BMDCs. Furthermore, the function of the short-KALA3 as an inducer of cellular uptake was retained, while uptake was completely lost in more shortened versions of KALA (short KALA4), in that transgene expression and immunological activation were both completely lost. These collective data show that the KALA peptide must form an alpha-helical structure to induce cellular uptake in BMDCs. (C) 2017 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Efficient siRNA Delivery by Lipid Nanoparticles Modified with a Nonstandard Macrocyclic Peptide for EpCAM-Targeting

  Yu Sakurai, Wataru Mizumura, Manami Murata, Tomoya Hada, Shoshiro Yamamoto, Kenichiro Ito, Kazuhiro Iwasaki, Takayuki Katoh, Yuki Goto, Asako Takagi, Michinori Kohara, Hiroaki Suga, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 14 (10) 3290 - 3298 1543-8384 2017/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The development of a specific, effective method for the delivery of therapeutics including small molecules and nucleic acids to tumor tissue remains to be solved. Numerous types of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been developed in attempts to achieve this goal. However, LNPs are probably not taken up by target cells because cancer-targeting LNPs are typically modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which inhibits the cellular uptake of LNPs, to passively accumulate in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. It would clearly be important to develop a LNP with both a prolonged circulation and cancer-specific efficient uptake for use in an innovative nanodrug delivery system. Herein, we assessed the effect of nonstandard macrocyclic peptides against the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) Epi-1, which was discovered by a random nonstandard peptides integrated discovery (RaPID) system, on the cellular uptake and therapeutics delivery of LNPs. A liposomal siRNA delivery system (MEND) was modified with an Epi-1 lipid-derivative (EpCAM-targeting MEND; ET-MEND). The resulting ET-MEND showed a more than 27-fold increase in cellular uptake in EpCAM-positive cell lines. In the case of negative cells, cellular uptake and the efficiency of the ET-MEND for delivering therapeutics were comparable with those of nonmodified MEND. In addition, when systemically injected, the ET-MEND successfully inhibited gene expression in the tumor tissue at a dose of 0.5 mg siRNA/kg without any obvious toxicity. These results suggest that a combination of a specific peptide ligand can be used to identify a RaPID system and that the use of such a MEND for liposomal drug delivery has the potential for use in developing a system for the efficacious delivery of pharmaceuticals to various cancer cells.
• Mitochondrial Delivery of Doxorubicin Using MITO-Porter Kills Drug-Resistant Renal Cancer Cells via Mitochondrial Toxicity

  Yuma Yamada, Reina Munechika, Eriko Kawamura, Yu Sakurai, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 106 (9) 2428 - 2437 0022-3549 2017/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Most anticancer drugs are intended to function in the nuclei of cancer cells. If an anticancer drug could be delivered to mitochondria, the source of cellular energy, this organelle would be destroyed, resulting in the arrest of the energy supply and the killing of the cancer cells. To achieve such an innovative strategy, a mitochondrial drug delivery system targeted to cancer cells will be required. We recently reported on the development of a MITO-Porter, a liposome for mitochondrial delivery. In this study, we validated the utility of such a cancer therapeutic strategy by delivering anticancer drugs directly to mitochondria. We succeeded in packaging doxorubicin (DOX) as a model cargo in MITO-Porter to produce a DOX-MITO-Porter. We evaluated cellular toxicity of OS-RC-2 cell, a type of DOX-resistant cancer cell, after delivering DOX to mitochondria using the MITO-Porter system. Cell viability was decreased by the DOX-MITO-Porter treatment, while cell viability was not decreased in the case of naked DOX and a conventional DOX liposomal formulation. We also found a relationship between cellular toxicity and mitochondrial toxicity. The use of a MITO-Porter system for mitochondrial delivery of a toxic agent represents a possible therapeutic strategy for treating drug-resistant cancers. (C) 2017 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• PEGylation of the GALA Peptide Enhances the Lung-Targeting Activity of Nanocarriers That Contain Encapsulated siRNA

  Sarochin Santiwarangkool, Hidekata Akita, Taichi Nakatani, Kenji Kusumoto, Hiroki Kimura, Masaru Suzuki, Masaharu Nishimura, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 106 (9) 2420 - 2427 0022-3549 2017/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A alpha-helical GALA peptide (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA) has been found to possess dual functions: a pH-dependent inducer of endosomal escape, and a ligand that targets lung endothelium. In the present study, the flexibility of GALA was improved by modifying the edge with polyethylene glycol linker, to increase lung-targeting activity. We first investigated the uptake of the GALA-modified liposomes in which GALA was directly conjugated to the lipid (Cholesterol: GALA/Chol) or the phospholipid-PEG (GALA/PEG(2000)). The liposomes that were modified with GALA/PEG(2000) (GALA/PEG(2000)-LPs) were taken up at a higher level by human lung endothelial cells (HMVEC-L), in comparison with particles that were modified with GALA/Chol (GALA/Chol-LPs). Small-interfering RNA-encapsulating liposomal-based nanocarriers (multifunctional envelope-type nano device: MEND) that were formulated with a vitamin E-scaffold SS-cleavable pH-activated lipid-like material, namely GALA/PEG(2000)-MENDssPalmE were also modified with GALA/PEG(2000). Gene silencing activity in the lung endothelium was then evaluated against an endothelial marker; CD31. In comparison with the unmodified MENDssPalmE, GALA/PEG(2000)-MENDssPalmE exhibited a higher silencing activity in the lung. Optimization of GALA/PEG(2000)-MENDssPalmE resulted in silencing activity in the lung with an ED50 value of 0.21 mg/kg, while non-specific gene silencing in liver was marginal. Collectively, PEGylated GALA is a promising device for use in targeting the lung endothelium. (C) 2017 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• pH-labile PEGylation of siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticle improves active targeting and gene silencing activity in hepatocytes

  Kazuki Hashiba, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 262 239 - 246 0168-3659 2017/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are one of the promising technologies for the in vivo delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA). Modifying LNPs with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) is widely used to inhibit non-specific interactions with serum components in the blood stream, and is a useful strategy for maximizing the efficiency of active targeting. However, it is a widely accepted fact that PEGylation of the LNP surface strongly inhibits fusion between LNPs and endosomal membranes, resulting in poor cytosolic siRNA delivery, a process that is referred to as the 'PEGdilemma'. In the present study, in an attempt to overcome this problem, siRNA-loaded LNPs were modified with PEG through maleic anhydride, a pH-labile linkage. The in vitro, suppression of cationic charge, stealth function at physiological pH up to 1 h and the rapid desorption of PEG and restoration of fusogenic activity under slightly acidic conditions (within only 2 min) were achieved by PEG modification of the LNPs through maleic anhydride. In vivo, PEG modification through maleic anhydride resulted in a dramatic improvement in the targeting capability of the active targeting of ligand (N-acetyl-D-galactosamine)-modified LNPs to hepatocytes, with an approximately 14-fold increase in gene silencing activity in factor 7 model mice. Taken together, the maleic an-hydride-mediated pH-labile PEGylation of the active targeting LNPs is a useful strategy for achieving the specific and efficient delivery of siRNAs in vivo.
• Validation of the use of an artificial mitochondrial reporter DNA vector containing a Cytomegalovirus promoter for mitochondrial transgene expression

  Yuma Yamada, Takuya Ishikawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 136 56 - 66 0142-9612 2017/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria have their own gene expression system that is independent of the nuclear system, and control cellular functions in cooperation with the nucleus. While a number of useful technologies for achieving nuclear transgene expression have been reported, only a few have focused on mitochondria. In this study, we validated the utility of an artificial mitochondrial DNA vector with a virus promoter on mitochondrial transgene expression. We designed and constructed pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) that contains a CMV promotor derived from Cytomegalovirus and an artificial mitochondrial genome with a NanoLuc (Nluc) luciferase gene that records adjustments to the mitochondrial codon system. Nluc luciferase activity measurements showed that the pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) efficiently produced the Nluc luciferase protein in human HeLa cells. Moreover, we optimized the mitochondrial transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) using a MITO-Porter system, a liposome-based carrier for mitochondrial delivery via membrane fusion. As a result, we found that transfection of pCMV-mtLuc (CGG) by MITO-Porter modified with the KALA peptide (cationic amphipathic cell-penetrating peptide) showed a high mitochondrial transgene expression. The developed mitochondrial transgene expression system represents a potentially useful tool for the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology for controlling the intracellular microenvironment via the regulation of mitochondrial function and promises to open additional innovative research fields of study. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• ドキソルビシン心筋症に対するミトコンドリアドラッグデリバリーシステムを用いた心筋前駆細胞移植の検討

  阿部 二郎, 山田 勇磨, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会雑誌 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 33 (Suppl.1) s1 - 175 0911-1794 2017/07
• Size-Dependency of the Surface Ligand Density of Liposomes Prepared by Post-insertion

  Shang-Hsuan Lee, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 40 (7) 1002 - 1009 0918-6158 2017/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the active targeting of a drug delivery system (DDS), the density of the ligand on the functionalized liposome determines its affinity for binding to the target. To evaluate these densities on the surface of different sized liposomes, 4 liposomes with various diameters (188, 137, 70, 40 nm) were prepared and their surfaces were modified with fluorescently labeled ligand lipid conjugates by the post-insertion method. Each liposomal mixture was fractionated into a series of fractions using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and the resulting liposome fractions were precisely analyzed and the surface ligand densities calculated. The data collected using this methodology indicate that the density of the ligand on a particle is greatly dependent on the size of the liposome. This, in turn, indicates that smaller lip osomes (75-40nm) tend to possess higher densities. For developing active targeting systems, size and the density of the ligands are two important and independent factors that can affect the efficiency of a system as it relates to medical use.
• リンパ節内樹状細胞を標的とした極小ナノキャリアシステムの開発

  河合 美典, 中村 孝司, 佐藤 悠介, 真栄城 正寿, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 33回 175 - 175 2017/06
• オートファジー誘導能を有する超分子構造ポリマー搭載ミトコンドリアDDSの構築

  大工原 伸之輔, 山田 勇磨, 田村 篤志, 西田 慶, 由井 伸彦, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 33回 173 - 173 2017/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Modality of tumor endothelial VEGFR2 silencing-mediated improvement in intratumoral distribution of lipid nanoparticles

  Shoshiro Yamamoto, Akari Kato, Yu Sakurai, Tomoya Hada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 251 1 - 10 0168-3659 2017/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated enhancement in vascular permeability is considered to be a major factor in tumor-targeting delivery via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. We previously reported that the silencing of the endothelial VEGF receptor (VEGFR2) by a liposomal siRNA system (RGD-MEND) resulted in an enhanced intratumoral distribution of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified liposomes (LPs) in a renal cell carcinoma, a type of hypervascularized cancer, although the inhibition of VEGF signaling would be expected to decrease the permeability of the tumor vasculature. We herein report that the enhancement in the intratumoral distribution of LPs by VEGFR2 inhibition was dependent on the vascular type of the tumor (stroma vessel type; SV and tumor vessel type; TV). In the case of TV-type tumors (renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma), inhibiting VEGFR2 improved intratumoral distribution, while no effectwas found in the case of SV-type tumors (colorectal cancer). Moreover, through a comparison of the intratumoral distribution of LPs with a variety of physical properties (100 nmvs 400 nm, neutral vs negative vs positive), VEGFR2 inhibition was found to alter the tumor microenvironment, including heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). In addition, the results regarding the effect of the size of nanoparticles indicated that VEGFR2 inhibition improved the penetration of nanoparticles through the vesselwall, but not via permeability, suggesting the involvement of an unknownmechanism. Our findings suggest that a combination of anti-angiogenic therapy and delivery via the EPR effect would be useful in certain cases, and that altering the tumor microenvironment by VEGFR2 blockade has a drastic effect on the intratumoral distribution of nanoparticles. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Modifying Antigen-Encapsulating Liposomes with KALA Facilitates MHC Class I Antigen Presentation and Enhances Anti-tumor Effects

  Naoya Miura, Hidetaka Akita, Naho Tateshita, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 25 (4) 1003 - 1013 1525-0016 2017/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  For a successful anti-cancer vaccine, antigen presentation on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I is a requirement. To accomplish this, an antigen must be delivered to the cytoplasm by overcoming the endosome/lysosome. We previously reported that a lipid nanoparticle modified with a KALA peptide (WEAKLAKALAKALAKHLAKALAICALICA), an alpha-helical cationic peptide, permits the encapsulated pDNA to be efficiently delivered to the cytoplasm in bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Herein, we report on the use of KALA-modified liposomes as an antigen carrier, in an attempt to induce potent antigen-specific cellular immunity. The subcutaneous injection of KALA-modified ovalbumin (OVA)-encapsulating liposomes (KALA-OVA-LPs) elicited a much more potent OVA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and anti-tumor effect in comparison with particles that were modified with octa-arginine (R8), a cell-penetrating peptide (R8-OVA-LPs). In addition, the numbers of OVA-specific CD8(+) T cells were increased by immunization the KALAOVA-LPs. The treatment of BMDCs with KALA-OVA-LPs induced a substantial MHC class I antigen presentation. Furthermore, the acidic pH-dependent membrane destabilization activity of KALA-OVA-LPs strongly suggests that they are able to escape from endosomes/lysosomes and thereby deliver their cargos to the cytoplasm. Collectively, the KALAmodified liposome is a potential antigen delivery platform for use as a protein vaccine.
• Enhanced transgene expression by plasmid-specific recruitment of histone acetyltransferase

  Mika Nishihara, Genki N. Kanda, Tetsuya Suzuki, Shin'ichiro Yamakado, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING 123 (3) 277 - 280 1389-1723 2017/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Histone acetylation is associated with the activation of genes on chromosomes. Transgene expression from plasmid DNA might be increased by the acetylation of histones bound to plasmid DNA. To examine this hypothesis, we employed a positive feedback system, using a fusion protein of the sequence-specific DNA binding domain of yeast GAL4 and the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain of mouse CREB-binding protein (GAL4-HAT), in which GAL4-HAT promotes its own expression as well as that of a reporter gene product (luciferase). The activator plasmid DNA carrying the gene encoding GAL4-HAT was introduced into mouse Hepal-6 cells, together with the reporter plasmid DNA, by lipofection. Significantly increased luciferase expression was observed by the co-introduction of the activator plasmid DNA. Moreover, the acetylation of histones bound to the reporter plasmid DNA was enriched by the activator plasmid DNA. These results indicated that the GAL4-HAT system is useful for enhanced transgene expression. (C) 2016, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
• Temperature and pH sensitivity of a stabilized self-nanoemulsion formed using an ionizable lipid-like material via an oil-to-surfactant transition

  Hiroki Tanaka, Sho Oasa, Masataka Kinjo, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES 151 95 - 101 0927-7765 2017/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipids functionalized with tertiary amines (ionizable lipids) for a pH-dependent positive charge have been developed extensively as a carrier material for delivering nucleic acids. We previously developed an SS-cleavable proton-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm) as a component of a functionalized lipid envelope structure of a nanoparticle that encapsulated plasmid DNA and short interfering RNA. In this study, we report on the unique characteristics of such an ionizable lipid: the formation of a nano-sized emulsion (ave. 40nm) via pH-triggered self-emulsification in the absence of a cargo (nucleic acids). The particle has a neutral charge at physiological pH and is stabilized by helper lipids and polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-conjugated lipids. The generalized polarization of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan), which indicates the surface polarity caused by the invasion of water onto the surface, changes dynamically in response to pH and temperature, while the fluidity of the intra-particle compartment, as measured by the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), is not affected. Even when the particle contains a high density of PEG on the surface, it shows a high fusogenecity to negatively charged liposomes in response to an acidic pH to a higher degree than a conventional cationic lipid. These characteristics suggest that the ssPalm particle possesses unique properties for delivering lipophilic drugs across the biomembrane. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Modifying Cationic Liposomes with Cholesteryl-PEG Prevents Their Aggregation in Human Urine and Enhances Cellular Uptake by Bladder Cancer Cells

  Takashi Nakamura, Yosuke Noma, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 40 (2) 234 - 237 0918-6158 2017/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Intravesical drug delivery by cationic liposomes (Cat-LPs) represents a potent nanotechnology for enhancing therapeutic effects against bladder disorders. However, preventing the aggregation of Cat-LPs in urine poses a significant barrier. We report on an examination of the effect of modifying liposomes with polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipids to prevent Cat-LPs from aggregating in human urine. Although Cat-LPs underwent significant aggregation in human urine, introducing 5 mol% of PEG2k lipid or 2 mol% of PEG5k lipid completely inhibited the aggregation of the Cat-LPs. When 2 mol% of PEG2k lipids were introduced, the lipid structures of 1,2-distearoly-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol (DSG) greatly prevented aggregation compared with cholesterol. By contrast, when Cat-LPs, after incubation in urine, were exposed to bladder cancer cells, only introducing cholesteryl-PEG into the Cat-LPs showed a significant enhancement in cellular uptake. These results offer the potential for incorporating cholesteryl-PEG into Cat-LPs for achieving both stability in urine and effective cellular uptake.
• MITO-Porter, multifunctional envelope-type nano device for mitochondrial delivery toward innovative nano medicine

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of the Society of Powder Technology, Japan 54 (3) 158 - 166 1883-7239 2017 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A single cell contains a variety of organelles, including a nucleus, mitochondria, the golgi apparatus and others. If it were possible to prepare a nano craft that could specifically target a specific organelle, it would open a new field of research directed toward therapeutic treatments for a variety of diseases. We recently developed a new concept that we refer to as “Programmed Packaging”, by which we succeeded in creating a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) as a non-viral vector. Our attempts to target mitochondria are discussed here, mainly focusing on a MITO-Porter, a MEND for delivering cargoes to mitochondria. A variety of human diseases, including various neurodegenerative disorders, ischemic heart disease, diabetes and cancer have been reported to be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Because of this, mitochondrial therapy would be expected to be useful and productive in the treatment of such diseases. Our findings regarding mitochondrial drug delivery systems that are directed toward mitochondrial nano medicine development are summrized herein.
• Innovative Technologies in Nanomedicines: From Passive Targeting to Active Targeting/From Controlled Pharmacokinetics to Controlled Intracellular Pharmacokinetics

  Yusuke Sato, Yu Sakurai, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE 17 (1) 1616-5187 2017/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Nanomedicines promise to extend drug therapy from small molecular compounds to proteins/nucleic acids/genes. Multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MENDs) have been developed for delivering such molecules to the site of action. The YSK-MEND contains new types of pH-responsive cationic lipids to efficiently deliver siRNA to hepatocytes via receptor-mediated endocytosis and use in treating hepatitis C and B in model mice. The RGD ligand is introduced to target tumor endothelial cells (TEC) and RGD-MEND is able to send siRNA to TEC to regulate the function of tumor microenvironments. The MITO-Porter is also developed to target mitochondria via membrane fusion. Antisense oligo RNA in the MITO-Porter permits the knock down of mitochondrial function. Finally, the ssPalms is designed based on a new concept of pH-dependent protonation in endosomes and cleavage of SS bonds in the reducing conditions in cytosol. These new technologies promise to stimulate the use of Nanomedicines in the future.
• MITO-porter for mitochondrial delivery and mitochondrial functional analysis

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 240 457 - 472 1865-0325 2017 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria are attractive organelles that have the potential to contribute greatly to medical therapy, the maintenance of beauty and health, and the development of the life sciences. Therefore, it would be expected that the further development of mitochondrial drug delivery systems (DDSs) would exert a significant impact on the medical and life sciences. To achieve such an innovative objective, it will be necessary to deliver various cargoes to mitochondria in living cells. However, only a limited number of approaches are available for accomplishing this. We recently proposed a new concept for mitochondrial delivery, a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that introduces macromolecular cargoes into mitochondria via membrane fusion. To date, we have demonstrated the utility of mitochondrial therapeutic strategy by MITOPorter using animal models of diseases. We also showed that the mitochondrial delivery of antisense oligo-RNA by the MITO-Porter results in mitochondrial RNA knockdown and has a functional impact on mitochondria. Here, we summarize the current state of mitochondrial DDS focusing on our research and show some examples of mitochondrial functional regulations using mitochondrial DDS.
• Drug Delivery Research for the Future: Expanding the Nano Horizons and Beyond

  Samir Mitragotri, Twan Lammers, You Han Bae, Steven Schwendeman, Stefaan De Smedt, Jean-Christophe Leroux, Dan Peer, Ick Chan Kwon, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akihiko Kikuchi, Yu-Kyoung Oh, Vladmir Torchilin, Wim Hennink, Justin Hanes, Kinam Park

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 246 183 - 184 0168-3659 2017/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Scalable preparation of poly(ethyleneglycol)-grafted siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles using a commercially available fluidic device and tangential flow filtration

  Yu Sakurai, Tomoya Hada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE-POLYMER EDITION 28 (10-12) 1086 - 1096 0920-5063 2017 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  While a number of siRNA delivery systems have been developed, the methods used in their preparation are not suitable for large-scale production. We herein report on methodology for the large-scale preparation of liposomal siRNA using a fluidic device and tangential flow filtration (TFF). A number of studies have appeared on the use of fluidic devices for preparing and purifying liposomes, but no systematic information regarding appropriate membrane type of commercially available apparatus is available. The findings reported herein indicate that, under optimized conditions, a microfluidic device and TFF can be used to produce siRNA lipid nanoparticles with the same characteristics as traditional ones'. The in vivo silencing efficiency of these lipid nanoparticles in the liver was comparable to laboratory-produced nanoparticles. In addition, con-focal laser scanning microscopy analyses revealed that they accumulated in the liver accumulation at the same levels as particles produced by batch-type and continuous-type procedures. This methodology has the potential to contribute to the advancement of this process from basic research to clinical studies of liposomal DDS.
• Remodeling of the extracellular matrix by endothelial cell-targeting siRNA improves the EPR-based delivery of 100 nm particles

  Yu Sakurai, Tomoya Hada, Shoshiro Yamamoto, Akari Kato, Wataru Mizumura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular Therapy 24 (12) 2090 - 2099 1525-0024 2016/12/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A number of nano drug delivery systems have recently been developed for cancer treatment, most of which are based on the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The advantages of the enhanced permeability and retention effect can be attributed to immature vasculature. Herein we evaluated the intratumoral distribution of lipid nanoparticles when the VEGF receptor 2 on tumor endothelial cells was inhibited by liposomal siRNA. VEGF receptor 2 inhibition resulted in an increase in intratumoral distribution and therapeutic efficacy despite the maturation of the tumor vasculature. A small molecule inhibitor against matrix metalloproteinase and macrophage depletion cancelled the improvement in the distribution of the lipid nanoparticles, suggesting that remodeling of tumor microenvironment played a role in the facilitated intratumoral distribution via the down-regulation of VEGF receptor 2. Accordingly, our results suggest that the enhanced permeability and retention effect is dependent, not only on the structure of the tumor vasculature, but also on the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment including extracellular matrix remodeling. Regulating the tumor microenvironment and the extracellular matrix by delivering tumor endothelial cell-targeting siRNA could potentiate the enhanced permeability and retention effect-based strategy.
• Development of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device and its application to nanomedicine

  Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 244 (Pt B) 194 - 204 0168-3659 2016/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Successful nanomedicines should be based on sound drug delivery systems (DDS) the permit intracellular trafficking as well as the biodistribution of cargos to be controlled. We have been developing new types of DDS that are multifunctional envelope-type nano devices referred to as MENDs. First, we will focus the in vivo delivery of siRNA to hepatocytes using a YSK-MEND which is composed of pH-responsive cationic lipids. The YSK-MEND is capable of inducing efficient silencing activity in hepatocytes and can be used to cure mice that are infected with hepatitis C or B. The YSK-MEND can also be applied to cancer immunotherapy through the activation of immune cells by delivering different compounds such as cyclic-di-GMP, siRNA or alpha-galactosylceramide as a lipid antigen. The findings indicate that, as predicted, these compounds, when encapsulated in the YSK-MEND, can be delivered to the site of action and induced immune activation through different mechanisms. Finally, a MITO-Porter, amembrane fusion-based delivery system to mitochondria, is introduced as an organelle targeting DDS and a new strategy for cancer therapy is proposed by delivering gentamicin to mitochondria of cancer cells. These new technologies are expected to extend the therapeutic area of Nanomedicine by increasing the power of DDS, especially from the view point of controlled intracellular trafficking. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Remodeling of the Extracellular Matrix by Endothelial Cell-Targeting siRNA Improves the EPR-Based Delivery of 100 nm Particles

  Yu Sakurai, Tomoya Hada, Shoshiro Yamamoto, Akari Kato, Wataru Mizumura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 24 (12) 2090 - 2099 1525-0016 2016/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A number of nano drug delivery systems have recently been developed for cancer treatment, most of which are based on the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The advantages of the enhanced permeability and retention effect can be attributed to immature vasculature. Herein we evaluated the intratumoral distribution of lipid nanoparticles when the VEGF receptor 2 on tumor endothelial cells was inhibited by liposomal siRNA. VEGF receptor 2 inhibition resulted in an increase in intratumoral distribution and therapeutic efficacy despite the maturation of the tumor vasculature. A small molecule inhibitor against matrix metalloproteinase and macrophage depletion cancelled the improvement in the distribution of the lipid nanoparticles, suggesting that remodeling of tumor microenvironment played a role in the facilitated intratumoral distribution via the downregulation of VEGF receptor 2. Accordingly, our results suggest that the enhanced permeability and retention effect is dependent, not only on the structure of the tumor vasculature, but also on the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment including extracellular matrix remodeling. Regulating the tumor microenvironment and the extracellular matrix by delivering tumor endothelial cell-targeting siRNA could potentiate the enhanced permeability and retention effect-based strategy.
• Topology of Surface Ligands on Liposomes: Characterization Based on the Terms, Incorporation Ratio, Surface Anchor Density, and Reaction Yield

  Shang-Hsuan Lee, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 39 (12) 1983 - 1994 0918-6158 2016/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The surface topology of ligands on liposomes is an important factor in active targeting in drug delivery systems. Accurately evaluating the density of anchors and bioactive functional ligands on a liposomal surface is critical for ensuring the efficient delivery of liposomes. For evaluating surface ligand density, it is necessary to clarify that on the ligand-modified liposomal surfaces, some anchors are attached to ligands but some are not. To distinguish between these situations, a key parameter, surface anchor density, was introduced to specify amount of total anchors on the liposomal surface. Second, the parameter reaction yield was introduced to identify the amount of ligand-attached anchors among total anchors, since the conjugation efficiency is not always the same nor 100%. Combining these independent parameters, we derived: incorporation ratio=surface anchor densityxreaction yield. The term incorporation ratio defines the surface ligand density. Since the surface anchor density represents the density of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the surfaces in most cases, it also determines liposomal function. It is possible to accurately characterize various PEG and ligand densities and to define the surface topologies. In conclusion, this quantitative methodology can standardize the liposome preparation process and qualify the modified liposomal surfaces.
• Small-sized, stable lipid nanoparticle for the efficient delivery of siRNA to human immune cell lines

  Takashi Nakamura, Moeka Kuroi, Yuki Fujiwara, Shota Warashina, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 6 37849  2045-2322 2016/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) is useful for analyzing the functions of human immune cells. However, the transfection of siRNA to human immune cells is difficult. Here, we used a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) containing YSK12-C4 (YSK12-MEND) to efficiently introduce siRNA to human immune cell lines, Jurkat, THP-1, KG-1 and NK92. The YSK12-MEND was transfected to human immune cell lines at a siRNA dose range of 1-30 nM, resulting that maximum gene silencing efficiencies at the mRNA level in Jurkat, THP-1, KG-1 and NK92 were 96%, 96%, 91% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding values for Lipofectamine RNAiMAX (RNAiMAX) were 37%, 56%, 43% and 19%, respectively. The process associated with cellular uptake played a role in effective gene silencing effect of the YSK12-MEND. The small size and high non-aggregability of the YSK12MEND were advantageous for the cellular internalization of siRNA to immune cell lines. In the case of RNAiMAX, a drastic increase in particles size was observed in the medium used, which inhibited cellular uptake. The YSK12-MEND reported in herein appears to be appropriate for delivering siRNA to human immune cells, and the small particle size and non-aggregability are essential properties.
• Identification of a Nucleoporin358-Specific RNA Aptamer for Use as a Nucleus-Targeting Liposomal Delivery System

  Garima Shrivastava, Mamoru Hyodo, Shige H. Yoshimura, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS 26 (5) 286 - 298 2159-3337 2016/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  An active targeting drug delivery system that targets the nucleus could solve the problem of the treatment of genetic disorders through gene delivery, but it has met with limited success. The purpose of this study was to establish an RNA aptamer-modified nucleus-targeting liposomal carrier system referred to as NupApt-liposomes. RNA aptamers against the Nup358 protein are prepared using a newly established Protein SELEX method. After confirming aptamer binding to the recombinant protein, an aptamer-lipid conjugate (Apt-PEG-DSPE) was prepared. Aptamer-modified liposomes and simple polyethylene glycol (PEG) liposomes were prepared to check its ability to bind to isolated nuclei. Confocal studies indicated that the aptamer-modified liposomes had the ability to bind to isolated nuclei, whereas PEG-liposomes showed only weak binding. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies of inhibition assays also supported the above conclusion. The dissociation constant of the Nucleoporin358-specific aptamer referred to as NupApt01 and NupApt02 were 36 and 70nM, respectively. Finally, with aptamer-modified liposomes, gene expression studies showed a two times better gene expression in NupApt-liposome-treated nuclei in comparison to that of PEG-liposomes. This represents the first artificial RNA aptamer-modified liposomes promoting the specific binding of a nanocarrier to the nucleus, thus improving gene expression in comparison to PEG-liposomes.
• Liver-Specific Silencing of Lipin1 Reduces Fat Mass as Well as Hepatic Triglyceride Biosynthesis in Mice

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Erina Suemitsu, Yusuke Sato, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 39 (10) 1653 - 1661 0918-6158 2016/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipin1, a bifunctional protein, regulates fatty acid utilization in the triglyceride biosynthesis pathway. In the current study, using a liver-specific in vivo short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery system, we examined the pathological and physiological roles of hepatic Lipin1 in the development of insulin resistance and the maintenance of systemic energy homeostasis. Liver-specific silencing of Lipin1 expression was achieved by the systemic administration of siRNA against Lpin1 mRNA (siLpin1)-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to wild type mice at 3-4 d intervals for 25 d. The siLpin1-treated mice showed normal blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, however, triglyceride (TG) levels were reduced in liver and peripheral blood of them. The knockdown of hepatic Lipin1 in mice led to marked decrease in adipose tissue mass and adipocyte diameters in epididymal and inguinal fat depots without the undesired silencing of Lipin1 in adipose tissue. In summary, we report for the first time that the down-regulation of hepatic Lipin1 expression leads to less adiposity as well as a decrease in TG level in the liver and blood circulation, without any alterations in the glucose tolerance and blood glucose levels. Our findings may provide new insights into the physiological roles of hepatic Lipin1 in systemic energy homeostasis.
• ミトコンドリア薬物送達システムを用いた心筋炎に対する新たな治療戦略

  阿部 二郎, 山田 勇磨, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉

  日本小児循環器学会雑誌 (NPO)日本小児循環器学会 32 (Suppl.1) s1 - 208 0911-1794 2016/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect of particle size on their accumulation in an inflammatory lesion in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model

  Ayaka Watanabe, Hiroki Tanaka, Yu Sakurai, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Tatsuya Ohkawara, Hiroshi Takeda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 509 (1-2) 118 - 122 0378-5173 2016/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Taking advantage of the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect is a promising approach for delivering macromolecules or nanoparticles to tumors. Recent studies revealed that this strategy is also applicable for targeting other pathological lesions (i.e. inflammatory disease). In the present study, we report the optimal size of a nanoparticle for allowing the higher accumulation of a particle in an inflammatory lesion using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. As a nanoparticle platform, we utilized a SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm), that can be used to produce particles in a variety of sizes ranging from 50 nm to 180 nm while using the same lipid composition. In healthy mice, particle accumulation remained low regardless of size. In contrast, the accumulation in inflammatory colon tissue was enhanced depending on the progress of the inflammation. In this situation, the apparent uptake clearance accumulation of a mid-sized particle (113 nm on average) was higher than that for smaller and larger (54 nm and 183 nm in average, respectively) ones. Therefore, controlling particle size is an important parameter for the extensive targeting of inflammatory lesion. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Anti-tumor effect via passive anti-angiogenesis of PEGylated liposomes encapsulating doxorubicin in drug resistant tumors

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 509 (1-2) 178 - 187 0378-5173 2016/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The PEGylated liposomal (PEG-LP) Doxorubicin, PEG-LP (DOX), with a diameter of around 100 nm, accumulates in tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, and is used clinically for the treatment of several types of cancer. However, there are a number of tumor types that are resistant to DOX. We report herein on a unique anti-tumor effect of PEG-LP (DOX) in a DOX-resistant tumor xenograft model. PEG-LP (DOX) failed to suppress the growth of the DOX-resistant tumors (ex. non-small cell lung cancer, H69AR; renal cell carcinoma, OSRC-2) as observed in the xenograft model. Unexpectedly, tumor growth was suppressed in a DOX-resistant breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) xenograft model. We investigated the mechanism by which PEG-LP (DOX) responses differ in different drug resistant tumors. In hyperpermeable OSRC-2 tumors, PEG-LP was distributed to deep tumor tissues, where it delivers DOX to drug-resistant tumor cells. In contrast, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules such as collagen, pericytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts render MDA-MB-231 tumors hypopermeable, which limits the extent of the penetration and distribution of PEG-LP, thereby enhancing the delivery of DOX to the vicinity of the tumor vasculature. Therefore, a remarkable anti-angiogenic effect with a preferential suppression in tumor growth is achieved. Based on the above findings, it appears that the response of PEG-LP (DOX) to drug-resistant tumors results from differences in the tumor microenvironment. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Elimination of the biphasic pharmacodynamics of 15d-PGJ2 by controlling its release from a nanoemulsion

  Saed Abbasi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International Journal of Nanomedicine 11 2685 - 2694 1178-2013 2016/06/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) has a dual action of stimulating anti-inflammation and anti-proliferation when exogenously administered at high doses. However, at lower doses, it can be toxic inducing opposite actions, ie, stimulation of both inflammation and cell proliferation. This biphasic phenomenon of 15d-PGJ2 is believed to be due to its multitarget behavior. In this study, we provide a strategy for controlling such biphasic pharmacodynamics by separating its dual actions while retaining the beneficial one by using a nanoemulsion (NE). The 15d-PGJ2 was encapsulated in the NE composed of triolein/distearoyl phosphatidylcholine/Tween 80 at a high encapsulation ratio (> 83%). Furthermore, NE enhanced drug retention by slowing down its release rate, which was, unconventionally, inversely dependent on the total surface area of the NE system. Next, focusing on the biphasic effect on cell proliferation, we found that the 15d-PGJ2-loaded slow-release NE showed only a dose-dependent inhibition of the viability of a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, although a fast-release NE as well as free 15d-PGJ2 exerted a biphasic effect. The observed slow-release kinetics are believed to be responsible for elimination of the biphasic pharmacodynamics of 15d-PGJ2 mainly for two reasons: 1) a high proportion of 15d-PGJ2 that is retained in the NE was delivered to the cytosol, where proapoptotic targets are located and 2) 15d-PGJ2 was able to bypass cell membrane-associated targets that lead to the induction of cellular proliferation. Collectively, our strategy of eliminating the 15d-PGJ2-induced biphasic pharmacodynamics was based on the delivery of 15d-PGJ2 to its desired site of action, excluding undesired sites, on a subcellular level.
• プラスミドDNA結合ヒストンの特異的アセチル化による外来遺伝子発現上昇

  紙谷 浩之, 西原 実香, 神田 元紀, 鈴木 哲矢, 山門 振一郎, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 32回 153 - 153 2016/06
• Protecting liver sinusoidal endothelial cells suppresses apoptosis in acute liver damage

  Tomohito Tanoi, Takafumi Tamura, Naoki Sano, Ken Nakayama, Kiyoshi Fukunaga, Yun-Wen Zheng, Afsana Akhter, Yu Sakurai, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi

  HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH 46 (7) 697 - 706 1386-6346 2016/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Aim: Apoptosis is associated with various types of hepatic disorders. We have developed a novel cell-transfer drug delivery system (DDS) using a multifunctional envelope-type nano device that targets liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the novel DDS containing siRNA at suppressing apoptosis in LSECs. Methods: Bax siRNA was transfected into a sinusoidal endothelial cell line (M1) to suppress apoptosis induced by an anti-Fas antibody and staurosporine. C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: (i) a control group, only intravenous saline; (ii) a nonselective group, injections of siRNA sealed in the nonselective DDS; and (iii) an LSEC-transfer efficient group, injections of siRNA sealed in an LSEC-transfer efficient DDS. Hepatic cell apoptosis was induced by an anti-Fas antibody. Results: Bax siRNA had an anti-apoptotic effect on M1 cells. Serum alanine aminotransferase was reduced in the LSEC-transfer efficient group, as were cleaved caspase-3 and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling positive hepatocytes. Silver impregnation staining indicated that the sinusoidal space was maintained in the LSEC-transfer efficient group but not in the other groups. Electron microscopy showed that the LSECs were slightly impaired, although the sinusoidal structure was maintained in the LSEC-transfer efficient group. Conclusion: Hepatocyte apoptosis was reduced by the efficient suppression of LSEC apoptosis with a novel DDS. Protecting the sinusoidal structure by suppressing LSEC damage will be an effective treatment for acute liver failure.
• In vivo selection of active deoxyribonucleoside kinase by a mutagenic nucleoside analog

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Mana Ito, Kosuke Nishi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 228 52 - 57 0168-1656 2016/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A novel in vivo selection method for active deoxyribonucleoside kinase proteins is described here. A pool of randomly mutated genes for deoxyribonucleoside kinase from Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-dNK) was prepared and inserted into an expression vector. Enzymatically active mutants were selected by repeated cycles, including (i) introduction into Escherichia coli, (ii) treatment of the E. coli pool with a mutagenic deoxyribonucleoside (2-hydroxy-dA), and (iii) selection of antibiotic-resistant colonies resulting from mutations by phosphorylated 2-hydroxy-dA and the subsequent isolation of the plasmid DNAs. The ratio of the resistant colonies increased by two orders of magnitude from the first cycle to the fifth cycle, and then reached a plateau. Fifteen Dm-dNK mutants selected after the seventh and eighth evolution cycles were actually active in vivo. Moreover, one of the mutant proteins was as active as the wild type protein in vitro. These results indicate that this novel in vivo evolution method was useful and that similar strategies would be applicable to other deoxyribonucleoside kinases. In addition, the distribution of mutated amino acids suggests important residues/regions in the Dm-dNK protein. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Elucidation of the physicochemical properties and potency of siRNA-loaded small-sized lipid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery

  Yusuke Sato, Yusuke Note, Masatoshi Maeki, Noritada Kaji, Yoshinobu Baba, Manabu Tokeshi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 229 48 - 57 0168-3659 2016/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Because nanoparticles with diameters less than 50 nm penetrate stromal-rich tumor tissues more efficiently, the synthesis of small-sized nanoparticles encapsulating short interfering RNA (siRNA) is important in terms of realizing novel siRNA medicine for the treatment of various cancers. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the leading systems for the delivery of siRNA in vivo. Limit size LNPs were successfully synthesized using a microfluidic mixing technique. However, the physicochemical properties and potential for in vivo siRNA delivery of the limit-size LNPs have not been examined in detail. In the present study, we prepared LNPs with different diameters from 32 to 67 nm using a microfluidic mixing devise and examined the physicochemical properties of the particles and the potential for their use in delivering siRNA in vitro and in vivo to liver. Reducing the size of the LNPs causes poor-packing and an increased surface area, which result in their instability in serum. Moreover, it was revealed that the ability of endosomal escape (cytosolic siRNA release) of the smaller LNPs is subject to inhibition by serum compared to that of larger counterparts. Taken together, an increase in packing and avoiding the adsorption of serum components are key strategies for the development of next-generation highly potent and small-sized LNPs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A Dual-Ligand Liposomal System Composed of a Cell-Penetrating Peptide and a Mitochondrial RNA Aptamer Synergistically Facilitates Cellular Uptake and Mitochondrial Targeting

  Yuma Yamada, Ryo Furukawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 105 (5) 1705 - 1713 0022-3549 2016/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been reported that the use of mitochondrial RNA aptamers including RNase P (RP) results in the selective mitochondrial delivery of endogenous and exogenous RNAs. The issue of whether these aptamers would be useful ligands for the mitochondrial targeting of a nanoparticle has not been demonstrated to date because nanocarriers modified with these RNA aptamers are insufficiently internalized by cells. We report here on the development of a dual-ligand liposomal system composed of octaarginine (R8), a device that enhances cellular uptake, and an RP aptamer for mitochondrial targeting to permit a nanocarrier to be efficiently delivered to mitochondria. Surprisingly, the cellular uptake of the R8-modified nanocarrier was facilitated by modification with an RP aptamer. The optimal composition of a nanocarrier needed for efficient cellular uptake and mitochondrial targeting was determined. In a confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis, the dual-ligandemodified nanocarrier was found to result in effective mitochondrial targeting through an ATP-dependent pathway and was much more effective than a single-ligand R8-modified nanocarrier. This is the first report of the regulation of intracellular trafficking by a mitochondrial RNA aptamer-modified nanocarrier system. (C) 2016 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Heterogeneity of tumor endothelial cells and drug delivery

  Kyoko Hida, Nako Maishi, Yu Sakurai, Yasuhiro Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS 99 (Pt B) 140 - 147 0169-409X 2016/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To date anti-angiogenic therapy has been used for cancer therapy widely, yielding promising results. However, it has been elucidated that current anti-angiogenic drug has several issues to be solved, such as side-effects and drug resistance. It has been reported that tumor endothelial cells (TECs) differ from normal counterparts. In addition, it was shown that the TECs are heterogeneous according to the malignancy status of tumor. The development of novel strategy for targeting tumor vasculature is required. Recently, we have developed an active targeting system, which targets TECs specifically. In this review, we will discuss how TECs in tumor vasculature are heterogeneous and offer new perspectives on a drug delivery system, which can target heterogeneous tumor blood vessels from a viewpoint of personalized medicine. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Relationship Between the Physicochemical Properties of Lipid Nanoparticles and the Quality of siRNA Delivery to Liver Cells

  Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 24 (4) 788 - 795 1525-0016 2016/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  While a variety of short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery compounds have been developed, a deep understanding of the key parameters that determine the quality of siRNA delivery are not known with certainty. Therefore, an understanding of the factors required for the efficient, selective, and safe delivery of siRNA is a great challenge for successful siRNA delivery. Herein, we report on the development of two pH-sensitive cationic lipids and their use in examining the impact of the acid dissociation constant (pK(a)) value, lipase sensitivity and the size of lipid nanoparticles on the biodistribution, and efficiency and cell specificity of gene silencing in the liver. An increase in the pK(a) value resulted in a significant change in the intrahepatic localization of siRNA and gene-silencing efficiency in hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The sensitivity of the pH-sensitive cationic lipid to lipases was a major factor in achieving hepatocyte-specific gene silencing. Increasing the particle size can improve the LSEC specificity of gene silencing. As a consequence, we succeeded in developing both a highly efficient, hepatocyte-specific formulation, and the most efficacious LSEC-targeted formulation reported to date. These findings will facilitate the development of more sophisticated siRNA delivery systems.
• Tri-membrane nanoparticles produced by combining liposome fusion and a novel patchwork of bicelles to overcome endosomal and nuclear membrane barriers to cargo delivery

  Asako Yamada, Asako Mitsueda, Mahadi Hasan, Miho Ueda, Susumu Hama, Shota Warashina, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure

  Biomaterials Science 4 (3) 439 - 447 2047-4849 2016/03/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Membrane fusion is a rational strategy for crossing intracellular membranes that present barriers to liposomal nanocarrier-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA into the nucleus of non-dividing cells, such as dendritic cells. Based on this strategy, we previously developed nanocarriers consisting of a nucleic acid core particle coated with four lipid membranes [Akita, et al., Biomaterials, 2009, 30, 2940-2949]. However, including the endosomal membrane and two nuclear membranes, cells possess three intracellular membranous barriers. Thus, after entering the nucleus, nanoparticles coated with four membranes would still have one lipid membrane remaining, and could impede cargo delivery. Until now, coating a core particle with an odd number of lipid membranes was challenging. To produce nanocarriers with an odd number of lipid membranes, we developed a novel coating method involving lipid nano-discs, also known as bicelles, as a material for packaging DNA in a carrier with an odd number of lipid membranes. In this procedure, bicelles fuse to form an outer coating that resembles a patchwork quilt, which allows the preparation of nanoparticles coated with only three lipid membranes. Moreover, the transfection activity of dendritic cells with these three-membrane nanoparticles was higher than that for nanoparticles coated with four lipid membranes. In summary, we developed novel nanoparticles coated with an odd number of lipid membranes using the novel "patchwork-packaging method" to deliver plasmid DNA into the nucleus via membrane fusion.
• Transcytosis-Targeting Peptide: A Conductor of Liposomal Nanoparticles through the Endothelial Cell Barrier

  Hidetaka Akita, Takahiro Fujiwara, Sarochin Santiwarangkool, Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Ayman El-Sayed, Yasuhiko Tabata, Hideyoshi Harashima

  SMALL 12 (9) 1212 - 1221 1613-6810 2016/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The ultimate goal in the area of drug-delivery systems is the development of a nanoparticle that can penetrate the endothelial cell monolayer for the targeting of tissue parenchyma. In the present study, we identify a transcytosis-targeting peptide (TTP) that permits polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-modified liposomes (PEG-LPs) to penetrate through monolayers of brain-derived endothelial cells. These endothelial cells were layered on a gelatin nanofiber sheet, a nanofiber meshwork that allows the evaluation of transcellular transport of nanosized particles (ca. 100 nm). Systematic modification of the sequences results in the identification of the consensus sequence of TTP as L(R/K) QZZZL, where Z denotes hydrophilic amino acids (R/K/S and partially D). The TTP-modified liposomes are bound on the heparin sulfate proteoglycan, and are then taken up via lipid raft-mediated endocytosis. Subsequent intracellular imaging of the particles reveals a unique intracellular sorting of TTP-modified PEG liposomes (TTP-PEG-LPs); namely the TTP-LPs are not localized with the lysosomes, whereas this co-localization is dominant in the unmodified PEG liposomes (PEG-LPs). The in vivo endothelial penetration of liposomes in adipose tissue is conferred by the dual modification of the particles with TTP and tissue-targeting ligands. This technology promises innovations in intravenously available delivery system to tissue parenchyma.
• Novel pH-sensitive multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice for siRNA-based treatments for chronic HBV infection

  Naoki Yamamoto, Yusuke Sato, Tsubasa Munakata, Masakazu Kakuni, Chise Tateno, Takahiro Sanada, Yuichi Hirata, Shuko Murakami, Yasuhito Tanaka, Kazuaki Chayama, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima, Michinori Kohara

  JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY 64 (3) 547 - 555 0168-8278 2016/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background & Aims: Antiviral agents including entecavir (ETV) suppress the replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome in human hepatocytes, but they do not reduce the abundance of viral proteins. The present study focused on effectively reducing viral protein levels. Methods: We designed siRNAs (HBV-siRNA) that target consensus sequences in HBV genomes. To prevent the emergence of escaped mutant virus, we mixed three HBV-siRNAs (HBV-siRNAmix); the mixture was encapsulated in a novel pH-sensitive multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND), a hepatocyte-specific drug delivery system. Coagulation factor 7 siRNA was used to assess delivery and knockdown efficiencies of MEND/siRNA treatments in mice. The potency of MEND/HBV-siRNAmix was evaluated in primary human hepatocytes and in chimeric mice with humanized liver persistently infected with HBV. Results: Effective knockdown of targets, efficient delivery of siRNA, and liver-specific delivery were each observed with MEND. MEND/HBV-siRNA caused efficient reduction of HBsAg and HBeAg in vitro and in vivo. However, ETV treatment did not efficiently reduce HBsAg or HBeAg when compared with a single MEND/HBV-siRNAmix treatment. Furthermore, the suppressive effects of a single dose of MEND/HBV-siRNAmix persisted for 14 days in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: We demonstrated that MEND/HBV-siRNA controlled HBV more efficiently than did ETV. Furthermore, the effect of a single dose of MEND/HBV-siRNA persisted for a long time. These results indicated that MEND/HBV-siRNA may be a promising novel HBV treatment that is more effective than reverse transcriptase inhibitors. (C) 2015 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• FoxO1 Plays an Important Role in Regulating beta-Cell Compensation for Insulin Resistance in Male Mice

  Ting Zhang, Dae Hyun Kim, Xiangwei Xiao, Sojin Lee, Zhenwei Gong, Radhika Muzumdar, Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Rennian Wang, Rita Bottino, Juan Carlos Alvarez-Perez, Adolfo Garcia-Ocana, George Gittes, H. Henry Dong

  ENDOCRINOLOGY 157 (3) 1055 - 1070 0013-7227 2016/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  beta-Cell compensation is an essential mechanism by which beta-cells increase insulin secretion for overcoming insulin resistance to maintain euglycemia in obesity. Failure of beta-cells to compensate for insulin resistance contributes to insulin insufficiency and overt diabetes. To understand the mechanism of beta-cell compensation, we characterized the role of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) in beta-cell compensation in mice under physiological and pathological conditions. FoxO1is a key transcription factor that serves as a nutrient sensor for integrating insulin signaling to cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation. We showed that FoxO1 improved beta-cell compensation via 3 distinct mechanisms by increasing beta-cell mass, enhancing beta-cell glucose sensing, and augmenting beta-cell antioxidative function. These effects accounted for increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and enhanced glucose tolerance in beta-cell-specific FoxO1-transgenic mice. When fed a high-fat diet, beta-cell-specific FoxO1-transgenic mice were protected from developing fat-induced glucose disorder. This effect was attributable to increased beta-cell mass and function. Furthermore, we showed that FoxO1 activity was up-regulated in islets, correlating with the induction of physiological beta-cell compensation in high-fat-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. These data characterize FoxO1 as a pivotal factor for orchestrating physiological adaptation of beta-cell mass and function to overnutrition and obesity.
• A lipid nanoparticle for the efficient delivery of siRNA to dendritic cells

  Shota Warashina, Takashi Nakamura, Yusuke Sato, Yuki Fujiwara, Mamoru Hyodo, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 225 183 - 191 0168-3659 2016/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Applying small interfering RNA (siRNA) to dendritic cell (DC) based therapy represents a potential candidate for cancer immunotherapy. However, delivering siRNA to DCs is a challenging issue for non-viral vectors. To date, only viral vectors have achieved efficient gene silencing in DCs. We report herein that a novel cationic lipid, YSK12-C4, when loaded in a nanoparticle with siRNA (YSK12-C4 multifunctional envelope type nano device [YSK12-MEND]), greatly facilitated gene silencing in mouse DCs. The use of the YSK12-MEND resulted in a gene silencing efficiency in excess of 90%, with a median effective dose (ED50) of 1.5 nM, whereas the maximum gene silencing efficiency of Lipofectamine RNAiMAX was less than 60% and the ED50 was 25 nM. Furthermore, suppressor of cytokine signaling 1, an immune suppressive molecule in DCs, silenced in the mouse DC by the YSK12-MEND showed a drastic enhancement in cytokine production, resulting in the significant suppression of tumor growth when it was applied to DC-based therapy against a mouse lymphoma. These results clearly indicate that YSK12-MEND overcomes the obstacle associated with non-viral vectors and can be considered to be a promising non-viral vector for siRNA delivery to DCs, thus accelerating DC-based therapies with siRNA. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Validation of a Strategy for Cancer Therapy: Delivering Aminoglycoside Drugs to Mitochondria in HeLa Cells

  Jiro Abe, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 105 (2) 734 - 740 0022-3549 2016/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria in human cancer cells have been implicated in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and even drug-resistance mechanisms, making them a potential target organelle for the treatment of human malignancies. Gentamicin (GM), an aminoglycoside drug (AG), is a small molecule that functions as an antibiotic and has ototoxic and nephrotoxic characteristics. Thus, the delivery of GM to mitochondria in cancer cells would be an innovative anticancer therapeutic strategy. In this study, we attempted mitochondrial delivery of GM in HeLa cells derived from a human cervical cancer. For the mitochondrial delivery, we used MITO-Porter, a liposomal nanocarrier for mitochondrial delivery via membrane fusion. We first encapsulated GM in the aqueous phase of the carrier to construct GM-MITO-Porter. Flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent microscopy observations permitted us to confirm that the GMeMITO-Porter was efficiently taken up by HeLa cells and accumulated in mitochondria, whereas naked GM was not taken up by the cells. Moreover, cell viability assays using HeLa cells showed that the GMeMITO-Porter induced strong cytotoxic effects related to mitochondrial disorder. This finding is the first report of the mitochondrial delivery of an AG to cancer cells for cancer therapeutic strategy. (C) 2016 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• PEG dilemma- nucleic acids delivery to cancers by controlling biodistribution and intracellular trafficking

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Drug Delivery System 31 (4) 293 - 299 1881-2732 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene and nucleic acid therapy are expected to play a major role in the next generation of medicine. We recently developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for use as a novel non-viral gene delivery system. PEGylation is a useful method for achieving a longer circulation time for delivery of the MEND to a tumor via the EPR effect. However, PEGylation strongly inhibits cellular uptake and endosomal escape, which results significant loss of activity for the delivery system. For successful gene delivery for cancer treatment, the crucial issue associated with the use of PEG, the "PEG dilemma" must be solved. Here, we describe the development and applications of MEND, and discuss strategies for overcoming the PEG dilemma, based on the manipulation of intracellular trafficking using functional devices such as cleavable PEG systems, endosomal fusogenic peptides, and pH-sensitive lipids.
• Elimination of the biphasic pharmacodynamics of 15d-PGJ2 by controlling its release from a nanoemulsion

  Saed Abbasi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE 11 2685 - 2694 1178-2013 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  15-Deoxy-Delta 12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) has a dual action of stimulating anti-inflammation and anti-proliferation when exogenously administered at high doses. However, at lower doses, it can be toxic inducing opposite actions, ie, stimulation of both inflammation and cell proliferation. This biphasic phenomenon of 15d-PGJ2 is believed to be due to its multitarget behavior. In this study, we provide a strategy for controlling such biphasic pharmacodynamics by separating its dual actions while retaining the beneficial one by using a nanoemulsion (NE). The 15d-PGJ2 was encapsulated in the NE composed of triolein/distearoyl phosphatidylcholine/Tween 80 at a high encapsulation ratio (> 83%). Furthermore, NE enhanced drug retention by slowing down its release rate, which was, unconventionally, inversely dependent on the total surface area of the NE system. Next, focusing on the biphasic effect on cell proliferation, we found that the 15d-PGJ2-loaded slow-release NE showed only a dose-dependent inhibition of the viability of a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, although a fast-release NE as well as free 15d-PGJ2 exerted a biphasic effect. The observed slow-release kinetics are believed to be responsible for elimination of the biphasic pharmacodynamics of 15d-PGJ2 mainly for two reasons: 1) a high proportion of 15d-PGJ2 that is retained in the NE was delivered to the cytosol, where proapoptotic targets are located and 2) 15d-PGJ2 was able to bypass cell membrane-associated targets that lead to the induction of cellular proliferation. Collectively, our strategy of eliminating the 15d-PGJ2-induced biphasic pharmacodynamics was based on the delivery of 15d-PGJ2 to its desired site of action, excluding undesired sites, on a subcellular level.
• Preparation of a Cyclic RGD: Modified Liposomal SiRNA Formulation for Use in Active Targeting to Tumor and Tumor Endothelial Cells.

  Sakurai Y, Hada T, Harashima H

  Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 1364 63 - 69 1064-3745 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• A Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano Device Containing a pH-Sensitive Cationic Lipid for Efficient Delivery of Short Interfering RNA to Hepatocytes In Vivo.

  Sato Y, Harashima H, Kohara M

  Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 1364 71 - 78 1064-3745 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Tri-membrane nanoparticles produced by combining liposome fusion and a novel patchwork of bicelles to overcome endosomal and nuclear membrane barriers to cargo delivery

  Asako Yamada, Asako Mitsueda, Mahadi Hasan, Miho Ueda, Susumu Hama, Shota Warashina, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure

  BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE 4 (3) 439 - 447 2047-4830 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Membrane fusion is a rational strategy for crossing intracellular membranes that present barriers to liposomal nanocarrier-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA into the nucleus of non-dividing cells, such as dendritic cells. Based on this strategy, we previously developed nanocarriers consisting of a nucleic acid core particle coated with four lipid membranes [Akita, et al., Biomaterials, 2009, 30, 2940-2949]. However, including the endosomal membrane and two nuclear membranes, cells possess three intracellular membranous barriers. Thus, after entering the nucleus, nanoparticles coated with four membranes would still have one lipid membrane remaining, and could impede cargo delivery. Until now, coating a core particle with an odd number of lipid membranes was challenging. To produce nanocarriers with an odd number of lipid membranes, we developed a novel coating method involving lipid nano-discs, also known as bicelles, as a material for packaging DNA in a carrier with an odd number of lipid membranes. In this procedure, bicelles fuse to form an outer coating that resembles a patchwork quilt, which allows the preparation of nanoparticles coated with only three lipid membranes. Moreover, the transfection activity of dendritic cells with these three-membrane nanoparticles was higher than that for nanoparticles coated with four lipid membranes. In summary, we developed novel nanoparticles coated with an odd number of lipid membranes using the novel "patchwork-packaging method" to deliver plasmid DNA into the nucleus via membrane fusion.
• In Vivo Inverse Correlation in the Activation of Natural Killer T Cells Through Dual-Signal Stimulation via a Combination of alpha-Galactosylceramide-Loaded Liposomes and Interleukin-12

  Heba Abdelmegeed, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 105 (1) 250 - 256 0022-3549 2016/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Alpha-galactosylceramide (GC) represents a potentially new class of adjuvant because GC strongly induces interferon (IFN) gamma production from natural killer T (NKT) cells, leading to the induction of strong antitumor immunity. Interleukin (IL)-12 is another stimulating signal that induces IFN-gamma production by NKT cells. We report herein on an investigation of the effect of recombinant IL-12 on NKT cell activation, when used in combination with GC-loaded octaarginine modified liposomes (GC-Lip). IFN-gamma production from splenocytes simulated with GC-Lip was dose dependently enhanced in the presence of IL-12 in vitro. In contrast, IFN-gamma production in vivo was enhanced at a low dose of IL-12. Enhanced IFN-gamma production was observed in the case of low doses (0.5 mu g and 2.5 mu g) of GC-Lip but not a high dose (5 mu g), that is, the IL-12 combination enhanced NKT cell activation at a 10-fold lower GC dose. The use of the above combination also enhanced the expansion of the NKT cell population. These findings indicate that in vivo IFN-gamma production is inversely correlated with the dose of IL-12 during dual signal stimulation of NKT cells via both GC-Lip and IL-12, indicating that the dose of GC-Lip can be reduced without weakening NKT cell activation. (C) 2016 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Cellular environment-responsive nanomaterials for use in gene and siRNA delivery: molecular design for biomembrane destabilization and intracellular collapse

  Hiroki Tanaka, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hidetaka Akita

  EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DELIVERY 13 (7) 1015 - 1027 1742-5247 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Introduction: The development of gene and nucleic acid-based medication is one of the ultimate strategies in the research field of personalized medicine. For the desired function of a gene or siRNA, these molecules need to be delivered to the appropriate organelle (i.e. nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively). Areas covered: The topics covered herein are rational design in order to control the pharmacokinetics, intracellular trafficking and release (decondensation or decapsulation) of the intended material. Since the endosome and cytoplasm are acidic (endosome) and reducing (cytoplasm) environments, respectively, a large variety of the materials have been developed that induce destabilization of endosome via its protonation, or are spontaneously collapsed in the cytoplasm. Finally, we propose materials (SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like materials: ssPalm) that mount these sensing motifs, i.e., a positive charging unit in response to the acid environment (tertiary amines) and a cleavage unit (disulfide bonding) that is responsive to an reducing environment, respectively. Expert opinion: Currently, the main target of the nanocarrier-mediated siRNA delivery systems is liver. The targeting of non-hepatic tissue is the next challenge. In this case, the design of neutral particle with well-organized intracellular trafficking, as well as an identification of the promising ligand is needed.
• Insertion and Deletion Mismatches Distant from the Target Position Improve Gene Correction with a Tailed Duplex

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Natsuki Nishigaki, Akihiro Ikeda, Seiya Yukawa, Yukiko Morita, Yoshimichi Nakatsu, Teruhisa Tsuzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 35 (7) 379 - 388 1525-7770 2016 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A 5-tailed duplex (TD) DNA corrects a base-substitution mutation. In this study, the effects of insertion and deletion (indel) mismatches distant from the target position on the gene correction were examined. Three target plasmid DNAs with and without indel mismatches approximate to 330 bases distant from the correction target position were prepared, and introduced into HeLa cells together with the TD. The indel mismatches improved the gene correction efficiency and specificity without sequence conversions at the indel mismatch site. These results suggested that the gene correction efficiency and specificity are increased when an appropriate second mismatch is introduced into the TD fragment.
• Validation of Mitochondrial Gene Delivery in Liver and Skeletal Muscle via Hydrodynamic Injection Using an Artificial Mitochondrial Reporter DNA Vector

  Yukari Yasuzaki, Yuma Yamada, Takuya Ishikawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 12 (12) 4311 - 4320 1543-8384 2015/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  For successful mitochondrial transgene expression, two independent processes, i.e., developing a mitochondrial gene delivery system and construction of DNA vector to achieve mitochondrial gene expression, are required. To date, very few studies dealing with mitochondrial gene delivery have been reported and, in most cases, transgene expression was not validated, because the construction of a reporter DNA vector for mitochondrial gene expression is the bottleneck. In this study, mitochondrial transgene expression by the in vivo mitochondrial gene delivery of an artificial mitochondrial reporter DNA vector via hydrodynamic injection is demonstrated. In the procedure, a large volume of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) is rapidly injected. We designed and constructed pHSP-mtLuc (CGG) as a mitochondrial reporter DNA vector that possesses a mitochondrial heavy strand promoter (HSP) and an artificial mitochondrial genome with the reporter NanoLuc (Nluc) luciferase gene that records adjustments to the mitochondrial codon system. We delivered the pDNA into mouse liver mitochondria by hydrodynamic injection, and detected exogenous mRNA in the liver using reverse transcription PCR analysis. The hydrodynamic injection of pHSP-mtLuc (CGG) resulted in the expression of the Nluc luciferase protein in liver and skeletal muscle. Our mitochondrial transgene expression reporter system would contribute to mitochondrial gene therapy and further studies directed at mitochondrial molecular biology.
• New drug delivery system for liver sinusoidal endothelial cells for ischemia-reperfusion injury

  Naoki Sano, Takafumi Tamura, Naoyuki Toriyabe, Takeshi Nowatari, Ken Nakayama, Tomohito Tanoi, Soichiro Murata, Yu Sakurai, Mamoru Hyodo, Kiyoshi Fukunaga, Hideyoshi Harashima, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi

  WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 21 (45) 12778 - 12786 1007-9327 2015/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  AIM: To investigate the cytoprotective effects in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, we developed a new formulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) and sphingosine 1-phophate. METHODS: We divided Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups: control, HA, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and HA-S1P. After the administration of each agent, we subjected the rat livers to total ischemia followed by reperfusion. After reperfusion, we performed the following investigations: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), histological findings, TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We also investigated the expression of proteins associated with apoptosis, hepatoprotection, and S1P accumulation. RESULTS: S1P accumulated in the HA-S1P group livers more than S1P group livers. Serum ALT levels, TUNEL-positive hepatocytes, and expression of cleaved caspase-3 expression, were significantly decreased in the HA-S1P group. TEM revealed that the liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) lining was preserved in the HA-S1P group. Moreover, the HA-S1P group showed a greater increase in the HO-1 protein levels compared to the S1P group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that HA-S1P exhibits cytoprotective effects in the liver through the inhibition of LSEC apoptosis. HA-S1P is an effective agent for hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.
• Size-dependent specific targeting and efficient gene silencing in peritoneal macrophages using a pH-sensitive cationic liposomal siRNA carrier

  Hideki Matsui, Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 495 (1) 171 - 178 0378-5173 2015/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Macrophages are key contributors to various inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the development of an efficient in vivo short interference RNA (siRNA) system that can be delivered to macrophages represents a novel treatment strategy for addressing these disorders. It was recently revealed that peritoneal macrophages (PEMs) are involved in several diseases including ovarian cancer, and are now recognized as a promising drug target. We report herein on the use of pH-sensitive cationic YSK05-MENDs as siRNA carriers and on the impact of both the size of the YSK05-MENDs and their administration routes for the efficient targeting PEMs to achieve a high level of gene silencing activity. The size of the YSK05-MENDs had a dramatic effect on their specificity for PEMs when administered intravenously, but not for intraperitoneal injection. Also, significant gene silencing was achieved by an intraperitoneal administration of the YSK05-MEND at a dose in the single digit mg/kg range. To our knowledge, this is the most efficacious method for siRNA delivery for gene silencing in PEMs in vivo reported to date. These findings enabled us to investigate the complex function of PEMs through several gene silencing simultaneously. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• The intracellular pharmacodynamics of siRNA is responsible for the low gene silencing activity of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles in dendritic cells

  Takashi Nakamura, Yuki Fujiwara, Shota Warashina, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 494 (1) 271 - 277 0378-5173 2015/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to dendritic cells (DCs) is a challenging issue for siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles. The cause of this difficulty is unknown. The findings reported herein indicate that the rate-limiting step in gene silencing using siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles in DCs, as evidenced by a quantitative analysis of each process in siRNA delivery between mouse bone marrow derived DC (BMDC) and other cell lines, was not associated with the actual delivery of siRNA. A gene silencing of only 50% was observed in BMDC, even when a high dose was used. Contrary to our expectation, the interval between cellular uptake and the delivery of siRNA to the cytosol was not responsible for the low gene silencing. Meanwhile, a drastic difference was found in the relationship between the efficiency of gene silencing and the amount of intracellular intact siRNA. This fact indicates that the processes after cytosolic delivery of siRNA, namely the intracellular pharmacodynamics (PD) of siRNA, appear to be the rate-limiting step in gene silencing in BMDC. The findings reported here demonstrate the importance of the intracellular PD of siRNA delivered to cytosol in the development of siRNA delivery systems for gene silencing in DCs. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Liposomes loaded with a STING pathway ligand, cyclic di-GMP, enhance cancer immunotherapy against metastatic melanoma

  Takashi Nakamura, Hiroko Miyabe, Mamoru Hyodo, Yusuke Sato, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 216 149 - 157 0168-3659 2015/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Malignant melanomas escape immunosurveillance via the loss/down-regulation of MHC-I expression. Natural killer (NK) cells have the potential to function as essential effector cells for eliminating melanomas. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), a ligand of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signal pathway, can be thought of as a new class of adjuvant against cancer. However, it is yet to be tested, because technologies for delivering c-di-GMP to the cytosol are required. Herein, we report that c-di-GMP efficiently activates NK cells and induces antitumor effects against malignant melanomas when loaded in YSK05 lipid containing liposomes, by assisting in the efficient delivery of c-di-GMP to the cytosol. The intravenous administration of c-di-GMP encapsulated with-in YSK05-liposomes (c-di-GMP/YSK05-Lip) into mice efficiently induced the production of type I interferon (IFN) as well as the activation of NK cells, resulting in a significant antitumor effect in a lung metastasis mouse model using B16-F10. This antitumor effect was dominated by NK cells. The infiltration of NK cells was observed in the lungs with B16-F10 melanomas. These findings indicate that the c-di-GMP/YSK05-Lip induces MHC-I nonrestricted antitumor immunity mediated by NK cells. Consequently, c-di-GMP/YSK05-Lip represents a potentially new adjuvant system for use in immunotherapy against malignant melanomas. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Molecular Tuning of a Vitamin E-Scaffold pH-Sensitive and Reductive Cleavable Lipid-like Material for Accelerated in Vivo Hepatic siRNA Delivery

  Hidetaka Akita, Yuki Noguchi, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 1 (9) 834 - 844 2373-9878 2015/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A lipid nanoparticle (LNP) composed of a series of SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like materials (ssPalm) was previously developed as a platform of a gene delivery system. A tertiary amine and disulfide bonding were employed to destabilize the endosomal membrane and for intracellular collapse. We report herein on the development of a hepatocyte-targeting siRNA carrier by the molecular tuning of the hydrophobic scaffold, and tertiary amine structures. The gene knockdown activity against a hepatocyte-specific marker (factor VII: FVII) was improved when a more fat-soluble vitamin (vitamin E) was employed as a hydrophobic scaffold. Moreover, to allow the tertiary amines to accept protons by sensing a slight change in endosomal acidification, its structural flexibility was minimized by fixing it in a piperidine structure, and the distance between the surface of the particle to the ternary amine was increased. As a result, the pK(a) value was increased to the approximately 6.18 depending on its distance, while the pK(a) reached plateau when the tertiary amine was linked by an excess number of linear carbon chains. The pH-dependent membrane destabilization activity, as assessed by a hemolysis assay, was increased in parallel with the pK(a) value. Moreover, the gene knockdown activity was improved in parallel with hemolytic activity. Finally, further optimization of the lipid/siRNA ratio, and the use of chemically (2'-fluoro) modified siRNA synergistically improved the gene knockdown efficacy to an effective dose (ED50) of 0.035 mg/kg. The developed ssPalm represents a promising platform for use as a hepatocyte-targeting siRNA carrier.
• Mitochondrial delivery of Coenzyme Q(10) via systemic administration using a MITO-Porter prevents ischemia/reperfusion injury in the mouse liver

  Yuma Yamada, Kohei Nakamura, Jiro Abe, Mamoru Hyodo, Sanae Haga, Michitaka Ozaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 213 86 - 95 0168-3659 2015/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We herein report on a mitochondrial therapeutic effect based on the delivery of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), an anti-oxidant, to in vivo mitochondria using a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based mitochondrial delivery system that functions via membrane fusion. To evaluate the effects, we used a mouse liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R injury) model, in which mitochondrial reactive oxygen species are overexpressed. We packaged CoQ(10) in the lipid phase of a MITO-Porter and optimized the mitochondrial fusogenic activities to produce the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter. A histological observation of the carriers in the liver by confocal laser scanning microscopy was done and the accumulation of the carrier labeled with a radio isotope in the liver confirmed that the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter was delivered to liver mitochondria via systemic injection. These analytical results permitted us to optimize the compositions of the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter so as to permit it to efficiently accumulate in mouse liver mitochondria. Finally, we applied the optimized CoQ(10) -MITO-Porter to mice via tail vein injection, and hepatic I/R injury was then induced, followed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a marker of liver injury. We confirmed that the use of the CoQ(10)-MITO-Porter resulted in a significant decrease in serum ALT levels, indicating that in vivo mitochondrial delivery of the CoQ(10) via MITO-Porter prevents I/R injury in mice livers. This provides a demonstration of the potential use of such a delivery system in mitochondrial therapies. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• An analysis of membrane fusion between mitochondrial double membranes and MITO-Porter, mitochondrial fusogenic vesicles

  Yuma Yamada, Yutaka Fukuda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MITOCHONDRION 24 50 - 55 1567-7249 2015/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To achieve mitochondrial gene therapy, therapeutic molecules need to be transported through the outer and inner membranes of mitochondria into the innermost space (mitochondrial matrix), which contains the mtDNA pool. We previously reported on the construction of a MITO-Porter with a high fusogenic activity for the mitochondrial outer membrane for delivering molecules to the mitochondria of human cells. Here, we report on an investigation of a fusogenic lipid composition for the inner membrane, and an analysis of the fusogenic compositions for the outer and inner membranes. A significant relationship was found between fusion activity and the mitochondrial delivery of nucleic acids. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.
• Efficient and High-Speed Transduction of an Antibody into Living Cells Using a Multifunctional Nanocarrier System to Control Intracellular Trafficking

  Yuma Yamada, Sandra Milena Vergara Perez, Mai Tabata, Jiro Abe, Yukari Yasuzaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 104 (9) 2845 - 2854 0022-3549 2015/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The transduction of antibodies into living cells would represent a major contribution to both basic and applied biomedical fields, as currently available methods suffer from limitations such as low-uptake efficiency and endosomal entrapment. In this study, a liposome-based carrier was designed to overcome these issues. Liposomes were modified with octaarginine (R8), a cell penetrating peptide and GALA, a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide. The presence of R8 enhanced the cellular uptake of antibodies, whereas GALA reduced endosomal entrapment, resulting in antibodies being released into the cytosol within 30 min. Moreover, compared with commercially available reagents for delivering antibodies, our system was superior in both cellular uptake and endosomal escape. In addition, specific antibodies delivered by R8-GALA liposomes were found to be associated with their epitope, confirming the preservation of functionality. This system for the efficient and high-speed cytosolic delivery of an antibody provides a valuable tool that can be useful in basic and applied research for analyzing the expression and function of intracellular molecules. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:2845-2854, 2015
• Efficient Packaging of Plasmid DNA Using a pH Sensitive Cationic Lipid for Delivery to Hepatocytes

  Yu Sakurai, Takashi Matsuda, Tomoya Hada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 38 (8) 1185 - 1191 0918-6158 2015/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Plasmid DNA (pDNA) is expected to be a new class of medicine for treating currently incurable diseases. To deliver these nucleic acids, we developed a liposomal delivery system we have called a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND). In this report, we demonstrate that a MEND containing a pH-sensitive cationic lipid, YSK05 (YSK-MEND), efficiently delivered pDNA via systemic injection, and that its expression was highly dependent on the encapsulation state of the pDNA. In the preparation, the pH, ionic strength, and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration of the lipid/pDNA mixture strongly affected the encapsulation efficiency of pDNA. Additionally, the transgene expression of luciferase in the liver by the injected YSK-MEND was dependent on the encapsulation state of pDNA rather than the nature of the YSK-MEND. Confocal laser scanning microscopy findings revealed that injection of the YSK-MEND led to homogenous gene expression in the liver compared to injection via the hydrodynamic tail vein (HTV). Concerning the safety of the YSK-MEND, a transient increase in the activity of liver enzymes was observed. However, no significant adverse events were observed. Taken together, the YSK-MEND represents a potentially attractive therapy for the treatment of various hepatic diseases.
• Influence of Endosomal Escape and Degradation of alpha-Galactosylceramide Loaded Liposomes on CD1d Antigen Presentation

  Takashi Nakamura, Moeka Kuroi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 12 (8) 2791 - 2799 1543-8384 2015/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Alpha-galactosylceramide (GC), a lipid antigen present on CD1d molecules, is a unique adjuvant that enables a strong antitumor effect to be induced via activation of natural killer T cells. We previously reported that a liposomal formulation of GC significantly enhanced GC presentation via CD1d and antitumor immunity. However, the influence of the intracellular fate of liposomes controlled by the lipid composition on GC presentation using GC-loaded liposomes (GC-Lip) remains unclear. In this study, we prepared a GC-Lip formulation by incorporating dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE)/cholesterol, egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC)/cholesterol, and distearoyl phosphocholine (DSPC)/cholesterol, and investigated the relationship between the intracellular trafficking of GC-Lip and GC presentation in antigen-presenting cells. When GC-Lip was prepared using DOPE, a fusogenic lipid, the endosomal escape of liposomes was enhanced, resulting in a decrease in GC presentation of CD1d, compared to the EPC based GC-Lip (EPC/GC-Lip). The stability of liposomes in endosomes/lysosomes had no influence on GC presentation. The DSPC based GC-Lip (DSPC/GC-Lip) induced GC presentation without any detectable degradation in liposomal structure, although the EPC/GC-Lip induced GC presentation with degradation of liposomal structure. The efficiency of GC presentation between EPC/GC-Lip and DSPC/GC-Lip was comparable. These GC presentations that were independent of the degradation of liposomes were dominated by saposins, sphingolipid activator proteins. Our findings reveal that GC presentation on CD1d from the fluid liposomes involves the action of saposins, regardless of whether liposome degradation occurs. This insight can be of use in terms of developing GC-Lip formulation for efficient GC presentation.
• Mitochondrial delivery of antisense RNA by MITO-Porter results in mitochondrial RNA knockdown, and has a functional impact on mitochondria

  Ryo Furukawa, Yuma Yamada, Eriko Kawamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 57 107 - 115 0142-9612 2015/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial genome-targeting nucleic acids are promising therapeutic candidates for treating mitochondrial diseases. To date, a number of systems for delivering genetic information to the cytosol and the nucleus have been reported, and several successful gene therapies involving gene delivery targeted to the cytosol and the nucleus have been reported. However, much less progress has been made concerning mitochondrial gene delivery systems, and mitochondrial gene therapy has never been achieved. Here, we report on the mitochondrial delivery of an antisense RNA oligonucleotide (ASO) to perform mitochondrial RNA knockdown to regulate mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial delivery of the ASO was achieved using a combination of a MITO-Porter system, which contains mitochondrial fusogenic lipid envelopes for mitochondrial delivery via membrane fusion and D-arm, a mitochondrial import signal of tRNA to the matrix. Mitochondrial delivery of the ASO induces the knockdown of the targeted mitochondria-encoded mRNA and protein, namely cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Furthermore, the mitochondrial membrane potential was depolarized by the down regulation of the respiratory chain as the result of the mitochondrial delivery of ASO. This finding constitutes the first report to demonstrate that the nanocarrier-mediated mitochondrial genome targeting of antisense RNA effects mitochondrial function. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano Device: Evolution from Nonselective to Active Targeting System

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY 26 (7) 1266 - 1276 1043-1802 2015/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A paradigm shift has occurred in the field of drug delivery systems (DDS), one being intracellular targeting, and the other, active targeting. An important aspect of intracellular targeting involves delivering nucleic acids such as siRNA/pDNA rather than small molecular compounds, since the mechanism responsible for their entering a target cell is usually via endocytosis, and the efficiency of endosomal escape is a critical factor in determining the functional activities of siRNA/pDNA. A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) was developed to control the intracellular trafficking of nano carriers containing siRNA/pDNA. An octaarginine (R8) modified MEND was developed to achieve this. Considerable progress has been made in active targeting to selective tissue vasculature such as tumor, adipose tissue, and the lung where endothelial barrier is tight against nanoparticles with diameters larger than 50 nm. A dual-ligand system is proposed to enhance active targeting ability by virtue of a synergistic interaction between a selective ligand and a cell penetrating ligand. Prohibitin targeted nanoparticles (PTNP) were developed to target endothelial cells in adipose tissue, which deliver apoptotic peptides/proteins to the adipose vasculature. Lung endothelial cells can be targeted by means of the GALA peptide, which is usually used to enhance endosomal escape. These active targeting systems can induce pharmacological effects in in vivo conditions. Finally, a novel strategy for producing an original ligand has been developed, especially for the tumor vasculature. This progress in DDS promises to extend the area of nanomedicine as a breakthrough technology.
• General considerations regarding the in vitro and in vivo properties of block copolymer micelle products and their evaluation

  Kumiko Sakai-Kato, Nobuhiro Nishiyama, Masato Kozaki, Takeshi Nakanishi, Yoshihiro Matsuda, Mai Hirano, Hiroyuki Hanada, Shigeru Hisada, Hiroshi Onodera, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yasuhiro Matsumura, Kazunori Kataoka, Yukihiro Goda, Haruhiro Okuda, Toru Kawanishi

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 210 76 - 83 0168-3659 2015/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Block copolymer micelles are nanoparticles formed from block copolymers that comprise a hydrophilic polymer such as poly(ethylene glycol) and a poorly soluble polymer such as poly(amino acids). The design of block copolymer micelles is intended to regulate the in vivo pharmacokinetics, stability, and distribution profiles of an entrapped or block copolymer-linked active substance. Several block copolymer micelle products are currently undergoing clinical development; however, a major challenge in the development and evaluation of such products is identification of the physicochemical properties that affect the properties of the drug product in vivo. Here we review the overall in vitro and in vivo characteristics of block copolymer micelle products with a focus on the products currently under clinical investigation. We present examples of methods suitable for the evaluation of the physicochemical properties, non-clinical pharmacokinetics, and safety of block copolymer micelle products. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Effect of hydrophobic scaffold on the cellular uptake and gene transfection activities of DNA-encapsulating liposomal nanoparticles via intracerebroventricular administration

  Hidetaka Akita, Taichi Nakatani, Kimiko Kuroki, Katsumi Maenaka, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 490 (1-2) 142 - 145 0378-5173 2015/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient DNA carriers are needed as a gene medication for curing brain disorders. In the present study, the function of a neutral lipid envelope-type nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulating pDNA was evaluated after intracerebroventricular administration. The lipid envelope was composed of a series of SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid like materials (ssPalm) including myristic acid, vitamin A and vitamin E in the hydrophobic scaffold (LNPssPalmM, LNPssPalmA, LNPssPalmE, respectively). The LNPssPalmA and LNPssPalmE were extensively distributed in the corpus callosum, and then gene expression occurred mainly astrocytes in this region, while not in LNPssPalmM. The recombinant human ApoE3-dependent enhancement of the uptake into an astrocyte-derived cell line (KT-5) was observed in LNPssPalmA and LNPssPalmE. Thus, ApoE in the brain plays a key role in the cellular uptake of these particles by astrocytes, and this uptake is dependent on the structure of the hydrophobic scaffold. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Hyaluronic acid controls the uptake pathway and intracellular trafficking of an octaarginine-modified gene vector in CD44 positive- and CD44 negative-cells

  Yuma Yamada, Masahiro Hashida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 52 189 - 198 0142-9612 2015/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The cellular uptake pathway for a gene vector is an important factor in transgene expression. We previously constructed an original gene vector, multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND). The use of octaarginine (R8), a cell-penetrating peptide dramatically enhanced the transfection activity of the MEND since efficient cellular uptake via macropinocytosis, while the R8 should overcome its poor cell selectivity. Here we prepared an R8-MEND equipped with GALA (a peptide for endosomal escape) (R8/ GALA-MEND) coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) (HA-R8/GALA-MEND), a natural ligand for cancer cells overexpressing CD44. We investigated the cellular uptake pathway of the HA-R8/GALA-MEND and the R8/GALA-MEND using HCT116 cells overexpressing CD44. Both carriers were taken up by cells mainly via macropinocytosis, whereas only the HA-R8/GALA-MEND was partially internalized into cells via a CD44-mediated pathway. Investigation of transgene expression showed that the HA-R8/GALA-MEND had a high transfection activity in HCT116 cells via both macropinocytotic and CD44-mediated pathways. On the other hand, the value for the HA-R8/GALA-MEND was significantly decreased compared with the value for the R8/GALA-MEND in NIH3T3 cells (CD44-negative cells). These findings indicate that the HA-coating controls the intracellular pathway for R8-modified nanocarriers, and that a CD44-mediated pathway is an important route for transgene expression. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Forkhead Box O6 (FoxO6) Depletion Attenuates Hepatic Gluconeogenesis and Protects against Fat-induced Glucose Disorder in Mice

  Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Sojin Lee, Ting Zhang, Yun-Zi Liu, Kelsey Sadlek, Gina M. Coudriet, Jon D. Piganelli, Chun-Lei Jiang, Rita Miller, Mark Lowe, Hideyoshi Harashima, H. Henry Dong

  JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 290 (25) 15581 - 15594 0021-9258 2015/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: Excessive endogenous glucose production is a major contributing factor for fasting hyperglycemia in diabetes. Results: FoxO6 deficiency attenuates hepatic gluconeogenesis and protects against fat-induced glucose disorder in mice. Conclusion: FoxO6 plays a significant role in regulating gluconeogenesis in the liver. Significance: FoxO6 is a potential therapeutic target for improving glucose metabolism in diabetes. Excessive endogenous glucose production contributes to fasting hyperglycemia in diabetes. FoxO6 is a distinct member of the FoxO subfamily. To elucidate the role of FoxO6 in hepatic gluconeogenesis and assess its contribution to the pathogenesis of fasting hyperglycemia in diabetes, we generated FoxO6 knock-out (FoxO6-KO) mice followed by determining the effect of FoxO6 loss-of-function on hepatic gluconeogenesis under physiological and pathological conditions. FoxO6 depletion attenuated hepatic gluconeogenesis and lowered fasting glycemia in FoxO6-KO mice. FoxO6-deficient primary hepatocytes were associated with reduced capacities to produce glucose in response to glucagon. When fed a high fat diet, FoxO6-KO mice exhibited significantly enhanced glucose tolerance and reduced blood glucose levels accompanied by improved insulin sensitivity. These effects correlated with attenuated hepatic gluconeogenesis in FoxO6-KO mice. In contrast, wild-type littermates developed fat-induced glucose intolerance with a concomitant induction of fasting hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. Furthermore, FoxO6-KO mice displayed significantly diminished macrophage infiltration into liver and adipose tissues, correlating with the reduction of macrophage expression of C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), a factor that is critical for regulating macrophage recruitment in peripheral tissues. Our data indicate that FoxO6 depletion protected against diet-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance by attenuating hepatic gluconeogenesis and curbing macrophage infiltration in liver and adipose tissues in mice.
• Effect of the Compaction and the Size of DNA on the Nuclear Transfer Efficiency after Microinjection in Synchronized Cells

  Hidetaka Akita, Dai Kurihara, Marco Schmeer, Martin Schleef, Hideyoshi Harashima

  PHARMACEUTICS 7 (2) 64 - 73 1999-4923 2015/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The nuclear transfer process is one of the critical rate-limiting processes in transgene expression. In the present study, we report on the effect of compaction and the size of the DNA molecule on nuclear transfer efficiency by microinjection. A DNA/protamine complex-or variously-sized naked DNA molecules were injected into the cytoplasm or nucleus of synchronized HeLa cells. To evaluate the nuclear transfer process, a nuclear transfer score (NT score), calculated based on transgene expression after cytoplasmic microinjection divided by that after nuclear microinjection, was employed. The compaction of DNA with protamine decreased the NT score in comparison with the injection of naked DNA when the N/P ratio was increased to >2.0. Moreover, when naked DNA was microinjected, gene expression increased in parallel with the size of the DNA in the following order: minicircle DNA (MC07. CMV-EGFP; 2257 bp) > middle-sized plasmid DNA (pBS-EGFP; 3992 bp) > conventional plasmid DNA (pcDNA3.1-EGFP; 6172 bp), while the level of gene expression was quite comparable among them when the DNAs were injected into the nucleus. The above findings suggest that the intrinsic size of the DNA molecule is a major determinant for nuclear entry and that minicircle DNA has a great advantage in nuclear transfer.
• Action-at-a-Distance Mutagenesis Induced by Oxidized Guanine in Werner Syndrome Protein-Reduced Human Cells

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Daiki Yamazaki, Eri Nakamura, Tetsuaki Makino, Miwako Kobayashi, Ichiro Matsuoka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY 28 (4) 621 - 628 0893-228X 2015/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (G(O), 8-hydroxyguanine) in DNA is one of the most important oxidatively damaged bases and causes G:C -> T:A substitution mutations. The Werner syndrome protein (WRN) is a cancer-related RecQ DNA helicase and plays many roles in DNA replication and repair. To examine the relationships between G(O)-induced mutations and WRN, shuttle plasmid DNA containing a G(O):C pair in the supF gene was transfected into human U2OS cells, in which WRN was knocked down. The plasmid DNA replicated in the knockdown cells was introduced into an Escherichia coli indicator strain. The knockdown of WRN increased the mutant frequency of the G(O)-plasmid DNA. Unexpectedly, however, the WRN knockdown only slightly enhanced the targeted G:C -> T:A mutation. Instead, base-substitution mutations at various positions were more frequently detected, with statistical significance. The results obtained in this study suggested that the reduction of the cancer-related WRN induced action-at-a-distance mutagenesis by the G(O):C pair in human cells. In addition, the WRN knockdown decreased the G(O):A-induced A:T -> C:G mutations, suggesting that WRN may enhance the mutations caused by G(O) in the nucleotide pool.
• A neutral lipid envelope-type nanoparticle composed of a pH-activated and vitamin E-scaffold lipid-like material as a platform for a gene carrier targeting renal cell carcinoma

  Hidetaka Akita, Ryohei Ishiba, Ryohei Togashi, Kota Tange, Yuta Nakai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 200 97 - 105 0168-3659 2015/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the refractory tumors, since it readily acquires resistance against chemotherapy. Thus, alternative therapeutic approaches such as obstructing the neovasculature are needed. We previously reported on the development of a plasmid DNA (pDNA)-encapsulating liposomal nanoparticle (LNP) as a hepatic gene delivery system that is applicable to systemic administration. The key molecular component is a SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm) that mounts dual sensing motifs (ternary amines and disulfide bonding) that are responsive to the intracellular environment. The main purpose of the present study was to expand its application to a tumor-targeting gene delivery systemin mice bearing tumors established from a RCC (OS-RC-2). When the modification of the surface of the particle is optimized for the polyethyleneglycol (PEG), stability in the blood circulation is improved, and consequently tumor-selective gene expression can be achieved. Furthermore, gene expression in the tumor was increased slightly when the hydrophobic scaffold of the ssPalm was replaced from the conventionally used myristic acid (ssPalmM) to alpha-tocopherol succinate (ssPalmE). Moreover, tumor growth was significantly suppressed when the completely CpG-free pDNA encoding the solute form of VEGFR (fms-like tyrosine kinase-1: sFlt-1) was used, especially when it was delivered by the LNP formed with ssPalmE(LNPssPalmE). Thus, the PEG-modified LNPssPalmE is a promising gene carrier for the cancer gene therapy of RCC. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A KALA-modified lipid nanoparticle containing CpG-free plasmid DNA as a potential DNA vaccine carrier for antigen presentation and as an immune-stimulative adjuvant

  Naoya Miura, Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH 43 (3) 1317 - 1331 0305-1048 2015/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Technologies that delivery antigen-encoded plasmid DNA (pDNA) to antigen presenting cell and their immune-activation are required for the success of DNA vaccines. Here we report on an artificial nanoparticle that can achieve these; a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice modified with KALA, a peptide that forms alpha-helical structure at physiological pH (KALA-MEND). KALA modification and the removal of the CpG-motifs from the pDNA synergistically boosted transfection efficacy. In parallel, transfection with the KALA-MEND enhances the production of multiple cytokines and chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules via the Toll-like receptor 9-independent manner. Endosome-fusogenic lipid envelops and a long length of pDNA are essential for this immune stimulation. Furthermore, cytoplasmic dsDNA sensors that are related to the STING/TBK1 pathway and inflammasome are involved in IFN-beta and IL-1 beta production, respectively. Consequently, the robust induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphoma activity and the resulting prophylactic and therapeutic anti-tumor effect was observed in mice that had been immunized with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells ex vivo transfected with antigen-encoding pDNA. Collectively, the KALA-MEND possesses dual functions; gene transfection system and immune-stimulative adjuvant, those are both necessary for the successful DNA vaccine.
• Targeting the mitochondrial genome via a dual function MITO-porter: Evaluation of mtDNA levels and mitochondrial function

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Mitochondrial Medicine 2 123 - 133 1064-3745 2015/01/29 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Genetic mutations and defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with certain types of mitochondrial dysfunction, ultimately resulting in the occurrence of a variety of human diseases. For an effective mitochondrial gene therapy, it will be necessary to deliver therapeutic agents to the innermost mitochondrial space (the mitochondrial matrix), which contains the mtDNA pool. We recently developed a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based nano-carrier that delivers cargo to mitochondria via a membrane-fusion mechanism. Using propidium iodide, as a probe to detect mtDNA, we were able to confirm that the MITO-Porter delivered cargoes to mitochondrial matrices in living cells. More recently, we constructed a Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter, a liposome-based nanocarrier for mitochondrial delivery via a stepwise process. In this chapter, we describe the methodology used to deliver bioactive molecules to the mitochondrial matrix using the above DF-MITO-Porter, and the evaluation of mtDNA levels and mitochondrial activities in living cells.
• Optimization of a siRNA carrier modified with a ph-sensitive cationic lipid and a cyclic RGD peptide for efficiently targeting tumor endothelial cells

  Tomoya Hada, Yu Sakurai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Pharmaceutics 7 (3) 320 - 333 1999-4923 2015 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In recent years, anti-angiogenic therapy has attracted much interest because it is a versatile approach to treating most types of tumors, and therefore would be expected to be applicable for various cancers. Severe adverse events in patients treated with currently available anti-angiogenic therapeutics have, however, been reported, and these are caused by their inhibitory effects in normal tissue. To achieve an efficient anti-angiogenic therapy with minimal toxicity, a drug delivery system (DDS) specific to tumor endothelial cells (TECs) is needed. Cyclic RGD (cRGD) is a well-known ligand against αVβ3 integrin that is expressed at high levels in the cell surface of TECs. To address this issue, we previously developed a cyclic RGD-equipped liposomal DDS (RGD-MEND) in which small interfering RNA (siRNA) was encapsulated. However, in the previous study, details of the preparation steps were not thoroughly examined. In this paper, to produce the most efficient delivery of therapeutic TECs, we explored optimum preparation conditions and components of the RGD-MEND. The cellular uptake and silencing ability of the RGD-MEND were investigated as a function of ligand density, poly(ethyleneglycol) linker length, and llipid composition. As a result, a knockdown efficiency that was five-fold higher than that of the previously reported one (ED50, from 4.0 to 0.75 mg/kg) was achieved.
• A strategy for synthesis of lipid nanoparticles using microfluidic devices with a mixer structure

  Masatoshi Maeki, Tatsuyoshi Saito, Yusuke Sato, Takao Yasui, Noritada Kaji, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima, Manabu Tokeshi

  RSC ADVANCES 5 (57) 46181 - 46185 2046-2069 2015 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Formation behavior of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in microfluidic devices with a staggered herringbone micromixer (SHM) structure was investigated. The fundamental role for SHMs in LNP formation was demonstrated by determining such factors as the limiting SHM cycle numbers and the effect of flow rate. The SHM cycle numbers and the position of the first SHM were as significant as factors as the flow rate condition for producing the small-size LNPs.
• Advances in an active and passive targeting to tumor and adipose tissues

  Yu Sakurai, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DELIVERY 12 (1) 41 - 52 1742-5247 2015/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Introduction: Data reported during the last decade of the twentieth century indicate that passive targeting is an efficient strategy for delivering nanocarrier systems to tumor tissues. The focus of this review is on active targeting as a next-generation strategy for extending the capacity of a drug delivery system (DDS). Areas covered: Tumor vasculature targeting was achieved using arginine-glycine-aspartic acid, asparagine-glycine-arginine and other peptides, which are well-known peptides, as ligand against tumor vasculature. An efficient system for delivering small interfering RNA to the tumor vasculature involved the use of a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice based on a pH-modified cationic lipid and targeting ligands. The active-targeting system was extended from tumor delivery to adipose tissue delivery, where endothelial cells are tightly linked and are impermeable to nanocarriers. In mice, prohibitin-targeted nanoparticles can be used to successfully deliver macromolecules to induce anti-obese effects. Finally, the successful delivery of nanocarriers to adipose tissue in obese mice via the enhanced permeability and retention-effect is reported, which can be achieved in tumor tissue. Expert opinion: Unlike tumor tissues, only a few reports have appeared on how liposomal carriers accumulate in adipose tissues after systemic injection. This finding, as well as active targeting to the adipose vasculature, promises to extend the capacity of DDS to adipose tissue. Since the site of action of nucleic acids is the cytosol, the intracellular trafficking of carriers and their cargoes as well as cellular uptake must be taken into consideration.
• The RNA Sensor RIG-I Dually Functions as an Innate Sensor and Direct Antiviral Factor for Hepatitis B Virus

  Seiichi Sato, Kai Li, Takeshi Kameyama, Takaya Hayashi, Yuji Ishida, Shuko Murakami, Tsunamasa Watanabe, Sayuki Iijima, Yu Sakurai, Koichi Watashi, Susumu Tsutsumi, Yusuke Sato, Hidetaka Akita, Takaji Wakita, Charles M. Rice, Hideyoshi Harashima, Michinori Kohara, Yasuhito Tanaka, Akinori Takaoka

  IMMUNITY 42 (1) 123 - 132 1074-7613 2015/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Host innate recognition triggers key immune responses for viral elimination. The sensing mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV), a DNA virus, and the subsequent downstream signaling events remain to be fully clarified. Here we found that type III but not type I interferons are predominantly induced in human primary hepatocytes in response to HBV infection, through retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-mediated sensing of the 5'-epsilon region of HBV pregenomic RNA. In addition, RIG-I could also counteract the interaction of HBV polymerase (P protein) with the 5'-epsilon region in an RNA-binding dependent manner, which consistently suppressed viral replication. Liposome-mediated delivery and vector-based expression of this e region-derived RNA in liver abolished the HBV replication in human hepatocyte-chimeric mice. These findings identify an innate-recognition mechanism by which RIG-I dually functions as an HBV sensor activating innate signaling and to counteract viral polymerase in human hepatocytes.
• Mechanism responsible for the antitumor effect of BCG-CWS using the LEEL method in a mouse bladder cancer model

  Takashi Nakamura, Masafumi Fukiage, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Ikuya Yano, Jun Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Hideyuki Akaza, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 196 161 - 167 0168-3659 2014/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported on the development of a water soluble formulation of the cell wall skeleton of BCG (BCG-CWS), a major immune active center of BCG, by encapsulating it into a nanoparticle (CWS-NP). The CWS-NP allowed us to clarify the machinery associated with the BCG mediated anti-bladder tumor effect, especially the roles of bladder cancer cells and dendritic cells (DCs) in the initial step, which remains poorly understood. We show herein that the internalization of BCG-CWS by bladder cancer cells, but not DCs, is indispensable for the induction of an antitumor effect against bladder cancer. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in mice that had been inoculated with mouse bladder cancer (MBT-2) cells containing internalized BCG-CWS. On the other hand, the internalization of BCG-CWS by DCs had only a minor effect on inducing an antitumor effect against MBT-2 tumors. This was clarified for the first time by using the CWS-NP. This finding provides insights into our understanding of the role of bladder cancer cells and DCs in BCG therapy against bladder cancer. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Comparative Study of the Sensitivities of Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin, and Relationships between the Effect of the Drug-Efflux Pump P-gp

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Kosuke Akiyama, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 37 (12) 1926 - 1935 0918-6158 2014/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multi-drug resistance (MDR) of cancers to chemotherapy including doxorubicin (DOX) is mediated by several factors. To design an effective therapy for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant cancers, it is essential to explore the elements responsible for mediating MDR. However, exploring these factors in detail in a wide range of tumor types is challenging as several critical analytical steps are involved. Here, we demonstrated the way of exploring the factors mediating MDR in the tumor types without performing the analysis at the molecular level of cells. The sensitivities of 15 different types of cancer cells to DOX were evaluated, and the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), one of the major efflux-pumps, was explored. A correlation curve was developed between the intracellular amounts of DOX and the sensitivities of cells, and, based on this correlation, the cells were classified in response to the involvement of P-gp that mediates MDR. P-gp plays an active role in mediating MDR of cancer cells where a correlation between the sensitivities of cells and the accumulated DOX exists. In contrast, in cells that show a resistance to DOX but whose sensitivities are independent of the amount of accumulated drug, it was reasonably presumed that mechanisms other than P-gp are likely to be involved in mediating MDR. Based on the correlation between the availability of a drug and cell sensitivity, it would be reasonable to explore the factors governing cancer MDR, which is essential in designing an effective therapeutic approach for treating chemotherapy-resistant cancers using chemotherapeutic drugs.
• "Programmed packaging" for gene delivery

  M. Hyodo, Y. Sakurai, H. Akita, H. Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 193 316 - 323 0168-3659 2014/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We report on the development of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) based on our packaging concept "Programmed packaging" to control not only intracellular trafficking but also the biodistribution of encapsulated compounds such as nucleic acids/proteins/peptides. Our strategy for achieving this is based on molecular mechanisms of cell biology such as endocytosis, vesicular trafficking, etc. In this review, we summarize the concept of programmed packaging and discuss some of our recent successful examples of using MENDs. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was applied as a new methodology for identifying a new ligand toward cell or mitochondria. The delivery of siRNA to tumors and the tumor vasculature was achieved using pH sensitive lipid (YSK05), which was newly designed and optimized under in vivo conditions. The efficient delivery of pDNA to immune cells such as dendritic cells has also been developed using the KALA ligand, which can be a breakthrough technology for DNA vaccine. Finally, ss-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like surfactant (ssPalm) which is a lipid like material with pH-activatable and SS-cleavable properties is also introduced as a proof of our concept. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Ligand density at the surface of a nanoparticle and different uptake mechanism: Two important factors for successful siRNA delivery to liver endothelial cells

  Afsana Akhter, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Yu Sakurai, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 475 (1-2) 227 - 237 0378-5173 2014/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The specific delivery of a gene to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) could become a useful strategy for treating various liver diseases associated with such cells. We previously reported that the accumulation of KLGR peptide modified liposomes through liver sinusoidal blood vessels was enhanced after an intravenous administration. Here, we report on an attempt to develop an LSEC targeted nanocarrier system to deliver siRNA for the successful knockdown of LSEC specific gene expression. The system involved the development of a multifunctional envelop-type nano device (MEND) modified with the KLGR peptide for siRNA delivery targeting LSEC. Our developed carrier successfully lowered specific gene expression in LSEC. An in vivo study showed that at a lower density of ligand at the surface of the MEND resulted in the highest knockdown of gene expression in LSEC. This is the first report of the successful delivery of siRNA to LSECs. Further experiments suggest that not only a higher endosomal escape efficiency into the cytosol but also the uptake mechanism as a function of ligand density are two important factors to be considered for targeting LSEC. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• The Screening of RNA Aptamers Specific for Carbonic Anhydrase I Using the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by an Exponential Enrichment Method (SELEX)

  Garima Shrivastava, Mamoru Hyodo, Mst Naznin Ara, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 33 (11) 697 - 708 1525-7770 2014/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Carbonic anhydrases (CA) or carbonate dehydratases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the rapid interconversion of carbon dioxide and water to bicarbonate. CA I is the most abundant protein in the cytosol and has been reported to the partially associated with a number of fatal diseases. A newly established Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) method referred to as Protein-SELEX was used to select RNA aptamers against the human erythrocyte CA I (CA I) protein. After five rounds of selection and counter selection the specific binding of the 6th cycle in vitro transcribed RNA library to CA I was detected by an Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA). Three Specific sequences were identified as binding candidates after cloning and sequence analysis and one of the selected CA I specific RNA aptamers, CAapt1, was used to confirm specific binding and the Kd values were determined using an EMSA. The CAapt1 RNA aptamer showed no affinity towards any other protein and in comparison to the "0" cycle library, a significant enrichment was obtained. This methodology permitted us to successfully investigate the ssRNA aptamer CAapt1 for CA I protein.
• Construction of an Aptamer Modified Liposomal System Targeted to Tumor Endothelial Cells

  Mst Naznin Ara, Takashi Matsuda, Mamoru Hyodo, Yu Sakurai, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 37 (11) 1742 - 1749 0918-6158 2014/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We describe herein the development of a high affinity and specific DNA aptamer as a new ligand for use in liposomal nanoparticles to target cultured mouse tumor endothelial cells (mTECs). Active targeted nanotechnology based drug delivery systems are currently of great interest, due to their potential for reducing side effects and facilitating the delivery of cytotoxic drugs or genes in a site specific manner. In this study, we report on a promising aptamer candidate AraHH036 that shows selective binding towards mTECs. The aptamer does not bind to normal cells, normal endothelial cells or tumor cells. Therefore, we synthesized an aptamer-polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid conjugate and prepared aptamer based liposomes (ALPs) by the standard lipid hydration method. First, we quantified the higher capacity of ALPs to internalize into mTECs by incubating ALPs containing 1 mol%, 5 mol% and 10 mol% aptamer of total lipids and compared the results to those for unmodified PEGylated liposomes (PLPs). A confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) uptake study indicated that the ALPs were taken up more efficiently than PLPs. The measured K-d value of the ALPs was 142 nM. An intracellular trafficking study confirmed that most of the rhodamine labeled ALPs were taken up and co-localized with the green lysotracker, thus confirming that they were located in lysosomes. Finally, using an aptamer based proteomics approach, the molecular target protein of the aptamer was identified as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). The results suggest that these ALPs offer promise as a new carrier molecule for delivering anti-angiogenesis drugs to tumor vasculature.
• Advantages of ethanol dilution method for preparing GALA-modified liposomal siRNA carriers on the in vivo gene knockdown efficiency in pulmonary endothelium

  Kenji Kusumoto, Hidetaka Akita, Sarochin Santiwarangkool, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 473 (1-2) 144 - 147 0378-5173 2014/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) modified with a GALA peptide (GALA/MEND) exerted dual functions; effective targeting the pulmonary endothelium and endosomal escape. The GALA/MEND containing encapsulated siRNA was originally prepared by the film coated hydration method (GALA/MENDHyd). However, an ethanol dilution method was found to be more appropriate for scaling up the preparation of this liposomal nanoparticle. In this study, we report on the preparation of a GALA/MEND based on the principal of the ethanol dilution (GALA/MENDEto). The gene knockdown efficiency of the MENDHyd and MENDEt0H without GALA-modification was equivalent regardless of the method used in the preparation. The GALA/MENDEt0H induced more efficient gene silencing in the pulmonary endothelium (ED50; approximately 0.17 mg siRNA/kg) compared to the GALA/ MENDHyd. The GALA/MENDEt0H escaped from endosomes more rapidly than GALA/MENDHyd, while the pharmacokinetics and lung accumulation of GALA/MENDEtcni and GALA/MENDHyd were comparable after i.v. administration. Collectively, the ethanol dilution method improves the function of the GALA/MEND as a lung-targeting siRNA carrier. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Multifunctional envelope-type nano device for controlled intracellular trafficking and selective targeting in vivo

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 190 593 - 606 0168-3659 2014/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Nanomedicine is expected to be a basic technology for using nucleic acids as a drug, in which treating the cause of diseases represent the ultimate therapy. However, a sophisticated delivery system is required for efficient delivery of RNA/DNA, since these compounds need precise control of intracellular trafficking as well as biodistribution. Here we report on the use of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) which is capable of intracellular trafficking such as endosomal escape, delivery to mitochondria, as well as active targeting to selective tissues/cells in vivo. In this review, we focused on the controlled intracellular trafficking of antigens for advanced immunotherapy, and then introduced a mitochondrial delivery system as an organelle targeting system for unmet medical needs. We also provide a successful in vivo delivery of siRNA to the liver based on a newly designed pH-responsive cationic lipid. Finally we will discuss an important role of an active targeting system using a peptide ligand to adipose vasculature. These progresses in drug delivery system will break through the barriers exist in our body, tissues and cells and open a window for future Nanomedicine. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Condensation of plasmid DNA enhances mitochondrial association in skeletal muscle following hydrodynamic limb vein injection

  Yukari Yasuzaki, Yuma Yamada, Yutaka Fukuda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Pharmaceuticals 7 (8) 881 - 893 1424-8247 2014/08/21 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial gene therapy and diagnosis have the potential to provide substantial medical benefits. However, the utility of this approach has not yet been realized because the technology available for mitochondrial gene delivery continues to be a bottleneck. We previously reported on mitochondrial gene delivery in skeletal muscle using hydrodynamic limb vein (HLV) injection. HLV injection, a useful method for nuclear transgene expression, involves the rapid injection of a large volume of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA). Moreover, the use of a condensed form of pDNA enhances the nuclear transgene expression by the HLV injection. The purpose of this study was to compare naked pDNA and condensed pDNA for mitochondrial association in skeletal muscle, when used in conjunction with HLV injection. PCR analysis showed that the use of condensed pDNA rather than naked pDNA resulted in a more effective mitochondrial association with pDNA, suggesting that the physicochemical state of pDNA plays a key role. Moreover, no mitochondrial toxicities in skeletal muscle following the HLV injection of condensed pDNA were confirmed, as evidenced by cytochrome c oxidase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings have the potential to contribute to the development for in vivo mitochondrial gene delivery system. © 2014 by the authors licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
• Neutralized Nanoparticle Composed of SS-Cleavable and pH-Activated Lipid-Like Material as a Long-Lasting and Liver-Specific Gene Delivery System

  Masami Ukawa, Hidetaka Akita, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Ryohei Ishiba, Kota Tange, Masaya Arai, Kazuhiro Kubo, Yuriko Higuchi, Kazunori Shimizu, Satoshi Konishi, Mitsuru Hashida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS 3 (8) 1222 - 1229 2192-2640 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Improvement of Doxorubicin Efficacy Using Liposornal Anti-Polo-like Kinase 1 siRNA in Human Renal Cell Carcinomas

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 11 (8) 2713 - 2719 1543-8384 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It is well-known that renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are resistant to classical cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Therefore, facilitating the impact of anticancer drugs by altering the cell phenotype should be a useful strategy for circumventing this. We developed a multifunctional envelopetype nanodevice (MEND) as an in vivo carrier of siRNA to tumor tissues. We previously reported that a MEND containing YSKOS (YSK-MEND) efficiently delivered siRNA in RCC-bearing mice. We herein report on a combination therapy involving the use of siRNA-mediated specific gene knockdown and cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (DOX), and an advantage of YSK-MEND as an investigation tool for in vivo function of a gene. si-PLK1 encapsulated within YSK-MEND was prepared using the tertiary butanol dilution method. The in vitro cellular viability under the exposure of DOX was compared between OS-RC-2 cells with and without si-PLK1 transfection. In an in vivo study, tumor-bearing mice were systemically injected with YSK-MEND and DOX-loaded liposomes. The combination of DOX and si-PLK1 drastically reduced tumor growth rate, and apoptotic cells were observed. In an in vitro study, PLKI knockdown increased G2/M cell population and reduced the expression of cyclin B1 (CCNB1) mRNA. CCNBI suppression by si-PLK1 encapsulated in YSK-MEND was also observed in the in vivo experiments. A combination of DOX and anti-polo-like kinase 1 siRNA (si-PLK1) resulted in a measurable delay in OS-RC-2 tumor growth. This result suggests that the combination of si-PLKI delivery and doxorubicin by YSK-MEND holds potential for RCC therapy via cell CCNB1 regulation.
• Comparative assessments of crucial factors for a functional ligand-targeted nanocarrier

  Md. Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Ryo Tatsumi, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING 22 (7) 600 - 609 1061-186X 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously developed a ligand-targeted liposome, referred to as a prohibitin-targeted nanoparticle (PTNP), for specifically delivering encapsulated drugs into vascular endothelial cells in adipose tissue. In this study, we explored the critical factors for the successful development and application of ligand-targeted nanocarriers through comparative assessments of PTNP prepared by the reverse-phase evaporation (REV) and lipid film hydration (HYD) methods with reference to physicochemical characteristics and in vivo and in vitro behavior. The in vivo delivery and therapeutic properties of HYD-PTNP were dramatically inferior to those of REV-PTNP, although the size, zeta-potential, fixed aqueous layer thickness and surface ligand density of the two preparations were similar. Circular dichroism spectral analyses revealed that the irreversible alteration in ligand conformation was caused by the organic solvent used to prepare the thin lipid film. In addition, perturbation of the ligand by the organic solvent resulted in a reduced internalization of PTNP into adipose endothelial cells. Alteration of the ligand conformation did not appear to affect the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers. Therefore, appropriate handling of ligands and appropriate evaluation of their conformations are critical for the successful development and application of such targeted nanocarriers.
• Identification and expression of troponin T, a new marker on the surface of cultured tumor endothelial cells by aptamer ligand

  Mst. Naznin Ara, Mamoru Hyodo, Noritaka Ohga, Kosuke Akiyama, Kyoko Hida, Yasuhiro Hida, Nobuo Shinohara, Hideyoshi Harashima

  CANCER MEDICINE 3 (4) 825 - 834 2045-7634 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The identification of a specific biomarker involves the development of new clinical diagnostic tools, and an in-depth understanding of the disease at the molecular level. When new blood vessels form in tumor cells, endothelial cell production is induced, a process that plays a key role in disease progression and metastasis to distinct organs for solid tumor types. The present study reports on the identification of a new biomarker on primary cultured mouse tumor endothelial cells (mTECs) using our recently developed high-affinity DNA aptamer AraHH001 (K-d = 43 nmol/L) assisted proteomics approach. We applied a strategy involving aptamer-facilitated biomarker discovery. Biotin-tagged AraHH001 was incubated with lysates of mTECs and the aptamer-proteins were then conjugated with streptavidin magnetic beads. Finally, the bound proteins were separated by sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with silver staining. We identified troponin T via matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, the molecular target of aptamer AraHH001, and its presence was confirmed by measuring mRNA, protein levels, western blot, immunostaining, a gel shift assay of AraHH001 with troponin T. We first report here on the discovery of troponin T on mTECs, a promising and interesting diagnostic tool in the development of antiangiogenic therapy techniques the involves the targeting of the tumor vasculature.
• A nanocarrier system for the delivery of nucleic acids targeted to a pancreatic beta cell line

  Yuma Yamada, Mai Tabata, Yukari Yasuzaki, Masatoshi Nomura, Atsushi Shibata, Yuta Ibayashi, Yosuke Taniguchi, Shigeki Sasaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 35 (24) 6430 - 6438 0142-9612 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin in response to glucose levels and thus are involved in controlling blood glucose levels. A line of pancreatic beta cells "MIN6" has been used in studies related to the function of beta cells and diabetes therapy. Regulating gene expression in MIN6 cells could accelerate these studies, but an efficient method for the transfection of nucleic acids targeted to MINE cells is required. We report here on a liposome-based carrier targeted to pancreatic beta cells (Multifunctional envelope-type nano device for pancreatic beta cells, beta-MEND). We identified a lipid composition for use in preparing the beta-MEND, which permits the particles to be efficiently internalized into MIN6, as evidenced by flow cytometry analyses. Intracellular observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the beta-MEND efficiently delivered the oligo nucleic acids to the cytosol of MINE cells. Moreover, using a beta-MEND encapsulating a 2'-O-Methyl RNA complementary to a microRNA that suppresses insulin secretion, the knockdown of the targeted microRNA and an up-regulation of insulin secretion were observed in MINE. Thus, the beta-MEND holds promise as an efficient system for delivering nucleic acids targeted to MIN6 and can contribute to research and therapy aimed at diabetes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• An aptamer ligand based liposomal nanocarrier system that targets tumor endothelial cells

  Mst Naznin Ara, Takashi Matsuda, Mamoru Hyodo, Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 35 (25) 7110 - 7120 0142-9612 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to construct our recently developed aptamer-modified targeted liposome nano-carrier (Apt-PEG-LPs) system to target primary cultured mouse tumor endothelial cells (mTEC), both in vitro and in vivo. We first synthesized an aptamer-polyethylene glycol 2000-distearoyl phosphoethanolamine (Apt-PEG(2000)-DSPE). The conjugation of the Apt-PEG(2000)-DSPE was confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. A lipid hydration method was used to prepare Apt-PEG-LPs, in which the outer surface of the PEG-spacer was decorated with the aptamer. Apt-PEG-LPs were significantly taken up by mTECs. Cellular uptake capacity was observed both quantitatively and qualitatively using spectrofluorometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. In examining the extent of localization of aptamer-modified liposomes that entered the cells, approximately 39% of the Apt-PEG-LPs were not co-localized with lysotracker, indicating that they had escaped from endosomes. The uptake route involved a receptor mediated pathway, followed by clathrin mediated endocytosis. This Apt-PEG-LP was also applied for in vivo research whether this system could target tumor endothelial cells. Apt-PEG-LP and PEG(5000)-DSPE modified Apt-PEG-LP (Apt/PEG(5000)-LP) were investigated by human renal cell carcinoma (OS-RC-2 cells) inoculating mice using CLSM. Apt-PEG-LP and Apt/PEG(5000)-LP showed higher accumulation on tumor vasculature compared to PEG-LP and the co-localization efficacy of Apt-PEG-LP and Apt/PEG(5000)-LP on TEC were quantified 16% and 25% respectively, which was also better than PEG-LP (3%). The findings suggest that this system is considerable promise for targeting tumor endothelial cells to deliver drugs or genes in vitro and in vivo. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Octaarginine-Modified Liposomes Enhance Cross-Presentation by Promoting the C-Terminal Trimming of Antigen Peptide

  Takashi Nakamura, Kouhei Ono, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Rumiko Moriguchi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 11 (8) 2787 - 2795 1543-8384 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Exogenous antigen proteolysis by proteasomes and amino peptidases is essential for the production of mature major histocompatibility complex class 1 (MHC-I) peptides to induce cross-presentation. We report here that when liposomes are modified with octaarginine (R8-Lip), a type of cell-penetrating peptide, the production of the mature MIC-I peptide is enhanced by promoting the C-terminal trimming of the antigen peptide. The efficiency of cross-presentation of ovalbumin (OVA) using the R8-Lip was dramatically higher than that by octalysine modified liposomes (K8-Lip) in mouse bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), although the physical characters of both liposomes were comparable. In this study, we investigated the mechanism responsible for the enhancement in cross-presentation by R8-Lip. Although the efficiencies of cellular uptake, endosomal escape, proteolysis of OVA and DC maturation between the two systems were essentially the same, an analysis of peptide trimming to SIINFEKL (mature MHC-I peptide of OVA) by using R8-Lip and K8-Lip encapsulating peptides of various length dearly indicates that the use of R8-Lip enhances the efficiency of the C-terminal cleavage of antigen-derived peptides. This finding provides a new strategy for achieving efficient cross-presentation by using R8 peptide and arginine-rich peptides. Moreover, this result may contribute to the development of a new paradigm regarding the machinery associated with antigen peptide production.
• RNA Aptamers for Targeting Mitochondria Using a Mitochondria-Based SELEX Method

  Yuri Tawaraya, Mamoru Hyodo, Mst Naznin Ara, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 37 (8) 1411 - 1415 0918-6158 2014/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The use of mitochondria-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was explored. Mitochondria were isolated from rat liver and confirmed intact by respiratory control index. Isolated mitochondria and a 2'-F RNA random library were mixed and the bound RNAs collected. The counter selection was applied with nucleus and unbound RNAs were collected. After 7 rounds of selection, two sequences (Mitomer1 and Mitomer2) were verified to bind to mitochondria and the truncated Mitomer2 (short Mitomer2) showed better binding to isolated mitochondria than Mitomer1.
• プラスミドDNA特異的ヒストン修飾による導入遺伝子発現上昇

  西原 実香, 神田 元紀, 山門 振一郎, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 30回 165 - 165 2014/07
• Mono-cationic detergents play a critical role in the development of liposome-based gene vector via controlling its lamellarity

  Ryosuke Suzuki, Yuma Yamada, Eriko Kawamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH 16 (8) 1388-0764 2014/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Controlling the number of lipid bilayers, the lamellarity, in a liposome is a major factor in the in vivo/in vitro pharmacokinetics of drug delivery using liposome-based nanocarriers. Findings reported in a previous study indicated that a mono-cationic detergent (MCD) could be useful in controlling liposomal size via interaction with the lipid envelope. Here, we investigated controlling the lamellarity of the liposomal gene vector by MCD, using a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND). The MEND consisted of a condensed plasmid DNA core and lipid envelopes. The size of the MCD-contained MEND (MCD-MEND) decreased as a function of the amount of MCD, indicating that MCD can be used to control the number of the lipid bilayers. We also developed a triple-layered MEND (TL-MEND) by packaging a di-lamellar MEND into an MCD-containing lipid bilayer. We hypothesized that the TL-MEND would efficiently deliver a gene to the nucleus, when the outer single bilayer fused with the plasma membrane and the inner double membranes then fused with the nuclear double membranes. Transfection assays showed that the TL-MEND had a high transfection activity in JAWS II cells, non-dividing cells. These results indicate that MCD has the potential for enhancing the gene delivery by controlling liposomal lamellarity.
• A new adjuvant delivery system 'cyclic di-GMP/YSK05 liposome' for cancer immunotherapy

  Hiroko Miyabe, Mamoru Hyodo, Takashi Nakamura, Yusuke Sato, Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 184 20 - 27 0168-3659 2014/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Cyclic dinucleotides are of importance in the field of microbiology and immunology. They function as second messengers and are thought to participate in the signal transduction of cytosolic DNA immune responses. One such dinucleotide, cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), stimulates the immune system. It is thought that c-di-GMP is recognized by ATP dependent RNA helicase (DDX41) in the cytosol, forms a complex with the Stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING), triggers a signal via the tank binding kinase 1-interferon regulatory factor 3 (TBK1-IRF3) pathway and induces the production of type I interferons. Therefore c-di-GMP can be thought of as a new class of adjuvant. However, because c-di-GMP contains two phosphate groups, this prevents its use as an adjuvant because it cannot pass through the cell membrane, even though the target molecule of c-di-GMP is located in the cytoplasm. Our group has been developing a series of liposomal drug delivery systems and recently investigated YSK05 which is a synthetic, pH sensitive lipid that has a high fusogenicity. We utilized this lipid as a carrier to transport c-di-GMP into the cytosol to then use c-di-GMP as an adjuvant. Based on screening experiments, YSK05/POPE/cholesterol = 40/25/35 was found to induce IFN-beta in Raw264.7 cells. The induction of IFN-beta from c-di-GMP liposomes was inhibited by adding BX795, a TBK1 inhibitor, indicating that the production of IFN-beta caused the activation of the STING-TBK1 pathway. C-di-GMP liposomes also showed significantly higher levels of expression of CD80, CD86 and MHC class I. The c-di-GMP/YSK05 liposome facilitated antigen specific cytotoxic T cell activity and the inhibition of tumor growth in a mouse model. These findings indicate that c-di-GMP/YSK05 liposomes could be used, not only to transfer c-di-GMP to the cytosol and induce an innate immune system but also as a platform for investigating the mechanism of immune sensing with cyclic dinucleotides in vitro and in vivo. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Glycerol Monomycolate Is a Novel Ligand for the Human, but Not Mouse Macrophage Inducible C-type Lectin, Mincle

  Yuki Hattori, Daisuke Morita, Nagatoshi Fujiwara, Daiki Mori, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Sho Yamasaki, Masahiko Sugita

  JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 289 (22) 15405 - 15412 0021-9258 2014/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: A host receptor has not yet been identified for glycerol monomycolate (GroMM), an immunostimulatory lipid of mycobacteria. Results: GroMM recognition occurred in cell transfectants expressing human, but not mouse Mincle. Human Mincle transgenic mice acquired the ability to respond to GroMM. Conclusion: GroMM is a ligand for human Mincle. Significance: The molecular basis underlying the innate immune recognition of GroMM has been elucidated. An array of lipidic compounds that constitute the cell wall of mycobacteria is recognized by host receptors. Examples include trehalose dimycolate (TDM), which is a major surface-exposed glycolipid of mycobacteria, that interacts with the macrophage inducible C-type lectin, Mincle, and exerts its highly potent adjuvant functions. Recent evidence has suggested that glycerol monomycolate (GroMM), another mycolate-containing lipid species produced by mycobacteria, can stimulate innate immune cells; however, its specific host receptors have yet to be identified. We here demonstrated that cell transfectants expressing human Mincle (hMincle) reacted to both TDM and GroMM, while those expressing mouse Mincle (mMincle) only reacted to TDM and failed to recognize GroMM. Studies using domain swap chimeras confirmed that the ectodomain of hMincle, but not that of mMincle, interacted with GroMM, and site-directed mutagenesis analyses revealed that short stretches of amino acid residues at positions 174-176 and 195-196 were involved in GroMM recognition. To further substantiate the differential recognition of GroMM by hMincle and mMincle, hMincle transgenic/mMincle knock-out mice (i.e. hMincle(+) mice) were established and compared with non-transgenic mice (i.e. mMincle(+) mice). We showed that macrophages derived from hMincle(+) mice were activated by GroMM and produced inflammatory cytokines, whereas those derived from mMincle(+) mice did not exhibit any reactivity to GroMM. Furthermore, local inflammatory responses were elicited in the GroMM-injected skin of hMincle(+), but not mMincle(+) mice. These results demonstrated that GroMM is a unique ligand for hMincle that is not recognized by mMincle.
• Anatomy of plasmid DNAs with anti-silencing elements

  Genki N. Kanda, Shiho Miyamoto, Miwako Kobayashi, Ichiro Matsuoka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 464 (1-2) 27 - 33 0378-5173 2014/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The transience of transgene expression is a major obstacle in the development of nonviral vectors. The CpG-free and pLIVE plasmids reportedly achieve long-term transgene expression in mouse liver. In this work, the anti-silencing elements within these plasmids were studied. The effects of plasmid that was being silenced on transgene expression from the CpG-free plasmid and those of transgene expression at early time points on silencing were also examined. The results suggested that the backbone sequence of the CpG-free plasmid and the 3' untranslated region of the albumin gene of the pLIVE plasmid contribute to durable expression. In addition, no influence of the silencing of another plasmid on the duration of CpG-free plasmid expression or of transgene expression at early time points on silencing was detected. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• An apolipoprotein E modified liposomal nanoparticle: Ligand dependent efficiency as a siRNA delivery carrier for mouse-derived brain endothelial cells

  Mina Tamaru, Hidetaka Akita, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 465 (1-2) 77 - 82 0378-5173 2014/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A disorder in the brain endothelium is thought to be closely related to the pathophysiology of brain diseases. A method for delivering nucleic acids (i.e. short interference RNA; siRNA) to the brain endothelium should be an attractive strategy for curing brain disorders. A liposornal nanoparticle containing a proton ionizable amino lipid was recently developed as a carrier of encapsulated siRNA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) as a targeting ligancl for mouse brain endothelial cells (MBEC4 cells). The cellular uptake of the ApoE-modified nanoparticles was gradually increased in an ApoE-density dependent mariner. Furthermore, the ApoE-modified nanoparticles were taken up via both clathrin and caveolae mediated endocytosis, thus permitting them to avoid lysosomal degradation. Finally, endogenous gene silencing in MBEC4 cells was efficiently achieved depending on the ApoE-modification. Collectively, the ApoE-modified nanoparticle is a promising carrier for delivering nucleic acids to the brain endothelium. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• In vivo therapeutic potential of Dicer-hunting siRNAs targeting infectious hepatitis C virus.

  Tsunamasa Watanabe, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Chiho Matsuda-Yasui, Yusuke Sato, Masayuki Sudoh, Asako Takagi, Yuichi Hirata, Takahiro Ohtsuki, Masaaki Arai, Kazuaki Inoue, Hideyoshi Harashima, Michinori Kohara

  SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 4 4750  2045-2322 2014/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapy faces two major obstacles: selecting small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences with strong activity, and identifying a carrier that allows efficient delivery to target organs. Additionally, conservative region at nucleotide level must be targeted for RNAi in applying to virus because hepatitis C virus (HCV) could escape from therapeutic pressure with genome mutations. In vitro preparation of Dicer-generated siRNAs targeting a conserved, highly ordered HCV 5' untranslated region are capable of inducing strong RNAi activity. By dissecting the 5'-end of an RNAi-mediated cleavage site in the HCV genome, we identified potent siRNA sequences, which we designate as Dicer-hunting siRNAs (dh-siRNAs). Furthermore, formulation of the dh-siRNAs in an optimized multifunctional envelope-type nano device inhibited ongoing infectious HCV replication in human hepatocytes in vivo. Our efforts using both identification of optimal siRNA sequences and delivery to human hepatocytes suggest therapeutic potential of siRNA for a virus.
• Hepatic Monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 as a Promising Therapeutic Target for Steatosis, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Erina Suemitsu, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yusuke Sato, Afsana Akhter, Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Mamoru Hyodo, Noritada Kaji, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 3 e154  2162-2531 2014/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Over the past decade, considerable advances have been made in the discovery of gene targets in metabolic diseases. However, in vivo studies based on molecular biological technologies such as the generation of knockout mice and the construction of short hairpin RNA vectors require considerable effort and time, which is a major limitation for in vivo functional analysis. Here, we introduce a liver-specific nonviral small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery system into rapid and efficient characterization of hepatic gene targets in metabolic disease mice. The comparative transcriptome analysis in liver between KKAy diabetic and normal control mice demonstrated that the expression of monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (Mogat1), an enzyme involved in triglyceride synthesis and storage, was highly elevated during the disease progression. The upregulation of Mogat1 expression in liver was also found in other genetic (db/db) and diet-induced obese mice. The silencing of hepatic Mogat1 via a liver-specific siRNA delivery system resulted in a dramatic improvement in blood glucose levels and hepatic steatosis as well as overweight with no apparent overall toxicities, indicating that hepatic Mogat1 is a promising therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. The integrated approach with transcriptomics and nonviral siRNA delivery system provides a blueprint for rapid drug discovery and development.
• Effects of Silencing the RET/PTC1 Oncogene in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by siRNA-Squalene Nanoparticles With and Without Fusogenic Companion GALA-Cholesterol

  Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Andrei Maksimenko, Giorgia Urbinati, Hubert Chapuis, Mouna Raouane, Didier Desmaele, Hayashi Yasuhiro, Hideyoshi Harashima, Patrick Couvreur, Liliane Massaad-Massade

  THYROID 24 (2) 327 - 338 1050-7256 2014/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background:RET/PTC1 is the most prevalent type of gene rearrangement found in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Previously, we introduced a new noncationic nanosystem for targeted RET/PTC1 silencing by efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) using the squalenoylation approach. With the aim of improving these results further, we designed new squalenoyl nanostructures consisting of the fusogenic peptide GALA-cholesterol (GALA-Chol) and squalene (SQ) nanoparticles (NPs) of siRNA RET/PTC1. Methods: The siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ bioconjugate was synthesized. The corresponding NPs were prepared with or without GALA-Chol by nanoprecipitation and then characterized for their size and zeta potential. The effects of NPs on BHP 10-3 SCmice and TPC-1 cell viability (MTT assay), gene and protein silencing (reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction [rt-qPCR], Western blot), and cellular uptake (fluorescent microscopy) were studied. In vivo gene silencing efficiency of siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ NPs was assessed by administration in nude mice via either intratumoral (i.t.) or intravenous (i.v.) routes. Tumor growth was followed for 19 days. Tumors were then collected, and RET/PTC1 gene and protein inhibitions were assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results: The combination of siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ bioconjugate and GALA-Chol leads to stable NPs of approximate to 200nm diameter. In vitro, the results revealed that combining GALA-Chol with siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ NPs decreased cell viability, enhanced cellular internalization, and induced gene silencing efficiency in both human PTC (BHP 10-3 SCmice and TPC-1) cell lines. On the contrary, in vivo, the siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ GALA-Chol NPs were not found to be efficient either in gene silencing or in tumor growth inhibition, compared to siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ NPs both via i.t. and i.v. routes (p<0.001). Conclusions: Conversely to siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ NPs, the siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ GALA-Chol NPs are efficient in vitro but not in vivo. Finally, NPs of siRNA RET/PTC1-SQ were found to be efficient silencers of the RET/PTC1 fusion oncogene in in vivo applications even at a concentration lower than used in a previously published study.
• Neutral biodegradable lipid-envelope-type nanoparticle using vitamin A-Scaffold for nuclear targeting of plasmid DNA

  Hiroki Tanaka, Hidetaka Akita, Ryohei Ishiba, Kota Tange, Masaya Arai, Kazuhiro Kubo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 35 (5) 1755 - 1761 0142-9612 2014/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Biomembranes and cytoplasm, a diffusion-limited region for nanoparticles are critical barriers to be overcome for the successful gene delivery. We herein report on a neutral, and intracellularly degradable lipid nanoparticle (LNP), containing encapsulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) that can be effectively delivered to the nucleus. A key material component in this particle is a vitamin A-scaffold SS-cleavable ProtonActivated Lipid-like Material ((SS)Palm(A)), which contains tertiary amine groups as proton sponge units that can respond to the acidic pH in endosomes, disulfide bonding for programmed collapse in the cytoplasm, and retinoic acid (RA) as a hydrophobic unit for assembly into LNP. LNP prepared using ssPalmA (LNPpalmA) exhibited a 15-fold higher gene expression activity compared to particles prepared with a simple acyl chain (myristoyl group)-scaffold one (LNPpalmM). Intracellular imaging studies revealed that LNPPalmA unexpectedly showed excessive endosome-disruptive characteristics. Furthermore, the decapsulation of pDNA slowly, but successively occurred in parallel with pen-nuclear accumulation. Nuclear targeting was blocked in the presence of native RA. Collectively, LNPpalmA is an intelligent particle that passes through the cytoplasm in particle form with the aid of the intrinsic nuclear transport system of RA, and thereafter releases its encapsulated pDNA for effective gene expression. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Nanoparticulation of BCG-CWS for application to bladder cancer therapy

  Takashi Nakamura, Masafumi Fukiage, Megumi Higuchi, Akihiro Nakaya, Ikuya Yano, Jun Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Hideyuki Akaza, Toshihiro Ito, Hiroyuki Hosokawa, Toshinori Nakayama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 176 44 - 53 0168-3659 2014/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guerin cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) could be used to replace live BCG as a bladder cancer drug. However, because BCG-CWS is poorly soluble, has a strong-negative charge, very high molecular weight and heterogeneity in size of tens of mu m, it cannot be used in such an application. We report herein on the development of a novel packaging method that permits BCG-CWS to be encapsulated into 166 nm-sized lipid particles. The BCG-CWS encapsulated nano particle (CWS-NP) has a high uniformity and can be easily dispersed. Thus, it has the potential for use as a packaging method that would advance the scope of applications of BCG-CWS as a bladder cancer drug. In a functional evaluation, CWS-NP was efficiently taken up by mouse bladder tumor (MBT-2) cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing MBT-2 tumors. Moreover, intravesically administered CWS-NP showed significant antitumor effects in a rat model with naturally developed bladder cancer. An enhancement in Th1 differentiation by CWS-NP was also confirmed in human T cells. In conclusion, CWS-NP represents a promising delivery system for BCG-CWS for clinical development as a potent bladder cancer drug. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
• "Semmelweis" in the Innovative Drug Discovery and Developments

  Harashima Hideyoshi

  Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan The Academy of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan 74 (1) 1 - 1 0372-7629 2014
• The initiatives for regulatory science researches of nanomedicines

  Harashima Hideyoshi, Hidetaka Akita, Kumiko Sakai-Kato, Takehiko Ishii, Yasuhiro Matsumura, Kazunori Kataoka

  Drug Delivery System 29 (3) 217 - 225 1881-2732 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Nanomaterials often have physical, chemical, or biological properties that are different from those of bulk materials. These properties may have potential impacts on a variety of products, and nanotechnology application to pharmaceuticals is a typical such example. Because the unique size-specific interaction with biological systems or biodistribution may have significant impacts on the efficacy and safety of nanomedicines, regulatory science researches of nanomedicines are required. We have been conducting the formulation study, and nonclinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicology, and clinical studies of the polymeric micelles and lipid nanoparticles which are designed to ensure high stability in vivo and to optimize the pharmacokinetics. In this review, we introduce our initiatives for regulatory science researches of nanomedicines.
• Application of apolipoprotein E-modified liposomal nanoparticles as a carrier for delivering DNA and nucleic acid in the brain

  Mina Tamaru, Hidetaka Akita, Taichi Nakatani, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE 9 4267 - 4276 1178-2013 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  An innovative drug delivery technology is urgently needed to satisfy unmet medical needs in treating various brain disorders. As a fundamental carrier for plasmid DNA or nucleic acids, we developed a liposomal nanoparticle (multifunctional envelope-type nano device [MEND]) containing a proton-ionizable amino lipid (YSK-MEND). Here we report on the impact of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) modification on the function of YSK-MEND in terms of targeting brain cells. The cellular uptake and function of YSK-MEND encapsulating short interference RNA or plasmid DNA were significantly improved as a result of ApoE modification in mouse neuron-derived cell lines (Neuro-2a and CAD). Intracerebroventricular administration of ApoE-modified YSK-MEND (ApoE/YSK-MEND) encapsulating plasmid DNA also resulted in higher transgene expression in comparison with YSK-MEND that was not modified with ApoE. Moreover, observation of fluorescence-labeled ApoE/YSK-MEND and expression of mCherry (fluorescence protein) derived from plasmid DNA indicated that this carrier might be useful for delivering and conferring transgene expression in neural stem cells and/or neural progenitor cells. Thus, this system may be a useful tool for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
• The systemic administration of an anti-miRNA oligonucleotide encapsulated pH-sensitive liposome results in reduced level of hepatic microRNA-122 in mice

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Manami Murata, Yusuke Sato, Mayumi Takahashi, Noriaki Minakawa, Akira Matsuda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 173 (1) 43 - 50 0168-3659 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient delivery continues to be a challenge in microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics. We utilized a pH-sensitive multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) containing a pH-sensitive lipid YSK05 (YSK05-MEND) to regulate liver specific miRNA-122 (miR-122). Anti-microRNA oligonucleotides including 2′-OMe and phosphorothioate modifications against miR-122 (AMO122) were encapsulated in the YSK05-MEND. Despite the lower uptake, the YSK05-MEND showed a higher activity in liver cancer cells than Lipofectamine2000 (LFN2k) due to efficient endosomal escape. Cytotoxicity was minimal at 100 nM of AMO122 in YSK05-MEND treated cells, but LFN2k showed toxicity at 50 nM. When mice were administrated with free AMO122, it was eliminated via the kidney due to its molecular weight, and lesser amounts were detected in the liver. Conversely, the YSK05-MEND delivered higher amounts of the AMO122 to the liver. Systemic administration of YSK05-MEND induced the knockdown of miR-122 and an increase in target genes in the liver, and a subsequent reduction in plasma cholesterol at a dose of 1 mg AMO/kg while free AMO122 showed no activity at the same dose. The effect of AMO122 delivered by YSK05-MEND persisted for over 2 weeks. These results suggest that YSK05-MEND is a promising system for delivering AMOs to the liver. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
• Neutralized nanoparticle composed of SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material as a long-lasting and liver-specific gene delivery system

  Masami Ukawa, Hidetaka Akita, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Ryohei Ishiba, Kota Tange, Masaya Arai, Kazuhiro Kubo, Yuriko Higuchi, Kazunori Shimizu, Satoshi Konishi, Mitsuru Hashida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced Healthcare Materials 3 (8) 1222 - 1229 2192-2659 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Charge-neutralized lipid envelope-type nanoparticles formed with SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like materials (ssPalm) accumulate rapidly in the liver without forming aggregates in the blood circulation, and result in a liver-specific gene expression for a long duration (> 2 weeks) with neither immunological responses nor hepatotoxicity after intraveneous administration, when it carries pDNA free from CpG-motifs. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
• Suppression of short tract gene conversion in episomal DNA by p53 reduction

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Tetsuya Suzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Genes and Environment 36 (2) 65 - 68 1880-7062 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The loss of the p53 tumor suppressor protein causes genomic instability. The double strand break is the most severe form of DNA damage, and homologous recombination (HR) acts as a defense against it. In this study, the effects of p53 reduction on HR were investigated, using plasmid DNA in human U2OS cells. The plasmid DNA was designed to contain two inactivated kanamycin resistance genes that reconstitute the functional gene after HR. The p53 protein was knocked-down by siRNA, and then linearized plasmid DNA was introduced into the knockdown cells. The knockdown of p53 reduced the frequency of short tract gene conversion in the plasmid. These results suggested that p53 may enhance the HR of episomal DNA in human cells. © The Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society.
• RNAi-mediated gene knockdown and anti-angiogenic therapy of RCCs using a cyclic RGD-modified liposomal-siRNA system

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 173 110 - 118 0168-3659 2014/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Angiogenesis is one of crucial processes associated with tumor growth and development, and consequently a prime target for cancer therapy. Although tumor endothelial cells (TECs) play a key role in pathological angiogenesis, investigating phenotypical changes in neovessels when a gene expression in TEC is suppressed is a difficult task. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) represents a potential agent due to its ability to silence a gene of interest. We previously developed a system for in vivo siRNA delivery to cancer cells that involves a liposomal-delivery system, a MEND that contains a unique pH-sensitive cationic lipid, YSK05 (YSK-MEND). In the present study, we report on the development of a system that permits the delivery of siRNA to TECs by combining the YSK-MEND and a ligand that is specific to TECs. Cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Lys) (cRGD) is a well-known ligand to alpha(V)beta(3) integrin, which is selectively expressed at high levels in TECs. We incorporated cRGD into the YSK-MEND (RGD-MEND) to achieve an efficient gene silencing in TECs. Quantitative RT-PCR and the 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR indicated that the intravenous injection of RGD-MEND at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg induced a significant RNAi-mediated gene reduction in TEC but not in endothelial cells of other organs. Finally, we evaluated the therapeutic potency of the RGD-MEND encapsulating siRNA against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. A substantial delay in tumor growth was observed after three sequential RGD-MEND injections on alternate days. In conclusion, the RGD-MEND represents a new approach for the characterization of TECs and for us in anti-angiogenic therapy. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Cancer multidrug resistance: mechanisms involved and strategies for circumvention using a drug delivery system

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ARCHIVES OF PHARMACAL RESEARCH 37 (1) 4 - 15 0253-6269 2014/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multidrug resistance (MDR), the principal mechanism by which many cancers develop resistance to chemotherapy, is one of the major obstacles to the successful clinical treatment of various types of cancer. Several key regulators are responsible for mediating MDR, a process that renders chemotherapeutic drugs ineffective in the internal organelles of target cells. A nanoparticulate drug delivery system (DDS) is a potentially promising tool for circumventing such MDR, which can be achieved by targeting tumor cells themselves or tumor endothelial cells that support the survival of MDR cancer cells. The present article discusses key factors that are responsible for MDR in cancer cells, with a specific focus on the application of DDS to overcome MDR via the use of chemotherapy or macromolecules.
• The systemic administration of an anti-miRNA oligonucleotide encapsulated pH-sensitive liposome results in reduced level of hepatic microRNA-122 in mice

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Manami Murata, Yusuke Sato, Mayumi Takahashi, Noriaki Minakawa, Akira Matsuda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 173 (1) 43 - 50 0168-3659 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient delivery continues to be a challenge in microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics. We utilized a pH-sensitive multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) containing a pH-sensitive lipid YSK05 (YSK05-MEND) to regulate liver specific miRNA-122 (miR-122). Anti-microRNA oligonucleotides including 2′-OMe and phosphorothioate modifications against miR-122 (AMO122) were encapsulated in the YSK05-MEND. Despite the lower uptake, the YSK05-MEND showed a higher activity in liver cancer cells than Lipofectamine2000 (LFN2k) due to efficient endosomal escape. Cytotoxicity was minimal at 100 nM of AMO122 in YSK05-MEND treated cells, but LFN2k showed toxicity at 50 nM. When mice were administrated with free AMO122, it was eliminated via the kidney due to its molecular weight, and lesser amounts were detected in the liver. Conversely, the YSK05-MEND delivered higher amounts of the AMO122 to the liver. Systemic administration of YSK05-MEND induced the knockdown of miR-122 and an increase in target genes in the liver, and a subsequent reduction in plasma cholesterol at a dose of 1 mg AMO/kg while free AMO122 showed no activity at the same dose. The effect of AMO122 delivered by YSK05-MEND persisted for over 2 weeks. These results suggest that YSK05-MEND is a promising system for delivering AMOs to the liver. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
• The systemic administration of an anti-miRNA oligonucleotide encapsulated pH-sensitive liposome results in reduced level of hepatic microRNA-122 in mice

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Manami Murata, Yusuke Sato, Mayumi Takahashi, Noriaki Minakawa, Akira Matsuda, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 173 43 - 50 0168-3659 2014/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient delivery continues to be a challenge in microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics. We utilized a pH-sensitive multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) containing a pH-sensitive lipid YSK05 (YSK05-MEND) to regulate liver specific miRNA-122 (miR-122). Anti-microRNA oligonucleotides including 2'-OMe and phosphorothioate modifications against miR-122 (AMO122) were encapsulated in the YSK05-MEND. Despite the lower uptake, the YSK05-MEND showed a higher activity in liver cancer cells than Lipofectamine2000 (LFN2k) due to efficient endosomal escape. Cytotoxicity was minimal at 100 nM of AMO122 in YSK05-MEND treated cells, but LFN2k showed toxicity at 50 nM. When mice were administrated with free AMO122, it was eliminated via the kidney due to its molecular weight, and lesser amounts were detected in the liver. Conversely, the YSK05-MEND delivered higher amounts of the AMO122 to the liver. Systemic administration of YSK05-MEND induced the knockdown of miR-122 and an increase in target genes in the liver, and a subsequent reduction in plasma cholesterol at a dose of 1 mg AMO/kg while free AMO122 showed no activity at the same dose. The effect of AMO122 delivered by YSK05-MEND persisted for over 2 weeks. These results suggest that YSK05-MEND is a promising system for delivering AMOs to the liver. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A method for screening mitochondrial fusogenic envelopes for use in mitochondrial drug delivery

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Methods in Molecular Biology 1141 57 - 66 1064-3745 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Various types of mitochondrial dysfunctions have been implicated in a variety of human diseases. This suggests that mitochondria would be promising therapeutic drug targets and mitochondrial therapy would be expected to be useful for the treatment of various diseases. We have already reported the development of a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based nano-carrier that delivers its cargo to mitochondria via a membrane-fusion mechanism. In our strategy for delivering cargos to mitochondria using a MITO-Porter, the carriers must fuse with the organelle membrane. Here we report on methodology for screening various types of lipid envelopes that have the potential for fusing with a mitochondrial membrane. The method involves monitoring the cancellation of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and evaluating membrane fusion between the carriers and mitochondria in living cells by FRET analysis using a spectral imaging fluorescent microscopy system. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media, New York.
• Cytoprotective role of the fatty acid binding protein 4 against oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yoshitaka Minami, Hideyoshi Harashima

  FEBS OPEN BIO 4 602 - 610 2211-5463 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), one of the most abundant proteins in adipocytes, has been reported to have a proinflammatory function in macrophages. However, the physiological role of FABP4, which is constitutively expressed in adipocytes, has not been fully elucidated. Previously, we demonstrated that FABP4 was involved in the regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In this study, we examined the effects of FABP4 silencing on the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that the cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-nitro-cyclic GMP levels were significantly elevated in the differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes transfected with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Fabp4, although the intracellular levels or enzyme activities of antioxidants including reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase A4 (GSTA4) were not altered. An in vitro evaluation using the recombinant protein revealed that FABP4 itself functions as a scavenger protein against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). FABP4-knockdown resulted in a significant lowering of cell viability of 3T3-L1 adipocytes against H2O2 treatment. Moreover, four kinds of markers related to the ER stress response including the endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (Ern1), the signal sequence receptor alpha (Ssr1), the ORM1-like 3 (Ormdl3), and the spliced X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1s), were all elevated as the result of the knockdown of FABP4. Consequently, FABP4 might have a new role as an antioxidant protein against H2O2 and contribute to cytoprotection against oxidative and ER stress in adipocytes. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
• Application of apolipoprotein E-modified liposomal nanoparticles as a carrier for delivering DNA and nucleic acid in the brain.

  Tamaru M, Akita H, Nakatani T, Kajimoto K, Sato Y, Hatakeyama H, Harashima H

  International journal of nanomedicine 9 4267 - 4276 1176-9114 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Multifunctional Enveloped Nanodevices (MENDs)

  Yusuke Sato, Takashi Nakamura, Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NONVIRAL VECTORS FOR GENE THERAPY LIPID- AND POLYMER-BASED GENE TRANSFER 88 139 - 204 0065-2660 2014 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It is anticipated that nucleic acid medicines will be in widespread use in the future, since they have the potential to cure diseases based on molecular mechanisms at the level of gene expression. However, intelligent delivery systems are required to achieve nucleic acid therapy, since they can perform their function only when they reach the intracellular site of action. We have been developing a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice abbreviated as MEND, which consists of functional nucleic acids as a core and lipid envelope, and can control not only biodistribution but also the intracellular trafficking of nucleic acids. In this chapter, we review the development and evolution of the MEND by providing several successful examples, including the R8-MEND, the KALA-MEND, the MITO-Porter, the YSK-MEND, and the PALM.
• In vitro optimization of 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleoside-modified anti-microRNA oligonucleotides and its targeting delivery to mouse liver using a liposomal nanoparticle

  Mayumi Takahashi, Naoki Yamada, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Manami Murata, Yusuke Sato, Noriaki Minakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akira Matsuda

  Nucleic Acids Research 41 (22) 10659 - 10667 0305-1048 2013/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Previous studies, which characterized miRNA function, revealed their involvement in fundamental biological processes. Importantly, miRNA expression is deregulated in many human diseases. Specific inhibition of miRNAs using chemically modified anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) can be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases in which a specific miRNA is overexpressed. 2′-O-Methyl (2′-OMe)-4′-thioRNA is a hybrid type of chemically modified oligonucleotide, exhibiting high binding affinity to complementary RNAs and high resistance to nuclease degradation. Here, we evaluate 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleosides for chemical modification on AMOs. Optimization of the modification pattern using a variety of chemically modified AMOs that are perfectly complementary to mature miR-21 revealed that the uniformly 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleoside-modified AMO was most potent. Further investigation showed that phosphorothioate modification contributed to long-term miR-122 inhibition by the 2′-OMe-4′- thioribonucleoside-modified AMO. Moreover, systemically administrated AMOs to mouse using a liposomal delivery system, YSK05-MEND, showed delivery to the liver and efficient inhibition of miR-122 activity at a low dose in vivo. © 2013 The Author(s).
• In vitro optimization of 2 '-OMe-4 '-thioribonucleoside-modified anti-microRNA oligonucleotides and its targeting delivery to mouse liver using a liposomal nanoparticle

  Mayumi Takahashi, Naoki Yamada, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Manami Murata, Yusuke Sato, Noriaki Minakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akira Matsuda

  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH 41 (22) 10659 - 10667 0305-1048 2013/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Previous studies, which characterized miRNA function, revealed their involvement in fundamental biological processes. Importantly, miRNA expression is deregulated in many human diseases. Specific inhibition of miRNAs using chemically modified anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) can be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases in which a specific miRNA is overexpressed. 2'-O-Methyl (2'-OMe)-4'-thioRNA is a hybrid type of chemically modified oligonucleotide, exhibiting high binding affinity to complementary RNAs and high resistance to nuclease degradation. Here, we evaluate 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleosides for chemical modification on AMOs. Optimization of the modification pattern using a variety of chemically modified AMOs that are perfectly complementary to mature miR-21 revealed that the uniformly 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleoside modified AMO was most potent. Further investigation showed that phosphorothioate modification contributed to long-term miR-122 inhibition by the 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleoside-modified AMO. Moreover, systemically administrated AMOs to mouse using a liposomal delivery system, YSK05-MEND, showed delivery to the liver and efficient inhibition of miR-122 activity at a low dose in vivo.
• Reduced Plasma Glucose by Asparagine Synthetase Knockdown in the Mouse Liver

  Shinya Iida, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Akihiro Nakaya, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Sawada, Noritada Kaji, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 36 (12) 2009 - 2011 0918-6158 2013/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Expression of the asparagine synthetase gene is dependent on extracellular glucose concentration. This gene was knocked-down in livers of male Balb/c mice by a hydrodynamic tail vein injection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the gene. This knockdown resulted in a significant decrease in plasma glucose concentration. These results suggested that asparagine synthetase is a novel protein that regulates plasma glucose levels.
• Intracellular observation of nanocarriers modified with a mitochondrial targeting signal peptide

  Eriko Kawamura, Yuma Yamada, Yukari Yasuzaki, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING 116 (5) 634 - 637 1389-1723 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This study focused on the intracellular observation of nanocarriers modified with a mitochondrial targeting signal peptide (MTS). The nanocarriers showed an efficient cellular uptake, and the MTS had a positive effect on their mitochondrial targeting. This is the first report of an intracellular observation of nanocarriers modified with MTS. (C) 2013, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
• Development of a Novel Nanoparticle by Dual Modification With the Pluripotential Cell-Penetrating Peptide PepFect6 for Cellular Uptake, Endosomal Escape, and Decondensation of an siRNA Core Complex

  Asako Mitsueda, Yuri Shimatani, Masahiro Ito, Takashi Ohgita, Asako Yamada, Susumu Hama, Astrid Graslund, Staffan Lindberg, Ulo Langel, Hideyoshi Harashima, Ikuhiko Nakase, Shiroh Futaki, Kentaro Kogure

  BIOPOLYMERS 100 (6) 698 - 704 0006-3525 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Development of novel devices for effective nucleotide release from nanoparticles is required to improve the functionality of nonviral delivery systems, because decondensation of nucleotide/polycation complexes is considered as a key step for cytoplasmic delivery of nucleotides. Previously, PepFect6 (PF6) comprised chloroquine analog moieties and a stearylated cell-penetrating peptide to facilitate endosomal escape and cellular uptake, respectively, was developed as a device for efficient siRNA delivery. As PF6 contains bulky chloroquine analog moieties, the polyplexes are expected to be loose structure, which facilitates decondensation. In the present study, siRNA was electrostatically condensed by PF6, and the PF6/siRNA complexes were coated with lipid membranes. The surface of the nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6/siRNA core (PF6-NP) was modified with PF6 for endosomal escape (PF6/PF6-NP). The RNAi effect of PF6/PF6-NP was compared with those of stearylated cell-penetrating peptide octaarginine (R8)-modified PF6-NP, R8-modified nanoparticles encapsulating the R8/siRNA core (R8-NP) and PF6-modified R8-NP. Nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6 polyplex, especially PF/PF-NP, showed a significant knockdown effect on luciferase activity of B16-F1 cells stably expressing luciferase. siRNA was widely distributed within the cytoplasm after transfection of the nanoparticles encapsulating the PF6 polyplex, while siRNA encapsulated in the R8-presenting nanoparticles was localized within the nuclei. Thus, the siRNA distribution was dependent on the manner of peptide-modification. In conclusion, we have successfully developed PF6/PF6-NP exhibiting a potent RNAi effect resulting from high cellular uptake, efficient endosomal escape and decondensation of the polyplexes based on the multifunctional cell penetrating peptide PF6. PF6 is therefore a useful pluripotential device for siRNA delivery. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
• A liposomal delivery system that targets liver endothelial cells based on a new peptide motif present in the ApoB-100 sequence.

  Akhter A, Hayashi Y, Sakurai Y, Ohga N, Hida K, Harashima H

  International journal of pharmaceutics Elsevier science bv 456 (1) 195 - 201 0378-5173 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Liver dysfunction is associated with a variety of liver diseases, including viral or alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. A targeted drug delivery system would be very useful in the treatment of these diseases. We herein describe the development of a system comprised of a new peptide-lipid conjugate for the efficient delivery of molecules to LEC. The RLTRKRGLK sequence (3359-3367), which mediates the association of LDL with arterial CSPG and an LDL receptor, was utilized as a ligand for achieving this goal. The peptide modified PEG-LPs (RLTR-PEG-LPs) were efficiently taken up by primary liver endothelial cells (liver ECs) and other types of cells. In vivo biodistribution and confocal microscopy analysis showed that RLTR-PEG-LPs became widely accumulated in LECs within a short time. Distribution of RLTR-PEG-LPs was greatly reduced with a pretreatment of unlabeled RLTR-PEG-LPs, not cationic LPs, indicating that the sequence is important for LECs. The findings indicate that a reverse sequence of RLTR (KLGR) modified PEG-LPs (KLGR-PEG-LP) did the same pattern compared with RLTR-PEG- LPs, suggesting that the RKR or RXXR sequence might be essential for LECs targeting. Collectively RLTR-PEG-LPs and KLGR-PEG-LPs have the potential for delivering drugs to LECs. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A DNA microarray-based analysis of immune-stimulatory and transcriptional responses of dendritic cells to KALA-modified nanoparticles

  Hidetaka Akita, Soichiro Ishii, Naoya Miura, Sharif Mohammad Shaheen, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Takashi Nakamura, Noritada Kaji, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 34 (35) 8979 - 8990 0142-9612 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Technologies for the transfection of antigen-encoding genes into the dendritic cells, and subsequent immune-activation are both prerequisites for a successful DNA vaccine. We herein report on the density-dependent enhancement of transgene expression by the simple modification by stearyl-conjugated KALA, an alpha-helical peptide (STR-KALA), onto a lipid envelope-type nanoparticle (the R8-MEND, an octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device). The enhanced transgene expression in the KALA-modified R8-MEND (R8/KALA-MEND) cannot be explained by cellular uptake and nuclear delivery efficacy. Thus, the post-nuclear delivery process (i.e. transcription), but not intracellular trafficking processes attributed the enhanced transfection efficacy. Microarray analyses revealed that transfection with the R8/KALA-MEND resulted in a greater perturbation in host genes expression in comparison with the R8-MEND and that this effect was time-dependent. Further pathway analyses in the category of transcription-related genes and a gene ontology analysis indicated that the R8/KALA-MEND stimulated the expression of transcription factors that are closely related to immune-activation (i.e. NF-kB and STAT). Inhibition of the transfection efficacy by blockage of the STAT pathways revealed that the enhanced transcription activity is the result of immune-stimulation. Collectively, the R8/KALA-MEND mounts a "switch-on" function that triggers signal transduction forward to the immune-stimulation analogous to an adjuvant, and consequently elicits active transcription. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Mitochondrial targeting functional peptides as potential devices for the mitochondrial delivery of a DF-MITO-Porter

  Eriko Kawamura, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MITOCHONDRION 13 (6) 610 - 614 1567-7249 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To achieve mitochondrial therapy, we previously reported on the use of an octaarginine (R8) modified Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter for delivering molecules to mitochondria in living cells. In this study, using isolated mitochondria, homogenates and living cells, we evaluated the utility of mitochondrial targeting functional peptides as a ligand for delivering carriers. The S2 peptide modified carrier showed a high mitochondrial targeting activity in homogenates and living cells. In addition, the S2 peptide had a lower cell toxicity compared to R8 modified liposomes. The S2 peptide represents a potentially useful moiety for constructing an efficient and safe mitochondrial delivery system. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.
• Th1-skewed tissue responses to a mycolyl glycolipid in mycobacteria-infected rhesus macaques

  Daisuke Morita, Ayumi Miyamoto, Yuki Hattori, Takaya Komori, Takashi Nakamura, Tatsuhiko Igarashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masahiko Sugita

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 441 (1) 108 - 113 0006-291X 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) is a major glycolipid of the cell wall of mycobacteria with remarkable adjuvant functions. To avoid detection by the host innate immune system, invading mycobacteria down-regulate the expression of TDM by utilizing host-derived glucose as a competitive substrate for their mycolyltransferases; however, this enzymatic reaction results in the concomitant biosynthesis of glucose monomycolate (GMM) which is recognized by the acquired immune system. GMM-specific, CD1-restricted T cell responses have been detected in the peripheral blood of infected human subjects and monkeys as well as in secondary lymphoid organs of small animals, such as guinea pigs and human CD1-transgenic mice. Nevertheless, it remains to be determined how tissues respond at the site where GMM is produced. Here we found that rhesus macaques vaccinated with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin mounted a chemokine response in GMM-challenged skin that was favorable for recruiting T helper (Th)1 T cells. Indeed, the expression of interferon-gamma, but not Th2 or Th17 cytokines, was prominent in the GMM-injected tissue. The GMM-elicited tissue response was also associated with the expression of monocyte/macrophage-attracting CC chemokines, such as CCL2, CCL4 and CCL8. Furthermore, the skin response to GMM involved the up-regulated expression of granulysin and perforin. Given that GMM is produced primarily by pathogenic mycobacteria proliferating within the host, the Th1-skewed tissue response to GMM may function efficiently at the site of infection. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Investigation of siRNA Nanoparticle Formation Using Mono-Cationic Detergents and Its Use in Gene Silencing in Human HeLa Cells.

  Yamada Y, Suzuki R, Harashima H

  Cancers 5 (4) 1413 - 1425 2013/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Production of small nano-sized particles by complex formation between polycations and linearized plasmid DNA at a low pH

  Ryohei Togashi, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING 116 (4) 528 - 531 1389-1723 2013/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We report on the technical advance of linearized pDNA (pDNA(linear)) above the circular one (pDNA(circ)) for preparation of small-sized DNA/polycation complexes (DPC) at a low pH. Also, the resistance of the DPC formed with pDNA(linear) against poly-L-asparagine indicates that effective ion-pairing occurred between the pDNA(linear) and polycations. (C) 2013, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
• A comparative study between nanoparticle-targeted therapeutics and bioconjugates as obesity medication

  Md. Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 171 (2) 104 - 112 0168-3659 2013/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Antiangiogenesis has been the focus of a new strategy for the treatment of obesity. However, little is known regarding the issue of whether targeting angiogenesis by nanoparticle-targeted therapeutic is advantageous or not in debugging the co-morbidity associated with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and the metabolic syndrome. We report herein on the positive effect of prohibitin (an adipose vascular marker)-targeted nanoparticle (PTNP) encapsulated in a proapoptotic peptide [(D)(KLAKLAK)(2), KLA] on DIO and dysfunctional adipose tissue, a major mediator of the metabolic syndrome, as evidenced by ectopic fat deposition. The systemic injection of DIO mice with a low dose of KLA-PTNP, rather than a bioconjugate composed of the same targeting peptide and KLA (Adipotide) resulted in a reduction in body weight, as evidenced by a significant decrease in serum leptin levels, in parallel with an antiobesity effect on dysfunctional adipose cells, including adipocytes and macrophages. In addition, the KLA-PTNP treatment resulted in a reduction in ectopic fat deposits in liver and muscle with the lipolytic action of elevated serum adiponectin, with no detectable hepatoxicity. Notably, drug delivery via PTNP that had accumulated in obese fat via the enhanced permeability and retention effect was enhanced by multivalent active targeting and cytoplasmic delivery into adipose endothelial cells via escaping from endosomes/lysosomes. Thus, vascular-targeted nanotherapy has the potential to contribute to the control of adipose function and ectopic fat deposition associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
• Enhancement in selective mitochondrial association by direct modification of a mitochondrial targeting signal peptide on a liposomal based nanocarrier

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Mitochondrion 13 (5) 526 - 532 1567-7249 2013/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The focus of this study was on the development of a nano carrier targeted to mitochondria, a promising therapeutic drug target. We synthesized a lipid derivative that is conjugated with a mitochondrial targeting signal peptide (MTS), which permits the selective delivery of certain types of proteins to mitochondria. We then explored the use of an innovative technology in which MTS and the MITO-Porter were integrated. The latter is a liposome that delivers cargos to mitochondria via membrane fusion. The results indicate that the combination of MTS and the MITO-Porter would be useful for selective mitochondrial delivery via membrane fusion. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.
• An Approach to Transgene Expression in Liver Endothelial Cells Using a Liposome-Based Gene Vector Coated with Hyaluronic Acid

  Yuma Yamada, Masahiro Hashida, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Mai Tabata, Mamoru Hyodo, Mst Naznin Ara, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 102 (9) 3119 - 3127 0022-3549 2013/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Dysfunctional sinusoidal liver endothelial cells (LECs) are associated with liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. Because of this, gene therapy targeted to LECs would be a useful and productive strategy for directly treating these diseases at the level of genes. Here, we report on the development of a transgene vector that specifically targets LECs. The vector is a liposome-based gene vector coated with hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a natural ligand for LECs and confers desirable properties on particles, rendering them biodegradable, biocompatible, and nonimmunogenic. In this study, we constructed HA-modified carriers, and evaluated cellular uptake and transfection activity using cultured LECs from KSN nude mice (KSN-LECs). Cellular uptake analyses showed that KSN-LECs recognized the HA-modified carriers more effectively than skin endothelial cells. The transfection assay indicated that the efficient gene expression in KSN-LECs, using the HA-modified carriers, required an adequate lipid composition and a functional device to control intracellular trafficking. This finding contributes to our overall knowledge of transgene expression targeted to LECs. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association
• Lipid Envelope-Type Nanoparticle Incorporating a Multifunctional Peptide for Systemic siRNA Delivery to the Pulmonary Endothelium

  Kenji Kusumoto, Hidetaka Akita, Taichi Ishitsuka, Yu Matsumoto, Takahiro Nomoto, Ryo Furukawa, Ayman El-Sayed, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Yuma Yamada, Kazunori Kataoka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ACS NANO 7 (9) 7534 - 7541 1936-0851 2013/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A system that permits the delivery of cargoes to the lung endothelium would be extraordinarily useful in terms of curing a wide variety of lung-related diseases. This study describes the development of a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) that targets the lung endothelium, delivers its encapsulated siRNA to the cytoplasm, and eradicates lung metastasis. The key to the success can be attributed to the presence of a surface-modified GALA peptide that has dual functions: targeting the sialic acid-terminated sugar chains on the pulmonary endothelium and subsequently delivering the encapsulated cargoes to the cytosol via endosomal membrane fusion, analogous to the influenza virus. The active targeting of MENDs without the formation of large aggregates was verified by intravital real-time confocal laser scanning microscopy in living lung tissue. The GALA-modified MEND is a promising carrier that opens a new generation of therapeutic approaches for satisfying unmet medical needs in curing lung diseases.
• A Neutral envelope-type nanoparticle containing pH-responsive and ss-cleavable lipid-like material as a carrier for plasmid DNA

  Hidetaka Akita, Ryohei Ishiba, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hiroki Tanaka, Yusuke Sato, Kota Tange, Masaya Arai, Kazuhiro Kubo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Advanced Healthcare Materials 2 (8) 1120 - 1125 2192-2640 2013/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  SS-cleavable proton-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm) functions as a key element in a lipid nanoparticle in which pDNA is encapsulated. The ssPalm contains dual sensing motifs that can respond to the intracellular environment a proton-sponge unit (tertiary amines) that functions in response to an acidic environment (endosome/lysosome), and disulfide bonding that can be cleaved in a reducing environment (cytosol). © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
• The effect of liposomal size on the targeted delivery of doxorubicin to Integrin alpha v beta 3-expressing tumor endothelial cells

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 34 (22) 5617 - 5627 0142-9612 2013/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Size of the liposomes (LPs) specially governs its biodistribution. In this study, LPs were developed with controlled sizes, where variation in LP size dictates the ligand receptor interaction, cellular internalization and its distribution within the tumor microenvironment. The therapeutic efficacies of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded RGD modified small size (similar to 100 nm in diameter, dnm) and large size (similar to 300 dnm) PEGylated LPs (RGD-PEG-LPs) were compared to that of Doxil (a clinically used DOX-loaded PEG-LP, similar to 100 dnm) in DOX resistant OSRC-2 (Renal cell carcinoma, RCC) tumor xenografts. Doxil, which accumulated in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, failed to suppress tumor growth. Small size RGD-PEG-LP, that targets the tumor endothelial cells (TECs) and extravasates to tumor cells, failed to provide anti-tumor effect. Large size RGD-PEG-LP preferentially targets the TECs via minimization of the EPR effect, and significantly reduced the tumor growth, which was exerted through its strong anti-angiogenic activity on the tumor vasculature rather than having a direct effect on DOX resistant RCC. The prepared large size RGD-PEG-LP that targets the TECs via interacting with Integrin alpha v beta 3, is a potentially effective and alternate therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DOX resistant tumor cells by utilizing DOX, in cases where Doxil is ineffective. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Endocytosis of Gene Delivery Vectors: From Clathrin-dependent to Lipid Raft-mediated Endocytosis

  Ayman El-Sayed, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 21 (6) 1118 - 1130 1525-0016 2013/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The ideal nonviral vector delivers its nucleic acid cargo to a specific intracellular target. Vectors enter cells mainly through endocytosis and are distributed to various intracellular organelles. Recent advances in microscopy, lipidomics, and proteomics confirm that the cell membrane is composed of clusters of lipids, organized in the form of lipid raft domains, together with non-raft domains that comprise a generally disordered lipid milieu. The binding of a nonviral vector to either region can determine the pathway for its endocytic uptake and subsequent intracellular itinerary. Given this model of the cell membrane structure, endocytic pathways should be reclassified in relation to lipid rafts. In this review, we attempt to assess the currently recognized endocytic pathways in mammalian cells. The endocytic pathways are classified in relation to the membrane regions that make up the primary endocytic vesicles. This review covers the well-recognized clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), phagocytosis, and macropinocytosis in addition to the less addressed pathways that take place in lipid rafts. These include caveolae-mediated, flotillin-dependent, GTPase regulator associated with focal adhesion kinase-1 (GRAF1)-dependent, adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6)-dependent, and RhoA-dependent endocytic pathways. We summarize the regulators associated with each uptake pathway and methods for interfering with these regulators are discussed. The fate of endocytic vesicles resulting from each endocytic uptake pathway is highlighted.
• The polyethyleneglycol dilemma: Advantage and disadvantage of PEGylation of liposomes for systemic genes and nucleic acids delivery to tumors

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 36 (6) 892 - 899 0918-6158 2013/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene and nucleic acid therapy is expected to play a major role in the next generation of agents for cancer treatment. We have recently developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for use as a novel nonviral gene delivery system. The modification of polyethyleneglycol (PEG), i.e., PEGylation, is a useful method for achieving a longer circulation time for the delivery of MEND to a tumor via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, PEGylation strongly inhibits cellular uptake and endosomal escape, which results in significant loss of activity of the delivery system. For successful nucleic acid delivery for cancer treatment, the crucial problem associated with the use of PEG, i.e., the "PEG dilemma" must be resolved. In this review, we describe the development and applications of MEND and discuss various strategies for overcoming the PEG dilemma based on the manipulation of both pharmacokinetics and intracellular trafficking of cellular uptake and endosomal release. To increase cellular uptake, target ligands including proteins, peptides, antibodies and aptamers that recognize molecules specifically expressed on tumors are first introduced. Second, cleavable PEG systems are described. The cleavage of PEG from carriers was achieved in response to the intracellular environment as well as the tumor microenvironment, which improvs cellular uptake and endosomal escape. Then, endosomal fusogenic peptides are discussed. Finally, pH-sensitive liposomes using pH-sensitive lipids are described. © 2013 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
• Correlation between transgen expression and plasmid DNA loss in mouse liver

  Ryohei Togashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  Journal of Gene Medicine 15 (6-7) 242 - 248 1099-498X 2013/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: Transgene expression from plasmid DNA is dependent on the expression efficiency per plasmid and the amount of intranuclear plasmid. In the present study, intranuclear dispositions of two types of plasmid DNAs (i.e. the pCpGfree and pLIVE plasmids) that maintain transgene expression in mouse liver were analyzed. In addition, the relationship between transgene expression and plasmid stability in the nucleus was examined. Methods: First, the pCpGfree and pLIVE plasmid DNAs, bearing the mouse secreted alkaline phosphatase (Seap) gene, were administered into mouse liver by the hydrodynamics-based method. Next, various Seap-plasmid DNAs containing different promoters, upstream and downstream sequences, and backbones were injected into mice, and both SEAP expression and plasmid DNA amounts were monitored for 28days. Results: At the 14- and 28-day time points, the amount of the pCpGfree plasmid DNA was one order of magnitude less than that of the pLIVE plasmid. Meanwhile, the expression efficiency per plasmid was one order of magnitude more efficient for the pCpGfree plasmid DNA. Moreover, the administration of various Seap-plasmid DNAs revealed that negative correlations exist between plasmid stability and SEAP expression level. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that the pCpGfree plasmid is unstable from the viewpoint of quantity and maintains transgene expression by its high expression efficiency and also that transgene expression negatively affects the stability of plasmid DNA. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Antiangiogenic nanotherapy for the control of obesity

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Md. Nazir Hossen, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NANOMEDICINE 8 (5) 671 - 673 1743-5889 2013/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Therapeutic Assessment of Cytochrome C for the Prevention of Obesity Through Endothelial Cell-targeted Nanoparticulate System

  Md. Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Mamoru Hyodo, Taichi Ishitsuka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 21 (3) 533 - 541 1525-0016 2013/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Because the functional apoptosis-initiating protein, cytochrome C (CytC) is rapidly cleared from the circulation (t(1/2) (half-life): 4 minutes), it cannot be used for in vivo therapy. We report herein on a hitherto unreported strategy for delivering exogenous CytC as a potential and safe antiobesity drug for preventing diet-induced obesity, the most common type of obesity in humans. The functional activity of CytC encapsulated in prohibitin (a white fat vessel-specific receptor)-targeted nanoparticles (PTNP) was evaluated quantitatively, as evidenced by the observations that CytC-loaded PTNP causes apoptosis in primary adipose endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas CytC alone did not. The delivery of a single dose of CytC through PTNP into the circulation disrupted the vascular structure by the targeted apoptosis of adipose endothelial cells in vivo. Intravenous treatment of CytC-loaded PTNP resulted in a substantial reduction in obesity in high-fat diet (HFD) fed wild-type (wt) mice, as evidenced by the dose-dependent prevention of the percentage of increase in body weight and decrease in serum leptin levels. In addition, no detectable hepatotoxicity was found to be associated with this prevention. Thus, the finding highlights the promising potential of CytC for use as an antiobesity drug, when delivered through a nanosystem.
• Mitochondrial delivery of bongkrekic acid using a MITO-porter prevents the induction of apoptosis in human hela cells

  Yuma Yamada, Kohei Nakamura, Ryo Furukawa, Eriko Kawamura, Takuya Moriwaki, Kenji Matsumoto, Katsuhiro Okuda, Mitsuru Shindo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 102 (3) 1008 - 1015 0022-3549 2013/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The fact that mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of human diseases suggests that they would be expected as a target organelle for these diseases. Bongkrekic acid (BKA) is a chemical that functions as a ligand of the adenine nucleotide translocator and is known to potently inhibit the mitochondrial permeability transition that is associated with apoptosis. Thus, delivering it to mitochondria would be an innovative therapy for the treatment of mitochondrial diseases that are largely associated with apoptosis. Here, we report on the use of a MITO-Porter, an innovative nanocarrier for mitochondrial delivery via mitochondrial membrane fusion, for delivering BKA to mitochondria. We first constructed a BKAMITO-Porter, in which BKA is contained in lipid envelopes of a MITO-Porter. We then confirmed that the BKAMITO-Porter was efficiently internalized into cells and is delivered to mitochondria, similar to a conventional MITO-Porter. Moreover, we evaluated the antiapoptosis effect of the BKAMITO-Porter in HeLa cells by measuring caspase 3/7 activity. The findings confirmed that the BKAMITO-Porter showed a strong antiapoptosis effect compared with naked BKA. The results reported here demonstrate its potential for the use in therapies aimed at mitochondrial diseases, as a mitochondrial medicine candidate. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 102:10081015, 2013
• Enhanced transgene expression from chromatinized plasmid DNA in mouse liver

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shiho Miyamoto, Hitomi Goto, Genki N. Kanda, Miwako Kobayashi, Ichiro Matsuoka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics 441 (1-2) 146 - 150 0378-5173 2013/01/30 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Plasmid DNA was chromatinized with core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) in vitro and was delivered into mouse liver by hydrodynamics-based administration. Transgene expression from the chromatinized plasmid DNA was more efficient than that from plasmid DNA delivered in the naked form. The use of acetylation-enriched histones isolated from cells treated with a histone deacetylase inhibitor (trichostatin A) seemed to be more effective. These results indicated that chromatinized plasmid DNA is useful for efficient transgene expression in vivo. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Major T Cell Response to a Mycolyl Glycolipid Is Mediated by CD1c Molecules in Rhesus Macaques

  Daisuke Morita, Yuki Hattori, Takashi Nakamura, Tatsuhiko Igarashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masahiko Sugita

  INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 81 (1) 311 - 316 0019-9567 2013/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Human CD1b molecules contain a maze of hydrophobic pockets and a tunnel capable of accommodating the unusually long, branched acyl chain of mycolic acids, an essential fatty acid component of the cell wall of mycobacteria. It has been accepted that CD1b-bound mycolic acids constitute a scaffold for mycolate-containing (glyco) lipids stimulating CD1b-restricted T cells. Remarkable homology in amino acid sequence is observed between human and monkey CD1b molecules, and indeed, monkey CD1b molecules are able to bind glucose monomycolate (GMM), a glucosylated species of mycolic acids, and present it to specific human T cells in vitro. Nevertheless, we found, unexpectedly, that Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccinated monkeys exhibited GMM-specific T cell responses that were restricted by CD1c rather than CD1b molecules. GMM-specific, CD1c-restricted T cells were detected in the circulation of all 4 rhesus macaque monkeys tested after but not before vaccination with BCG. The circulating GMM-specific T cells were detected broadly in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell populations, and upon antigenic stimulation, a majority of the GMM-specific T cells produced both gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), two major host protective cytokines functioning against infection with mycobacteria. Furthermore, the GMM-specific T cells were able to extravasate and approach the site of infection where CD1c(+) cells accumulated. These observations indicate a previously inconceivable role for primate CD1c molecules in eliciting T cell responses to mycolate-containing antigens.
• The transfection activity of R8-modified nanoparticles and siRNA condensation using pH sensitive stearylated-octahistidine

  Naoyuki Toriyabe, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biomaterials 34 (4) 1337 - 1343 0142-9612 2013/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Emerging evidence indicates that the efficiency of siRNA loading into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is a major factor in gene silencing at low doses. In particular, the release of siRNA from components delivered to the cytoplasm could be a first step for achieving maximum gene knockdown effect in siRNA delivery vector. To test this hypothesis, we used a stearylated-octahistidine (STR-H8) as a pH responsive polycation that facilitates the efficient release of siRNA into the cytoplasm, while a stearylated-octaarginine (STR-R8) was used as a conventional cationic polycation. As a fundamental structure, we used octaarginine (R8) and GALA, as a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide, modified lipid envelope-type nanoparticles (R8/GALA-MENDSUV), as reported previously. When STR-H8/siRNA condensed complexes were loaded in the R8/GALA-MENDSUV, the luciferase knockdown effect was significantly increased compared to STR-R8/siRNA condensed complexes in time and dose dependent manners. Quantification of the released siRNA from the condensed complexes demonstrated that only the STR-H8/siRNA released significant levels of siRNA at pH = 7.4, the pH of cytoplasmic, compared with STR-R8/siRNA condensed complexes. In addition, imaging studies indicated that STR-H8/siRNA facilitated siRNA release. Collectively, these data reveal the importance of the controlled release of siRNA to the cytoplasm. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
• Incorporation of polyinosine-polycytidylic acid enhances cytotoxic T cell activity and antitumor effects by octaarginine-modified liposomes encapsulating antigen, but not by octaarginine-modified antigen complex

  Takashi Nakamura, Rumiko Moriguchi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 441 (1-2) 476 - 481 0378-5173 2013/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In a previous study, we reported on the efficient delivery of an antigen to the cytosol and a specific-antigen presentation on MHC class I in dendritic cells by rationally controlling the intracellular trafficking of ovalbumin (OVA), a model antigen, with stearylated octaarginine-modified liposomes (R8-Lip/OVA). However, no significant difference in antitumor effects against E.G7-OVA, OVA expressed lymphoma, was observed between R8-Lip/OVA and an electrostatic complex of R8 and OVA (R8/OVA-Com). In this study, we hypothesized that use of adjuvants clarified the difference in immune responses between R8-Lip/OVA and R8/OVA-Com, and selected polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) as an adjuvant. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of the polyI:C and OVA encapsulated R8-Lip (R8-Lip/PIC/OVA) was drastically enhanced compared to R8-Lip/OVA and complete Freund's adjuvant with OVA. Moreover, the incorporation of polyI:C clearly was critical for the difference in antitumor effects and CTL activities between R8-Lip/OVA and R8/OVA-Com. These findings suggest that the carriers that are incorporated polyI:C has a great influence on the induction of cellular immunity in vivo. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
• Particle tracking analysis for the intracellular trafficking of nanoparticles modified with african swine fever virus protein p54-derived peptide

  Hidetaka Akita, Kaoru Enoto, Hiroki Tanaka, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular Therapy 21 (2) 309 - 317 1525-0024 2013 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Previous studies showed that the cytoplasmic transport of nanoparticles to the nucleus is driven by a vesicular sorting system. Artificial approaches for targeting a microtubule-associating motor complex is also a challenge. We describe herein the development of a liposomal nanoparticle, the surface of which is modified with stearylated octa-arginine (STR-R8), and a dynein light chain (LC8)-associated peptide derived from an African swine fever virus protein p54 (p54149-161) with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) as a spacer (p54 149-161-PEG/R8-liposomal nanoparticles (LNPs)). The p54 149-161-PEG/R8-LNPs preferentially gain access to the nucleus, resulting in a one-to two-order of magnitude higher transfection activity in comparison with p54149-161-free nanoparticles (PEG/R8-LNPs). Further studies of particle tracking in HeLa cells stably expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged tubulin (GFP/Tub-HeLa) indicate that p54149-161 stimulated the transport of nanoparticles along fibrous tubulin structures. Moreover, a part of the p54149-161-PEG/R8-LNPs appeared to undergo quasi-straight transport without sharing the tracks corresponding to PKH67, the plasma membrane of which had been prestained with a marker just before transfection, while corresponding movement was never observed in the case of PEG/R8-LNPs. These findings suggest that a portion of the p54 149-161-modified nanoparticles can use microtubule-dependent transport without the need for an assist by a vesicular sorting system. © The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy.
• Gene silencing via RNAi and siRNA quantification in tumor tissue using MEND, a liposomal siRNA delivery system

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Molecular Therapy 21 (6) 1195 - 1203 1525-0024 2013 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Small interfering RNA (siRNA) would be predicted to function as a cancer drug, but an efficient siRNA delivery system is required for clinical development. To address this issue, we developed a liposomal siRNA carrier, a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND). We previously reported that a MEND composed of a pH-sensitive cationic lipid, YSK05, showed significant knockdown in both in vitro and in tumor tissue by intratumoral injection. Here, we report on the development of an in vivo siRNA delivery system that is delivered by systemic injection and an analysis of the pharmacokinetics of an intravenously administered siRNA molecule in tumor tissue. Tumor delivery of siRNA was quantified by means of stem-loop primer quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) method. PEGylation of the YSK-MEND results in the increase in the accumulation of siRNA in tumor tissue from 0.0079% ID/g tumor to 1.9% ID/g tumor. The Administration of the MEND (3 mg siRNA/kg body weight) showed about a 50% reduction in the target gene mRNA and protein. Moreover, we verified the induction of RNA interference by 5′ RACE-PCR method. The collective results reported here indicate that an siRNA carrier was developed that can deliver siRNA to a target cell in tumor tissue through an improved siRNA bioavailability. © The American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy.
• The nanoparticulation by octaarginine-modified liposome improves α-galactosylceramide-mediated antitumor therapy via systemic administration

  Takashi Nakamura, Daiki Yamazaki, Jun Yamauchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 171 (2) 216 - 224 1873-4995 2013 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Alpha-galactosylceramide (αGC), a lipid antigen present on CD1d molecules, is predicted to have clinical applications as a new class of adjuvant, because αGC strongly activates natural killer T (NKT) cells which produce large amounts of IFN-γ. Here, we incorporated αGC into stearylated octaarginine-modified liposomes (R8-Lip), our original delivery system developed for vaccines, and investigated the effect of nanoparticulation. Unexpectedly, the systemic administered R8-Lip incorporating αGC (αGC/R8-Lip) failedtoimprove the immune responses mediated by αGC compared with soluble αGCin vivo, although αGC/R8-Lip drastically enhanced αGC presentation on CD1d in antigen presenting cells invitro. Thus, we optimized the αGC/R8-Lipin vivoto overcome this inverse correlation. In optimization in vivo, we found that size control ofliposome and R8-modification were critical for enhancing the production of IFN-γ. The optimization led to the accumulation of αGC/R8-Lip in the spleen and a positive therapeutic effect against highly malignant B16 melanoma cells. The optimized αGC/R8-Lip also enhanced αGC presentation on CD1d in antigen presenting cells and resulted in an expansion in the population of NKT cells. Herein, we show that R8-Lip is a potent delivery system, and size control and R8-modification in liposomal construction are promising techniques for achieving systemic αGC therapy. © 2013 The Authors.
• Efficacy of DHMEQ, a NF-κB inhibitor, in islet transplantation: I. HMGB1 suppression by DHMEQ prevents early islet graft damage

  Daisuke Kuraya, Masaaki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Koshizuka, Masaomi Ogura, Tadashi Yoshida, Yoh Asahi, Hirofumi Kamachi, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Michitaka Ozaki, Kazuo Umezawa, Michiaki Matsushita, Kenichiro Yamashita, Satoru Todo

  Transplantation 96 (5) 445 - 453 0041-1337 2013 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  BACKGROUND: Pancreatic islet transplantation (PITx) is an attractive treatment option for restoring appropriate glucose homeostasis in type 1 diabetes patients. Although islet grafts can successfully engraft after PITx, large numbers of islet grafts are required mainly because immune reactions, including inflammation, destroy islet grafts. In these processes, nuclear factor (NF)-κB plays a central role. We hypothesized that the inhibition of NF-κB activation would ameliorate inflammatory responses after PITx and aid successful engraftment. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, a newly developed NF-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), was used on a syngeneic mouse PITx model. One hundred seventy-five islets from C57BL/6 (B6) mice were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic B6 mice. The recipient mice were administered DHMEQ for 1, 2, or 3 days after PITx. The underlying mechanisms of DHMEQ on islet graft protection were investigated in an in vitro coculture model of pancreatic islets and macrophages. RESULTS: With a vehicle treatment, only 11.1% of the islet-recipients achieved normoglycemia after PITx. In sharp contrast, DHMEQ treatment markedly improved the normoglycemic rate, which was associated with the suppression of serum high mobility group complex-1 (HMGB1) and proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, after PITx. In a murine macrophage-like cell line, DHMEQ inhibited HMGB1-driven activation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion and further prevented death isolated islets after coculture with these activated macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of NF-κB activation by DHMEQ after PITx reduces the HMGB1-triggered proinflammatory responses and results in engraftment of transplanted islets even with fewer islet grafts. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Localization of exogenous DNA to mitochondria in skeletal muscle following hydrodynamic limb vein injection

  Yukari Yasuzaki, Yuma Yamada, Tsutomu Kanefuji, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 172 (3) 805 - 811 0168-3659 2013 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial genetic disorders are a major cause of mitochondrial diseases. It is therefore likely that mitochondrial gene therapy will be useful for the treatment of such diseases. Here, we report on the possibility of mitochondrial gene delivery in skeletal muscle using hydrodynamic limb vein (HLV) injection. The HLV injection procedure, a useful method for transgene expression in skeletal muscle, involves the rapid injection of a large volume of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) into the distal vein of a limb. We hypothesized that the technique could be used to deliver pDNA not only to nuclei but also to mitochondria, since cytosolic pDNA that is internalized by the method may be able to overcome mitochondrial membrane. We determined if pDNA could be delivered to myofibrillar mitochondria by HLV injection by PCR analysis. Mitochondrial toxicity assays showed that the HLV injection had no influence on mitochondrial function. These findings indicate that HLV injection promises to be a useful technique for in vivo mitochondrial gene delivery. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
• Development of an Efficient Short Interference RNA (siRNA) Delivery System with a New pH-Sensitive Cationic Lipid

  Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 132 (12) 1355 - 1363 0031-6903 2012/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The development of a carrier for the delivery of siRNA is a factor in the realization of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. Modification of siRNA carriers with polyethylene glycol, i.e., PEGylation, is a general strategy for stabilizing a particle in the blood stream and delivering it to tissue or cells. However, it is well-known that, when a carrier is modified by PEGylation, it results in a significant inhibition of both cellular uptake and the endosomal escape process. In a previous study, we reported on the development of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for delivering siRNA and peptide-based functional devices for overcoming the effects conferred by PEGylation and succeeded in the delivery of siRNA to tumor tissue. In this study, we noticed that the pH-sensitive property, changing from neutral to cationic in response to a decrease in pH, could avoid the inhibition caused by PEGylation and succeeded in synthesizing a pH-sensitive cationic lipid, YSK05. The YSK05-MEND had a higher fusogenicity and potency for endosomal escape than other MENDs containing conventional cationic lipids. The PEGylated YSK05-MEND induced efficient gene silencing and avoided the inhibition of endosomal escape caused by PEGylation followed by optimization of the lipid composition. Furthermore, the intratumoral injection of the PEGylated YSK05-MEND resulted in a more efficient gene silencing compared with MENDs containing conventional cationic lipids. Thus, the YSK05-MEND is a promising siRNA carrier for avoiding the inhibition in intracellular trafficking caused by PEGylation both in vitro and in vivo.
• MITO-Porter; A Cutting-edge Technology for Mitochondrial Gene Therapy

  Ryo Furukawa, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 132 (12) 1389 - 1398 0031-6903 2012/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene therapy is an attractive strategy, for not only targeting nuclear genome, but the mitochondrial genome as well. Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes 13 subunits of the electron transport chain, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs and their mutations cause a wide range of mitochondrial diseases. Each cell contains hundreds to thousands of mtDNAs, and in the case of a diseased cell, the mitochondrion possesses both mutant mtDNA and wild-type mtDNA. It is generally accepted that the disease phenotype appears when the proportion of the pathogenic mutant mtDNA exceeds a certain threshold. Therefore, the suppression of mutant mtDNA or supplementing wild-type mtDNA will control the onset of mitochondrial disease. To achieve the transfection of an exogenous therapeutic gene to the mitochondrial matrix where mtDNA is transcribed and translated, it is necessary to transfer cargos through mitochondrial outer and inner membranes. Several methods have been examined for mitochondrial transfection, but a universal, wide-ranging transfection technique has yet not been established. We recently developed a mitochondrial targeting delivery system, namely the MITO-Porter. The MITO-Porter is liposomal nanocarrier with a mitochondrial fusogenic lipid composition. We reported that the MITO-Porter could deliver chemical compounds and proteins to the mitochondrial matrix via membrane fusion. In this review, we report (1) on the pharmacological enhancement of lecithinized superoxide dismutase (PC-SOD) using MITO-Porter, (2) the transcription activation of exogenous DNA by mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and (3) perspectives on a mitochondrial targeting device.
• Development of a Novel DNA Aptamer Ligand Targeting to Primary Cultured Tumor Endothelial Cells by a Cell-Based SELEX Method

  Mst. Naznin Ara, Mamoru Hyodo, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  PLOS ONE 7 (12) e50174  1932-6203 2012/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The present study used a spontaneous cell-based SELEX method (Systemic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment) to produce DNA aptamers that specifically bind to cell surface proteins or biomarkers produced by primary cultured mouse tumor endothelial cells (mTECs). In solid tumors, new blood vessels are formed through an angiogenesis process, and this plays a critical role in cancer development as well as metastasis. To combat angiogenesis, an appropriate diagnosis and a molecular-level understanding of the different cancer types are now a high priority. The novel DNA aptamer AraHH001, developed in this study, binds specifically to mTECs with high affinity in the nano-molar range, but does not bind to normal skin endothelial cells (skin-ECs). The selected DNA aptamer was also found to bind to cultured human tumor endothelial cells (hTECs), isolated from a clinical patient with a renal carcinoma. The aptamer AraHH001 showed significant anti-angiogenesis activity by inhibiting tube formation by mTECs on matrigel. Interestingly, a confocal laser scanning microscopy examination of in vitro cellular uptake revealed that AraHH001 was assimilated by mTECs, and became co-localized in acidic compartments, as detected by labeling with Lysotracker Red. Therefore, the development of a specific DNA aptamer that binds to mTECs, as reported here for the first time, holds great promise not only as a therapeutic aptamer but also as a targeted molecular probe that appears to play a major role in angiogenesis, and for the development of a targeted new drug delivery system. Citation: Ara MN, Hyodo M, Ohga N, Hida K, Harashima H (2012) Development of a Novel DNA Aptamer Ligand Targeting to Primary Cultured Tumor Endothelial Cells by a Cell-Based SELEX Method. PLoS ONE 7(12): e50174. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050174
• Neuronal injury induces microglial production of macrophage inflammatory protein-1a in rat corticostriatal slice cultures

  Toshiyuki Okamura, Takahiro Katayama, Chihiro Obinata, Yukina Iso, Yuzuho Chiba, Hayato Kobayashi, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masabumi Minami

  JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH 90 (11) 2127 - 2133 0360-4012 2012/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Chemokines are potent chemoattractants for immune and hematopoietic cells. In the central nervous system, chemokines play an important role in inflammatory responses through activation of infiltrating leukocytes and/or resident glial cells. We previously demonstrated that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked neuronal injury induced astrocytic production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, CCL2) via sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in rat organotypic slice cultures. In the present study, we examined mRNA expression and protein production of macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1a, CCL3) induced by NMDA-evoked neuronal injury in the slice cultures. MIP-1a mRNA expression was transiently increased by NMDA treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Double-fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that MIP-1a was produced predominantly in microglia. Depletion of microglial cells from the slice cultures by pretreatment with liposome-encapsulated clodronate abrogated the increase in MIP-1a mRNA expression after NMDA treatment. NMDA-induced MIP-1a mRNA expression was partially but significantly inhibited by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125; conversely, the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor SB203580 enhanced it. U0126, a MAP kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor, did not affect mRNA expression. These results, combined with our previous findings, demonstrate that NMDA-evoked neuronal injury differentially induces MIP-1a and MCP-1 production in microglia and astrocytes, respectively, through activation of different intracellular signaling pathways. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
• A pH-sensitive cationic lipid facilitates the delivery of liposomal siRNA and gene silencing activity in vitro and in vivo

  Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yu Sakurai, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 163 (3) 267 - 276 0168-3659 2012/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Modification of liposomal siRNA carriers with polyethylene glycol, i.e., PEGylation, is a generally accepted strategy for achieving in vivo stability and delivery to tumor tissue. However, PEGylation significantly inhibits both cellular uptake and the endosomal escape process of the carriers. In a previous study, we reported on the development of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for siRNA delivery and peptide-based functional devices for overcoming the limitations and succeeded in the efficient delivery of siRNA to tumors. In this study, we synthesized a pH-sensitive cationic lipid, YSK05, to overcome the limitations. The YSK05-MEND had a higher ability for endosomal escape than other MENDs containing conventional cationic lipids. The PEGylated YSK05-MEND induced efficient gene silencing and overcame the limitations followed by optimization of the lipid composition. Furthermore, the intratumoral administration of the YSK05-MEND resulted in a more efficient gene silencing compared with MENDs containing conventional cationic lipids. Collectively, these data confirm that YSK05 facilitates the endosomal escape of the MEND and thereby enhances the efficacy of siRNA delivery into cytosol and gene silencing. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• RNA Interference-Based Silencing Reveals the Regulatory Role of Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 in the Production of IL-6 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Shiharu Takayanagi, Shun Sasaki, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ENDOCRINOLOGY 153 (11) 5629 - 5636 0013-7227 2012/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) is believed to play an important role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis. However, the physiological functions of FABP4 in adipocytes have not been fully elucidated because of difficulties associated with the effective transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to differentiated adipocytes. The aim of this study was to clarify the physiological roles of FABP4 in adipocytes by establishing an efficient, universal technique for endogenous gene silencing in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Confocal-based three-dimensional observations demonstrated that, in traditionally cultured 3T3-L1 cells, multilayers of undifferentiated cells were formed. As a result, small interfering RNA failed to reach many of the differentiated cells. To solve this problem, we developed a reliable method, denoted as density-based separation followed by replating of enriched adipocytes in a monolayer (DREAM) and, using the developed method, succeeded in a significant knockdown of FABP4. Loss-of-function analyses revealed that FABP4 regulates the expression of IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediated by the protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), a thrombin receptor, in adipocytes. In addition, the basal IL-6 production was partially suppressed by PAR1 knockdown. Moreover, we also demonstrated that IL-6 stimulates the proliferation of primary endothelial cells isolated from murine adipose tissue. These findings indicate that FABP4 may have a crucial role in modulating IL-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor as angiogenesis inducers stimulated by the cellular action of thrombin on adipocytes via PAR1. These findings promise to be helpful for developing an understanding of physiological counterparts with respect to the inflammatory and angiogenic properties of adipose tissue. (Endocrinology 153: 5629-5636, 2012)
• Vascular-targeted nanotherapy for obesity: Unexpected passive targeting mechanism to obese fat for the enhancement of active drug delivery

  Md Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 163 (2) 101 - 110 0168-3659 2012/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that nanoparticles (NPs) modified with a prohibitin- homing peptide ligand via a short PEG(2) (kDa)-spacer could deliver its pay-load into the cytoplasm of endothelial cells in murine adipose tissue and escape from endosomes/lysosomes in vitro. We herein report, for the first time, on a dual-targeting strategy for mediating the enhanced targeting activity of NPs to adipose endothelial cells in diet-induced obesity (DIO). The targeted accumulation of prohibitin- targeted nanoparticles (PTNP), modified with a peptide ligand via a long PEG-linker, was significantly increased in white fat vessels of normal healthy mice compared to the other non-PEGylated targeted NPs, whereas the undesired accumulation of PTNP in the liver was considerably reduced. These results demonstrate that the PEGylation of targeted NPs is a critical factor in maximizing the in vivo targeted delivery of NPs and can be attributed to a significant decrease in recognition by the reticuloendothelial system. After systemic administration to DIO mice, PTNP exclusively accumulated in both adipose vessels and angiogenic clusters of obese fat cells. Surprisingly, PEGylated NPs with no active targeting moieties also accumulated in these clusters, demonstrating that the nanoscaled carriers passively accumulate in clusters via a mechanism similar to that for the enhanced permeability and retention effect, as has been well established in tumor targeting. Therefore, the enhanced delivery of PTNP appears to be mediated by both passive accumulation to angiogenic regions and active recognition by endothelial cells. Thus, the systemic administration of a proapoptotic peptide with the delivery via PTNP significantly reduced the body weight of DIO mice, as evidenced by the targeted ablation of adipose endothelial cells. These findings are potentially useful in terms of the design and development of vascular-targeted nanotherapy in the effective control of obesity. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Targeting Mitochondria: Innovation from Mitochondrial Drug Delivery System (DDS) to Mitochondrial Medicine

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 132 (10) 1111 - 1118 0031-6903 2012/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Effective medical therapies for such diseases will ultimately require the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to mitochondria. This will likely be achieved through innovations in the areas of the nanotechnology of intracellular trafficking. Mitochondrial delivery systems for a variety of cargoes have been repored to date. However, only a limited number of approaches are available for delivering macromolecules directly to mitochondria. We previously reported on the construction of a MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that introduces macromolecular cargos into mitochondria via membrane fusion. Using the green fluorescence protein as a model macromolecule in conjunction with analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy, we were able to confirm the mitochondrial delivery of a macromolecule by the MITO-Porter. Moreover, we reported that the Dual Function MITO-Porter (DF-MITO-Porter) could efficiently deliver cargo to mitochondria, through endosomal and mitochondrial membranes via step-wise membrane fusion. Here, We will present our findings on the development of our mitochondrial drug delivery system, and discuss our attempts regarding mitochondrial gene delivery and therapy. Finally, We will discuss the potential use of mitochondrial drug delivery systems in mitochondrial medicine.
• Effects of Endogenous Proteins and microRNA Target Sequence in a Positive Feedback System

  Genki N. Kanda, Ryohei Togashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 35 (9) 1534 - 1538 0918-6158 2012/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A positive feedback system, using GAL4-vp16 (a fusion protein of yeast GAL4 and herpes simplex virus vp16) as an activator and firefly luciferase as a reporter, maintained luciferase expression for 7 d in mice. However, the luciferase expression decreased after 7 d, and this phenomenon could be caused by immunoreactions against these exogenous proteins. This hypothesis was examined by the following three strategies, designed to avoid the putative immunoreactions: (i) use of the endogenous secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) protein as a reporter, (ii) replacement of vp16 with endogenous transcription factors, and (iii) insertion of the target sequence of microRNA expressed in cells of hematopoietic origin, to suppress GAL4-vp16 expression in antigen-presenting cells. The results obtained in this study suggested that silencing would be induced by mechanism(s) besides immunoreactions against reporter and activator proteins.
• A designed curved DNA sequence remarkably enhances transgene expression from plasmid DNA in mouse liver

  S. Fukunaga, G. Kanda, J. Tanase, H. Harashima, T. Ohyama, H. Kamiya

  Gene Therapy Nature Publishing 19 (8) 828 - 835 0969-7128 2012/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of plasmid DNA is extremely important for transgene expression. The interactions between the plasmid DNA and the histone proteins are one of the keys for controlling the disposition. In this study, the effects of a left-handedly curved sequence (20-40 repeated AT tracts) on transgene expression from a plasmid were examined in vivo. A naked luciferase plasmid with the curved sequence was delivered into mouse liver by a hydrodynamics-based injection, and the luciferase activities were quantitated at various time points. Interestingly, transgene expression was markedly increased by the addition of the curved sequence. An analysis of the nucleosome positions near the left-handedly curved sequence suggested that the sequence functions as an acceptor of the histone core and allows nucleosome sliding, resulting in transcriptional activation. These results suggested that the designed curved DNA sequences could control transgene expression from plasmid DNAs in vivo. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.
• Non-linear pharmacokinetics of octaarginine-modified lipid nanoparticles: Barriers from in vitro to in vivo

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Yuki Noguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 161 (3) 757 - 762 0168-3659 2012/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A rational development of an efficient siRNA delivery system is important for streamlining the RNAi-based drug development process. However, a huge gap frequently exists between in vitro and in vivo activity, which is the rate-limiting step for developing versatile nanoparticles. We report herein on a remarkable non-linearity in pharmacokinetics (PK), but not pharmacodynamics (PD) using octaarginine (R8) modified lipid nanoparticles in mice. A quantitative study of siRNA molecules between cultured cells and mouse liver revealed a high correlation between intracellular siRNA molecules and their RNAi activities, indicating that there was no significant difference in the efficiency in PD. In contrast, a remarkable difference was observed in the non-linearity in PK. Quantitative analysis of the time profile for siRNA showed that the percentage of siRNA accumulation in mice was severely decreased with decreasing input dose compared to in vitro data. These unexpected data reveal an important clue to bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo activity. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Intracellular stability of 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleoside modified siRNA leads to long-term RNAi effect

  Mayumi Takahashi, Chisato Nagai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noriaki Minakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akira Matsuda

  Nucleic Acids Research 40 (12) 5787 - 5793 0305-1048 2012/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Chemically modified siRNAs are expected to have resistance toward nuclease degradation and good thermal stability in duplex formation for in vivo applications. We have recently found that 2′-OMe-4′-thioRNA, a hybrid chemical modification based on 2′-OMeRNA and 4′-thioRNA, has high hybridization affinity for complementary RNA and significant resistance toward degradation in human plasma. These results prompted us to develop chemically modified siRNAs using 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleo sides for therapeutic application. Effective modification patterns were screened with a luciferase reporter assay. The best modification pattern of siRNA, which conferred duration of the gene-silencing effect without loss of RNAi activity, was identified. Quantification of the remaining siRNA in HeLa-luc cells using a Heat-in-Triton (HIT) qRT-PCR revealed that the intracellular stability of the siRNA modified with 2′-OMe-4′-thioribonucleosides contributed significantly to the duration of its RNAi activity. © The Author(s) 2012. Published by Oxford University Press.
• Efficient Intracellular Delivery of Nucleic Acid Pharmaceuticals Using Cell-Penetrating Peptides

  Ikuhiko Nakase, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Astrid Graslund, Ulo Langel, Hideyoshi Harashima, Shiroh Futaki

  ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 45 (7) 1132 - 1139 0001-4842 2012/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Over the last 20 years, researchers have designed or discovered peptides that can permeate membranes and deliver exogenous molecules inside a cell. These peptides, known as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), typically consist of 6-30 residues, including HIV TAT peptide, penetratin, oligoarginine, transportan, and TP10. Through chemical conjugation or noncovalent complex formation, these structures successfully deliver bioactive and membrane-impermeable molecules into cells. CPPs have also gained attention as an attractive vehicle for the delivery of nucleic add pharmaceuticals (NAPs), including genes/plasmids, short oligonucleotides, and small interference RNAs and their analogues, due to their high internalization efficacy, low cytotoxicity, and flexible structural design. In this Account, we survey the potential of CPPs for the design and optimization of NAP delivery systems. First, we describe the impact of the N-terminal stearylation of CPPs. Endocytic pathways make a major contribution to the cellular uptake of NAPS. Stearylation at the N-terminus of CPPs with stearyl-octaarginine (R8), stearyl-(RxR)(4), and stearyl-TP10 prompts the formation of a self-assembled core shell nanoparticle with NAPS, a compact structure that promotes cellular uptake. Researchers have designed modifications such as the addition of trifluoromethylquinoline moieties to lysine residues to destabilize endosomes, as exemplified by PepFect 6, and these changes further improve biological responsiveness. Alternatively, stearylation also allows implantation of CPPs onto the surface of liposomes. This feature facilitates "programmed packaging" to establish multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MEND). The R8-MEND showed high transfection efficiency comparable to that of adenovirus in non-dividing cells. Understanding the cellular uptake mechanisms of CPPs will further improve CPP-mediated NAP delivery. The cellular uptake of CPPs and their NAP complex involves various types of endocytosis. Macropinocytosis, a mechanism which is also activated in response to stimuli such as growth factors or viruses, is a primary pathway for arginine-rich CPPs because high cationic charge density promotes this endocytic pathway. The use of larger endosomes (known as macropinosomes) rather than clathrin- or caveolae-mediated endocytosis has been reported in macropinocytosis which would also facilitate the endocytosis of NAP nanoparticles into cells.
• クロマチン化プラスミドDNAによる発現上昇

  紙谷 浩之, 宮本 紫甫, 後藤 仁美, 神田 元紀, 小林 三和子, 松岡 一郎, 原島 秀吉

  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集 日本DDS学会 28回 163 - 163 2012/06
• Fabrication of Functionalized Double-Lamellar Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nanodevices Using a Microfluidic Chip with a Chaotic Mixer Array

  Katsuma Kitazoe, Yeon-Su Park, Noritada Kaji, Yukihiro Okamoto, Manabu Tokeshi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba

  PLOS ONE 7 (6) e39057  1932-6203 2012/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MENDs) are very promising non-viral gene delivery vectors because they are biocompatible and enable programmed packaging of various functional elements into an individual nanostructured liposome. Conventionally MENDs have been fabricated by complicated, labor-intensive, time-consuming bulk batch methods. To avoid these problems in MEND fabrication, we adopted a microfluidic chip with a chaotic mixer array on the floor of its reaction channel. The array was composed of 69 cycles of the staggered chaotic mixer with bas-relief structures. Although the reaction channel had very large Peclet numbers (>10(5)) favorable for laminar flows, its chaotic mixer array led to very small mixing lengths (<1.5 cm) and that allowed homogeneous mixing of MEND precursors in a short time. Using the microfluidic chip, we fabricated a double-lamellar MEND (D-MEND) composed of a condensed plasmid DNA core and a lipid bilayer membrane envelope as well as the D-MEND modified with trans-membrane peptide octaarginine. Our lab-on-a-chip approach was much simpler, faster, and more convenient for fabricating the MENDs, as compared with the conventional bulk batch approaches. Further, the physical properties of the on-chip-fabricated MENDs were comparable to or better than those of the bulk batch-fabricated MENDs. Our fabrication strategy using microfluidic chips with short mixing length reaction channels may provide practical ways for constructing more elegant liposome-based non-viral vectors that can effectively penetrate all membranes in cells and lead to high gene transfection efficiency.
• Post-nuclear gene delivery events for transgene expression by biocleavable polyrotaxanes

  Yuma Yamada, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Atsushi Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yui

  Biomaterials 33 (15) 3952 - 3958 0142-9612 2012/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A quantitative comparison between nuclear DNA release from carriers and their transfection activity would be highly useful for improving the effectiveness of non-viral gene vectors. We previously reported that, for condensed DNA particles, a close relationship exists between the efficiency of DNA release and transfection activity, when biocleavable polyrotaxanes (DMAE-SS-PRX), in which the cationic density can be easily controlled. In this study, we first investigated the efficiencies of DNA release from condensed DNA particles with various types of DMAE-SS-PRX. The findings indicate that an optimal cationic density in DMAE-SS-PRX exists for DNA release. We then packaged condensed DNA particles in a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), and evaluated their transfection activities. The results showed that the transfection activity was increased and this increase was, to some extent, dependent on the efficiency of the DNA release. However, transfection activity decreased, when the value for the efficiency of DNA release was higher than a certain value. An investigation of the fate of intranuclear DNA indicated that a very high efficiency of DNA release has a positive influence on transcription, however, it would inhibit the post-transcription process nuclear mRNA export, translation and related processes. Such information provides a new viewpoint for the development of cationic polymer-based vectors. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
• Post-nuclear gene delivery events for transgene expression by biocleavable polyrotaxanes

  Yuma Yamada, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Atsushi Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yui

  BIOMATERIALS 33 (15) 3952 - 3958 0142-9612 2012/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A quantitative comparison between nuclear DNA release from carriers and their transfection activity would be highly useful for improving the effectiveness of non-viral gene vectors. We previously reported that, for condensed DNA particles, a close relationship exists between the efficiency of DNA release and transfection activity, when biocleavable polyrotaxanes (DMAE-SS-PRX), in which the cationic density can be easily controlled. In this study, we first investigated the efficiencies of DNA release from condensed DNA particles with various types of DMAE-SS-PRX. The findings indicate that an optimal cationic density in DMAE-SS-PRX exists for DNA release. We then packaged condensed DNA particles in a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), and evaluated their transfection activities. The results showed that the transfection activity was increased and this increase was, to some extent, dependent on the efficiency of the DNA release. However, transfection activity decreased, when the value for the efficiency of DNA release was higher than a certain value. An investigation of the fate of intranuclear DNA indicated that a very high efficiency of DNA release has a positive influence on transcription, however, it would inhibit the post-transcription process; nuclear mRNA export, translation and related processes. Such information provides a new viewpoint for the development of cationic polymer-based vectors. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• FRET from Quantum Dots to Photodecompose Undesired Acceptors and Report the Condensation and Decondensation of Plasmid DNA

  Vasudevanpillai Biju, Abdulaziz Anas, Hidetaka Akita, Edakkattuparambil Sidharthan Shibu, Tamitake Itoh, Hideyoshi Harashima, Mitsuru Ishikawa

  ACS NANO 6 (5) 3776 - 3788 1936-0851 2012/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Protection of genes against enzymatic degradation and overcoming of cellular barriers are critical for efficient gene delivery. The effectiveness of gene delivery by nonviral vectors depends mostly on the extent of DNA packaging or condensation. We show that Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-mediated photodecomposition of undesired acceptors In doubly labeled plasmid DNA (pDNA) and FRET recovery after acceptor photodecomposition (FRET-RAP) are effective methods for the detection of DNA condensation and decondensation. Our hypothesis is that undesired acceptors within the Forster distance of highly-photostable donors in precondensed DNA can be selectively photodecomposed by FRET. We Investigate this hypothesis by the random labeling of pcDNA3.1-GL3 and pUC18DNA with quantum dots (QDs) as the energy donor and AlexaFluor594 or Cy5 as the acceptor. At first, the random labeling generates efficient FRET, also called intrinsic FRET, in precondensed DNA, which prevents us from decoding any changes in the FRET efficiency during DNA condensation. Next, we suppressed the intrinsic FRET by the FRET-mediated photodecomposition of acceptors within the Forster distance of QDs. Conversely, many acceptors kept intact beyond the Forster distance provide us with high FRET efficiency during the condensation of pDNA using protamine. Further, the FRET efficiency is significantly decreased during the decondensation of DNA using heparan sulfate and glutathione. The random labeling of DNA using excess acceptors around photostable donors followed by the FRET-mediated photodecomposition of undesired acceptors can be a promising method for not only the sensitive detection of DNA condensation by FRET but also the customization of biomolecular sensors.
• Efficient Intradermal Delivery of Superoxide Dismutase Using a Combination of Liposomes and Iontophoresis for Protection against UV-Induced Skin Damage

  Kaoru Kigasawa, Moeko Miyashita, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Kiyoshi Kanamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 35 (5) 781 - 785 0918-6158 2012/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a potent antioxidant agent that protects against UV-induced skin damage. However, its high molecular weight is a significant obstacle for efficient delivery into the skin through the stratum corneum and development of antioxidant activity. Recently, we developed a non-invasive transfollicular delivery system for macromolecules using a combination of liposomes and iontophoresis, that represents promising technology for enhancing transdermal administration of charged drugs (IJP, 403, 2011, Kajimoto et al.). In this study, in rats we attempted to apply this system to intradermal delivery of SOD for preventing UV-induced skin injury. SOD encapsulating in cationic liposomes was subjected to anodal iontophoresis. After iontophoretic treatment, the liposomes were diffused widely in the viable skin layer around hair follicles. In contrast, passive diffusion failed to transport liposomes efficiently into the skin. Iontophoretic delivery of liposomes encapsulating SOD caused a marked decrease in the production of oxidative products, such as malondialdehyde, hexanoyl lysine, and 8-hydroxi-2-deoxyguanosine, in UV-irradiated skin. These findings suggested that functional SOD can be delivered into the skin using a combination of iontophoresis and a liposomal system. In conclusion, we succeeded in developing an efficient intradermal SOD delivery system, that would be useful for delivery of other macromolecules.
• Different mechanisms for nanoparticle formation between pDNA and siRNA using polyrotaxane as the polycation

  Yuma Yamada, Masahiro Hashida, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuichi Yamasaki, Kazunori Kataoka, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui

  ChemPhysChem 13 (5) 1161 - 1165 1439-4235 2012/04/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Ratios that matter: Investigations of nanoparticle formation using polyrotaxane as a polycation reveal that the formations of pDNA and siRNA nanoparticles with polycations are dependent on the nitrogen/phosphate ratio and the molar ratio, respectively. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
• 1H, 13C and 15N NMR assignments of the Escherichia coli Orf135 protein

  Kumiko Kawasaki, Momoko Yoneyama, Naoko Murata-Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima, Chojiro Kojima, Yutaka Ito, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Masaki Mishima

  Biomol NMR Assign 6 (1) 1-4  2012/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  大腸菌Orf135蛋白質のNMR信号帰属
• Different Mechanisms for Nanoparticle Formation between pDNA and siRNA Using Polyrotaxane as the Polycation

  Yuma Yamada, Masahiro Hashida, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yuichi Yamasaki, Kazunori Kataoka, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui

  CHEMPHYSCHEM 13 (5) 1161 - 1165 1439-4235 2012/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect of the Anchor in Polyethylene Glycol-Lipids on the Transfection Activity of PEGylated Cationic Liposomes Encapsulating DNA

  Kenji Kusumoto, Hidetaka Akita, Ayman El-Sayed, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 35 (4) 445 - 448 0918-6158 2012/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The use of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified lipids (PEG-lipids) as a component of cationic liposomes impairs the cytoplasmic delivery of the encapsulated cargos by reducing endosomal escape. While this results in a loss of gene expression of encapsulated plasmid DNA, PEG-modification is useful in that it permits the formation of small, stabilized particles. In the present study, the dilemma associated with the use of PEG was overcome by modifying liposomes with stearylated INF7 (STR-INF7), a membrane fusion-independent destabilizer of endosomes, and substituting hydrophobic lipid-anchors in the PEG-lipid. The cationic liposomes modified with a series of PEG-lipids showed a drastically impaired transgene expression. However, the incorporation of STR-INF7 recovered the gene expression, and this was found to be mainly dependent on the type of PEG lipid-anchor used. Of note, the fold increase in transfection activity was highest in cholesterol-anchored PEG (>100-fold), whose enhanced endosomal escape was followed by imaging techniques. These data suggest that the structure of lipid-anchors in PEG affects the action of the peptides for inducing of endosomal escape.
• Stearylated INF7 peptide enhances endosomal escape and gene expression of PEGylated nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo

  Ayman El-Sayed, Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 101 (2) 879 - 882 0022-3549 2012/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported on a stearylated INF7 peptide (str-INF7), which enhances the endosomal escape of an octaarginine (R8)-modified liposomal particle encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA) in a fusion-independent manner. This study examined whether this peptide derivative enhanced the endosomal escape and gene expression of PEGylated liposomes encapsulating pDNA. We used a PEGylated, R8-modified multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (R8MEND) as a model for PEGylated liposomes. Polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG2000) attached to two different anchors, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPEPEG) or dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPEPEG), was used to modify the R8MEND in the presence or absence of two different concentrations of str-INF7. Modification of the PEGylated R8MEND with str-INF7 resulted in luciferase gene expression levels in HeLa cells that were 73-fold and 24-fold higher than the corresponding value for an unmodified MEND in the case of DSPEPEG and DMPEPEG, respectively. The endosomal escape of the PEGylated R8MEND was improved by str-INF7, as confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, modification with str-INF7 enhanced the hepatic gene expression of the R8MEND modified with DSPEPEG and DMPEPEG by 95-fold and 1885-fold, respectively, after intravenous injection in mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that str-INF7 can be a useful device for enhancing the endosomal escape even for PEGylated liposomes encapsulating pDNA. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:879882, 2012
• Delivery of bioactive molecules to the mitochondrial genome using a membrane-fusing, liposome-based carrier, DF-MITO-Porter

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 33 (5) 1589 - 1595 0142-9612 2012/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of human diseases. It is now well accepted that mutations and defects in the mitochondrial genome form the basis of these diseases. Therefore, mitochondrial gene therapy and diagnosis would be expected to have great medical benefits. To achieve such a strategy, it will be necessary to deliver therapeutic agents into mitochondria in living cells. We report here on an approach to accomplish this via the use of a Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter, aimed at the mitochondrial genome, so-called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The DF-MITO-Porter, a nano carrier for mitochondrial delivery, has the ability to penetrate the endosomal and mitochondrial membranes via step-wise membrane fusion. We first constructed a DF-MITO-Porter encapsulating DNase 1 protein as a bioactive cargo. It was expected that mtDNA would be digested, when the DNase I was delivered to the mitochondria. We observed the intracellular trafficking of the carriers, and then measured mitochondrial activity and mtDNA-levels after the delivery of DNase I by the DF-MITO-Porter. The findings confirm that the DF-MITO-Porter effectively delivered the DNase 1 into the mitochondria, and provides a demonstration of its potential use in therapies that are selective for the mitochondrial genome. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• High throughput purification device for gene delivery multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice

  Daisuke Shigenaka, Masami Ukawa, Noritada Kaji, Yukihiro Okamoto, Manabu Tokeshi, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba

  Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012 1546 - 1548 2012 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MEND) developed by Harashima et al. is one of the novel non-viral DNA vectors expected as a safe gene delivery system. Our group has already attained fast and easy preparation of MEND by using the microfluidic device. However, purification of MEND should be performed in a high-throughput manner because prepared MEND contains impurities such as plasmid-cationic polymer complex. In this paper, we report a novel purification method for MEND by free flow electrophoresis based on microfluidic device, which purification principle is based on the zeta potential difference between MEND and impurities.
• The manner in which DNA is packaged with TFAM has an impact on transcription activation and inhibition

  Ryo Furukawa, Yuma Yamada, Yuichi Matsushima, Yu-ichi Goto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  FEBS OPEN BIO 2 145 - 150 2211-5463 2012 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  For successful mitochondrial transgene expression, an optimal packaging exogenous DNA is an important issue. We report herein on the effects of DNA packaged with mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which packages mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), on the transcription process. Our initial findings indicated that the transcription of the TFAM/DNA complex was activated, when the complex was formed at an optimal ratio. We also found that TFAM has a significant advantage over protamine, a nuclear DNA packaging protein, from the viewpoint of transcription efficiency. This result indicates that TFAM can be useful packaging protein for exogenous DNA to achieve mitochondrial transgene expression. (C) 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
• CREB-binding protein transcription activation domain for enhanced transgene expression by a positive feedback system

  Genki Kanda, Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 157 (1) 7 - 11 0168-1656 2012/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The positive feedback system using a fusion protein of the sequence-specific DNA binding domain of yeast GAL4 and the transcription activation domain of herpes simplex virus VP16 (GAL4-VP16), in which GAL4-VP16 promotes its own expression as well as that of a reporter gene product, is useful for efficient transgene expression from plasmid DNA. In this study, the transcription activation domains of endogenous proteins, instead of VP16, were fused to the GAL4 DNA binding domain, and the positive feedback systems employing the novel fusion proteins were examined. Plasmid DNAs encoding the transcription factors were introduced into mouse Hepa 1-6 cells by electroporation and lipofection. Among CREB-binding protein (226-460), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (1-140), p53 (1-70), and Med15 (9-73), the CREB-binding protein functioned efficiently as an activator. These results indicated that the GAL4-CREB-binding protein is useful for enhanced transgene expression by the positive feedback system. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• MULTIFUNCTIONAL ENVELOPE-TYPE NANO DEVICE (MEND) FOR ORGANELLE TARGETING VIA A STEPWISE MEMBRANE FUSION PROCESS

  Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NANOMEDICINE: INFECTIOUS DISEASES, IMMUNOTHERAPY, DIAGNOSTICS, ANTIFIBROTICS, TOXICOLOGY AND GENE MEDICINE 509 301 - 326 0076-6879 2012 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A single cell contains a variety of organelles. Included among these organelles are the nucleus that regulates the central dogma, mitochondria that function as an energy plant, the Golgi apparatus that determines the destination of endogenous protein, and others. If it were possible to prepare a nano craft that could specifically target a specific organelle, this would open a new field of research directed toward therapy for various diseases. We recently developed a new concept of "Programmed Packaging," by which we succeeded in creating a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) as a nonviral gene-delivery system. Our attempts to target certain organelles (nucleus and mitochondria) are described here, mainly focusing on the construction of a tetra-lamellar MEND (T-MEND), and on methods for screening the organelle-specific fusogenic envelope. The critical structural elements of the T-MEND include an organelle-specific membrane-fusogenic inner envelope and a cellular membrane-fusogenic outer envelope. The resulting T-MEND can be utilized to overcome intracellular membrane barriers, since it involves stepwise membrane fusion. To deliver cargos into a target organelle in our strategy, the carriers must fuse with the organelle membrane. Therefore, we screened a series of lipid envelopes that have the potential for fusing with an organelle membrane by monitoring the inhibition of fluorescence resonance energy transfer and identified the optimal lipid conditions for nuclear and mitochondrial membrane fusion. Finally, we describe the delivery of a bioactive molecule targeted to the nucleus and mitochondria in living cells, demonstrating that this system can be useful for targeting various organelles.
• Octaarginine- and pH sensitive fusogenic peptide-modified nanoparticles for liver gene delivery

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Ryoichi Mizuno, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 156 (3) 374 - 380 0168-3659 2011/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that octaarginine peptide modified liposomes (R8-liposomes) largely accumulated in the liver after intravenous administration and that this is dependent on the R8-density. We report herein on the development of a Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device modified with R8 and GALA, as a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (R8-GALA-MEND) for liver gene delivery. An R8-MEND encapsulating pDNA prepared using two different cores (negatively or positively charged pDNA/polyethylene imine condensed particles) failed to produce a high gene expression in the liver. Modification with GALA dramatically increased gene expression particularly in the liver only in the case of a negative core R8-MEND. Quantification of the number of gene copies delivered to liver cells and nuclei revealed that the amount of pDNA was significantly higher in the case of positive core R8-MENDs, regardless of the absence or presence of GALA. However, gene expression efficiencies per nucleus-delivered pDNA were much higher in the case of the negative core R8-MEND, especially the R8-GALA-MEND suggesting that the substantial improvement in gene expression can be explained by an improved gene expression efficiency per pDNA in the presence of GALA. A comparative study between the developed R8-GALA-MEND and a similar system containing DOTAP, a commonly used cationic lipid, instead of R8 showed that gene expression of the R8-GALA-MEND was 29 times higher than that of the DOTAP-GALA-MEND and is more selective for the liver. Collectively, these results suggest that the combination of a negatively charged core system and GALA modification of the R8-MEND is useful system for efficiently delivering genes to the liver. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• The liposome-incorporating cell wall skeleton of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guein can directly enhance the susceptibility of cancer cells to lymphokine-activated killer cells through up-regulation of natural-killer group 2, member D ligands

  Jun Miyazaki, Koji Kawai, Takahiro Kojima, Takehiro Oikawa, Akira Joraku, Toru Shimazui, Akihiro Nakaya, Ikuya Yano, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hideyuki Akaza

  BJU INTERNATIONAL 108 (9) 1520 - 1526 1464-4096 2011/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  OBJECTIVE To conduct a preclinical evaluation of the ability of natural killer cells to cytolyze bladder cancer cells that were modified to show enhanced expression of natural-killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligands by R8-liposome-bacillus Calmette-Guein (BCG)-cell wall skeleton (CWS) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS The T24 cells and RT-112 cells were co-cultured with R8-liposome-BCG-CWS and BCG for 2, 4, or 6 h, and then the surface expression of NKG2D ligands was analyzed using TaqMan real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained with a conventional preparation kit, and then lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells were generated from these purified peripheral blood mononuclear cells via interleukin-2 stimulation. The anti-tumour effect of LAK cells against untreated and R8-liposome-BCG-CWS co-cultured with cells of the human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and RT-112 was analyzed using the cytotoxic WST-8 assay method at 4 h of culture at various effector/target (E : T) ratios. RESULTS Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain B (MICB) expression was increased approximate to 1.5-fold on T24 cells and RT-112 cells with BCG. UL-16-binding protein (ULBP) 1 expression was also increased approximate to 1.5-fold on T24 cells and RT-112 cells with BCG. R8-liposome-BCG-CWS increased the surface expression of MICB 2.2-fold on T24 cells but did not increase it significantly on RT-112 cells. ULBP1 expression was increased approximate to 2.2-fold on RT-112 cells, although no differences were observed between the expression of ULBP2 and 3 with R8-liposome-BCG-CWS. T24 cells that were co-cultured with R8-liposome-BCG-CWS showed an approximate to 1.3-fold increase in sensitivity to cytolysis by LAK cells at an E : T ratio of 4 and RT-112 cells showed an approximate to 1.4-fold increase at an E : T ratio of 2. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, the induction of surface NKG2D ligands by R8-liposome-BCG-CWS rendered cancer cells more susceptible to cytolysis by LAK cells. T24 cells and RT-112 cells, even when cultured singly in the absence of immune cells, can directly respond to R8-liposome-BCG-CWS. The results obtained in the present study may therefore indicate a novel adoptive immunotherapy against bladder cancers.
• Diverse substrate recognition and hydrolysis mechanisms of human NUDT5

  Takao Arimori, Haruhiko Tamaoki, Teruya Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Shinji Ikemizu, Yasumitsu Takagi, Toru Ishibashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Mutsuo Sekiguchi, Yuriko Yamagata

  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH 39 (20) 8972 - 8983 0305-1048 2011/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Human NUDT5 (hNUDT5) hydrolyzes various modified nucleoside diphosphates including 8-oxo-dGDP, 8-oxo-dADP and ADP-ribose (ADPR). However, the structural basis of the broad substrate specificity remains unknown. Here, we report the crystal structures of hNUDT5 complexed with 8-oxo-dGDP and 8-oxo-dADP. These structures reveal an unusually different substrate-binding mode. In particular, the positions of two phosphates (alpha and beta phosphates) of substrate in the 8-oxo-dGDP and 8-oxo-dADP complexes are completely inverted compared with those in the previously reported hNUDT5-ADPR complex structure. This result suggests that the nucleophilic substitution sites of the substrates involved in hydrolysis reactions differ despite the similarities in the chemical structures of the substrates and products. To clarify this hypothesis, we employed the isotope-labeling method and revealed that 8-oxo-dGDP is attacked by nucleophilic water at P beta, whereas ADPR is attacked at P alpha. This observation reveals that the broad substrate specificity of hNUDT5 is achieved by a diversity of not only substrate recognition, but also hydrolysis mechanisms and leads to a novel aspect that enzymes do not always catalyze the reaction of substrates with similar chemical structures by using the chemically equivalent reaction site.
• Effects of insulator cHS4 on transgene expression from plasmid DNA in a positive feedback system

  Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING 112 (5) 432 - 434 1389-1723 2011/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The effects of a genetic insulator (chicken cHS4) on transgene expression in a positive feedback system using the GAL4-VP16 activator and luciferase reporter plasmids were examined. The introduction of cHS4 enhanced luciferase expression in mouse liver, indicating that this system would be useful for efficient transgene expression. (C) 2011, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
• Delivery of nucleic acids and gene delivery

  H. Akita, H. Hatakeyama, I. A. Khalil, Y. Yamada, H. Harashima

  Comprehensive Biomaterials 4 411 - 444 2011/10
• Synthesis, Structure, and Biological Activity of Dumbbell-Shaped Nanocircular RNAs for RNA Interference

  Naoko Abe, Hiroshi Abe, Chisato Nagai, Mitsuru Harada, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima, Takahito Ohshiro, Mizuki Nishihara, Kazuhiro Furukawa, Mizuo Maeda, Satoshi Tsuneda, Yoshihiro Ito

  BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY 22 (10) 2082 - 2092 1043-1802 2011/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  RNA interference (RNAi) is one of the most promising new approaches for disease therapy. The design of a dumbbell shaped nanocircular RNA allows it to act as a short interfering RNA (siRNA) precursor. To optimize the,design, we studied the relationship between the nanostructure and RNAi activity by synthesizing various RNA - dumbbells. An RNA dumbbell with a 23 bp stem and 9-nt loops was the most potent. Sequence analysis by mass spectrometry showed that Dicer could edit RNA dumbbells to siRNA species. The reaction offered the slow release of siRNA species, which conferred prolonged RNAi activity. Introduction of DNA into the loop position significantly stabilized the dumbbell in biological fluid without any loss of RNAi activity. In-depth pharmacological evaluation was performed by introducing dumbbells into HeLa cells that stably express : the target luciferase gene. The dumbbells provided a rapid silencing effect and retained this effect for a longer time even at a lower concentration than that at which standard siRNA completely lost RNAi activity. We conclude that an RNA dumbbell with DNA the most promising design for in vivo applications for RNA medicine.
• Mutagenicity of secondary oxidation products of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 '-deoxyguanosine 5 '-triphosphate (8-hydroxy-2 '- deoxyguanosine 5 '-triphosphate)

  Mika Hori, Tetsuya Suzuki, Noriaki Minakawa, Akira Matsuda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS 714 (1-2) 11 - 16 0027-5107 2011/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-hydroxyguanine) is oxidized more easily than normal nucleobases, which can produce spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp) and guanidinohydantoin (Gh). These secondary oxidation products of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine are highly mutagenic when formed within DNA. To evaluate the mutagenicity of the corresponding oxidation products of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-hydroxy-2'- deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate) in the nucleotide pool, Escherichia coli cells deficient in the mutT gene were treated with H2O2, and the induced mutations were analyzed. Moreover, the 2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate derivatives of Sp and Gh were also introduced into competent E. coli cells. The H2O2 treatment of mutT E. coli cells resulted in increase of G:C -> T:A and A:T -> T:A mutations. However, the incorporation of exogenous Sp and Gh 2'-deoxyribonucleotides did not significantly increase the mutation frequency. These results suggested that the oxidation product(s) of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate induces G:C -> T:A and A:T -> T:A mutations, and that the 2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate derivatives of Sp and Gh exhibit quite weak mutagenicity, in contrast to the bases in DNA. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.
• Correction of Frameshift Mutations with Tailed Duplex DNAs

  Yukiko Morita, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 34 (9) 1465 - 1468 0918-6158 2011/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Tailed duplex (TD) DNAs, prepared by annealing an oligonucleotide to a several-hundred-base single-stranded (ss) DNA fragment, correct a base-substitution mutation with high efficiency. In the present study, the abilities of TD fragments to correct single-base insertion and deletion mutations were examined, using hygromycin-resistance and enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion (Hyg-EGFP) genes inactivated by +G and -C frameshift mutations. The 5'-TD and 3'-TD DNA fragments were co-transfected with plasmid DNA containing the inactivated Hyg-EGFP gene into CHO-K1 cells, and the gene correction efficiencies were determined by introducing the plasmid DNA recovered from the transfected cells into Escherichia coli cells. In contrast to their efficiencies for the substitution mutation, the gene correction abilities of the TD fragments were relatively low. The correction efficiencies by the TD fragments were apparently higher than that by a ss DNA fragment, one of the DNA fragments employed for gene correction. These results suggest that the TD fragments have the potential to correct frameshift mutations, although further improvement is required.
• KALA-modified multi-layered nanoparticles as gene carriers for MHC class-I mediated antigen presentation for a DNA vaccine

  Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Takashi Nakamura, Shota Takayama, Shiroh Futaki, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biomaterials 32 (26) 6342 - 6350 0142-9612 2011/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  DNA vaccines are a new-generation vaccines that elicit an immunological response against a wide-variety of antigens with frequent mutations. However, an effective non-viral vector for genetically engineered DNA to dendritic cells is yet to be developed. We previously reported that an octaarginine (R8)-modified tetra-lamellar multi-functional envelope-type nano device (R8-T-MEND) increases transfection efficiency in dendritic cell cultures (JAWS II). The critical structural elements of the R8-T-MEND are a DNA-polycation condensed core coated with two nuclear membrane-fusogenic inner envelopes, and two endosome-fusogenic outer envelopes. While the gene expression was drastically enhanced by R8-T-MEND, antigen presentation using an epitope-encoding plasmid DNA remains an obstacle for future non-viral vectors in DNA vaccinations. In the present study, we upgraded the function of R8-T-MEND by improving the membrane-fusion processes with endosome- and nuclear membranes by incorporating the KALA peptide, and by reducing the charge ratio (+/-), in an attempt to accelerate intra-nuclear decondensation. The resulting KALA-modified T-MEND (R8/KALA-T-MEND) showed an approximately 20-fold higher transgene expression compared with the conventional R8-T-MEND in JAWS II, and exceeded that of Lipofectamine PLUS, a commercially available transfection reagent. Furthermore, significant antigen presentation of a specific epitope (SIINFEKL) was observed for the R8/KALA-T-MEND but was not detected for the conventional T-MEND or Lipofectamine PLUS when an ovalbumin (OVA)-encoding plasmid DNA was transfected. It thus appears that the R8/KALA-T-MEND has the potential for use as a vector in DNA vaccinations. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
• KALA-modified multi-layered nanoparticles as gene carriers for MHC class-I mediated antigen presentation for a DNA vaccine

  Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Takashi Nakamura, Shota Takayama, Shiroh Futaki, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 32 (26) 6342 - 6350 0142-9612 2011/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  DNA vaccines are a new-generation vaccines that elicit an immunological response against a wide-variety of antigens with frequent mutations. However, an effective non-viral vector for genetically engineered DNA to dendritic cells is yet to be developed. We previously reported that an octaarginine (R8)-modified tetra-lamellar multi-functional envelope-type nano device (R8-T-MEND) increases transfection efficiency in dendritic cell cultures (JAWS II). The critical structural elements of the R8-T-MEND are a DNA-polycation condensed core coated with two nuclear membrane-fusogenic inner envelopes, and two endosome-fusogenic outer envelopes. While the gene expression was drastically enhanced by R8-T-MEND, antigen presentation using an epitope-encoding plasmid DNA remains an obstacle for future non-viral vectors in DNA vaccinations. In the present study, we upgraded the function of R8-T-MEND by improving the membrane-fusion processes with endosome- and nuclear membranes by incorporating the KALA peptide, and by reducing the charge ratio (+/-), in an attempt to accelerate intra-nuclear decondensation. The resulting KALA-modified T-MEND (R8/KALA-T-MEND) showed an approximately 20-fold higher transgene expression compared with the conventional R8-T-MEND in JAWS II, and exceeded that of Lipofectamine PLUS, a commercially available transfection reagent. Furthermore, significant antigen presentation of a specific epitope (SIINFEKL) was observed for the R8/KALA-T-MEND but was not detected for the conventional T-MEND or Lipofectamine PLUS when an ovalbumin (OVA)-encoding plasmid DNA was transfected. It thus appears that the R8/KALA-T-MEND has the potential for use as a vector in DNA vaccinations. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• A20 Silencing by Lipid Envelope-Type Nanoparticles Enhances the Efficiency of Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Dendritic Cells

  Shota Warashina, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 34 (8) 1348 - 1351 0918-6158 2011/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In a previous report, we described the development of lipid envelope-type nanoparticles (MEND) modified with octaarginine (R8) and a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (GALA) for delivering short interference RNA (siRNA) to mouse dendritic cells (DCs). A20 was recently reported to be a negative regulator of the toll-like receptor and the tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling pathways. Although A20 would be expected to be a useful target for boosting the effects of adjuvants in DC immunotherapy, limited information is available regarding the use of A20-silenced DC by an original non-viral vector. In this study, we loaded anti-A20 siRNA into a MEND and investigated the gene knockdown activity in DC and the immunological functions of A20-silenced DC. The use of a MEND resulted in a significant A20 knockdown effect, and the A20-silenced DC resulted in an enhanced production of proinflammatory molecules, after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules by LPS stimulation was also increased in the A20-silenced DC. The findings reported herein show that a MEND loaded with anti-A20 siRNA is a potent non-viral vector that has the ability to enhance the adjuvant effect of LPS in DC.
• Endosomal escape and the knockdown efficiency of liposomal-siRNA by the fusogenic peptide shGALA

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Takayama, Sachiko Kobayashi, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 32 (24) 5733 - 5742 0142-9612 2011/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  An siRNA that specifically silences the expression of mRNA is a potential therapeutic agent for dealing with many diseases including cancer. However, the poor cellular uptake and bioavailability of siRNA remains a major obstacle to clinical development. For efficient delivery to tumor tissue, the pharmacokinetics and intracellular trafficking of siRNA must be rigorously controlled. To address this issue, we developed a liposomal siRNA carrier, a multi-functional nano device (MEND). We describe herein an approach for systemic siRNA delivery to tumors by combining the MEND system with shGALA, a fusogenic peptide. In cultured cell experiments, shGALA-modification enhanced the endosomal escape of siRNA encapsulated in a polyethylene glycol modified MEND (PEG-MEND), resulting in an 82% knockdown of the target gene. In vivo systemic administration clarified that the shGALA-modified MEND (shGALA-MEND) showed 58% gene silencing in tumor tissues at a dose of 4 mg of siRNA/kg body weight. In addition, a significant inhibition of tumor growth was observed only for the shGALA-MEND and no somatic or hepatic toxicity was observed. Given the above data, this peptide-modified delivery system, a shGALA-MEND has great potential for the systemic delivery of therapeutic siRNA aimed at cancer therapy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Synthesis and Evaluation of Stearylated Hyaluronic Acid for the Active Delivery of Liposomes to Liver Endothelial Cells

  Naoyuki Toriyabe, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Mamoru Hyodo, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 34 (7) 1084 - 1089 0918-6158 2011/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring ligand that can be useful for targeting liver endothelial cells. We describe herein the development of a new HA-lipid conjugate for the efficient delivery of liposomes to liver endothelial cells. When free HA coated cationic liposomes were injected into mice, their accumulation in the liver was significantly decreased depending on the content of free HA, while accumulation in the lung was not significantly changed. When cationic liposomes modified with HA-stearylamine (HA-SA conjugate) were injected in mice, liver accumulation was increased depending on the amount of HA-SA conjugate and accumulation in the lung was drastically reduced, compared to non-modified liposomes. Confocal imaging analyses showed that HA-SA modified liposomes were accumulated to a greater extent along with blood vessels than non-modified liposomes, suggesitng that HA-SA modified liposomes are distributed in endothelial cells in the liver. Collectively, these findings indicate that an HA-SA conjugate is a useful material that can be used to modify liposomes and for delivering bioactive liposomal cargoes to liver endothelial cells.
• Improving in Vivo Hepatic Transfection Activity by Controlling Intracellular Trafficking: The Function of GALA and Maltotriose

  Hidetaka Akita, Tomoya Masuda, Takashi Nishio, Kenichi Niikura, Kuniharu Ijiro, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 8 (4) 1436 - 1442 1543-8384 2011/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The successful control of intracellular trafficking (i.e., endosomal escape and nuclear delivery) is prerequisite for the development of a gene delivery system. In the present study, we developed an in vivo hepatic gene delivery system using a plasmid DNA (pDNA) -encapsulating lipid envelope-type nanoparticle, to which we refer as a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND). The critical structural elements of the MEND are a DNA/protamine condensed core coated with lipid bilayers including serum-resistant cationic lipids. Intravenous administration of bare MEND represents minimal transfection activity. For the surface modification of functional devices, hydrophobic moieties were chemically attached, which are shed in the spontaneous orientation outward from the MEND surface by anchoring to the lipid bilayers. Modification of the pH-dependent fusogenic peptide GALA as an endosome escape induced transfection activity by 1 and 2 orders of magnitude. In an attempt to induce the nuclear delivery of pDNA, maltotriose, a recently characterized nuclear localization signal, was additionally modified. As a result, transfection activity further enhanced by 1 order of magnitude, and it reached to the higher level obtained for a conventional lipoplex and an in vivo jetPEI-Gal, with less hepatic toxicity. The data show that the combination of GALA and maltotriose results in a highly potent functional device that shows an enhanced endosomal escape and nuclear delivery in vivo.
• The Therapeutic Effects of R8-Liposome-BCG-CWS on BBN-Induced Rat Urinary Bladder Carcinoma

  Jun Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Ikuya Yano, Akihiro Nakaya, Hideyasu Kohama, Koji Kawai, Akira Joraku, Takashi Nakamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hideyuki Akaza

  ANTICANCER RESEARCH 31 (6) 2065 - 2071 0250-7005 2011/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: The present gold standard for bladder cancer is Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy, but serious side-effects are common. We previously reported that C3H/HeN mice vaccinated with a mixture of MBT-2 cells and artificial BCG, octaarginine-modified liposomes incorporating the cell wall of BCG (R8-liposome-BCG-CW), significantly inhibited growth of R8-liposome-BCG-CW pretreated MBT-2 cells. Our aim was to determine if a non-live bacterial agent could be as efficacious as live BCG in a model of bladder cancer. We investigated the suppressive effect of liposome-incorporating cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis in rats. Materials and Methods: F344 rats were fed with BBN and sodium ascorbate for 8 weeks, after which all rats were confirmed to have excreted atypical epithelial cells in the urine. Rats were administered BCG-CW(1.0 mg/rat) or R8-liposome-BCG-CWS (0.1 or 1.0 mg/rat) intravesically once/week for 8 weeks from week 28 to 35 of the experimental protocol. Results: Rats receiving R8-liposome-BCG-CWS intravesically showed significantly inhibited numbers of tumors, especially those of simple hyperplasia, in comparison with the control rats. Conclusion: R8-liposome-BCG-CWS administration had inhibitory effects on rat bladder carcinogenesis. These results may indicate a novel adoptive immunotherapy against bladder cancers.
• Systemic delivery of siRNA to tumors using a lipid nanoparticle containing a tumor-specific cleavable PEG-lipid

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Erika Ito, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Motoi Oishi, Yukio Nagasaki, Radostin Danev, Kuniaki Nagayama, Noritada Kaji, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 32 (18) 4306 - 4316 0142-9612 2011/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Previously, we developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for efficient delivery of nucleic acids. For tumor delivery of a MEND, PEGylation is a useful method, which confers a longer systemic circulation and tumor accumulation via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, PEGylation inhibits cellular uptake and subsequent endosomal escape. To overcome this, we developed a PEG-peptide-DOPE (PPD) that is cleaved in a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-rich environment. In this study, we report on the systemic delivery of siRNA to tumors by employing a MEND that is modified with PPD (PPD-MEND). An in vitro study revealed that PPD modification accelerated both cellular uptake and endosomal escape, compared to a conventional PEG modified MEND. To balance both systemic stability and efficient activity, PPD-MEND was further co-modified with PEG-DSPE. As a result, the systemic administration of the optimized PPD-MEND resulted in an approximately 70% silencing activity in tumors, compared to non-treatment. Finally, a safety evaluation showed that the PPD-MEND showed no hepatotoxicity and innate immune stimulation. Furthermore, in a DNA microarray analysis in liver and spleen tissue, less gene alternation was found for the PPD-MEND compared to that for the PEGunmodified MEND due to less accumulation in liver and spleen. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Glycerol monomycolate, a latent tuberculosis-associated mycobacterial lipid, induces eosinophilic hypersensitivity responses in guinea pigs

  Yuki Hattori, Isamu Matsunaga, Takaya Komori, Tetsuo Urakawa, Takashi Nakamura, Nagatoshi Fujiwara, Kenji Hiromatsu, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masahiko Sugita

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 409 (2) 304 - 307 0006-291X 2011/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Dynamic changes in the lipid composition of the cell wall occur in pathogenic mycobacteria that are often intended for adaptation to the host environment. Dormant mycobacteria should have evolved efficient maneuvers for cohabitation, allowing the microbes to persist for years within the host. Glycerol monomycolate (GroMM) has been implicated as a specific immune target in human individuals with latent, but not active, tuberculosis, but the in vivo response to GroMM and the relevance of it to latent infection remain poorly understood. Here, we immunized guinea pigs with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) expressing high levels of GroMM and then, monitored skin reactions at the site of challenge with GroMM-containing liposome. We found that BCG-immunized guinea pigs mounted enhanced skin reactions to GroMM with prominent local infiltration by eosinophils. Consistent with this, GroMM-stimulated lymph node cells upregulated the expression of T helper (Th)2-type cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-10, that could potentially counteract the microbe-eliminating Th1-type cytokine response. On the basis of these observations, we predict that the host response to GroMM produced by dormant mycobacteria would contribute to their long-term survival in the host. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• A Microbial Glycolipid Functions as a New Class of Target Antigen for Delayed-type Hypersensitivity

  Takaya Komori, Takashi Nakamura, Isamu Matsunaga, Daisuke Morita, Yuki Hattori, Hirotaka Kuwata, Nagatoshi Fujiwara, Kenji Hiromatsu, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masahiko Sugita

  JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 286 (19) 16800 - 16806 0021-9258 2011/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is marked by high levels of protein antigen-specific T cell responses in sensitized individuals. Recent evidence has revealed a distinct pathway for T cell immunity directed against glycolipid antigens, but DTH to this class of antigen has been undetermined and difficult to prove due to their insolubility in aqueous solutions. Here, glucose monomycolate (GMM), a highly hydrophobic glycolipid of the cell wall of mycobacteria, was dispersed in aqueous solutions in the form of octaarginine-modified liposomes and tested for its ability to elicit cutaneous DTH responses in bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-immunized guinea pigs. After an intradermal challenge with the GMM liposome, a significant skin induration was observed in BCG-immunized, but not mock-treated, animals. The skin reaction peaked at around 2 days with local infiltration by mononuclear cells, and therefore, the response shared basic features with the classical DTH to protein antigens. Lymph node T cells from BCG-immunized guinea pigs specifically increased IFN-gamma transcription in response to the GMM liposome, and this response was completely blocked by antibodies to CD1 lipid antigen-presenting molecules. Finally, whereas the T cells increased transcription of both T helper (Th) 1-type (IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) and Th2-type (IL-5 and IL-10) cytokines in response to the purified protein derivative or tuberculin, their GMM-specific response was skewed to Th1-type cytokine production known to be critical for protection against tuberculosis. Thus, our study reveals a novel form of DTH with medical implications.
• Quantitative analysis of condensation/decondensation status of pDNA in the nuclear sub-domains by QD-FRET

  Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Mitsuru Ishikawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nucleic Acids Research 39 (7) e48 - e48 0305-1048 2011/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Recent studies indicate that controlling the nuclear decondensation and intra-nuclear localization of plasmid DNA (pDNA) would result in an increased transfection efficiency. In the present study, we established a technology for imaging the nuclear condensation/decondensation status of pDNA in nuclear subdomains using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between quantum dot (QD)-labeled pDNA as donor, and rhodamine-labeled polycations as acceptor. The FRET-occurring pDNA/polycation particle was encapsulated in a nuclear delivery system a tetra-lamellar multifunctional envelope-type nano device (T-MEND), designed to overcome the endosomal membrane and nuclear membrane via step-wise fusion. Nuclear subdomains (i.e. heterochromatin and euchromatin) were distinguished by Hoechst33342 staining. Thereafter, Z-series of confocal images were captured by confocal laser scanning microscopy. pDNA in condensation/decondensation status in heterochromatin or euchromatin were quantified based on the pixel area of the signals derived from the QD and rhodamine. The results obtained indicate that modulation of the supra-molecular structure of polyrotaxane (DMAE-ss-PRX), a condenser that is cleaved in a reductive environment, conferred euchromatin-preferred decondensation. This represents the first demonstration of the successful control of condensation/decondensation in specific nuclear sub-domain via the use of an artificial DNA condenser. © 2011 The Author(s).
• Quantitative analysis of condensation/decondensation status of pDNA in the nuclear sub-domains by QD-FRET

  Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Mitsuru Ishikawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH 39 (7) E48 - U108 0305-1048 2011/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Recent studies indicate that controlling the nuclear decondensation and intra-nuclear localization of plasmid DNA (pDNA) would result in an increased transfection efficiency. In the present study, we established a technology for imaging the nuclear condensation/decondensation status of pDNA in nuclear subdomains using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between quantum dot (QD)-labeled pDNA as donor, and rhodamine-labeled polycations as acceptor. The FRET-occurring pDNA/polycation particle was encapsulated in a nuclear delivery system; a tetra-lamellar multifunctional envelope-type nano device (T-MEND), designed to overcome the endosomal membrane and nuclear membrane via step-wise fusion. Nuclear subdomains (i.e. heterochromatin and euchromatin) were distinguished by Hoechst33342 staining. Thereafter, Z-series of confocal images were captured by confocal laser scanning microscopy. pDNA in condensation/decondensation status in heterochromatin or euchromatin were quantified based on the pixel area of the signals derived from the QD and rhodamine. The results obtained indicate that modulation of the supra-molecular structure of polyrotaxane (DMAE-ss-PRX), a condenser that is cleaved in a reductive environment, conferred euchromatin-preferred decondensation. This represents the first demonstration of the successful control of condensation/decondensation in specific nuclear sub-domain via the use of an artificial DNA condenser.
• Topology of octaarginines (R8) or IRQ ligand on liposomes affects the contribution of macropinocytosis- and caveolae-mediated cellular uptake

  Diky Mudhakir, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS 71 (3) 340 - 343 1381-5148 2011/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It was recently reported that liposomes modified with octaarginine (R8) and its analogue peptide (IRQRRRR: IRQ) are taken up by NIH3T3 cells by unique pathways, macropinocytosis and caveolae-mediated endocytosis, respectively. This study evaluated the topology of these peptides as it relates to the uptake routes of liposomes, where they are modified either directly on the surface, or on the edge of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer. The uptake mechanism of peptide-modified liposomes and peptide-modified PEG-liposomes was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. To determine the contribution of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis and caveolar endocytosis to the uptake of liposomes, uptake was evaluated in the presence of some specific inhibitors of these processes. The uptake pathway changed from macropinocytosis to clathrin-mediated endocytosis when R8 was modified on the edge of a PEG spacer, indicating that the flexible display of R8 impaired the induction of macropinocytosis. However, the contribution of caveolae-mediated endocytosis increased when IRQ was conjugated to the distal end of the PEG chain, suggesting that flexible surface display enhanced IRQ recognition by the specific molecules in the caveolae. The present results demonstrate that topology control by the ligand affects the contribution of the entry pathway, depending on the uptake mechanism. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• A multifunctional envelope type nano device (MEND) for gene delivery to tumours based on the EPR effect: A strategy for overcoming the PEG dilemma

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS 63 (3) 152 - 160 0169-409X 2011/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene and nucleic acid therapy are expected to play a major role in the next generation of medicine. We recently developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for use as a novel non-viral gene delivery system. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)ylation is a useful method for achieving a longer circulation time for delivery of the MEND to a tumour via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, PEGylation strongly inhibits cellular uptake and endosomal escape, which results in significant loss of activity for the delivery system. For successful gene delivery for cancer treatment, the crucial issue associated with the use of PEG, the 'PEG dilemma' must be addressed. In this review, we describe the development and applications of MEND, and discuss strategies for overcoming the PEG dilemma, based on the manipulation of intracellular trafficking of cellular uptake and endosomal release using functional devices such as specific ligands, cleavable PEG systems and endosomal fusogenic/disruptic peptides. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Noninvasive and efficient transdermal delivery of CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide for cancer immunotherapy

  Kaoru Kigasawa, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Susumu Hama, Kiyoshi Kanamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 150 (3) 256 - 265 0168-3659 2011/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanosine motifs (CpG-ODN) possess immunostimulatory effects and potential antitumor activity. Since the skin is an easily available site of administration of CpG-ODN due to its accessibility and the presence of abundant antigen presenting cells, it is expected that the application of CpG-ODN to the skin would induce systemic immune response and antitumor activity. However, it is difficult to deliver hydrophilic macromolecules including CpG-ODN through the skin. We have previously demonstrated that small interfering RNA (siRNA) was efficiently delivered into rat epidermis by iontophoresis. In this report, we investigate the effect of transdermal iontophoretic delivery of CpG-ODN on the induction of immune responses and antitumor activity against B16F1 melanoma in mice. Iontophoresis promoted CpG-ODN delivery into the epidermis and dermis. Furthermore, iontophoretic delivery of CpG-ODN to the skin induced the expression of proinflammatory and Th1-type cytokines in the skin and draining lymph node. Finally, transdermal iontophoretic delivery of CpG-ODN led to antitumor activity against B16F1 melanoma. Interestingly, the CpG-ODN administration site is not restricted to the tumor area. In conclusion, CpG-ODN delivered transdermally induced potent antitumor activity, and our system is expected to serve as a simple and noninvasive approach for cancer immunotherapy. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Modulation of Endosomal Escape of IRQ-PEGylated Nano-carrier

  Diky Mudhakir, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  4TH NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM (NNS2011): AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 1415 0094-243X 2011 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The novel IRQ peptide is one of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) that has ability to induce endosomal escape. It has been demonstrated that IRQ ligand had ability to facilitate an escape of liposomes encapsulating siRNA from the endosomes presumably by fusion-independent mechanism [1,2]. In the present study, we attempted to modulate the intracellular trafficking of IRQ-modified nano-carrier in term of escaping process by changing the lipid composition. The peptide was attached to the terminal end of maleimide group of polyethylene glycol-modified liposomes (IRQ-PEG-Lip). The liposomes were composed of DOTAP, DOPE and cholesterol and it was labeled by water soluble sulphorhodamine B (Sr-B). The escape of PEG-coated liposomes was then observed by confocal laser scanning microscope after the endosomes were stained with Lysosensor. The results exhibited that IRQ-PEG-Lip was escaped from endosomal compartment after 1 h transfection when 40% of DOPE was incorporated into the nanostructure comparing to that of PEG-Lip. These results are consistent with the previous results that the IRQ facilitates endosomal escape via independent-mechanism. However, IRQ-PEG-Lip were then completely co-localized in the acidic compartment when density of DOPE was reduced approximately 20%. These results indicated that the utilizing of DOPE is important for the escape process even in the presence of hydrophilic PEG polymer. In conclusion, the regulation of endosomal escape ability of the PEGylated-IRQ nano-carrier was induced by fusion-independent manner as well as fusogenic lipid.
• Design of Smart Nano Device for Intracellular Targeting

  Diky Mudhakir, Erdal Tan, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  4TH NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM (NNS2011): AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 1415 0094-243X 2011 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To obtain an efficient delivery of macromolecule such as siRNA, a sophisticated design of vector is needed. It must be retained to the active uptake by reticuloendothelial system (RES) in the bloodstream and it can release its content inside the cellular target site. In this study, we attempted to design a vector which accommodates the needs. siRNA was encapsulated in the liposomes and its surface was shielded with polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety to avoid recognizing by RES system. To facilitate cellular internalization, newly synthetizing peptide was attached to tip end of PEG moiety. As results, blood concentration of PEG-modified liposomes was higher than that of unmodified PEG. Results by confocal laser scanning microscopy studies exhibited PEG-coated nanodevice can escape from endosomes in both two types PEG used, shorter and longer one. However, prominent cytosolic release of siRNA was only shown by the use of shorter PEG type. These results were in line with gene silencing study in which shorter PEGylated nanostructure achieved dramatic levels of transgene expression study. In conclusion, shorter PEG modified-liposomes encapsulating siRNA could be utilized as a device for in vivo use.
• Octaarginine-modified liposomes enhance the anti-oxidant effect of Lecithinized superoxide dismutase by increasing its cellular uptake

  Ryo Furukawa, Yuma Yamada, Mitsuko Takenaga, Rie Igarashi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 404 (3) 796 - 801 0006-291X 2011/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The anti-oxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) has the potential for use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of various diseases caused by reactive oxygen species. However, achieving this would be difficult without a suitable delivery system for SOD. We previously reported that PC-SOD, in which four molecules of a phosphatidylcholine (PC) derivative were covalently bound to each dimer of recombinant human CuZnSOD, was a high affinity for the cell membrane [14]. Here, we show that an octaarginine (R8) modified liposome equipped with PC-SOD (R8-LP (PC-SOD)) enhances its anti-oxidant effect. High-density R8-modified liposomes can stimulate macropinocytosis and are taken up efficiently by cells as demonstrated in a previous study [21]. Flow cytometry analyses showed that R8-LP (PC-SOD) was taken up by cells more efficiently than PC-SOD. Moreover, R8-LP (PC-SOD) liposomes were found to scavenge superoxide anions (O(2)(-)) very efficiently. These results suggest that the efficient cytosolic delivery of PC-SOD by R8-modified liposomes would enhance the anti-oxidant effects of PC-SOD. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Noninvasive and persistent transfollicular drug delivery system using a combination of liposomes and iontophoresis

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Masahiko Yamamoto, Misuzu Watanabe, Kaoru Kigasawa, Kiyoshi Kanamura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 403 (1-2) 57 - 65 0378-5173 2011/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Iontophoresis is a promising technique for enhancing transdermal administration of charged drugs. However, conventional iontophoresis is not sufficient for effective delivery of large, hydrophilic, or electrically neutral molecules. In this study, we utilized charged liposomes as carriers, focused on a transfollicular route for delivery of the liposomes, and optimized iontophoretic conditions and lipid composition for this method in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. As a result, we identified the optimum condition (lipid composition: DOTAP/EPC/Chol = 2:2:1, current supply: 0.45 mA/cm(2), duration: 1 h) for effective iontophoretic delivery of aqueous solution, which cannot be transferred into the skin without charged liposomes. We also examined the pharmacological effects of iontophoresis of liposomes encapsulating insulin (INS-lipo) using a rat model of type I diabetes. Interestingly, iontophoresis of INS-lipo onto a diabetes rat skin resulted in a gradual decrease in blood glucose levels, with levels reaching 20% of initial values at 18 h after administration. These lower blood glucose levels were maintained for up to 24 h. Significant amount of insulin were also detected in plasma 18 h after iontophoresis of INS-lipo. We succeeded in developing a non-invasive and persistent transfollicular drug delivery system that used a combination of liposomes and iontophoresis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A touch-and-go lipid wrapping technique in microfluidic channels for rapid fabrication of multifunctional envelope-type gene delivery nanodevices

  Katsuma Kitazoe, Jun Wang, Noritada Kaji, Yukihiro Okamoto, Manabu Tokeshi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba

  LAB ON A CHIP 11 (19) 3256 - 3262 1473-0197 2011 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multifunctional envelope-type gene delivery nanodevices (MENDs) are promising non-viral vectors for gene therapy. Though MENDs remain strong in prolonged exposure to blood circulation, have low immunogenic response, and are suitable for gene targeting, their fabrication requires labor-intensive processes. In this work, a novel approach has been developed for rapid fabrication of MENDs by a touch-and-go lipid wrapping technique in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/glass microfluidic device. The MEND was fabricated on a glass substrate by introduction of a condensed plasmid DNA core into microfluidic channels that have multiple lipid bilayer films. The principle of the MEND fabrication in the microfluidic channels is based on electrostatic interaction between the condensed plasmid DNA cores and the coated lipid bilayer films. The constructed MEND was collected off-chip and characterized by dynamic light scattering. The MEND was constructed within 5 min with a narrow size distribution centered around 200 nm diameter particles. The size of the MEND showed strong dependence on flow velocity of the condensed plasmid DNA core in the microfluidic channels, and thus, could be controlled to provide the optimal size for medical applications. This approach was also proved possible for fabrication of a MEND in multiple channels at the same time. This on-chip fabrication of the MEND was very simple, rapid, convenient, and cost-effective compared with conventional methods. Our results strongly indicated that MENDs fabricated with our microfluidic device have a good potential for medical use. Moreover, MENDs fabricated by this microfluidic device have a great potential for clinical use because the devices are autoclavable and all the fabrication steps can be completed inside closed microfluidic channels without any external contamination.
• Reprint of: Nanoparticles for ex vivo siRNA delivery to dendritic cells for cancer vaccines: Programmed endosomal escape and dissociation

  Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Rumiko Moriguchi, Yoshio Nakamura, Tomoko Higashi, Takashi Nakamura, Satoshi Serada, Minoru Fujimoto, Tetsuji Naka, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 149 (1) 58 - 64 0168-3659 2011/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously developed octaarginine (R8)-modified lipid envelope-type nanoparticles for siRNA delivery (R8-MEND). Herein, we report on their ex vivo siRNA delivery to primary mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) for potential use as a cancer vaccine. Quantitative imaging analysis of the intracellular trafficking of siRNA revealed that the dissociation process, as well as the rate of endosomal escape limits the siRNA efficiency of the prototype R8-MEND, prepared by the hydration method (R8-MENDhydo). Successful endosomal escape was achieved by using a pH-dependent fusogenic peptide (GALA) modified on a lipid mixture that was optimized for endosomal fusion. Furthermore, a modified protocol for the preparation of nanoparticles, mixing the siRNA/STR-R8 complex and small unilamellar vesicles (R8/GALA-MENDSUV), results in a more homogenous, smaller particle size, and results in a more efficient intracellular dissociation. Gene knockdown of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), a negative-feedback regulator of the immune response in BMDCs resulted in an enhanced phosphorylation of STAT1, and the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, SOCS1-silenced BMDCs were more potent in suppressing tumor growth. Collectively, these results show that siRNA loaded in R8/GALA-MENDSUV efficiently suppresses endogenous gene expression and consequently enhances dendritic cell-based vaccine potency in vivo. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Special Issue: Recent Advancements of DDS research in japan

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Akihiko Kikuchi, Kazunori Kataoka

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 149 (1) 1 - 1 0168-3659 2011/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• (Review) Application of a fusiogenic peptide GALA for intracellular delivery

  Ikuhiko Nakase, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Shiroh Futaki

  Methods in Molecular Biology 683 525 - 533 2011 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• 内在性転写活性化因子を用いた細胞系における外来遺伝子発現の活性化

  神田 元紀, 落合 浩史, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之

  日本生化学会大会・日本分子生物学会年会合同大会講演要旨集 (公社)日本生化学会 83回・33回 1P - 1247 2010/12
• 2種類の「発現持続型」プラスミドの核内挙動の違い

  冨樫 亮平, 神田 元紀, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉

  日本生化学会大会・日本分子生物学会年会合同大会講演要旨集 (公社)日本生化学会 83回・33回 1P - 1248 2010/12
• Reporter gene expression at single-cell level characterized with real-time RT-PCR, chemiluminescence, fluorescence, and electrochemical imaging

  Hitoshi Shiku, Daisuke Okazaki, Junya Suzuki, Yasufumi Takahashi, Tatsuya Murata, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kosuke Ino, Tomokazu Matsue

  FEBS LETTERS 584 (18) 4000 - 4008 0014-5793 2010/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  mRNA from single cells was quantified using real-time RT-PCR after recording the address and reporter protein activity with chemiluminescence, fluorescence, and electrochemical techniques, using luciferase, green fluorescent protein, and secreted alkaline phosphatase. mRNA copy number ranging from below 103 to 107 in single cells showed a lognormal distribution for both externally introduced reporter genes and internally expressed genes. The fluctuation in the gene expression decreased with the increase of the number of cells picked but did not decrease with the increase of mRNA copy number per cell. We found that the correlation coefficients for mRNA and protein expression in logarithmic plot at single-cell level were much lower than 1.00. (c) 2010 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer (MPC)-coating improves the transfection activity of GALA-modified lipid nanoparticles by assisting the cellular uptake and intracellular dissociation of plasmid DNA in primary hepatocytes

  Masami Ukawa, Hidetaka Akita, Tomoya Masuda, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Tomohiro Konno, Kazuhiko Ishihara, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 31 (24) 6355 - 6362 0142-9612 2010/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that modification of GALA peptide on the surface of liposomes enhanced fusion with endosomal membrane, and cytoplasmic release of encapsulated macromolecules. We report herein that an additional coating of GALA-modified liposomes with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer resulted in a two order of magnitude enhancement in the transfection activity of encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA). Quantification of the delivered gene copies in whole cells and isolated nuclei revealed that the increase of transfection activity can be attributed to improved efficiencies in cellular uptake and post-nuclear delivery processes. Imaging studies revealed that the intracellular dissociation of pDNA from the lipid envelope is enhanced by GALA modification and further coating with MPC polymer in a stepwise manner. The MPC polymer-coating decreased the zeta-potential of GALA-modified liposomes, suggesting that it assisted in the functional display of negatively charged GALA on the cationic liposomes by providing shielding from mutual electrostatic interactions. Collectively, these data indicate that MPC polymer-coating induced the fusogenic activity of the GALA-modified envelope with endosomes, leading to a more effective cytoplasmic release pDNA. The extensive fusion of the lipid envelope may also reduce electrostatic interactions between mRNA and cationic lipid components, thereby resulting in an enhancement in the translation process. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Intranuclear DNA Release Is a Determinant of Transfection Activity for a Non-viral Vector: Biocleavable Polyrotaxane as a Supramolecularly Dissociative Condenser for Efficient Intranuclear DNA Release

  Yuma Yamada, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 33 (7) 1218 - 1222 0918-6158 2010/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been believed that nuclear gene delivery is the most important process for gene expression, and various non-viral vectors are currently being developed with this assumption. However, some of our earlier studies revealed a surprising difference in transfection activity between viral and non-viral vectors: this difference is largely due to the result of the intranuclear disposition of DNA rather than its delivery to the nucleus (Hama S. et al. (2006), Quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking and nuclear transcription between adenoviral and lipoplex systems. Mol. Then, 13, 786-794). Here; we report on some direct evidence that demonstrates the importance of the release of intranuclear DNA on transfection activity. The data show that transfection activity can be substantially enhanced by integrating a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) and a biocleavable polyrotaxane (DMAE-SS-PRX) as an artificial condenser. Our integration system showed significantly higher transfection activity compared to conventional gene delivery system. Moreover, this system provides a strong support for our hypothesis that intranuclear DNA disposition plays a critical role in gene expression for non-viral vectors.
• Ornithine and Tryptophan Analogs as Efficient Polycations for Short Interference RNA Delivery to Tumor Cells

  Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 33 (7) 1246 - 1249 0918-6158 2010/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The delivery of nucleic acids to cancer cells represents a potentially useful strategy. Previously, we developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for the efficient delivery of plasmid DNA. In addition, we successfully delivered short interference RNA (siRNA) into cytoplasm using a MEND which contains siRNA particles that were produced using stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8). In the present study, to achieve further gene silencing activity compared with STR-R8, various additional polycations were screened. We used protamine and 10 different polypeptides containing random sequence of basic amino acids. The ability of these polycations to form nano particles with siRNA were evaluated by measuring the size and zeta-potential of produced nano particles, and as a consequence, 6 of the polycations were selected for further evaluation. We then prepared MENDs containing the particles. The lipid composition of the MEND consisted of dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE)/phosphatidic acid (PA) (7/2). For cellular uptake and endosomal escape, the MEND was modified with PPD (polyethylene glycol (PEG)-peptide-DOPE), STR-R8 and GALA, pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide. The resulting MEND had a diameter of 120-170 nm and a zeta-potential of 15-25 mV. The MEND was transfected into HeLa cells stably expressing luciferase and the silencing activity of the polycations was compared. Most of the polycations failed to knockdown luciferase activity. However, the polypeptide containing ornithine and tryptophan (Orn/Trp) induced a higher knockdown than STR-R8. In addition, Orn/Trp induced a silencing effect at lower doses than STR-R8, as evidenced by dose-response data. In conclusion, the findings suggest that Orn/Trp is a superior polycation to STR-R8 for siRNA delivery.
• Positive Feedback System Provides Efficient and Persistent Transgene Expression

  Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS 7 (4) 1125 - 1132 1543-8384 2010/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system, using artificial transcription factors, effectively enhances transgene expression. In this study, a TSTA system-based positive feedback system was developed to achieve efficient and persistent transgene expression. A fusion protein of the sequence-specific DNA binding domain of yeast GAL4 and the transcriptional activation domain of herpes simplex virus VP16 (GAL4-VP16) was used as an "activator" to amplify the expression of the luciferase "reporter" gene. It was found that the introduction of five tandem copies of the GAL4 recognition sequence (G5) into both the upstream and downstream regions of the expression cassette synergistically enhanced the transgene expression. The upstream and downstream G5 sequences were introduced into the expression cassette of the activator itself, and into that of the reporter, to form the positive feedback loop that enabled continuous activator expression. This positive feedback system maintained the expression levels of the reporter for 4 days in HeLa cells and for a week in mouse liver, while those from the usual plasmids decreased by 30- and 50-fold, respectively. These results constitute the first evidence that the positive feedback system is a useful method for long-term transgene expression in cultured cells and in vivo. This system would be applicable to gene therapy, in vivo imaging, and biotechnology.
• Mitochondrial matrix delivery using MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that specifies fusion with mitochondrial membranes

  Yukari Yasuzaki, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 397 (2) 181 - 186 0006-291X 2010/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria are are the principal producers of energy in cells of higher organisms. It was recently reported that mutations and defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with various mitochondrial diseases including a variety of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, an effective mitochondrial gene therapy and diagnosis would be expected to have great medical benefits. To achieve this, therapeutic agents need to be delivered into the innermost mitochondrial space (mitochondrial matrix), which contains the mtDNA pool. We previously reported on the development of MITO-Porter, a liposome-based carrier that introduces macromolecular cargos into mitochondria via membrane fusion. In this study, we provide a demonstration of mitochondrial matrix delivery and the visualization of mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) in living cells using the MITO-Porter. We first prepared MITO-Porter containing encapsulated propidium iodide (PI), a fluorescent dye used to stain nucleic acids to detect mtDNA. We then confirmed the emission of red-fluorescence from PI by conjugation with mtDNA, when the carriers were incubated in the presence of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Finally, intracellular observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy clearly verified that the MITO-Porter delivered PI to the mitochondrial matrix. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Particle Tracking of Intracellular Trafficking of Octaarginine-modified Liposomes: A Comparative Study With Adenovirus

  Hidetaka Akita, Kaoru Enoto, Tomoya Masuda, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Tomomi Tani, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 18 (5) 955 - 964 1525-0016 2010/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It is previously reported that octaarginine (R8)-modified liposome (R8-Lip) was taken up via macropinocytosis, and subsequently delivered to the nuclear periphery. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism for the cytoplasmic transport of R8-Lips, comparing with that for adenovirus. Treatment with microtubule-disruption reagent (nocodazole) inhibited the transfection activity of plasmid DNA (pDNA)-encapsulating R8-Lip more extensively than that of adenovirus. The directional transport of R8-Lips along green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged microtubules was observed; however, the velocity was slower than those for adenovirus or endosomes that were devoid of R8-Lips. These directional motions were abrogated in R8-Lips by nocodazole treatment, whereas adenovirus continued to undergo random motion. This finding suggests that the nuclear access of R8-Lip predominantly involves microtubule-dependent transport, whereas an apparent diffusive motion is also operative in nuclear access of adenovirus. Furthermore, quantum dot-labeled pDNA underwent directional motion concomitantly with rhodamine-labeled lipid envelopes, indicating that the R8-Lips were subject to microtubule-dependent transport in the intact form. Dual particle tracking of carriers and endosomes revealed that R8-Lip was directionally transported, associated with endosomes, whereas this occurs after endosomal escape in adenovirus. Collectively, the findings reported herein indicate that vesicular transport is a key factor in the cytoplasmic transport of R8-Lips.
• Effects of base excision repair proteins on mutagenesis by 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-hydroxyguanine) paired with cytosine and adenine

  Tetsuya Suzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  DNA REPAIR 9 (5) 542 - 550 1568-7864 2010/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxo-Gua, also known as 8-hydroxyguanine) is a major base lesion that is generated by reactive oxygen species in both the DNA and nucleotide pool. The role of DNA glycosylases, which initiate base excision repair, in the mutagenic processes of 8-oxo-Gua in DNA and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP, also known as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate) were investigated using supF shuttle plasmids propagated in human cells. The DNA glycosylases, OGG1, MUTYH, NTH1, and NEIL1, in 293T cells were individually knocked-down by siRNAs and plasmid DNAs containing an 8-oxo-Gua:C/8-oxo-Gua:A pair, and 8-oxo-dGTP plus unmodified plasmid DNA were then introduced into the knocked-down cells. The knock-down of OGG1, MUTYH, NTH1, and NEIL1 resulted in a significant increase in G:C -> T:A transversions caused by the 8-oxo-Gua:C pair in the shuttle plasmid. The knock-down of MUTYH resulted in a reduction in A:T C:G transversions induced by 8-oxo-dGTP and the 8-oxo-Gua:A pair, but the knockdown of OGG1, NTH1, and NEIL1 had no effect on mutagenesis. These results indicate that all of the above DNA glycosylases suppress mutations caused by 8-oxo-Gua:C in DNA. In contrast, it appears that MUTYH enhances A:T -> C:G mutations caused by 8-oxo-dGTP. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Nanoparticles for ex vivo siRNA delivery to dendritic cells for cancer vaccines: Programmed endosomal escape and dissociation

  Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Rumiko Moriguchi, Yoshio Nakamura, Tomoko Higashi, Takashi Nakamura, Satoshi Serada, Minoru Fujimoto, Tetsuji Naka, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 143 (3) 311 - 317 0168-3659 2010/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously developed octaarginine (R8)-modified lipid envelope-type nanoparticles for siRNA delivery (R8-MEND). Herein, we report on their ex vivo siRNA delivery to primary mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) for potential use as a cancer vaccine. Quantitative imaging analysis of the intracellular trafficking of siRNA revealed that the dissociation process, as well as the rate of endosomal escape limits the siRNA efficiency of the prototype R8-MEND, prepared by the hydration method (R8-MENDhydo). Successful endosomal escape was achieved by using a pH-dependent fusogenic peptide (GALA) modified on a lipid mixture that was optimized for endosomal fusion. Furthermore, a modified protocol for the preparation of nanoparticles, mixing the 5iRNA/STR-R8 complex and small unilamellar vesicles (R8/GALA-MENDSUV), results in a more homogenous, smaller particle size, and results in a more efficient intracellular dissociation. Gene knockdown of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), a negative-feedback regulator of the immune response in BMDCs resulted in an enhanced phosphorylation of STAT1, and the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, SOCS1-silenced BMDCs were more potent in suppressing tumor growth. Collectively, these results show that siRNA loaded in R8/GALA-MENDSUV efficiently suppresses endogenous gene expression and consequently enhances dendritic cell-based vaccine potency in vivo. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Roles of specialized DNA polymerases in mutagenesis by 8-hydroxyguanine in human cells

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Ayaka Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Suzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MUTATION RESEARCH-FUNDAMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF MUTAGENESIS 686 (1-2) 90 - 95 0027-5107 2010/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The formation of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-Gua, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine) in DNA and in the nucleotide pool results in G:C --> T:A and A:T --> C:G substitution mutations, respectively, due to the ability of 8-OH-Gua to pair with both C and A. In this study, shuttle plasmid DNAs containing 8-OH-Gua paired with C and A in the supF gene were transfected into human 293T cells, in which specialized DNA polymerases were knocked-down. The DNAs replicated in the cells were recovered and then introduced into an indicator strain of Escherichia coli. Mutation analysis indicated that the knock-downs of DNA polymerases eta and zeta by siRNAs enhanced the G:C --> T:A mutations caused by 8-OH-Gua:C. The 8-OH-Gua:C-induced mutation frequency was not further increased by double knock-downs of DNA polymerases eta and zeta suggesting that the two DNA polymerases work in the same pathway. In addition, the reduction of DNA polymerase eta slightly decreased the A:T --> C:G substitutions caused by 8-OH-Gua:A. These results suggest that DNA polymerases eta and zeta are involved in the bypass of 8-OH-Gua in human cells. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Leptin-derived peptide, a targeting ligand for mouse brain-derived endothelial cells via macropinocytosis

  Mina Tamaru, Hidetaka Akita, Takahiro Fujiwara, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 394 (3) 587 - 592 0006-291X 2010/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Leptin is an appetite regulatory hormone that is secreted into the blood circulation by adipose tissue, and functions in the central nerve system (i.e hypothalamus) by crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB) In the present study, we investigated the function of a leptin-derived peptide (Lep(70-89)) as a ligand for mouse brain-derived endothelial cells (MBEC4) Lep(70-89)-modified liposomes, prepared with a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) spacer (Lep(70-89)-PEG-LPs) exhibited a significantly higher cellular uptake than peptide-unmodified liposomes (PEG-LPs) Furthermore, cellular uptake was inhibited by amiloride, while no significant inhibitory effect was observed by the presence of chlorpromazine and filipin III, suggesting that macropinocytosis largely contributed to the cellular uptake of Lep(70-89)-PEG-LPs. Imaging studies revealed that Lep(70-89)-PEG-LPs were not colocalized with endosome/lysosomes, whereas neutral dextran (70 kDa) was predominantly colocalized with these compartments This indicates that Lep(70-89)-PEG-LPs are taken up via macropinocytosis and are subject to non-classical intracellular trafficking, resulting in the circumvention of lysosomal degradation in endothelial cells (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved
• Targeted sequence alteration of a chromosomal locus in mouse liver

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Uchiyama, Jingshu Piao, Yoshimichi Nakatsu, Teruhisa Tsuzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 387 (1-2) 180 - 183 0378-5173 2010/03 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Targeted sequence alteration would be an attractive method in gene therapy and biotechnology. To achieve in vivo targeted sequence alteration, a tailed duplex DNA consisting of annealed 35mer and 794mer single-stranded DNAs was delivered by means of hydrodynamic tail vein injection into liver of transgenic mouse harboring a reporter gene (the rpsL gene) in its genome. The tailed DNA was designed for a conversion of ATC to AGC at codon 80 of the rpsL transgene. The anticipated T -> G sequence alteration was induced in the transgene in the liver with an efficiency of similar to 0.1%. These results demonstrate the significant potential of this method for applications in gene therapy and biotechnology. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• An Improvement Delivery of siRNA by IRQ Ligand-Modified Double Membranous Nano-Carrier

  Diky Mudhakir, Erdal Tan, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  THIRD NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM 2010 - NNSB2010 1284 199 - + 0094-243X 2010 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the present study, the enhancement of siRNA delivery into cytosol from the IRQ-modified multi-envelope type nano-device (IRQ-MEND) was investigated. It is known that IRQ-MEND efficiently enters cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis and caveolar endocytosis pathways, resulting in gene silencing. In the present study, we controlled the number of layers of IRQ-MEND encapsulating siRNA by using double membranous nano-device strategy. This vector design overcomes intracellular barriers such as endosomal membrane, resulting drastically enhance transgene expression. In addition, the contribution of uptake mechanism of IRQ-modified nano-carrier to transgene expression was studied. The use of hypertonic treatment inhibited gene silencing, but it was not suppressed by the addition of filipin. These results indicate that low pH is important to induce the transgene expression. In conclusion, delivery of cytosolic siRNA can be enhanced by the use of double-membranous nano-carrier system which utilizes a clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway to induce gene silencing.
• A Novel Nonviral Gene Delivery System: Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano Device

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NANO/MICRO BIOTECHNOLOGY 119 197 - + 0724-6145 2010 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this review we introduce a new concept for developing a nonviral gene delivery system which we call "Programmed Packaging." Based on this concept, we succeeded in developing a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), which exerts high transfection activities equivalent to those of an adenovirus in a dividing cell. The use of MEND has been extended to in vivo applications. PEG/peptide/DOPE ternary conjugate (PPD)-MEND, a new in vivo gene delivery system for the targeting of tumor cells that dissociates surface-modified PEG in tumor tissue by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and exerts significant transfection activities, was developed. In parallel with the development of MEND, a quantitative gene delivery system, Confocal Image-assisted 3-dimensionally integrated quantification (CIDIQ), also was developed. This method identified the rate-limiting step of the nonviral gene delivery system by comparing it with adenoviral-mediated gene delivery. The results of this analysis provide a new direction for the development of rational nonviral gene delivery systems.
• Intranuclear DNA release is a determinant of transfection activity for a non-viral vector: Biocleavable polyrotaxane as a supramolecularly dissociative condenser for efficient intranuclear DNA release

  Yuma Yamada, Taku Nomura, Hideyoshi Harashima, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui

  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 33 (7) 1218 - 1222 0918-6158 2010 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been believed that nuclear gene delivery is the most important process for gene expression, and various non-viral vectors are currently being developed with this assumption. However, some of our earlier studies revealed a surprising difference in transfection activity between viral and non-viral vectors: this difference is largely due to the result of the intranuclear disposition of DNA rather than its delivery to the nucleus (Hama S. et al. (2006), Quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking and nuclear transcription between adenoviral and lipoplex systems. Mol. Ther., 13, 786-794). Here, we report on some direct evidence that demonstrates the importance of the release of intranuclear DNA on transfection activity. The data show that transfection activity can be substantially enhanced by integrating a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) and a biocleavable polyrotaxane (DMAE-SS-PRX) as an artificial condenser. Our integration system showed significantly higher transfection activity compared to conventional gene delivery system. Moreover, this system provides a strong support for our hypothesis that intranuclear DNA disposition plays a critical role in gene expression for non-viral vectors. © 2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
• Roles of specialized DNA polymerases in mutagenesis by oxidized guanine.

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Kazuya Satou, Mika Hori, Ayaka Yamaguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nucleic acids symposium series (2004) 53 223 - 224 2009/12/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To assess the involvement of specialized DNA polymerases in the mutagenesis induced by an oxidized form of dGTP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate), shuttle plasmid DNA containing the supF gene and 8-OH-dGTP were introduced into human 293T cells in which specialized DNA polymerases were knocked-down by siRNAs. The knock-downs of DNA polymerases eta and zeta, and REV1 reduced the A:T-->C:G substitution mutations, suggesting that these DNA polymerases are involved in the misincorporation of 8-OH-dGTP opposite A. In contrast, the knock-down of DNA polymerase tau did not affect the mutations induced by 8-OH-dGTP. The decrease in the induced mutation frequency was more evident by double knock-downs of DNA pols eta plus zeta and REV1 plus DNA pol zeta (but not by that of DNA pol eta plus REV1), suggesting that REV1-DNA pol eta and DNA pol zeta work in different steps. These results indicate that specialized DNA polymerases are involved in the mutagenesis induced by 8-OH-dGTP.
• NUDT5 hydrolyzes oxidized deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates with broad substrate specificity

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Mika Hori, Takao Arimori, Mutsuo Sekiguchi, Yuriko Yamagata, Hideyoshi Harashima

  DNA REPAIR 8 (10) 1250 - 1254 1568-7864 2009/10 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The human NUDT5 protein catalyzes the hydrolysis of 8-hydroxy-dGDP. To examine its substrate specificity, four oxidized deoxyribonucleotides (2-hydroxy-dADP, 8-hydroxy-dADP, 5-formyl-dUDP, and 5-hydroxy-dCDP) were incubated with the NUDT5 protein. Interestingly, all of the nucleotides, except for 5-hydroxy-dCDP, were hydrolyzed with various efficiencies. The kinetic parameters indicated that 8-hydroxy-dADP was hydrolyzed as efficiently as 8-hydroxy-dGDP. The hydrolyzing activities for their triphosphate counterparts were quite weak. These results suggest that the NUDT5 protein eliminates various oxidized deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates from the nucleotide pool and prevents their toxic effects. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide facilitates endosomal escape and greatly enhances the gene silencing of siRNA-containing nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Erika Ito, Hidetaka Akita, Motoi Oishi, Yukio Nagasaki, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 139 (2) 127 - 132 0168-3659 2009/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Previously, we developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for efficient delivery of both pDNA and siRNA. Modification of a MEND with polyuethylene glycol, i.e., PEGylation, is a potential strategy for in vivo delivery of MENDs to tumor tissue. However, PEGylation also inhibits both uptake and endosomal escape of MENDs. To overcome these limitations, we developed a PEG-peptide-DOPE (PPD) that can be cleaved in a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-rich environment. In this study, to further improve the silencing activity of encapsulated siRNA, we modified the PPD-MEND with a pH-sensitive fusogenic GALA peptide (GALA/PPD-MEND). First, we determined the GALA and PPD content that would optimize the synergistic functions of GALA and PPD. The most efficient gene silencing activity was achieved when GALA and either conventional PEG-lipid or PPD were used to modify the MEND at a molar ratio of 1:1. In this case, the silencing activity was comparable to that achieved when using a MEND that had not been modified with PEG (unmodified MEND). Furthermore, in vivo topical administration revealed that optimized PPD/GALA-MENDa resulted in more efficient gene silencing compared with unmodified MENDs. Collectively, data demonstrate that introduction of both of a pH-sensitive fusogenic GALA peptide and PPD into the MEND facilitates nanopartide endosomal escape, thereby enhancing the efficiency of siRNA delivery and gene silencing. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Effects of non-B DNA sequences on transgene expression

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hitomi Goto, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING 108 (1) 18 - 21 1389-1723 2009/07 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  DNA conformation may be an important factor affecting gene transcription. In this study, we examined how DNA sequences with unusual conformations affect transgene expression. A(30) and (CG)(15) sequences that can adopt the B' and Z conformations, respectively, were introduced into a beta-actin promoter. Luciferase plasmids containing the manipulated promoter were transfected into NIH3T3 cells by electroporation and were delivered into mouse livers with a hydrodynamics-based injection. Expression from plasmid with the (CG)(15) sequence was multiple times higher than expression from control plasmid DNA. The A(30) sequence also tended to enhance expression. These results suggest that non-B DNA sequences could improve transgene expression in cells. (C) 2009, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
• Effects of carriers on transgene expression from plasmids containing a DNA sequence with high histone affinity

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Satoki Fukunaga, Takashi Ohyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 376 (1-2) 99 - 103 0378-5173 2009/07 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of plasmid DNA is highly important for transgene expression. The effects of a left-handedly curved sequence with high histone affinity on transgene expression were examined in COS-7 cells with two kinds of carriers (Lipofectamine Plus and TransIT-LT1). Three plasmids containing the curved sequence at different positions were transfected. The transgene expression was affected by the position of the left-handedly curved sequence, and the sequence at appropriate locations enhanced the expression from plasmid DNAs. However, the position effects on the expression differed from those obtained by electroporation of the same plasmid DNAs in a naked form. In addition, the degree of expression enhancement seemed to depend on the carriers. These results suggest that the left-handedly curved sequence with high histone affinity could increase the transgene expression from a plasmid delivered with carriers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Effect of Polyethyleneglycol Spacer on the Binding Properties of Nuclear Localization Signal-Modified Liposomes to Isolated Nucleus

  Dai Kurihara, Hidetaka Akita, Asako Kudo, Tomoya Masuda, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 32 (7) 1303 - 1306 0918-6158 2009/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The nuclear delivery process is a crucial barrier to successful gene delivery, especially in non-dividing cells. We previously proposed a novel strategy for the nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA), in which the pDNA is encapsulated in lipid bilayers that had been modified with nucleus-targeting signals, including nuclear localizing signals derived from SV40 (NLS) or sugar units. In the present study, we report on an investigation of the effect of the topology of the liposome-modified NLS on its ability to bind to the isolated nucleus. NLS was directly attached to a liposome (NLS-Lip) by incorporating stearylated NLS (STR-NSL), or by modification with a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) spacer (NLS-PEG-Lip). NLS-unmodified liposomes (PEG-Lip) were used as a control. The liposomes, after labeling with 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD), were incubated with a cell homogenate derived from JAWS 11 cells, followed by isolation of the nuclear fraction by centrifugation. The PEG-Lip preparation showed negligible binding to the nucleus. In contrast, the binding of NLS-Lips to the nucleus gradually increased in a STR-NLS density-dependent manner. Interestingly, the binding of NLS-PEG-Lips to the nucleus is highly effective even at low density, suggesting that the presence of the PEG spacer is an important factor in improving the binding activity of NLS-modified liposomes to the nucleus. This information will be useful for the design of nucleus-targeting carriers.
• Involvement of specialized DNA polymerases in mutagenesis by 8-hydroxy-dGTP in human cells

  Kazuya Satou, Mika Hori, Kazuaki Kawai, Hiroshi Kasai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  DNA REPAIR 8 (5) 637 - 642 1568-7864 2009/05 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mutagenicity of an oxidized form of dGTP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP). was examined using human 293T cells. Shuttle plasmid DNA containing the supF gene was first transfected into the cells, and then 8-OH-dGTP was introduced by means of osmotic pressure. The DNAs replicated in the cells were recovered and then transfected into Escherichia coli. 8-OH-dGTP induced A:T -> C:G substitution mutations in the cells. The knock-downs of DNA polymerases eta and zeta, and REV1 by siRNAs reduced the A:T -> C:G substitution mutations, suggesting that these DNA polymerases are involved in the misincorporation of 8-OH-dGTP opposite A in human cells. In contrast. the knock-down of DNA polymerase iota did not affect the 8-OH-dGTP-induced mutations. The decrease in the induced mutation frequency was more evident by double knock-downs of DNA pols eta plus zeta and REV1 plus DNA pol zeta (but not by that of DNA pol eta plus REV1), suggesting that REV1-DNA pol eta and DNA pol zeta work in different steps. These results indicate that specialized DNA polymerases are involved in the mutagenesis induced by the oxidized dGTP. (C) 2008 Elsevier B,V. All rights reserved.
• A Novel Technique To Investigate the Decondensation of pc-DNA3.1-luc in Nuclear Sub-Domain with QD-FRET

  Sharif M. Shaheen, Hidetaka Akita, Atsushi Yamashita, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Vasudevanpillai Biju, Mitsuru Ishikawa, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 17 S330 - S330 1525-0016 2009/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Multi-layered nanoparticles for penetrating the endosome and nuclear membrane via a step-wise membrane fusion process

  Hidetaka Akita, Asako Kudo, Arisa Minoura, Masaya Yamaguti, Ikrarny A. Khalil, Rumiko Moriguchi, Tomoya Masuda, Radostin Danev, Kuniaki Nagayama, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 30 (15) 2940 - 2949 0142-9612 2009/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient targeting of DNA to the nucleus is a prerequisite for effective gene therapy. The gene-delivery vehicle must penetrate through the plasma membrane, and the DNA-impermeable double-membraned nuclear envelope, and deposit its DNA cargo in a form ready for transcription. Here we introduce a concept for overcoming intracellular membrane barriers that involves step-wise membrane fusion. To achieve this, a nanotechnology was developed that creates a multi-layered nanoparticle, which we refer to as a Tetra-lamellar Multi-functional Envelope-type Nano Device (T-MEND). The critical structural elements of the T-MEND are a DNA-polycation condensed core coated with two nuclear membrane-fusogenic inner envelopes and two enclosome-fusogenic outer envelopes, which are shed in stepwise fashion. A double-lamellar membrane structure is required for nuclear delivery via the stepwise fusion of double layered nuclear membrane structure. Intracellular membrane fusions to endosomes and nuclear membranes were verified by spectral imaging of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between donor and acceptor fluorophores that had been dually labeled on the liposome surface. Coating the core with the minimum number of nucleus-fusogenic lipid envelopes (i.e., 2) is essential to facilitate transcription. As a result, the T-MEND achieves dramatic levels of transgene expression in non-dividing cells. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Development of Efficient siRNA Delivery System to Tumor Cells by Combining Octaarginine, GALA and Enzymatically-Cleavable PEG-Lipid

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Motoi Oishi, Yukio Nagasaki, Shiro Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 17 (Suppl. 1) S388 - S389 1525-0016 2009/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• A pH-Sensitive Fusogenic Peptide Facilitates Endosomal Escape and Greatly Enhanced the Gene Silencing of siRNA-Containing Nanoparticles In Vitro and In Vivo

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Erika Itho, Hidetaka Akita, Motoi Oihi, Yukio Nagasaki, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 17 S388 - S388 1525-0016 2009/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Immunoprotection against murine bladder carcinoma by octaarginine-modified liposomes incorporating cell wall of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

  Joraku A, Homhuan A, Kawai K, Yamamoto T, Miyazaki J, Kogure K, Yano I, Harashima H, Akaza H

  BJU international 103 (5) 686 - 693 1464-4096 2009/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Delivery of Macromolecules Using Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Ways to Overcome Endosomal Entrapment

  Ayman El-Sayed, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  AAPS JOURNAL 11 (1) 13 - 22 1550-7416 2009/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptides (AR-CPPs) are very promising tools for the delivery of therapeutic macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. These peptides allow efficient internalization of the linked cargos intracellularly through the endocytic pathway. However, when linked to bulky cargos, entrapment in the endocytic vesicles is a major limitation to the application of these peptides in cytosolic delivery. Attachment of a compatible endosomal escape device is, therefore, necessary to allow cytosolic delivery of the peptide-attached cargo. This review presents different endosomal escape devices currently in application in combination with AR-CPPs. Applications of fusogenic lipids, membrane-disruptive peptides, membrane-disruptive polymers, lysosomotropic agents, and photochemical internalization to enhance the cytosolic delivery of AR-CPPs-attached cargos are presented. The properties of each system and its mechanism of action for the enhancement of endosomal escape are discussed, together with its applications for the delivery of different macromolecules in vitro and, if applicable, in vivo.
• Non-linear pharmacodynamics in the transfection efficiency of a non-viral gene delivery system

  Rumiko Moriguchi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 363 (1-2) 192 - 198 0378-5173 2008/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Transfection efficiencies using LipofectAMINE varied by more than three orders of magnitude depending on the concentrations of lipid and plasmid DNA (pDNA) used to prepare the lipoplexes. When lipoplexes were formed at lower concentrations a striking positive but non-linear relationship was found between dose and transfection efficiency, while at higher (i.e., normally used) concentrations a linear relationship was maintained. To determine the contribution of intracellular pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) to the observed nonlinearity, we quantified pDNA in whole cells and nuclei by real-time PCR and compared the results with the transfection efficiencies. There was no significant difference in the efficiency of intracellular PK; however, a remarkable difference was observed in the efficiency of PD. Analysis of individual cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that the amount of nuclear-delivered pDNA was higher for lipoplexes prepared at the normal concentration (NCL) compared to those of lipoplexes prepared at low concentration (LCL). Moreover, the size of the NCL was larger than that of the LCL. Both the size of the lipoplex particle and the dose appear to contribute to the non-linear efficiency of PD. These results emphasize the need to control not only intracellular PK, but also PD for the rational development of non-viral gene delivery systems. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Oligosaccharide-Mediated Nuclear Transport of Nanoparticles

  Kenichi Niikura, Shota Sekiguchi, Takashi Nishio, Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Yasutaka Matsuo, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kuniharu Ijiro

  CHEMBIOCHEM 9 (16) 2623 - 2627 1439-4227 2008/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Supramolecular control of polyplex dissociation and cell transfection: efficacy of amino groups and threading cyclodextrins in biocleavable polyrotaxanes.

  Atsushi Yamashita, Daizo Kanda, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Tooru Ooya, Atsushi Maruyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  J Control Release 131 (2) 137 - 144 1873-4995 2008/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A novel strategy for gene delivery using biocleavable polyrotaxanes, in which dimethylaminoethyl-modified alpha-cyclodextrins (DMAE-alpha-CDs) are threaded onto a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain capped with benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tyrosine via disulfide linkages (DMAE-SS-PRX), involves the formation of a stable polyion complex (polyplex) against a counter polyanion and the intracellular plasmid DNA (pDNA) release from the polyplex accompanied by the supramolecular dissociation of DMAE-SS-PRXs. In this study, we prepared biocleavable polyrotaxanes with different numbers of threading alpha-CD and amino (DMAE) groups to enhance the transfection activity of DMAE-SS-PRXs. 29DMAE-alpha18-SS-PRX, in which the numbers of alpha-CD molecules and amino groups were 18 and 29 respectively, exhibited a high transfection activity compared with other PRXs. The transfection activity of DMAE-SS-PRXs seems to be related to the efficacy of pDNA release from those polyplexes, which was controlled by the number of alpha-CD and/or amino groups in the polyrotaxane carrier. Most of the DMAE-SS-PRX polyplexes released the pDNA only in the presence of both 10 mM DTT and of the counter-polyanion, as expected, e
• Mitochondrial drug delivery systems for macromolecule and their therapeutic application to mitochondrial diseases

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS 60 (13-14) 1439 - 1462 0169-409X 2008/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of human disorders-the so-called mitochondrial diseases. Therefore, the organelle is a promising therapeutic drug target. In this review, we describe the key role of mitochondria in living cells, a number of mitochondrial drug delivery systems and mitochondria-targeted therapeutic strategies. In particular, we discuss mitochondrial delivery of macro molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. The discussion of protein delivery is limited primarily to the mitochondrial import machinery. In the section on mitochondrial gene delivery and therapy, we discuss mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA, several gene delivery strategies and approaches to mitochondrial gene therapy. This review also summarizes our current efforts regarding liposome-based delivery system including use of a multifunctional envelope-type nano-device (MEND) and mitochondrial liposome-based delivery as anti-cancer therapies. Furthermore, we introduce the novel MITO-Porter-a liposome-based mitochondrial delivery system that functions using a membrane-fusion mechanism. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Effects of target sequence and sense versus anti-sense strands on gene correction with single-stranded DNA fragments

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Uchiyama, Yoshimichi Nakatsu, Teruhisa Tsuzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 144 (4) 431 - 436 0021-924X 2008/10 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The correction of an inactivated hygromycin resistance and enhanced green fluorescent protein (Hyg-EGFP) fusion gene by a several hundred-base single-stranded (ss) DNA fragment has been reported. In this study, the effectiveness of this type of gene correction was examined for various positions in the rpsL gene. Sense and anti-sense ssDNA fragments were prepared, and the gene correction efficiencies were determined by co-introduction of the target plasmid containing the gene with the ssDNA fragments. The gene correction efficiency varied (0.8-9.3%), depending on target positions and sense/anti-sense strands. Sense ssDNA fragments corrected the target gene with equal or higher efficiencies as compared to their anti-sense counterparts. The target positions corrected with high efficiency by the sense fragments also tended to be corrected efficiently by the anti-sense fragments. These results suggest that the sense ssDNA fragments are useful for the correction of mutated genes. The variation in the correction efficiency may depend on the sequence of the target position in double-stranded DNA.
• Supramolecular control of polyplex dissociation and cell transfection: Efficacy of amino groups and threading cyclodextrins in biocleavable polyrotaxanes

  Atsushi Yamashita, Daizo Kanda, Ryo Katoono, Nobuhiko Yui, Tooru Ooya, Atsushi Maruyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 131 (2) 137 - 144 0168-3659 2008/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A novel strategy for gene delivery using biocleavable polyrotaxanes, in which dimethylaminoethyl-modified alpha-cyclodextrins (DMAE-alpha-CDs) are threaded onto a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain capped with benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tyrosine via disulfide linkages (DMAE-SS-PRX), involves the formation of a stable polyion complex (polyplex) against a counter polyanion and the intracellular plasmid DNA (pDNA) release from the polyplex accompanied by the supramolecular dissociation of DMAE-SS-PRXs. In this study, we prepared biocleavable polyrotaxanes with different numbers of threading alpha-CD and amino (DMAE) groups to enhance the transfection activity of DMAE-SS-PRXs. 29DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX, in which the numbers of alpha-CD molecules and amino groups were 18 and 29 respectively, exhibited a high transfection activity compared with other PRXs. The transfection activity of DMAE-SS-PRXs seems to be related to the efficacy of pDNA release from those polyplexes, which was controlled by the number of alpha-CD and/or amino groups in the polyrotaxane carrier. Most of the DMAE-SS-PRX polyplexes released the pDNA only in the presence of both 10 mM DTT and of the counter-polyanion, as expected, except for 14DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX, which released pDNA in the absence of dextran sulfate once the DTT had been added to the polyplex solution. The transfection activity of 14DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX was significantly lower than that of 29DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX regardless of the above features. Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) observation suggested that the specific result for 14DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX might be due to a premature release of pDNA from the most dissociative 14DMAE-alpha 18-SS-PRX polyplex in the cytosol. Therefore, transfection activity seems to be related to an appropriate timing of pDNA release. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Efficient MHC class I presentation by controlled intracellular trafficking of antigens in octaarginine-modified liposomes

  Takashi Nakamura, Rumiko Moriguchi, Kentaro Kogure, Nilabh Shastri, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 16 (8) 1507 - 1514 1525-0016 2008/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Recently, much attention has been paid to cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) as an antigen-delivery tool for presentation through the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) pathway. However, escape of CPPs from the endosome is inefficient and therefore a bottleneck for antigen delivery. Previously, we showed the importance of topological control of octaarginine (R8) peptides on the liposome surface for regulating cellular uptake as well as intracellular trafficking, especially endosomal escape. In this study, we hypothesized that efficient MHC-I presentation could be achieved by controlled intracellular trafficking of antigen encapsulated in R8-modified liposomes (R8-Lip). The mechanism of uptake of both R8-Lip and cationic liposomes was shown to be by macropinocytosis in dendritic cells. However, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that R8-Lip are able to release significantly more antigen to the cytosol than are cationic liposomes. Processing of the antigens delivered by R8-Lip was shown to be proteasome-dependent, which is consistent with selective antigen presentation by R8-Lip via MHC-I. According to antigen-presentation analysis, R8-Lip can induce significantly higher MHC-I presentation at lower doses than either soluble ovalbumin ( OVA) or OVA in pH-sensitive or cationic liposomes. Moreover, R8-Lip showed an efficient antitumor effect in vivo. Therefore, R8-Lip is a promising new carrier for MHC-I-specific antigen presentation.
• Advances in non-viral gene delivery: using multifunctional envelope-type nano-device

  Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DELIVERY 5 (8) 847 - 859 1742-5247 2008/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: Low transfection efficiency is an obstacle to the clinical use of non-viral gene vectors. Effective non-viral vectors require the ability to control intracellular trafficking of gene vectors for the delivery of exogenous DNA to the nucleus. Objective: To overcome multiple intracellular barriers, various types of devices must be integrated into one nano-particle so that each device performs its function at the appropriate location at the desired time. Such a strategy requires an understanding, based on quantitative information, of the rate-limiting processes that hinder intracellular trafficking. Methods: In this review, advancements in the development of multifunctional envelope-type nano-devices (MEND) are discussed. In particular, a novel method to quantitatively evaluate the rate-limiting steps in intracellular trafficking, based on a comparison of viral and non-viral gene-delivery systems, is described. Conclusion: MENDs are useful to integrate various kinds of devices to overcome intracellular barriers into one particle. Comparison of intracellular trafficking between adenoviruses and non-viral vectors indicates that a postnuclear delivery process is an important rate-limiting step for efficient transfection with non-viral vectors.
• Photosensitized breakage and damage of DNA by CdSe-ZnS quantum dots

  AbdulAziz Anas, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima, Tamitake Itoh, Mitsuru Ishikawa, Vasudevanpillai Biju

  JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B 112 (32) 10005 - 10011 1520-6106 2008/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Strand breakages and nucleobase damages in plasmid DNA (pDNA) by CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are investigated under different conditions of photoactivation. Here, streptavidin functionalized CdSe-ZnS QDs are conjugated to biotinylated pDNA, and photosensitized strand breakages and nucleobase damages in the conjugates are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, gel electrophoreses analyses, and assay of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Also, reactions of photoactivated pDNA-QD conjugates with base excision repair enzymes such as formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) and endonuclease III (Endo 111) show damages of purine and pyrimidine bases. The base excision repair enzymes recognize and remove the damaged bases. The base excision reactions of photoactivated pDNA-QD conjugates resulted in pDNA strand breakages, which appeared as sheared bands in agarose gel images. On the basis of AFM imaging, reactions of Fpg and Endo III with damaged pDNA, ROI assay, and literature reports, we attribute the breakage and damage of pDNA to its reactions with ROI. The production of ROI by photoactivated QDs is confirmed by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. The current work shows that photoactivation of QD-conjugated nucleic acids for an extended period of time is not favorable for their stability. On the other hand, photoinduced production of ROI by QDs is an emerging research area with potential applications in the photodynamic therapy of cancer. In this regard, photosensitized damage of pDNA observed in the current work shows possibilities of QDs in nucleus-targeted photodynamic therapy.
• Improved gene correction efficiency with a tailed duplex DNA fragment

  Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Masayuki Uchiyarna, Kazuhiro Hara, Yoshimichi Nakatsu, Teruhisa Tsuzuki, Hideo Inoue, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  BIOCHEMISTRY 47 (33) 8754 - 8759 0006-2960 2008/08 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  A 606-base single-stranded (ss) DNA fragment, prepared by restriction enzyme digestion of ss phagemid DNA, corrects a hygromycin resistance and enhanced green fluorescent protein (Hyg-EGFP) fusion gene more efficiently than a PCR fragment, which is the conventional type of DNA fragment used in gene correction. Here, a tailed duplex, obtained by annealing an oligonucleotide to the ss DNA fragment, was used in the correction. The tailed duplex may be a good substrate for the RAD51 protein, an important enzyme in homologous recombination, which could be the gene correction pathway. The annealing of the oligonucleotides enhanced the correction efficiency of the Hyg-EGFP gene, especially when annealed in the 3'-region of the ss DNA fragment. Both the length and backbone structure of the oligonucleotides affected the gene correction efficiency. This type of gene correction device was also effective for another target gene, the rpsL gene. The results obtained in this study indicate that tailed duplex DNA fragments are effective nucleic acids for gene correction.
• On-chip fabrication of mutifunctional envelope-type nanodevices for gene delivery

  Hiroshi Kuramoto, Yeon-Su Park, Noritada Kaji, Manabu Tokeshi, Kentaro Kogure, Yasuo Shinohara, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba

  ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 391 (8) 2729 - 2733 1618-2642 2008/08 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Microfluidic devices may be highly beneficial to the rapid fabrication of small quantities of various nonviral vectors with different functionalities, which is indispensable for effective order-made gene therapy. We adapted a microfluidic chip-based approach for fabricating small quantities of nonviral vectors in a short time in preparation for order-made gene therapy applications. This approach permitted us to fabricate multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MENDs), composed of a compacted (or condensed) DNA core and a lipid bilayer membrane shell, which are considered as promising nonviral vectors for gene therapy applications. The on-chip fabrication of the MEND was very simple, rapid, convenient, and cost-effective compared with conventional methods. The size of the MEND showed strong dependence on the concentration and flow rate of the reaction precursors and could be controlled to be much smaller than that achievable by conventional methods. This, together with abovementioned merits, makes our microfluidic chip-based approach very attractive for the fabrication of MENDs for effective application to order-made gene therapy.
• An artificial virus-like nano carrier system: enhanced endosomal escape of nanoparticles via synergistic action of pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide derivatives

  Kentaro Sasaki, Kentaro Kogure, Shinji Chaki, Yoshio Nakamura, Rumiko Moriguchi, Hirofumi Hamada, Radostin Danev, Kuniaki Nagayama, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 391 (8) 2717 - 2727 1618-2642 2008/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that transferrin (Tf)-modified liposomes (Tf-L) additionally modified with a cholesterylated pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (Chol-GALA) can release an encapsulated aqueous phase marker to cytosol via endosomal membrane fusion. However, further obstacles need to be overcome to bring the Tf-L to the level of a viral-like gene delivery system. In this study, we developed a novel packaging method to encapsulate condensed plasmid DNA into PEgylated Tf-L (Tf-PEG-L) to form a core-shell-type nanoparticle. The most difficult challenge was to provide a mechanism of escape for the condensed core from endosome to cytosol in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). We hypothesized that a membrane-introduced Chol-GALA and a PEgylated GALA would interact synergistically to induce membrane fusion between liposome and endosome. By simultaneously incorporating Chol-GALA into the membrane of Tf-PEG-L and GALA at tips of PEG chains, a condensed core was released into cytosol, and transfection acitivty increased 100-fold. We concluded that topological control was responsible for the synergistic effect of GALA derivatives introduced on Tf-PEG-L.
• Octaarginine- and octalysine-modified nanoparticles have different modes of endosomal escape

  Ayman El-Sayed, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 283 (34) 23450 - 23461 0021-9258 2008/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The present study examines the role of surface modification with an octaarginine peptide (R8) in liposomal escape from endocytic vesicles, using octalysine (K8) as a control cationic peptide; the mechanism of endosomal escape of liposomes was also investigated. Gene expression of condensed plasmid DNA encapsulated in R8-modified nanoparticles was more than 1 order of magnitude higher than that of K8-modified nanoparticles, and 2 orders of magnitude higher than gene expression using unmodified nanoparticles. The difference in gene expression could not be attributed to differences in uptake, as R8- and K8-modified liposomes were taken up primarily via macropinocytosis with comparable efficiency. The extent of R8-nanoparticle escape to the cytosol was double that of K8-nanoparticles. Suppression of endosome acidification inhibited R8-nanoparticle endosomal escape, but enhanced that of K8-nanoparticles. Using spectral imaging in live cells, we showed that R8- and K8-liposomes escaped from endocytic vesicles via fusion between the liposomes and the endosomal membrane. R8- liposomes fused efficiently at both acidic and neutral pH, whereas K8- liposomes fused only at neutral pH. Similar behavior was observed during in vitro lipid mixing and calcein-release experiments. Co-incubation of cells with distinctly labeled K8- and R8-modified nanoparticles confirmed a common uptake pathway and different rates of endosomal escape particularly at longer time intervals. Therefore, it was concluded that R8 on the liposome surface stimulates efficient escape from endocytic vesicles via a fusion mechanism that works at both neutral and acidic pH; in contrast, K8 mediates escape mainly at neutral pH.
• Cellular attachment and internalization of cationic liposomes containing mycobacterial cell wall

  Atthachai Homhuan, Hideyoshi Harashima, Ikuya Yano

  SCIENCEASIA 34 (2) 179 - 185 1513-1874 2008/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The cell wall derived from Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a potent immunopotentiator and has recently been suggested as an alterative treatment for in situ bladder carcinoma. In contrast to the live BCG, the loss of infectivity and the negatively charged nature of BCG cell wall physically inhibit its attachment and subsequent internalization to the urothelial bladder cells. As part of our research involving the delivery of macromolecules to target cells, we developed cationic liposomes that anchor arginine octamers on the liposome surface. In this study, we used cationic liposomes as a delivery tool to facilitate the attachment and internalization of the BCG cell wall. Using confocal scanning microscopy, we verified that cationic liposomes incorporated with BCG cell wall could attach to the cellular membrane of murine bladder tumour (MBT-2) cells and become internalized. Cationic liposomes containing BCG cell wall were taken up by MBT-2 cells mainly via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These results would be useful to understand the mechanism of action of BCG cell wall against bladder tumour cells as well as to develop an immunotherapeutic agent for clinical use.
• Octaarginine-modified liposomes: Enhanced cellular uptake and controlled intracellular trafficking

  Krarny A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 354 (1-2) 39 - 48 0378-5173 2008/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene therapy is a promising new approach for treating a variety of genetic and acquired diseases. While viral vectors are highly efficient for gene therapy, their use is associated with high toxicity and immunogenicity. Synthetic or nonviral vectors are attractive alternatives to viral vectors because of their low immunogenicity and low acute toxicity. The main disadvantage of the nonviral vectors is the low transfection efficiency compared to viral vectors. Novel functional devices to enhance the transfection activities of nonviral vectors are needed. In this review, we discuss the modification of liposomal drug carriers with a novel functional device, the octaarginine (R8) peptide, for drug and gene delivery. Decoration of liposomes with R8 enhanced their cellular uptake. In addition, by optimizing the density of the peptide as well as its topology, the liposomes could be internalized via clathrin-independent pathways, which improved the intracellular trafficking through avoiding lysosomal degradation. A special emphasis is given to the need for optimizing the conditions of using the peptide to not only enhance the cellular uptake but also to improve the intracellular trafficking of its cargos. In addition, the use of R8-modified liposomes and nano-particles in gene delivery is discussed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) as a non-viral gene delivery system

  Kentaro Kogure, Hidetaka Akita, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS 60 (4-5) 559 - 571 0169-409X 2008/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this review, we describe a key role of octaarginine (R8) in developing our new concept of "Programmed Packaging", by which we succeeded in creating a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) as a non-viral gene-delivery system. This concept can be applied not only to nuclear targeting of plasmid DNA (pDNA) but also to cytosolic delivery of functional nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides or siRNA, This concept has been extended to other organelles such as mitochondria as a foundation for innovative nanomedicine. Finally, we discuss the rate-limiting step in gene delivery by comparing non-viral and viral gene delivery systems, which clearly indicates the importance of nuclear disposition of pDNA for efficient transfection. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Specificity of mutations induced by incorporation of oxidized dNTPs into DNA by human DNA polymerase eta.

  Katsuhiko Hidaka, Masami Yamada, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Chikahide Masutani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Fumio Hanaoka, Takehiko Nohmi

  DNA repair 7 (3) 497 - 506 2008/03/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Aberrant oxidation is a property of many tumor cells. Oxidation of DNA precursors, i.e., deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), as well as DNA is a major cause of genome instability. Here, we report that human DNA polymerase eta (h Poleta) incorporates oxidized dNTPs, i.e., 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP), into DNA in an erroneous and efficient manner, thereby inducing various types of mutations during in vitro gap-filling DNA synthesis. When 2-OH-dATP was present at a concentration equal to those of the four normal dNTPs in the reaction mixture, DNA synthesis by h Poleta enhanced the frequency of G-to-T transversions eight-fold higher than that of the transversions in control where only the normal dNTPs were present. When 8-OH-dGTP was present at an equimolar concentration to the normal dNTPs, it enhanced the frequency of A-to-C transversions 17-fold higher than the control. It also increased the frequency of C-to-A transversions about two-fold. These results suggest that h Poleta incorporates 2-OH-dATP opposite template G and incorporates 8-OH-dGTP opposite template A and slightly opposite template C during DNA synthesis. Besides base substitutions, h Poleta enhanced the frequency of single-base frameshifts and deletions with the size of more than 100 base pairs when 8-OH-dGTP was present in the reaction mixture. Since h Poleta is present in replication foci even without exogenous DNA damage, we suggest that h Poleta may be involved in induction of various types of mutations through the erroneous and efficient incorporation of oxidized dNTPs into DNA in human cells.
• Programmed Packaging: A New Drug Delivery System and its Application to Gene Therapy

  Kentaro Kogure, Hidetaka Akita, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Modern Biopharmaceuticals: Design, Development and Optimization 4 1521 - 1536 2008/02/05 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Dramatic advances have occurred in the field of drug delivery systems (DDS) during the past 10 years. Tumor targeting with long-circulating liposomes that contain antitumor agents (passive targeting) has been successfully demonstrated in clinical trials. Active targeting with ligands specific to cell surface receptors has also been developed. In this chapter, we will focus on the next generation of DDS "Programmed Packaging", in which intracellular trafficking and the disposition of DNA for gene therapy are controlled. © 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
• MITO-Porter: A liposome-based carrier system for delivery of macromolecules into mitochondria via membrane fusion.

  Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Kentaro Kogure, Takenori Yamamoto, Yasuo Shinohara, Kikuji Yamashita, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biochimica et biophysica acta 1778 (2) 423 - 32 0006-3002 2008/02 

  Mitochondria are the principal producers of energy in higher cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a variety of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Effective medical therapies for such diseases will ultimately require targeted delivery of therapeutic proteins or nucleic acids to the mitochondria, which will be achieved through innovations in the nanotechnology of intracellular trafficking. Here we describe a liposome-based carrier that delivers its macromolecular cargo to the mitochondrial interior via membrane fusion. These liposome particles, which we call MITO-Porters, carry octaarginine surface modifications to stimulate their entry into cells as intact vesicles (via macropinocytosis). We identified lipid compositions for the MITO-Porter which promote both its fusion with the mitochondrial membrane and the release of its cargo to the intra-mitochondrial compartment in living cells. Thus, the MITO-Porter holds promise as an efficacious system for the delivery of both large and small therapeutic molecules into mitochondria.
• Development of lipid particles targeted via sugar-lipid conjugates as novel nuclear gene delivery system

  Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Takashi Nishio, Kenichi Niikura, Kentaro Kogure, Kuniharu Ijiro, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOMATERIALS 29 (6) 709 - 723 0142-9612 2008/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient nuclear gene delivery is essential for successful gene therapy. This study developed a novel system that mimics the mechanism of nuclear entry of adenovirus (Ad) by means of a Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device (MEND). In this system, plasmid DNA (pDNA) was condensed with polycation, followed by encapsulation in a lipid membrane. To target MEND to the nuclear pore complex (NPC), sugar served as a NPC-mediated nuclear targeting device was modified on the surface of the lipid envelope. This was accomplished via synthesis of a sugar-cholesterol conjugate. After binding of the MEND to the NPC, the pDNA core was transferred into the nucleus in conjunction with a breakdown of the lipid envelope. Sugar-modified MEND showed higher transfection efficiency compared with unmodified MEND, in non-dividing and dividing cells. Confocal microscopy confirmed that nuclear transfer of pDNA was improved by sugar modification of MEND. Furthermore, destabilization of the lipid envelope significantly enhanced transfection activity: therefore, nuclear-delivery efficiency was closely related to lipid envelope stability. Moreover, quantitative evaluation of cellular uptake and nuclear transfer processes by real-time PCR confirmed that the surface sugars affected nuclear transfer, but not cellular uptake. In summary, a novel system for the nuclear delivery of pDNA was successfully developed by using a sugar-modified MEND and by optimizing the lipid envelope stability. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Nonviral gene delivery

  Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  GENE THERAPY FOR RENAL DISEASES AND TRANSPLANTATION 159 13 - 29 0302-5144 2008 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene and RNA interference therapies are promising cures for intractable renal failure. However, low delivery efficiency of the therapeutic nucleic acid into the nucleus of the target cell is a significant obstacle in the clinical application of nonviral gene therapy. Various mechanical techniques (hydrodynamic injection, electroporation and ultrasound-microbubble) and topically applied preparations (HVJ liposome and cationic liposome/polymer), which introduce transgenes into specific renal compartments depending on the administration route, have been reported. Additional improvements in renal application of nonviral gene vectors must address the important issue of how to control intracellular trafficking. Therefore, novel vectors based on the 'programmed packaging' concept are desirable in which all functional devices are integrated into a single system so that each function occurs at the appropriate time and correct place. In parallel with development of the carrier, quantitative evaluation of intracellular trafficking is essential to determine the efficacy of the modified devices in the cellular environment. In particular, comparison of the intracellular trafficking of the engineered devices with that of viruses (i.e. adenovirus) is useful in identifying the rate-limiting intracellular processes of the vectors during development. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
• Effect of surface-modification with octaarginine versus octalysine on cellular uptake and endosomal escape of nanoparticles

  Ayman El-Sayed, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 128 111 - 112 0031-6903 2008 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Supramolecular control of polyplex dissociation and cell transfection: Efficacy of amine and threading cyclodextrin in biocleavable polyrotaxanes

  Yamashita A, Kanda D, Katoono R, Yui N, Ooya T, Maruyama A, Akita H, Kogure K, Harashima H

  8th World Biomaterials Congress 2008 4 2008 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Base excision repair system suppresses mutagenesis caused by 8-hydroxy-dGTP in Escherichia coli.

  Tetsuya Suzuki, Kazuo Yamamoto, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  Nucleic acids symposium series (2004) 51 - 52 2007/12/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To examine whether base excision repair suppresses mutations induced by oxidized deoxyribonucleotide 5'-triphosphates in the nucleotide pool, 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP) was introduced into Escherichia coli strains deficient in endonucleases III (Nth) and VIII (Nei), and MutY, and mutations in the chromosomal rpoB gene were analyzed. The spontaneous rpoB mutant frequency was also examined in mutT/nth and mutT/nei strains, to assess the influence on the mutations induced by the endogenous 8-OH-dGTP accumulated in the mutT mutant. Exogenous 8-OH-dGTP increased the rpoB mutant frequency more efficiently in the nth strain than that in the wild-type strain. The spontaneous mutant frequency in the mutT/nth strain was 1.8-fold higher than that in the mutT strain. These results suggest that E. coli endonuclease III also acts as a defense against the mutations caused by 8-OH-dGTP in the nucleotide pool.
• UvrAとUvrBは酸化損傷ヌクレオチドにより誘発される変異を促進する

  堀 美香, 石黒 智恵子, 鈴木 哲矢, 中川 紀子, 布柴 達男, 倉光 成紀, 山本 和生, 葛西 宏, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之

  日本放射線影響学会大会講演要旨集 (一社)日本放射線影響学会 50回 69 - 69 1347-8680 2007/11
• Multifunctional envelope-type nano device for non-viral gene delivery: Concept and application of Programmed Packaging

  Kentaro Kogure, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 122 (3) 246 - 251 0168-3659 2007/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this review, a new concept called "Programmed Packaging" is proposed for developing non-viral gene delivery systems. A Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device (MEND) was developed based on this concept, which can enter into cells via macropinocytosis and facilitate transfection activities as efficiently as an adenovirus. Intracellular trafficking of MEND was optimized in order to prevent lysosomal degradation and to enhance nuclear translocation. A quantitative analytical method (CIDIQ) was also established to evaluate each step in intracellular trafficking of genes as well as carriers. A comparative study between Lipofectamin and an adenovirus showed that intra-nuclear disposition, which includes the transcriptional process, translational process, etc., can be the limiting step for Lipofectamin PLUS. These studies indicated the importance of controlling intra-nuclear disposition in the development of an efficient non-viral gene delivery system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Tumor targeting of doxorubicin by anti-MT1-MMP antibody-modified PEG liposomes

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Emi Ishida, Koichi Hashimoto, Hideo Kobayashi, Takanori Aoki, Junko Yasuda, Kenichi Obata, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Tatsuhiro Ishida, Hiroshi Kiwada, Hideyoshi Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 342 (1-2) 194 - 200 0378-5173 2007/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Immunoliposomes are potent carriers for targeting of therapeutic drugs to specific cells. Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase(MT1-MMP), which plays an important role in angiogenesis, is expressed on angiogenic endothelium cells as well as tumor cells. Then, the MT1-MMP might be useful as a target molecule for tumor and neovascularity. In the present study, we addressed a utility of antibodies against the MT1-MMP as a targeting ligand of liposomal anticancer drug. Fab' fragments of antibody against the MT1-MMP were modified at distal end of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of doxorubicin (DXR)-encapsulating liposomes, DXR-sterically stabilized immunoliposomes (DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab ')]). Modification with the antibody significantly enhanced cellular uptake of DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab ')] into the HT1080 cells, which highly express MT1-MMP, compared with the non-targeted liposomes (DXR-stealthliposomes (DXR-SL)), suggesting that MT1-MMP antibody (Fab') is a potent targeting ligand for the MT1-MMP expressed cells. In vivo systemic administration of DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab ')] into the tumor-bearing mice showed significant suppression of tumor growth compared to DXR-SL. This is presumably due to the active targeting of immunoliposomes for tumor and neovascularity. However, tumor accumulation of DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab ')] and DXR-SL were comparable, suggesting that both liposomal formulations accumulated in tumor via enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect, but not via targeting to the MT1-MMP expressed on both the endothelial and tumor cells. It appears that the enhanced antitumor activity of DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab ')] resulted from acceleration of cellular uptake of lioposomes owing to the incorporated antibody after extravasation from capillaries in tumor. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• New packaging method of mycobacterial cell wall using octaarginine-modified liposomes: Enhanced uptake by and immunostimulatory activity of dendritic cells

  Atthachal Homhuan, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyuki Akaza, Shiroh Futaki, Takashi Naka, Yukiko Fujita, Ikuya Yano, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 120 (1-2) 60 - 69 0168-3659 2007/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Despite the potential of mycobacterial cell wall (CW) components to serve as immunotherapeutic agents, this application is hampered by the molecules' unfavorable physicochemical properties, such as its high molecular weight, poor solubility and negatively charged nature. Here we describe a new mycobacterial CW delivery system that uses an efficient and simple packaging method. This is achieved by incorporating mycobacterial CW into liposomes and attaching arginine octamers (R8) to the liposome surface. R8-modified liposomes improve the uptake of mycobacterial CW by dendritic cells (DC) and enhance its immunostimulatory activity. High R8 surface density promoted high levels of mycobacterial CW uptake by DC compared to low density R8-modified liposomes. Maturation markers (CD80, CD86, MHC Class II molecules) showed significantly enhanced expression on DC pulsed with high density R8-modified liposomes containing mycobacterial CW. Moreover, R8-modified liposomes with mycobacterial CW incorporated induced production of IL-12 p40 by DC, at levels similar to those produced by lipopolysaccharide-pulsed DC. We assert that R8-modified liposomes with mycobacterial CW incorporated should have tremendous potential as immune-potentiating agents. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 2-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate enhances A.T --> C.G mutations caused by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate by suppressing its degradation upon replication in a HeLa extract.

  Kazuya Satou, Hiroshi Kasai, Chikahide Masutani, Fumio Hanaoka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  Biochemistry 46 (22) 6639 - 46 0006-2960 2007/06/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The coexistence effects of multiple kinds of oxidized deoxyribonucleotides were examined using an SV40 origin-dependent in vitro replication system with a HeLa extract. Oxidized dGTP and dATP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP) and 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), were used in this study. The mutation frequency synergistically increased when the two oxidized deoxyribonucleotides were together in the reaction. 2-OH-dATP enhanced the mutagenicity of 8-OH-dGTP, since the induced mutations were A.T --> C.G transversions. The contribution of the highly error-prone DNA polymerase eta was unlikely, since similar results were observed with an XP-V cell extract. The possible involvement of 2-hydroxyadenine in the complementary (template) strand was excluded on the basis of experiments using plasmids containing 2-hydroxyadenine as templates in the reactions with 8-OH-dGTP. 2-OH-dATP suppressed hydrolysis of 8-OH-dGTP, suggesting that the inhibition of the MTH1 protein played the major role in the enhancement. These results highlight the importance of specific hydrolysis of 8-OH-dGTP for the suppression of its induced mutation.
• Octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device for siRNA

  Yoshio Nakamura, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 119 (3) 360 - 367 0168-3659 2007/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) is a novel non-viral gene delivery system for plasmid DNA (pDNA) and oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). We showed previously that octaarginine-modified MEND (R8-MEND) produces a high transfection activity without cytotoxicity via macropinocytosis and efficient release of a condensed DNA core to the cytosol. In the present study, we succeeded in developing an efficient method for packaging siRNA into the R8-MEND, and its silencing effect was compared with that of transfection reagent TransIT-TKO. A polycation able to condense siRNA was screened for by measuring the size and zeta-potential of complexes formed between siRNA and the polycations poly-l-lysine (PLL), stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8) and protamine. Only STR-R8 was able to condense siRNA to form nano particles (<100 nm), whereas all three polycations were able to condense pDNA or ODN. The siRNA packaged in R8-MEND inhibited luciferase activity by more than 80% in HeLa cells stably expressing luciferase. Much amount of siRNA was internalized into the cells as R8-MEND, and siRNA was effectively released from lipid envelope of MEND to cytoplasm near the nucleus. Consequently, R8-MEND can deliver condensed siRNA into cells to produce an efficient and persistent silencing effect with minimum cytotoxicity. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.
• Efficient and erroneous incorporation of oxidized DNA precursors by human DNA polymerase eta.

  Masatomi Shimizu, Petr Gruz, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Chikahide Masutani, Yan Xu, Yukio Usui, Hiroshi Sugiyama, Hideyoshi Harashima, Fumio Hanaoka, Takehiko Nohmi

  Biochemistry 46 (18) 5515 - 22 0006-2960 2007/05/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Altered oxidative metabolism is a property of many tumor cells. Oxidation of DNA precursors, i.e., dNTP pool, as well as DNA is a major source of mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Here, we report the remarkable nature of human DNA polymerase eta that incorporates oxidized dNTPs into a nascent DNA strand in an efficient and erroneous manner. The polymerase almost exclusively incorporated 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP) opposite template adenine (A) at 60% efficiency of normal dTTP incorporation, and incorporated 2-hydroxy-dATP (2-OH-dATP) opposite template thymine (T), guanine (G), or cytosine (C) at substantial rates. The synthetic primers having 8-hydroxy-G paired with template A or 2-hydroxy-A paired with template T, G, or C at the termini were efficiently extended. In contrast, human DNA polymerase iota incorporated 8-OH-dGTP opposite template A with much lower efficiency and did not incorporate 2-OH-dATP opposite any of the template bases. It did not extend the primers having the oxidized bases at the termini either. We propose that human DNA polymerase eta may participate in oxidative mutagenesis through the efficient and erroneous incorporation of oxidized dNTPs during DNA synthesis.
• The location of the left-handedly curved DNA sequence affects exogenous DNA expression in vivo

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Satoki Fukunaga, Takashi Ohyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS 461 (1) 7 - 12 0003-9861 2007/05 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of a plasmid is extremely important for transgene expression. The effects of a left-handedly curved sequence with high histone affinity on plasmid expression were examined in vivo. A naked luciferase-plasmid was delivered into mouse liver by a hydrodynamics-based injection, and the luciferase activities were quantitated at various time points. The location of the left-handedly curved sequence determined the transgene expression, without affecting the amount of intranuclear exogenous DNA. The plasmid containing the curved sequence at the location that results in the exposure of the TATA box out of the nucleosome core showed the highest expression. These results suggest that sequences with high histone affinity could control transgene expression from plasmids in vivo. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nanoparticles for gene delivery

  I. A. Khalil, K. Kogure, S. Futaki, S. Hama, H. Akita, M. Ueno, H. Kishida, M. Kudoh, Y. Mishina, K. Kataoka, M. Yamada, H. Harashima

  GENE THERAPY 14 (8) 682 - 689 0969-7128 2007/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This study describes a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) that mimics an envelope-type virus based on a novel packaging strategy. MEND particles contain a DNA core packaged into a lipid envelope modified with an octaarginine peptide. The peptide mediates internalization via macropinocytosis, which avoids lysosomal degradation. MEND-mediated transfection of a luciferase expression plasmid achieved comparable efficiency to adenovirus-mediated transfection, with lower associated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, topical application of MEND particles containing constitutively active bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type IA receptor (caBmpr1a) gene had a significant impact on hair growth in vivo. These data demonstrate that MEND is a promising non-viral gene delivery system that may provide superior results to existing non-viral gene delivery technologies.
• Accumulation of O-GlcNAc-displaying CdTe quantum dots in cells in the presence of ATP

  Kenichi Niikura, Takashi Nishio, Hidetaka Akita, Yasutaka Matsuo, Ryosuke Kamitani, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kuniharu Ijiro

  CHEMBIOCHEM 8 (4) 379 - 384 1439-4227 2007/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect of transferrin receptor-targeted liposomal doxorubicin in P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistant tumor cells

  Tomotaka Kobayashi, Tatsuhiro Ishida, Yurie Okada, Saori Ise, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroshi Kiwada

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 329 (1-2) 94 - 102 0378-5173 2007/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been associated with the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. In this study, we examined whether transferrin receptor (Tf-R) targeted liposomes can efficiently deliver encapsulated doxorubicin (DXR) into MDR cells (SBC-3/ADM) via Tf-R-mediated endocytosis thus overcoming MDR by by-passing P-gp-mediated drug efflux. We prepared four types of liposome, i.e. untargeted and Tf-R-targeted, made of either egg-PC/cholesterol or hydrogenated egg PC/cholesterol. Only with the targeted EPC-liposome we achieved significant delivery of encapsulated DXR and increased cytotoxicity of encapsulated DXR on the MDR cells (3.5-fold higher than free DXR). Confocal microscopy and an intracellular drug-accumulation assay indicated that the targeted liposomes efficiently delivered DXR into cells where it readily accumulated in the nucleus, in both drug-sensitive and MDR cells. These findings suggest that the targeted liposomes are rapidly internalized via Tf-R-mediated endocytosis followed by release of their contents into the cytoplasm. The rapid internalization and content release, most likely facilitated by the higher fluidity of the EPC-based liposomes, may explain why only targeted EPC-liposomes were able to prevent drug efflux by P-gp and to consequently circumvent MDR. Our results indicate that in order to achieve MDR circumvention by means of liposomal encapsulation of DXR the liposomes not only need to be targeted, but also to have the proper physicochernical properties for adequate release of the drug. Furthermore, these in vitro results suggest that Tf-R targeted EPC-liposomes are a potentially useful drug delivery system to circumvent P-gp-mediated MDR of tumors. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A more excellent construction method of a multi functional envelope-type nano device on microdevice for gene therapy

  Hiroshi Kuramoto, Noritada Kaji, Kentarou Kogure, Manabu Tokeshi, Yasuo Shinohara, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba

  Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, uTAS 2007 781 - 783 2007 

  A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) is an extremely efficient technology for a non-viral gene delivery system. However, the construction processes of the MEND by the existing method are very complicated. Therefore we develop a new method to construct it quickly and easily in the previous work. In this work, we report a new on-chip construction method of the MEND which is much more suitable for the gene therapy.
• Correlation between the Phosphohydrolase Activity of the Escherichia coli Orf135 (NudG) Protein and Mutation Suppression

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Emiko Iida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Genes and Environment 29 (2) 63 - 66 1880-7062 2007 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Escherichia coli Orf 135 (NudG) protein, a MutT-type enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy-dATP and 8-hydroxy-dGTP, and its deficiency causes an increase in the mutation frequency. In this study, Orf135 proteins with substitutions at the Gly-36, Gly-37, Lys-38, Glu-43, Arg-51, Glu-52, Leu-53, Glu-55, and Glu-56 residues, which are conserved in three MutT-type proteins (Orf135, MutT, and MTH1), were each expressed in the orf135- strain, and the rpoB mutant frequency upon H2O2 treatment was examined. The in vivo mutation suppression abilities and the invitro enzymatic activities obtained in a previous study were compared. The expression of the enzymatically active Orf135 mutants in the orf135- strain tended to reduce the rpoB mutant frequency induced by H2O2. This result suggests the importance of the phosphohydrolase activity in the suppression of mutations by the Orf135 protein. Key words: Orf135, phosphohydrolase activity, mutation suppression, nucleotide pool sanitization. © 2007, The Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society. All rights reserved.
• Development of a novel systemic gene delivery system for cancer therapy with a tumor-specific cleavable PEG-lipid

  H. Hatakeyama, H. Akita, K. Kogure, M. Oishi, Y. Nagasaki, Y. Kihira, M. Ueno, H. Kobayashi, H. Kikuchi, H. Harashima

  GENE THERAPY 14 (1) 68 - 77 0969-7128 2007/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  For successful cancer gene therapy via intravenous (i.v.) administration, it is essential to optimize the stability of carriers in the systemic circulation and the cellular association after the accumulation of the carrier in tumor tissue. However, a dilemma exists regarding the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which is useful for conferring stability in the systemic circulation, but is undesirable for the cellular uptake and the following processes. We report the development of a PEG-peptide-lipid ternary conjugate (PEG-Peptide-DOPE conjugate (PPD)). In this strategy, the PEG is removed from the carriers via cleavage by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which is specifically expressed in tumor tissues. An in vitro study revealed that the PPD-modified gene carrier (Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device: MEND) exhibited pDNA expression activity that was dependent on the MMP expression level in the host cells. In vivo studies further revealed that the PPD was potent in stabilizing MEND in the systemic circulation and facilitating tumor accumulation. Moreover, the i.v. administration of PPD or PEG/PPD dually-modified MEND resulted in the stimulation of pDNA expression in tumor tissue, as compared with a conventional PEG-modified MEND. Thus, MEND modified with PPD is a promising device, which has the potential to make in vivo cancer gene therapy achievable.
• Synthesis of a biocleavable polyrotaxane-plasmid DNA (pDNA) polyplex and its use for the rapid nonviral delivery of pDNA to cell nuclei.

  Atsushi Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yui, Tooru Ooya, Arihiro Kano, Atsushi Maruyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nat Protoc 1 (6) 2861 - 2869 1750-2799 2006/12 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This protocol provides a method for synthesizing a biocleavable polyrotaxane/plasmid DNA (pDNA) polyplex and for using it to deliver pDNA into cell nuclei. The biocleavable polyrotaxane is synthesized in four steps: (i) introduction of disulfide linkages at both terminals of PEG, (ii) preparation of an inclusion complex between disulfide-containing PEG and alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs), (iii) synthesis of polyrotaxane and (iv) modification of alpha-CDs in the polyrotaxane with dimethylethylenediamine. A polyplex of pDNA with the polyrotaxane is formed when the two compounds are dissolved together in a phosphate buffer. Subcellular localization of rhodamine-labeled pDNA in fluorescently labeled organelles is quantified by Z-series of confocal images captured by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Significant amounts of pDNA delivered to the nucleus can be expected as well as high transfection activity of the polyplex. This protocol can be completed in 23-32 d.
• Mutagenic properties of oxidized GTP and ATP in in vitro transcription-reverse transcription.

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Akihiro Suzuki, Kazuaki Kawai, Hiroshi Kasai, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nucleic acids symposium series (2004) 99 - 100 2006/12/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oxidation of RNA precursors may disturb genetic information by mispair formations. In this study, effects of oxidized ribonucleoside triphosphates on in vitro transcription catalyzed by T7 RNA polymerase were examined. 8-Hydroxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-GTP) and 2-hydroxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-ATP) reduced amount of RNA. In addition, mRNA was converted to cDNA by reverse transcriptase, and the cDNA was then amplified by PCR. The PCR product was subsequently cloned into plasmid DNA and sequence of DNA was analyzed for each bacterial colony. The two oxidized ribonucleotides induced mutations in cDNA, suggesting disturbance of genetic information during transcription and/or reverse transcription. 8-OH-GTP induced T-->G plus T-->C mutations and 2-OH-ATP caused T-->C mutations. These results indicate that formation of these oxidized RNA precursors in cells affects transcription quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, they are potential antiviral drugs that cause mutations in genomic RNA.
• Positively charged polyethylenimines enhance nasal absorption of the negatively charged drug, low molecular weight heparin

  Tianzhi Yang, Alamdar Hussain, Shuhua Bai, Ikramy A. Khalil, Hideyoshi Harashima, Fakhrul Ahsan

  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE 115 (3) 289 - 297 0168-3659 2006/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This study tests the hypothesis that positively charged polyethylenimines (PEIs) enhance nasal absorption of low molecular weight heparin (LMWE) by reducing the negative surface charge of the drug molecule. Physical interactions between PEIs and LMVM were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analysis, conductivity measurements, zeta potential analysis, and azure A assay. The efficacy of PEIs in enhancing nasal absorption of LMWH was studied by administering LMWH formulated with PEI into the nose of anesthetized rats and monitoring drug absorption by measuring plasma anti-factor Xa activity. The metabolic stability of LMWH was evaluated by incubating the drug in rat nasal mucosal homogenates. FUR spectra of the LMWH-PEI formulation showed a shift in peak position compared to LMWH or PEI alone. Decreases in conductivity, zeta potential and the amount of free LMWH in the PEI-LMWH formulation, as revealed by azure A assay, suggest that PEIs possibly neutralize the negative surface charge of LMWH. The efficacy of PEI in enhancing the bioavailability of nasally administered LMWH can be ranked as PEI-1000 kDa >= PEI-750 kDa > PEI-25 kDa. When PEI-1000 kDa was used at a concentration of 0.25%, there was a 4-fold increase in both the absolute and relative bioavailabilities of LMWH compared to the control formulation. Overall, these results indicate that polyethylenimines can be used as potential carriers for nasally administered LMWHs. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 損傷ヌクレオチドによる遺伝情報不安定性誘発とその制御 酸化ヌクレオチド誘発変異とヌクレオチド除去修復酵素UvrABCとの関連

  堀 美香, 石黒 智恵子, 中川 紀子, 倉光 成紀, 山本 和生, 葛西 宏, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之

  日本放射線影響学会大会講演要旨集 (一社)日本放射線影響学会 49回 75 - 75 1347-8680 2006/09
• Impact of convective flow on the cellular uptake and transfection activity of lipoplex and adenovirus

  Takahiro Fujiwara, Hidetaka Akita, Katsuko Furukawa, Takashi Ushida, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 29 (7) 1511 - 1515 0918-6158 2006/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  An in vitro cell culture model that mimics in vivo extracellular environment would be useful in developing in vivo gene delivery system. In the present study, a parallel flow model was applied to investigate the impact of convective flow on cellular uptake and transfection activity in endothelial cells. LipofectAMINE PLUS and adenovirus were used as model vectors, which bind cells via electrostatic- and ligand-receptor interactions, respectively. Whereas a convective flow increased the total amount of vector passing through the flow chamber by 3 orders of magnitude, uptake was increased by less than 10-fold, suggesting that the flow severely inhibited cellular uptake by reducing the retention time in the chamber and/or by diminishing the affinity between the cell and vector. Moreover, the uptake of both vectors was increased in a shear stress-dependent manner to a comparable extent, suggesting that the effect of flow on the cellular uptake was not significant. In contrast, transfection efficiency (TE), expressed as the transfection activity normalized by the cellular uptake of vectors was dramatically stimulated by shear stress, only when LipofectAMINE PLUS was used. Since the activities of the CMV promoter were unaffected by a shear stress, it is possible that altered intracellular trafficking may responsible for the improvement in lipoplex-mediated TE, presumably related to the cellular uptake pathway.
• Involvement of Y-family DNA polymerases in mutagenesis caused by oxidized nucleotides in Escherichia coli

  M Yamada, T Nunoshiba, M Shimizu, P Gruz, H Kamiya, H Harashima, T Nohmi

  JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY 188 (13) 4992 - 4995 0021-9193 2006/07 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV incorporated 2-hydroxy-dATP opposite template guanine or thymine and 8-hydroxy-dGTP exclusively opposite adenine in vitro. Mutator phenotypes in sod/fur strains were substantially diminished by deletion of dinB and/or umuDC. DNA polymerases IV and V may be involved in mutagenesis caused by incorporation of the oxidized deoxynucleoside triphosphates.
• Cellular uptake and subsequent intracellular trafficking of R8-liposomes introduced at low temperature.

  Akitada Iwasa, Hidetaka Akita, Ikramy Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Biochimica et biophysica acta 1758 (6) 713 - 20 0006-3002 2006/06 

  Intracellular trafficking is a determining factor in the transgene expression efficiency of gene vectors. In the present study, the mechanism of the cellular uptake of octaarginine (R8)-modified liposomes, when introduced at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C, was investigated in living cells. Compared with 37 degrees C, the uptake of R8-liposomes was only slightly reduced at 4 degrees C. Dual imaging of liposomes and plasma membranes revealed that R8-liposomes were internalized by vesicular transport, and partially escaped to the cytosol at the perinuclear region at 37 degrees C. When introduced at 4 degrees C, intracellular liposomes were observed within a specific region close to the plasma membrane, and internalization of the plasma membrane was completely inhibited. Therefore, at 4 degrees C, R8-liposomes appear to enter cells via unique pathway, which is separate and distinct from energy-dependent vesicular transport. The subsequent nuclear delivery of encapsulated pDNA, when introduced at 4 degrees C, was less prominent compared with those introduced at 37 degrees C. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that a vesicular transport-independent pathway is responsible for the cellular uptake of liposomes. In addition, the uptake route is closely related to the subsequent nuclear delivery process; the operation of an endogenous vesicular sorting system is advantageous for the nuclear delivery of pDNA.
• Erratum: Size and topology of exogenous DNA as determinant factors of transgene transcription in mammalian cells (Gene Therapy (2002) vol. 9 (1500-1507) 10.1038/sj.gt.3301831)

  H. Kamiya, J. Yamazaki, H. Harashima

  Gene Therapy 13 932  0969-7128 2006/06/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Silencing of exogenous DNA in cultured cells

  Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 29 (6) 1294 - 1296 0918-6158 2006/06 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of exogenous DNA is highly important for the therapeutic effects of the administrated DNA. Naked luciferase-plasmid DNA was transfected into cultured cells including HeLa by electroporation, and the amounts of intranuclear plasmid DNA and luciferase were quantitated at various time points. Decrease in expression efficiency from one copy of the exogenous DNA over time occurred as the case of mouse liver, and its degrees varied between cell lines. These results suggest that exogenous DNA is 'silenced' in the cultured cells as well as in mouse hepatocytes.
• Cellular uptake and subsequent intracellular trafficking of R8-liposomes introduced at low temperature

  Akitada Iwasa, Hidetaka Akita, Ikramy Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 1758 (6) 713 - 720 0005-2736 2006/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Intracellular trafficking is a determining factor in the transgene expression efficiency of gene vectors. In the present study, the mechanism of the cellular uptake of octaarginine (R8)-modified liposomes, when introduced at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C, was investigated in living cells. Compared with 37 degrees C, the uptake of R8-liposomes was only slightly reduced at 4 degrees C. Dual imaging of liposomes and plasma membranes revealed that R8-liposomes were internalized by vesicular transport, and partially escaped to the cytosol at the perinuclear region at 37 degrees C. When introduced at 4 degrees C, intracellular liposomes were observed within a specific region close to the plasma membrane, and internalization of the plasma membrane was completely inhibited. Therefore, at 4 degrees C, R8-liposomes appear to enter cells via unique pathway, which is separate and distinct from energy-dependent vesicular transport. The subsequent nuclear delivery of encapsulated pDNA, when introduced at 4 degrees C, was less prominent compared with those introduced at 37 degrees C. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that a vesicular transport-independent pathway is responsible for the cellular uptake of liposomes. In addition, the uptake route is closely related to the subsequent nuclear delivery process; the operation of an endogenous vesicular sorting system is advantageous for the nuclear delivery of pDNA. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.
• Significant Silencing Effect of a Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano Device Encapsulating Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide and Double-Stranded siRNA

  Kentaro Kogure, Yoshio Nakamura, Ikramy A. Khalil, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 13 S202 - S203 1525-0016 2006/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Cellular Uptake and Subsequent Intracellular of R8-Liposomes Introduced at Low Temperature

  Akitada Iwasa, Hidetaka Akita, Ikramy Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 13 S129 - S129 1525-0016 2006/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Interaction of hemoglobin vesicles, a cellular-type artificial oxygen carrier, with human plasma: Effects on coagulation, kallikrein-kinin, and complement systems

  Hideki Abe, Mitsuhiro Fujihara, Hiroshi Azuma, Hisami Ikeda, Kenji Ikebuchi, Shinji Takeoka, Eishun Tsuchida, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes, and Biotechnology 34 (1) 1 - 10 1073-1199 2006/04/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Hemoglobin vesicles (HbVs), cellular-type artificial oxygen carriers containing human hemoglobin, were assessed for their biocompatibility by mixing with human plasma in vitro. Among three kinds of HbVs (PEG-DPEA-HbV, PEG-DPPG-HbV and DPPG-HbV), PEG-DPEA-HbV did not affect the extrinsic or intrinsic coagulation activities of the plasma, while PEG-DPPG-HbV and DPPG-HbV tended to shorten the intrinsic coagulation time. The kallikrein-kinin cascade of the plasma was slightly activated by PEG-DPPG-HbV and DPPG-HbV, but not by PEG-DPEA-HbV. The complement consumption of the plasma was observed by incubation with DPPG-HbV, but not with PEG-DPEA-HbV or PEG-DPPG-HbV. These results indicate that PEG-DPEA-HbV has a higher biocompatibility with human plasma. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
• Quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking and nuclear transcription between adenoviral and lipoplex systems

  S Hama, H Akita, R Ito, H Mizuguchi, T Hayakawa, H Harashima

  MOLECULAR THERAPY 13 (4) 786 - 794 1525-0016 2006/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To develop nonviral gene vectors that are sufficient for clinical application, it is necessary to understand why and to what extent nonviral vectors are inferior to viral vectors, which in general show a more efficient transfection activity. This study describes a systematic and quantitative comparison of the cellular uptake and subsequent intracellular distribution (e.g., endosome/lysosome, cytosol, and nucleus) of exogenous DNA transfected by viral and nonviral vectors in living cells, using a combination of TaqMan PCR and a recently developed confocal image-assisted three-dimensionally integrated quantification method. As a model, adenovirus (Ad) and Lipofectamine Plus (LFN) were used for comparison since they are highly potent and widely used viral and nonviral vectors, respectively. The findings indicate that the efficiency of cellular uptake for LFN is significantly higher than that for Ad. Once taken up by a cell, Ad exhibited comparable endosomal escape and slightly higher nuclear transfer efficiency compared with LFN. In contrast, LFN requires 3 orders of magnitude more intranuclear gene copies to exhibit a transgene expression comparable to that of the Ad, suggesting that the difference in transfection efficiency principally arises from differences in nuclear transcription efficiency and not from a difference in intracellular trafficking between Ad and LFN.
• Uptake pathways and subsequent intracellular trafficking in nonviral gene delivery

  IA Khalil, K Kogure, H Akita, H Harashima

  PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEWS 58 (1) 32 - 45 0031-6997 2006/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The successful delivery of therapeutic genes to the designated target cells and their availability at the intracellular site of action are crucial requirements for successful gene therapy. Nonviral gene delivery is currently a subject of increasing attention because of its relative safety and simplicity of use; however, its use is still far from being ideal because of its comparatively low efficiency. Most of the currently available nonviral gene vectors rely on two main components, cationic lipids and cationic polymers, and a variety of functional devices can be added to further optimize the systems. The design of these functional devices depends mainly on our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the cellular uptake and intracellular disposition of the therapeutic genes as well as their carriers. Macromolecules are internalized into cells by a variety of mechanisms, and their intracellular fate is usually linked to the entry mechanism. Therefore, the successful design of a nonviral gene delivery system requires a deep understanding of gene/carrier interactions as well as the mechanisms involved in the interaction of the systems with the target cells. In this article, we review the different uptake pathways that are involved in nonviral gene delivery from a gene delivery point of view. In addition, available knowledge concerning cellular entry and the intracellular trafficking of cationic lipid-DNA complexes ( lipoplexes) and cationic polymer-DNA complexes ( polyplexes) is summarized.
• Biocleavable polyrotaxane - Plasmid DNA polyplex for enhanced gene delivery

  T Ooya, HS Choi, A Yamashita, N Yui, Y Sugaya, A Kano, A Maruyama, H Akita, R Ito, K Kogure, H Harashima

  JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 128 (12) 3852 - 3853 0002-7863 2006/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• High density of octaarginine stimulates macropinocytosis leading to efficient intracellular trafficking for gene expression

  I.A. Khalil, K. Kogure, S. Futaki, H. Harashima

  Journal of Biological Chemistry 281 (6) 3544 - 3551 2006/02/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• [Envelope-type nano device for gene delivery].

  Kogure K, Akita H, Harashima H

  Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine 64 (2) 258 - 262 0047-1852 2006/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We introduced a new concept "Programmed Packaging" for the rational development of non viral gene delivery system. There are many non-viral gene delivery system, however, their utility is limited in the in vitro experiments. The major reason is considered that it is difficult to package many functional devices into a nanoparticle. The new concept which we introduce here is named as Programmed Packaging, which is composed of the strategy to targeting, molecular design of functional devices to overcome barriers, and assembly technique to package them into a nanoparticle. In this article, we explain this concept and provide newly developed gene delivery systems based on this concept.
• Intranuclear disposition of exogenous DNA in vivo: Silencing, methylation and fragmentation

  H Ochiai, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  FEBS LETTERS 580 (3) 918 - 922 1873-3468 2006/02 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of exogenous DNA is highly important for the therapeutic effects of the administrated DNA. Naked luciferase-plasmid DNA was delivered into mouse liver by a hydrodynamics-based injection, and the amounts of intranuclear plasmid DNA, luciferase, and its mRNA were quantitated at various time points. Methylation of the promoter of the luciferase gene was also analyzed. Expression efficiency from one copy of the exogenous DNA dramatically decreased over time, and the DNA was methylated and degraded into fragments. Unexpectedly, methylation of the intact plasmid DNA was low and did not increase over time. Rather, the fragmented DNA was methylated more frequently than the intact plasmid. These results suggest that the CpG methylation and the degradation of exogenous DNA, and its 'silencing', occurred in parallel in the nucleus. (c) 2006 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Sugar-displaying quantum dots for cellular stress sensing

  Kenichi Niikura, Takashi Nishio, Yasutaka Matsuo, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kuniharu Ijiro

  Polymer Preprints, Japan 55 (2) 5451 - 5452 2006 

  O-glycosylation is one of the most important processes for post-translation modification. However, the function of glycosylations are not fully understood. In order to detect their dynamics in the cytoplasm and nucleus, we synthesized sugar-displaying semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots) as a tool for observation of their behavior in cells with a confocal microscope. GlcNAc-displaying nanoparticles showed a strong affinity with Hela cells in the presence of ATP.
• Synthesis of sugar-displaying quantum dots and their intracellular dynamics

  Takashi Nishio, Kenichi Niikura, Yasutaka Matsuo, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kuniharu Ijiro

  Polymer Preprints, Japan 55 (1) 2145  2006 

  O-glycosylation is one of the most important processes for post-translation modification. However, the function of glycosylations are not fully understood. Especially, the function of O-GlcNAc glycosylation is still unclear despite of its commonness in the cytoplasm and nucleus. In order to detect their dynamics in the cytoplasm and nucleus, we synthesized O-glycan displaying semiconductor nanoparticles, which are called quantum dots or qdots and observed their behavior in cells with a confocal microscope. The sugar-displaying semiconductor nanoparticles have long fluorescent lifetime,allowing the long-time observation.
• Effects of supramolecular structure of cationic-polyrotaxanes on pDNA compaction

  Yamashita A, Ooya T, Kanda D, Choi H.S, Yui N, Maruyama A, Akita H, Kogure K, Harashima H

  Polymer Preprints, Japan 55 (1) 2006 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking between artificial and viral vector: Mechanism underlying the difference in dominant rate-limiting process

  Hidetaka Akita, Susumu Hama, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Progress on Post-Genome Technologies 521 - 525 2006 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  For developing of non-viral gene vectors sufficient for clinical application, it is necessary to understand why and to what extent non-viral vectors are inferior to the viral vectors, which in general exhibit more efficient transfection activity. This study describes a systematic and quantitative comparison of the cellular uptake and subsequent intracellular distribution (e. g. endosome/lysosome, cytosol and nucleus) of exogenous DNA transfected by viral and non-viral vectors in living cells, using a combination of TaqMan PCR and a recently developed confocal image-assisted 3-dimensionally integrated quantification (CIDIQ) method. As a model, adenovirus and LipofectAMINE PLUS (LFN) was used for comparison since they are highly potent and widely used viral and non-viral vectors, respectively. The findings indicate that the efficiency of cellular uptake for LFN is significantly higher than that for adenovirus. Once taken up by a cell, adenovirus exhibited comparable endosomal escape and slightly more higher nuclear transfer efficiency compared with LFN. In contrast, LFN requires three orders of magnitude more intra-nuclear gene copies to exhibit a trans-gene expression comparable to the adenovirus, suggesting that difference of transfection efficiency principally arises from differences in nuclear transcription efficiency, and not from a difference in intracellular trafficking between adenovirus and LFN.
• Transient expression of Drosophila melanogaster deoxynucleoside kinase gene enhances cytotoxicity of nucleoside analogs

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Mana Ito, Akira Matsuda

  NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 25 (4-6) 553 - 560 1525-7770 2006 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Drosophila melanogaster deoxynucleoside kinase gene was introduced into HeLa cells with cationic lipids to allow its transient expression, and cytotoxic effects of several nucleoside analogs in the transfected cells were examined. Of the analogs tested, cytotoxicities of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR), and 1-(2-deoxy-2-methylene-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (DMDC) were increased by the deoxynucleoside kinase gene. These results suggest that the combination of the transient expression of the Drosophila deoxynucleoside kinase gene and these nucleoside analogs is a candidate for the suicide gene therapy.
• Evaluation of the nuclear delivery and intra-nuclear transcription of plasmid DNA condensed with μ (mu) and NLS-μ by cytoplasmic and nuclear microinjection: A comparative study with poly-L-lysine

  H. Akita, M. Tanimoto, T. Masuda, K. Kogure, S. Hama, K. Ninomiya, S. Futaki, H. Harashima

  Journal of Gene Medicine 8 (2) 198 - 206 1099-498X 2006 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  BACKGROUND: The efficient nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) is essential for the development of a promising non-viral gene vector. In an attempt to achieve nuclear delivery, NLS-mu, a novel pDNA condenser, was prepared. This consists of mu, a highly potent polypeptide for condensing the pDNA, and a SV40 T antigen-derived nuclear localization signal (NLS(SV40)). METHODS: The utility of NLS-mu was assessed in terms of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression after cytoplasmic and nuclear microinjection of GFP-encoding pDNA along with the transfection, and compared with mu and poly-L-lysine (PLL). Trans-gene expression after cytoplasmic microinjection was affected by the efficiencies of nuclear transfer and following intra-nuclear transcription. To evaluate the nuclear transfer process separately, we introduced a parameter, a nuclear transfer score (NT score), which was calculated as the trans-gene expression after cytoplasmic microinjection divided by that after nuclear microinjection. RESULTS: As expected, the rank order of trans-gene expression after the transfection and cytoplasmic microinjection was NLS-mu > mu > PLL. However, the calculated NT scores were unexpectedly ranked as mu = NLS-mu > PLL, suggesting that mu, and not NLS(SV40), is responsible for the nuclear delivery of pDNA. In addition, confocal images of rhodamine-labeled pDNA indicated that pDNA condensed with mu and NLS-mu was delivered as a condensed form. In comparing the nuclear transcription, the rank order of trans-gene expression after nuclear microinjection was PLL = NLS-mu > mu, suggesting that intra-nuclear transcription is inhibited by efficient condensation by mu, and is avoided by the attachment of NLS(SV40). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, NLS-mu, which consists of chimeric functions, is an excellent DNA condenser, and the process is based on mu-derived nuclear transfer and NLS(SV40)-derived efficient intra-nuclear transcription.
• Pharmacokinetics and brain uptake of lactoferrin in rats

  B Ji, A Maeda, M Higuchi, K Inoue, H Akita, H Harashima, T Suhara

  LIFE SCIENCES 78 (8) 851 - 855 0024-3205 2006/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein belonging to the transferrin (Tf) family. Lf was reported to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) via receptor-mediated transcytosis in an in vitro model of the BBB. In the present study, we compared the in vivo brain uptake of Lf with that of OX26, an anti-Tf receptor antibody, and Tf. These three proteins were radiolabeled with 125 1 and administered to rats by i.v. injection. We found that Lf was more rapidly eliminated from the blood compared with OX26 and Tf (The half-life of Lf was approximately 8 and 6 times shorter than that of OX26 and Tf, respectively; the area under the blood concentration- time curve of Lf was approximately 15 and 17 times smaller than that of OX26 and Tf, respectively), and mainly accumulated in the liver, spleen, and kidney. Markedly high brain uptake was observed for Lf relative to Tf and OX26. Lf might be useful as a ligand for facilitating drug delivery into the brain. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• In vitro evaluation of cationic polyrotaxanes as gene carrier

  Kanda D, Yamashita A, Katoono R, Ooya T, Yui N, Maruyama A, Akita H, Kogure K, Harashima H

  Polymer Preprints, Japan 55 (2) 5367 - 5368 2006 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Synthesis of a biocleavable polyrotaxane-plasmid DNA (pDNA) polyplex and its use for the rapid nonviral delivery of pDNA to cell nuclei

  Atsushi Yamashita, Nobuhiko Yui, Tooru Ooya, Arihiro Kano, Atsushi Maruyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  NATURE PROTOCOLS 1 (6) 2861 - 2869 1754-2189 2006 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This protocol provides a method for synthesizing a biocleavable polyrotaxane/plasmid DNA (pDNA) polyplex and for using it to deliver pDNA into cell nuclei. The biocleavable polyrotaxane is synthesized in four steps: (i) introduction of disulfide linkages at both terminals of PEG, (ii) preparation of an inclusion complex between disulfide-containing PEG and alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs), (iii) synthesis of polyrotaxane and (iv) modification of alpha-CDs in the polyrotaxane with dimethylethylenediamine. A polyplex of pDNA with the polyrotaxane is formed when the two compounds are dissolved together in a phosphate buffer. Subcellular localization of rhodamine-labeled pDNA in fluorescently labeled organelles is quantified by Z-series of confocal images captured by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Significant amounts of pDNA delivered to the nucleus can be expected as well as high transfection activity of the polyplex. This protocol can be completed in 23-32 d.
• Conversion of nucleotide sequence with single-stranded DNA fragment prepared from phagemid DNA.

  Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Tomoko Sawamura, Masayuki Uchiyama, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  Nucleic acids symposium series (2004) 93 - 94 2005/12/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The correction of a mutated gene is a highly attractive approach for gene therapy. This in vivo mutagenesis method will also be an effective tool in biotechnology. However, the current small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR) method with a heat-denatured double-stranded PCR fragment yielded the low correction efficiency. Single-stranded DNA fragments were prepared from single-stranded phagemid DNAs and tested in a gene correction assay with a Hyg-EGFP fusion gene inactivated by a substitution mutation, as a model target. A 606-nt sense, single-stranded DNA fragment dramatically (12-fold) improved the gene correction efficiency, although the antisense strand showed only minimal correction efficiency. On the other hand, correction of frameshift mutations with the sense single-stranded DNA fragment were 2-3-fold as efficient as that with the PCR fragment. These results suggest that the use of a sense, single-stranded DNA fragment is useful in the SFHR method for the correction of mutated genes.
• Factors affecting SFHR gene correction efficiency with single-stranded DNA fragment

  H Tsuchiya, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 336 (4) 1194 - 1200 0006-291X 2005/11 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  A 606-nt single-stranded (ss) DNA fragment, prepared by restriction enzyme digestion of ss phagemid DNA, improves the gene correction efficiency by 12-fold as compared with a PCR fragment, which is the conventional type of fragment used in the small fragment homologous replacement method [H. Tsuchiya, H. Harashima, H. Kamiya, Increased SFHR gene correction efficiency with sense single-stranded DNA, J. Gene Med. 7 (2005) 486-493]. To reveal the characteristic features of this gene correction with the ss DNA fragment, the effects on the gene correction in CHO-K1 cells of the chain length, 5'-phosphate, adenine methylation, and transcription were studied. Moreover, the possibility that the ss DNA fragment is integrated into the target DNA was examined with a radioactively labeled ss DNA fragment. The presence of methylated adenine, but not the 5'-phosphate, enhanced the gene correction efficiency, and the optimal length of the ss DNA fragment (similar to 600 nt) was determined. Transcription of the target gene did not affect the gene correction efficiency. In addition, the target DNA recovered from the transfected CHO-K1 cells was radioactive. The results obtained in this study indicate that length and adenine methylation were important factors affecting the gene correction efficiency, and that the ss DNA fragment was integrated into the double-stranded target DNA. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Sunflower-shaped cyclodextrin-conjugated poly(-lysine) polyplex as a controlled intracellular trafficking device

  H. S. Choi, A. Yamashita, OOYA Tooru, N. Yui, H. Akita, K. Kogure, R. Ito, H. Harashima

  ChemPhysChem Vol. 6, pp. 1986-1990 (11) 1986 - 90 1439-4227 2005/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Unique features of a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide that improves the transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes

  S Futaki, Y Masui, Nakase, I, Y Sugiura, T Nakamura, K Kogure, H Harashima

  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE 7 (11) 1450 - 1458 1099-498X 2005/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background One of the critical steps in intracellular gene delivery using cationic liposomes is the endosomal escape of the plasmid/liposome complexes to the cytosol. The addition of GALA, a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide, is a promising method to accelerate this step in order to enhance the expression of the desired proteins. Detailed studies on the methods of enhancement would broaden the horizon of its application. Methods Using representative commercially available cationic liposomes (Lipofectin, Lipofectamine, and Lipofectamine 2000), the effects of GALA on transfection. efficiency were studied by luciferase assay and confocal microscopic observations. Results A concentration-dependent increase in the transfection efficiency was observed for GALA. Addition of 0.1 mu M GALA to the plasmid/liposome complex significantly increased the transfection efficiency, especially in the case of Lipofectin, but higher concentration of GALA decreased transfection efficiency. Successful reduction in the liposomal dosage was attained by employing GALA while maintaining a high transfection efficiency. Interestingly, although the transfection efficiency was higher in the presence of GALA, a lower amount of the plasmid DNA was taken up by the cells. Confocal microscopic observations of the rhodamine-labeled plasmid did not show a significant difference in the cellular localization among cells incubated in the presence or absence of GALA, suggesting that a slight increase in GALA-induced release of the plasmid to the cytosol may cause a significant change in the transfection efficiency. Conclusion The unique features of GALA to mediate improved transfection efficiencies were identified. Copyright (C) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Effect of methylated adenine in plasmid DNA on transgene expression in mice

  H Ochiai, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 28 (10) 2019 - 2022 0918-6158 2005/10 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Cationic lipid-mediated transfer of DNA is promising in gene therapy. However, one disadvantage with this approach is the induction of an inflammatory response, which may decrease transgene expression. Recently, we found that plasmid DNA containing N-6-methyladenine (N-6-MeA), a bacterium-specific modified base, induced cytokine twice as efficiently as plasmid DNA without N6-MeA, when complexed with cationic lipids. Thus, plasmid DNA without N-6-MeA might express a transgene more efficiently than that containing N-6-MeA in vivo. To evaluate the effects of adenine methylation on transgene expression in vivo, we injected luciferase-encoding plasmid DNA, complexed with cationic lipids or a cationic polymer, intravenously into mice. When the plasmid DNA-cationic lipid complexes were injected, the luciferase expression from the methylated and unmethylated plasmids was similar, although cytokine was more efficiently elicited by the methylated DNA than the unmethylated DNA. Hydrodynamics-based injections of plasmid DNA-cationic polymer complexes did not induce cytokine, and the luciferase expression from the unmethylated plasmid was slightly lower than that from the methylated plasmid DNA. These results suggest that the presence of N-6-MeA did not reduce transgene expression in vivo.
• A multifunctional envelope-type nano device for novel gene delivery of siRNA plasmids

  R. Moriguchi, K. Kogure, H. Akita, S. Futaki, M. Miyagishi, K. Taira, H. Harashima

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics 301 (1-2) 277 - 285 0378-5173 2005/09/14 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for use in the delivery of siRNA expression plasmids is described. The plasmid DNA encoding anti-luciferase short interfering RNA (siRNA) was condensed by poly-L-lysine (PLL) and packaged into the MEND. The silencing effect of the MEND(PLL) showed a 96% inhibition of luciferase activities in a co-transfection study. The silencing effect was maintained at more than 60%, even under the 100-fold diluted conditions. In the luciferase transformed cells, however, the MEND(PLL) showed no significant silencing effect (10%), indicating heterogeneity in transfection by the MEND(PLL). To solve this problem, the DNA condensing agents were optimized by comparing PLL, stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8) and protamine (Prot). No difference in silencing effect (95-97%) was found among these MENDs in a co-transfection study. However, the MEND(Prot) showed a 70% silencing effect in the transformed cells. These results suggest that the MEND(Prot) has less heterogeneity in transfection, while the MEND(PLL) and the MEND(STR-R8) have large heterogeneities. These results demonstrate that MEND(Prot) is a promising gene delivery system for siRNA expression plasmids with less heterogeneity associated with the transfection.
• Mutagenesis induced by oxidized DNA precursors: Roles of Y family DNA polymerases in Escherichia coli

  K Satou, M Yamada, T Nohmi, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY 18 (8) 1271 - 1278 0893-228X 2005/08 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To reveal the roles of Y family DNA polymerases in the mutagenesis induced by oxidatively damaged DNA precursors, 2-hydroxy-dATP (2-OH-dATP) and 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP) were introduced into Escherichia coli strains deficient in the Y family polymerases, DNA polymerase IV (pol IV, encoded by the dinB gene) and DNA polymerase V (pol V, encoded by the umuDC locus). The mutation induced by 2-OH-dATP, but not that induced by 8-OH-dGTP, occurred less frequently in the dinB(-) strain than in the wild-type (wt) strain, suggesting the involvement of pol IV in the mutagenesis by 2-OH-dATP. Expression of pol IV from plasmid enhanced the mutagenesis by 2-OH-dATP in the dinB- strain. This enhancement depends on the polymerase activity since the expression of a mutant pol IV lacking the polymerase activity did not increase the mutations induced by 2-OH-dATP. In contrast, both 2-OH-dATP and 8-OH-dGTP caused mutations more efficiently in the umuDC(-) strain than in the wt strain, suggesting that the umuDC gene products suppressed the mutagenesis by these oxidized DNA precursors. The DNA polymerase activity was not required for the suppressive effects because expression of the umuDC gene products lacking the polymerase activity also suppressed the mutagenesis. These results suggest that the E. coli pol IV was involved in mutagenesis by 2-OH-dATP and that the umuDC gene products play suppressive role(s) in the mutagenesis by damaged nucleotides.
• Kinetic analysis of protein production after DNA transfection

  Y Yumada, H Kamiya, H Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 299 (1-2) 34 - 40 0378-5173 2005/08 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The production of an exogenous protein by the transfection of a plasmid DNA encoding the protein was kinetically analyzed, to determine the efficiency of the transfection. Cultured NIH3T3 or HeLa cells, and the luciferase protein were used as a model system in this experiment. The findings indicate that at least a 8 x 10(4)- and 4 x 10(3)-fold molar amounts of luciferase protein was produced from one copy of the plasmid DNA molecule in NIH3T3 and HeLa cells, respectively. The rate of elimination of luciferase activity upon DNA transfection was smaller than that for the luciferase protein itself (k(el) for DNA transfection < k(cl) for the luciferase protein), suggesting that a decrease in intranuclear active DNA was the main determinant of the elimination rate in this case. A preliminary pharmacokinetic model is proposed, based on the results obtained. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Construction of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device by a SUV*-fusion method

  K Sasaki, K Kogure, S Chaki, Y Kihira, M Ueno, H Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 296 (1-2) 142 - 150 0378-5173 2005/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A novel assembly method "SUV*-fusion method" was developed for the construction of a small and homogenous multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) by utilizing a detergent-rich small unilamellar vesicle (SUV*). The method consists of three steps: (1) DNA condensation with a polycation, (2) electrostatic interaction of the SUV* with the DNA/polycation complex (DPC) and (3) lipid coating of DPC by SUV* fusion via removal of the detergent. We confirmed the construction of the MEND by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and isolated the MEND only from the boundary between 25% and 40% sucrose. The isolated MEND had a small diameter (155 nm), was negatively charged (-24 mV), and encapsulated 30% of the total DNA. The MEND was formed by only SUV*, not by a lipid/detergent micelle. This confirms that a small and homogenous MEND can be constructed by the SUV*-fusion method. Furthermore, we confirmed that a transferrin-modified MEND could deliver a gene into a cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Consequently, we report on the successful construction of a small and homogenous MEND by a novel SUV*-fusion method. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Increased SFHR gene correction efficiency with sense single-stranded DNA

  H Tsuchiya, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE 7 (4) 486 - 493 1099-498X 2005/04 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background The correction of a mutated gene by the small fragment homologous replacement (SFHR) method is a highly attractive approach for gene therapy. However, the current SFHR method with a heat-denatured double-stranded PCR fragment yielded a low correction efficiency. Methods Single-stranded (ss) DNA fragments were prepared from ss phagemid DNA and tested in a gene correction assay with an inactivated Hyg-EGFP fusion gene, as a model target. Results A 606-nt sense, ss DNA fragment dramatically (12-fold) improved the gene correction efficiency, although the antisense strand showed only minimal correction efficiency. Conclusions These results suggest that the use of a sense, single-stranded DNA fragment is useful in the SFHR method for the correction of mutated genes. Copyright (c) 2004 John Wiley C Sons, Ltd.
• Amino acid residues involved in substrate recognition of the Escherichia coli Orf 135 protein

  E Iida, K Satou, M Mishima, C Kojima, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  BIOCHEMISTRY 44 (15) 5683 - 5689 0006-2960 2005/04 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Escherichia coli Orf135 protein, a MutT-type enzyme, hydrolyzes mutagenic 2-hydroxy-dATP (2-OH-dATP) and 8-hydroxy-dGTP, in addition to dCTP and 5-methyl-dCTP, and its deficiency causes increases in both the spontaneous and H2O2-induced mutation frequencies. To identify the amino acid residues that interact with these nucleotides, the Glu-33, Arg-72, Arg-77, and Asp-118 residues of Orf135, which are candidates for residues interacting with the base, were substituted, and the enzymatic activities of these mutant proteins were examined. The mutant proteins with a substitution at the 33rd, 72nd, and 118th amino acid residues displayed activities affected to various degrees for each substrate, suggesting the involvement of these residues in substrate binding. On the other hand, the mutant protein with a substitution at the 77th Arg residue had activitiy similar to that of the wild-type protein, excluding the possibility that this Arg side chain is involved in base recognition. In addition, the expression of some Orf135 mutants in orf135(-) E. coli reduced the level of formation of rpoB mutants elicited by H2O2. These results reveal the residues involved in the substrate binding of the E. coli Orf135 protein.
• Improved cell viability of linear polyethyleneimine through -cyclodextrin inclusion for effective gene delivery

  A. Yamashita, H. S. Choi, OOYA Tooru, N. Yui, H. Akita, K. Kogure, R. Ito, H. Harashima

  ChemPhysChem Vol. 7, pp. 297-302 297 - 302 2005/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Pharmacokinetics of gene delivery in cells

  Hidetaka Akita, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Non-viral Gene Therapy: Gene Design and Delivery 135 - 154 2005 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Since the first report, in the 1980s, of gene delivery with a cationic liposome, numerous attempts have been made to improve non-viral gene vectors. It has gradually become clear that transgene expression can be interrupted by several intracellular barriers (Fig. 1). The cellular association of naked DNA molecules is very poor, since negative charges on both the cell surface and the DNA molecules interrupt contact with each other via electrostatic interactions. Thus, in order to enhance cellular association, DNA was condensed with cationic polymers (Oupicky et al. 2000 Brown et al. 2001) and cationic liposomes (Li et al. 1999 Tranchant et al. 2004) that neutralize the effect of the negative charge. A cationic vector enhances cell-surface binding through interactions with the negative constituents of the cell surface (e.g. heparan sulfate proteoglycans) or through selective binding to specific receptors, resulting in a strong transgene expression. This method of condensation also enables targeting of the cells by modulating different ligands to the surfaces of the gene vectors (Table 1).
• Octaarginine-mediated stimulation of clathrin-independent endocytic uptake leading to enhanced gene expression through avoiding lysosomal degradation

  IA Khalil, K Kogure, S Futaki, H Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 125 94 - 95 0031-6903 2005 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Newly designed DNA fragments for gene correction

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Non-viral Gene Therapy: Gene Design and Delivery 315 - 322 2005 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Gene correction therapy entails the conversion of a mutated gene to one with the normal (or desired) sequence (Richardson et al. 2002). The corrected genes should be properly expressed under the control of the original promoter, and respond appropriately to the intracellular and extracellular environments.When corrected, the "therapeutic effects" are expected to be life-long. Gain-of-function or predominant mutations, such as activated oncogenes, could be suitable subjects for gene correction, making it a highly attractive therapeutic strategy.
• Dual hydrolysis of diphosphate and triphosphate derivatives of oxidized deoxyadenosine by Orf17 (NtpA), a MutT-type enzyme

  M Hori, K Fujikawa, H Kasai, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  DNA REPAIR 4 (1) 33 - 39 1568-7864 2005/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To determine whether the Orf17 (NtpA) protein of Escherichia coli, a MutT-type enzyme, functions as a hydrolyzing enzyme for a damaged deoxyribonucleotide, we purified the recombinant Orf17 protein and incubated it with oxidized deoxyribonucleotides. Of the deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates tested, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate was hydrolyzed by this protein. Unexpectedly, the Orf17 protein degraded 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5-diphosphate 2.3-fold more efficiently than the corresponding triphosphate. Thus, this protein is the first MutT-type enzyme that hydrolyzes both the triphosphate and diphosphate derivatives of a deoxyribonucleoside, with similar efficiencies. These results suggest that the Orf17 protein may be involved in the hydrolysis of oxidized dATP and dADP. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Cytokine induction by a bacterial DNA-specific modified base

  H Tsuchiya, T Matsuda, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 326 (4) 777 - 781 0006-291X 2005/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in DNA contribute to a rapid inflammatory response in mammals. Here we show that N-6-methyladenine (N-6-MeA), a bacterium-specific modified base, also causes cytokine production. An oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) containing N-6-MeA induced cytokines when injected into mice. Co-injection of N-6-MeA and CpG ODNs enhanced cytokines 2- to 3-fold, as compared with the injection of a CpG ODN alone. Plasmid DNA containing N-6-MeA, complexed with cationic lipids, induced IL-12. These results indicate that the bacterium-specific base, in addition to the unmethylated CpG motif, triggers the mammalian immune response, and suggest that N-6-MeA-containing DNA could be useful for cellular immunotherapy and DNA vaccine. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Pharmacokinetic analysis of the tissue distribution of octaarginine modified liposomes in mice.

  D. Mudhakir, H. Akita, I.A. Khalil, S. Futaki, H. Harashima

  Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. 20 (4) 275 - 281 1347-4367 2005 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We recently found that octaarginine modified liposomes (R8-Lip) can be efficiently internalized by cultured cells. The purpose of the present study was to quantitatively determine the effect of R8-density on the tissue distribution of R8-Lip in mice, using their clearance as an index. R8 was introduced in the form of stearylated R8 (STR-R8). The liposomes were composed of cholesterol and egg phosphatidylcholine and were labeled with [(3)H]cholesteryl hexadecyl ether. Various densities of R8 (3%, 10% and 30%) containing liposomes were prepared with a diameter of approximately 70-80 nm. The tissue distribution of R8-Lip was determined after their i.v. administration into mice and the effect of R8-density on tissue distribution was compared with uptake clearance, the calculated tissue distribution divided by the area under the blood concentration-time course. As results, R8-Lip were more rapidly eliminated from circulating blood and distributed to many tissues, especially liver depending on the R8-density. However, the tissue uptake clearance represented similar value to that of positively charge liposomes. Based on these results, we conclude that the R8-dependent increase in R8-Lip in various tissues tested indicates that positive charge, but not PTD function derived from R8 predominantly responsible for the enhancement of tissue distribution. Therefore, it is suggested that topology control of R8 is important to exhibit the PTD function.
• Mutagenesis by damaged deoxyribonucleotides and its prevention by MutT-type hydrolyzing enzymes.

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Kazuya Satou, Mika Hori, Emiko Iida, Chieko Ishiguro, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nucleic acids symposium series (2004) (48) 271 - 272 2004/12/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oxidized deoxyribonucleotides, 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP), were introduced into Escherichia coli strains deficient in DNA polymerase IV (a Y-family DNA polymerase encoded in the dinB gene), and the MutT and Orfl35 proteins to examine their in vivo roles in mutagenesis elicited by 2-OH-dATP and 8-OH-dGTP. 2-OH-dATP elicited mutations less efficiently in the dinB- strain than in the wild type strain, suggesting involvement of DNA polymerase IV in 2-OH-dATP-induced mutations. 8-OH-dGTP and 2-OH-dATP elicited mutations more efficiently in mutT- and orfl35- strains, respectively, than those in their isogenic mutT+ and orfl35+ strains. These results indicate that these proteins play important roles in mutagenesis induced by 2-OH-dATP and 8-OH-dGTP in vivo.
• mutT株における8-ヒドロキシ-dGTP誘発変異の上昇 MutT蛋白質の酸化dGTPによる変異の防御の直接的証拠

  紙谷 浩之, 石黒 智恵子, 原島 秀吉

  日本放射線影響学会大会講演要旨集 (一社)日本放射線影響学会 47回 73 - 73 1347-8680 2004/11
• Important amino acids in the phosphohydrolase module of Escherichia coli Orf135

  H Kamiya, E Iida, H Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 323 (3) 1063 - 1068 0006-291X 2004/10 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Escherichia coli Orf135 protein, a Muff-type enzyme, hydrolyzes 2-hydroxy-dATP and 8-hydroxy-dGTP, in addition to dCTP and 5-methyl-dCTP, and its deficiency causes increases in both the spontaneous and H2O2-induced mutation frequencies. In this study, the Gly-36 Gly-37, Lys-38,. Glu-43, Arg-51, Glu-52, Leu-53, Glu-55, and Glu-56 residues of Orf135, which are conserved in the three MutT-type proteins (Orf135, Muff, and MTH1), were substituted, and the enzymatic activity of these mutant proteins was examined. The mutant proteins with a substitution at the 36th, 37th, 52nd, and 56th amino acid residues completely lost their activity. On the other hand, the mutant proteins with a substitution at the 38th, 43rd, 51st, 53rd, and 55th residues could hydrolyze 5-methyl-dCTP. Some mutants with detectable activity for 5-methyl-dCTP did not hydrolyze dCTP. Activities for known substrates (5-methyl-dCTP, dCTP, 2-hydroxy-dATP, and 8-hydroxy-dGTP) were examined in detail with the four mutants, K38R, E43A, L53A, and E55Q. These results indicate the essential residues for the activity of the Orf135 protein. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Development of a non-viral multifunctional envelope-type nano device by a novel lipid film hydration method

  K. Kogure, R. Moriguchi, K. Sasaki, M. Ueno, S. Futaki, H. Harashima

  Journal of Controlled Release 98 (2) 317 - 323 2004/08/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Factors governing the in vivo tissue uptake of transferrin-coupled polyethylene glycol liposomes in vivo

  H Hatakeyama, H Akita, K Maruyama, T Suhara, H Harashima

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 281 (1-2) 25 - 33 0378-5173 2004/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Liposomes, coated with transferrin (Tf)-coupled polyethylene glycol are considered to be potent carriers for drug delivery to various organs via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Since Tf receptors were ubiquitously expressed in various organs, additional perturbation of the liposomes such as regulation of the size may be required to exhibit the tissue selectivity. In the present study, the effect of size on the uptake of transferrin-coupled polyethylene glycol liposomes (Tf-PEG-L) to various organs was investigated. In liver and brain, Tf-dependent uptake was found to be dependent on the size of the liposomes used. In small liposomes with a diameter of 60-80 nm, Tf-PEG-L was taken up to these organs more efficiently than PEG-L. This Tf-dependent uptake for small liposomes decreased by the high dose administration, suggested that Tf-PEG-L is taken Lip via Tf receptor-mediated endocytosis even under the physiological condition, in which plasma concentration of endogenous Tf remains high. On the other hand, Tf receptor-mediated uptake was also observed in the heart, but size-dependency was not observed in this case. Collectively, these results indicate that size dependency in the uptake of Tf-PEG-L is tissue-dependent and therefore, controlling the size of Tf-PEG-L may be useful for the Success of tissue targeting. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Characterization of a Nudix hydrolase from Deinococcus radiodurans with a marked specificity for (deoxy)ribonucleoside 5′-diphosphates

  David I. Fisher, Jared L. Cartwright, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Alexander G. McLennan

  BMC Biochemistry 5 1 - 24 1471-2091 2004/05/17 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: Nudix hydrolases form a protein family whose function is to hydrolyse intracellular nucleotides and so regulate their levels and eliminate potentially toxic derivatives. The genome of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans encodes 25 nudix hydrolases, an unexpectedly large number. These may contribute to radioresistance by removing mutagenic oxidised and otherwise damaged nucleotides. Characterisation of these hydrolases is necessary to understand the reason for their presence. Here, we report the cloning and characterisation of the DR0975 gene product, a nudix hydrolase that appears to be unique to this organism. Results: The DR0975 gene was cloned and expressed as a 20 kDa histidine-tagged recombinant product in Escherichia coli. Substrate analysis of the purified enzyme showed it to act primarily as a phosphatase with a marked preference for (deoxy)nucleoside 5′ -diphosphatase (dGDP > ADP > dADP > GDP > dTDP > UDP > dCDP > CDP). Km for dGDP was 110 μM (and kcat was 0.18 s-1 under optimal assay conditions (pH 9.4, 7.5 mM Mg2+). 8-Hydroxy-2′-(deoxyguanosine 5′-diphosphate (8-OH-dGDP) was also a substrate with a Km of 170 μM and kcat of 0.13 s -1. Thus, DR0975 showed no preference for 8-OH-dGDP over dGDP. Limited pyrophosphatase activity was also observed with NADH and some (di)adenosine polyphosphates but no other substrates. Expression of the DR0975 gene was undetectable in logarithmic phase cells but was induced at least 30-fold in stationary phase. Superoxide, but not peroxide, stress and slow, but not rapid, dehydration both caused a slight induction of the DR0975 gene. Conclusion: Nucleotide substrates for nudix hydrolases conform to the structure NDP-X, where X can be one of several moieties. Thus, a preference for (d)NDPs themselves is most unusual. The lack of preference for 8-OH-dGDP over dGDP as a substrate combined with the induction in stationary phase, but not by peroxide or superoxide, suggests that the function of DR09075 may be to assist in the recycling of nucleotides under the very different metabolic requirements of stationary phase. Thus, if DR0975 does contribute to radiation resistance, this contribution may be indirect.
• Transferrin-modified liposomes equipped with a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide: An artificial viral-like delivery system

  T Kakudo, S Chaki, S Futaki, Nakase, I, K Akaji, T Kawakami, K Maruyama, H Kamiya, H Harashima

  BIOCHEMISTRY 43 (19) 5618 - 5628 0006-2960 2004/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  dLiposomes are one of the most promising systems for selective cellular targeting via introduction of specific ligands for cell-surface receptors. After being taken up by the cells, these liposomes usually follow intracellular pathways of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Control of intracelluar trafficking is required for optimized drug delivery. In this study, we elucidated the intracellular fate of transferrin-modified liposomes and succeeded in altering it by introducing the pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide, GALA (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA). Transferrins that are chemically attached to a liposomal surface (Tf-L) were internalized via receptor-mediated endocytosis more slowly than unmodified transferrins. In contrast to the recyclable nature of transferrin, liposome-attached transferrins together with encapsulated rhodamines were retained in vesicular compartments. When GALA was introduced into liposomal membranes using a cholesteryl moiety for anchoring (Choi-GALA), rhodamines were efficiently released and diffused into the cytosol. The addition of GALA to the Tf-L-containing medium or the encapsulation of GALA in Tf-L did not induce similar effects. These results clearly indicate that GALA must be present on the surface of liposomes to exert its function. In vitro energy transfer and dynamic light scattering experiments suggested that the endosomal escape of the encapsulates in Tf-L equipped with Chol-GALA can be attributed to pH-dependent membrane fusion. With GALA present on the surface, intracellular trafficking of liposomes after receptor-mediated endocytosis could be successfully controlled.
• Mechanism of improved gene transfer by the N-terminal stearylation of octaarginine: enhanced cellular association by hydrophobic core formation

  IA Khalil, S Futaki, M Niwa, Y Baba, N Kaji, H Kamiya, H Harashima

  GENE THERAPY 11 (7) 636 - 644 0969-7128 2004/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The internalization mechanisms associated with octaarginine and stearyl-octaarginine were investigated using confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometric analysis. Octaarginine is able to translocate through cell membranes in a manner that does not exactly involve the classical endocytic pathways of internalization. However, when a stearyl moiety is attached to the N-terminus of octaarginine, the internalization shifts mainly to an endocytosis-dependent pathway. The transfection efficiency of stearyl-octaarginine was significantly higher than that of octaarginin. To understand the mechanism of the improved gene transfer by the N-terminal stearylation of octaarginine, the gene transfer processes mediated by octaarginine or stearyl-octaarginine were compared. Both octaarginine and stearyl-octaarginine are able to carry plasmid DNA into cells. The amount of plasmid DNA internalized as well as that delivered to the nucleus was higher in the case of stearyl-octaarginine. Even though the internalization mechanisms of octaarginine and stearyl-octaarginine were different, their complexes with plasmid DNA were internalized via the same pathway, presumably, the clathrin-mediated pathway of endocytosis. The results of the atomic force microscopy revealed that stearyl-octaarginine, but not octaarginine, can completely condense the DNA into stable complexes that can be highly adsorbed to the cell surface and subsequently highly internalized. Therefore, using stearylated-octaarginine provided higher internalization of plasmid DNA into cells, due to enhanced cellular association, as well as higher nuclear delivery. The results presented in this study provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of improved transfection using stearylated-octaarginine. The concept of using stearylated peptides may aid in the development of more efficient nonviral gene vectors.
• Quantitative three-dimensional analysis of the intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA transfected by a nonviral gene delivery system using confocal laser scanning microscopy

  H. Akita, R. Ito, I.A. Khalil, S. Futaki, H. Harashima

  Molecular Therapy 9 (3) 443 - 451 2004/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Probing the substrate recognition mechanism of the human MTH1 protein by nucleotide analogs.

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hiroyuki Yakushiji, Laurence Dugué, Mitsuhide Tanimoto, Sylvie Pochet, Yusaku Nakabeppu, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Journal of molecular biology 336 (4) 843 - 50 0022-2836 2004/02/27 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To examine the substrate recognition mechanism of the human MTH1 protein, which hydrolyzes 2-hydroxy-dATP, 8-hydroxy-dATP, and 8-hydroxy-dGTP, ten nucleotide analogs (8-bromo-dATP, 8-bromo-dGTP, deoxyisoinosine triphosphate, 8-hydroxy-dITP, 2-aminopurine-deoxyriboside triphosphate, 2-amino-dATP, deoxyxanthosine triphosphate, deoxyoxanosine triphosphate, dITP, and dUTP) were incubated with the MTH1 protein. Of these, the former five nucleotides were hydrolyzed with various efficiencies. The fact that the syn-oriented brominated nucleotides were hydrolyzed suggests that the MTH1 protein binds to deoxynucleotides adopting the syn-conformation. However, 8-hydroxy-dITP, which lacks the 2-amino group of 8-hydroxy-dGTP, was degraded with tenfold less efficiency as compared with 8-hydroxy-dGTP. In addition, deoxyisoinosine triphosphate, lacking the 6-amino group of 2-hydroxy-dATP, was hydrolyzed as efficiently as 8-hydroxy-dGTP, but less efficiently than 2-hydroxy-dATP. These results clarify the effects of the anti/syn conformation and the functional groups on the 2 and 6 positions of the purine ring on the recognition by the human MTH1 protein.
• An assessment of relative transcriptional availability from nonviral vectors

  R Tachibana, N Ide, Y Shinohara, H Harashima, CA Hunt, H Kiwada

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 270 (1-2) 315 - 321 0378-5173 2004/02 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To design better delivery systems that enhance transfection efficiency of nonviral vectors, we need to improve our understanding of the mechanisms governing both the amounts of plasmid delivered to the nucleus and gene expression. What is needed is a measure of transcriptional availability (TA): the average level of gene expression per plasmid delivered to the nucleus over the course of an experiment. We describe a method to measure TA and demonstrate its application. The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was transfected into NIH/3T3 cells using either cationic liposomes (TFL-3; O,O'-ditetradecanoyl-N-(alpha-trimethylammonioacetyl) diethanolamine chloride (DC-6-14), dioleoylphosphatidylethanotamine (DOPE) and cholesterol, molar ratio 1/0.75/0.75) or cationic polymer (PEI; polyethylenimine). The time courses of both nuclear delivery of plasmids and reporter gene expression were measured for 4 h thereafter. For the conditions used, time courses of gene expression and plasmid nuclear delivery for the two vectors were different. To understand the origins of those differences, we applied a simple pharmacokinetic model, used the data to estimate the values of the model parameters, and interpret differences in estimated parameter values. The rate constant of delivery of plasmids into the nucleus for the TFL-3 vector was twice that of the PEI vector, whereas rate constant of elimination of plasmids in the nucleus for the PEI vector was four times that for the TFL-3 vector. The gene expression rate constant for the TFL-3 vector was estimated to be seven times larger than that of the PEI vector for the conditions used. The pharmacokinetically determined average exposure of a nucleus to plasmid was about 17 times larger for the TFL-3 vector, relative to the PEI vector. That greater exposure resulted in increased relative gene expression. Overall, the TA from the TFL-3 vector was about 13 times greater than from the PEI vector. The experimental design combined with the adoption of pharmacokinetic concepts and principles provide a method to measure TA along with detailed insights into the mechanisms governing gene delivery and expression. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Factors affecting membrane transport of octaarginine-modified liposomes for gene delivery

  LA Khalil, K Kogure, S Futaki, H Harashima

  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 124 113 - 116 0031-6903 2004 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  This study was conducted to prepare efficient and safe non-viral gene vectors using the unique properties of the octaarginine (R8) peptide. We have investigated the factors influencing the uptake mechanism of R8-modified liposomes (R8-Lip). Liposomes with high density of R8 on the surface were taken up through pathways different from the classical clathrin-dependent endocytosis while those modified with low amount of R8 were taken up through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Liposomes were internalized as vesicles where they slowly migrated towards the nucleus and the presence of heparin dramatically inhibited their uptake. R8-Lip could transfect cells with plasmid DNA encapsulated into their cores. However, the inclusion of fusogenic lipids in the envelope further increased the transfection activity. We found that fusogenic lipids did not significantly alter the uptake pathway, however, they increased the endosomal escape and nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA. Complexes formed between the R8 peptide and plasmid DNA were internalized through classical endocytosis, indicating the importance of peptide incorporation in a lipid envelope to target different entrance pathways.
• Pharmacokinetic modeling of species-dependent enhanced bioavailability of trifluorothymidine by thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor.

  Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Keizou Kuwata, Sekio Nagayama, Kazumasa Yamashita, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics 19 206 - 215 1347-4367 2004/01/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  TAS-102, a new oral drug, is composed of an antitumor drug, alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorothymidine (FTD), and its metabolic inhibitor, 5-chloro-6-(2-iminopyrrolidine-1-yl)methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione hydrochloride (TPI). It has been reported that the oral administration of TAS-102 increases the AUC of FTD in rodents and monkeys in different manners. In this study, a pharmacokinetic model was developed, in an attempt to evaluate the bioavailability of FTD in these animals after the co-administration of TPI. Since TPI inhibits FTD metabolism competitively, a time-dependent as well as concentration-dependent model for the hepatic intrinsic clearance of FTD was developed including the time courses of both FTD and TPI. Based on this modeling, we were able to quantitatively explain the TPI dose-dependent enhancement of AUC of FTD in monkeys, while little increase was observed in rats. These results are consistent to observations that thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) is predominantly expressed in monkeys; while uridine phosphorylase (UPase) is superior to TPase in rats. Since TPase is also predominantly expressed in humans, the pharmacokinetic model developed in this study can be used to explain the bioavailability of TAS-102 in humans.
• Suppression of spontaneous and hydrogen peroxide-induced mutations by a MutT-type nucleotide pool sanitization enzyme, the Escherichia coli Orf135 protein

  H Kamiya, E Iida, N Murata-Kamiya, Y Yamamoto, T Miki, H Harashima

  GENES TO CELLS 8 (12) 941 - 950 1356-9597 2003/12 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: We recently found that the Escherichia coli Orf135 protein, a MutT-type enzyme, hydrolysed 2-hydroxy-dATP (2-OH-dATP), and less efficiently, 8-hydroxy-dGTP. Results: In this study, we examined the effects of the absence of the orf135 gene. Frequencies of spontaneous and H2O2-induced mutations were two- to three-fold higher in the orf135(-) strain than in the wild-type strain. These mutations include various mutations involving a G:C-->T:A transversion, the same type of mutation elicited by 2-OH-dATP. Over-expression of the Orf135 protein suppressed mutations even in the wild-type strain, as well as in the orf135(-) strain. Conclusions: The mutator phenotype of bacteria lacking the Orf135 protein suggests that this protein is involved in the suppression of mutations induced by oxidized deoxynucleotides in vivo and that various MutT-type enzymes contribute to nucleotide pool sanitization.
• Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in gene therapy

  H Kamiya, H Akita, H Harashima

  DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY 8 (21) 990 - 996 1359-6446 2003/11 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  During gene therapy the concentration of plasmid DNA or oligonucleotides in the plasma can be quite different from their concentrations in the nucleus or cytosol where they exert their actions. For a better understanding of the apparent discrepancies between pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD), a new concept for intracellular PK with an emphasis on the final efficacy of gene transcription is needed. Here, the conventional PK and intracellular PK and PD of non-viral gene delivery systems are discussed, together with a new concept, referred to as controlled intracellular disposition, which integrates these factors to gain a better understanding of gene expression in the nucleus. The importance of optimizing the system from a transcriptional point of view in the nucleus is also discussed. These new concepts must be integrated to develop an optimized non-viral gene delivery system.
• No enhancement of nuclear entry by direct conjugation of a nuclear localization signal peptide to linearized DNA

  M Tanimoto, H Kamiya, N Minakawa, A Matsuda, H Harashima

  BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY 14 (6) 1197 - 1202 1043-1802 2003/11 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Efficient nuclear entry of exogenous DNA is one of the key factors toward gene therapy success with nonviral vectors. To re-address the effects of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide attached directly to DNA, we prepared three dumbbell-shaped, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-encoding DNAs containing one or two NLS peptides. The peptide was conjugated to the loop-forming oligodeoxyribo-nucleotides by cross-linking reactions between the peptide and a modified uracil base with a dioxaoctylamino linker, and the oligonucleotides were then ligated to the DNA molecules. The NLS-conjugated DNA dumbbells were microinjected into the cytosols and nuclei of simian COS-7 cells. In addition, unconjugated DNA dumbbells, with or without a modified uracil base, were also examined for comparison. The GFP gene was expressed with efficiencies in the order of the unmodified DNA greater than or equal to the NLS-conjugated DNA > the unconjugated DNA with the base modification, with both cytosolic and intranuclear microinjections. Thus, we concluded that (i) one or two NLS peptide(s) did not dramatically improve the nuclear entry of DNA and that (ii) chemical modification of DNA reduced the transcription efficiency or stability in the nucleus.
• The complement- but not mannose receptor-mediated phagocytosis is involved in the hepatic uptake of cetylmannoside-modified liposomes in situ

  H Matsuo, K Funato, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING 11 (5) 273 - 277 1061-186X 2003/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the elimination of injected liposomes in vivo , it is considered that several serum components play an important role on hepatic uptake of them. This study was conducted to clarify the hepatic uptake mechanism of cetylmannoside (Man)-modified multilamellar vesicles (Man-MLV) using perfused rat liver. In the presence of serum, Man-MLV was taken up by the liver-depending on the serum concentration, and it showed an approximately two-fold higher accumulation than MLV without any surface modifications (PC-MLV). These heptic uptakes of liposomes were obviously inhibited by preheating the serum at 56degreesC for 30 min or by the treatment with anti-rat C3 antiserum. Further, SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblot analysis showed the deposition of iC3b on the opsonized Man-MLV. These results obtained in the present study suggested that hepatic uptake of Man-MLV was mainly mediated by complement receptor rather than mannose receptor on Kupffer cells- in vivo .
• Mutagenic effects of 2-hydroxy-dATP on replication in a HeLa extract: induction of substitution and deletion mutations

  K Satou, H Harashima, H Kamiya

  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH 31 (10) 2570 - 2575 0305-1048 2003/05 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mutagenicity of an oxidized form of dATP, 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), was examined using an SV40 origin-dependent in vitro replication system with a HeLa extract. 2-OH-dATP induced mutations in a dose-dependent manner and elicited substitution and deletion mutations. Of the substitutions, a G.C-->A.T transition including a tandem (CC-->TT) mutation was mainly observed. This result agrees with our previous observation that mammalian DNA polymerase alpha misincorporates the oxidized nucleotide opposite C, but is in contrast to the finding that 2-OH-dATP elicits G.C-->T.A transversions in Escherichia coli. This type of mutation was also elicited, but to a lesser extent. Interestingly, the mutagenicity of 2-OH-dATP was enhanced in the presence of 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-diphosphate, an inhibitor of the MTH1 protein, suggesting that this protein functions in the hydrolysis of 2-OH-dATP in the replication reaction mixture, and probably in living cells. These results indicate that 2-OH-dATP is mutagenic and that its mutagenicity is suppressed by the MTH1 protein in mammalian cells.
• Erroneous incorporation of oxidized DNA precursors by Y-family DNA polymerases.

  Masatomi Shimizu, Petr Gruz, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Su-Ryang Kim, Francesca M Pisani, Chikahide Masutani, Yusuke Kanke, Hideyoshi Harashima, Fumio Hanaoka, Takehiko Nohmi

  EMBO reports 4 (3) 269 - 73 1469-221X 2003/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Deranged oxidative metabolism is a property of many tumour cells. Oxidation of the deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) pool, as well as DNA, is a major cause of genome instability. Here, we report that two Y-family DNA polymerases of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus strains P1 and P2 incorporate oxidized dNTPs into nascent DNA in an erroneous manner: the polymerases exclusively incorporate 8-OH-dGTP opposite adenine in the template, and incorporate 2-OH-dATP opposite guanine more efficiently than opposite thymine. The rate of extension of the nascent DNA chain following on from these incorporated analogues is only slightly reduced. These DNA polymerases have been shown to bypass a variety of DNA lesions. Thus, our results suggest that the Y-family DNA polymerases promote mutagenesis through the erroneous incorporation of oxidized dNTPs during DNA synthesis, in addition to facilitating translesion DNA synthesis. We also report that human DNA polymerase eta, a human Y-family DNA polymerase, incorporates the oxidized dNTPs in a similar erroneous manner.
• Cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery: biophysical study and mechanism of internalization.

  Mohamad Radwan Almofti, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yasuo Shinohara, Ammar Almofti, Yoshinobu Baba, Hiroshi Kiwada

  Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 410 (2) 246 - 53 0003-9861 2003/02/15 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To identify factors affecting cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery efficiency, we studied the relationship between the biophysical characteristics of liposome/DNA complexes (lipoplexes) at different (+/-) charge ratios, their structures as monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and their mechanism(s) of internalization into the cells. Significant changes were observed in the particle size and zeta potential of liposomes and their structures assessed by AFM upon addition of DNA, which depended on (+/-) charge ratios. AFM images showed that lipoplexes were formed from extensively fused and apparently homogeneous lipid particles encapsulating DNA. Lipoplexes were found to internalize the cells through the endocytosis pathway. Lipoplex-cell fusion was found to occur mainly at the plasma membrane level; however, this lipoplex-cell membrane fusion was found to be essential for the uptake of the large particles. A new perspective for the internalization of large lipoplex particles into cytoplasm is discussed.
• Lipoplex size determines lipofection efficiency with or without serum

  MR Almofti, H Harashima, Y Shinohara, A Almofti, WH Li, H Kiwada

  MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY 20 (1) 35 - 43 0968-7688 2003/01 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In order to identify factors affecting cationic liposome-mediated gene transfer, the relationships were examined among cationic liposome/DNA complex (lipoplex)-cell interactions, lipoplex size and lipoplex-mediated transfection (lipofection) efficiency. It was found that lipofection efficiency was determined mainly by lipoplex size, but not by the extent of lipoplex-cell interactions including binding, uptake or fusion. In addition, it was found that serum affected mainly lipoplex size, but not lipoplex-cell interactions, which effect was the major reason behind the inhibitory effect of serum on lipofection efficiency. It was concluded that, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size is a major factor determining lipofection efficiency. Moreover, in the presence or absence of serum, lipoplex size was found to affect lipofection efficiency by controlling the size of the intracellular vesicles containing lipoplexes after internalization, but not by affecting lipoplex-cell interactions. In addition, large lipoplex particles showed, in general, higher lipofection efficiency than small particles. These results imply that, by controlling lipoplex size, an efficient lipid delivery system may be achieved for in vitro and in vivo gene therapy.
• Immunoliposomes having high membrane fluidity delivery a large amount of liposomal doxorubicin into not only doxorubicin sensitive SBC-3 but also doxorubicin resistant SBC-3/ADM cell lines

  Kobayashi, T, Okada, Y, Ishida, T, Sone, S, Harashima, H, Maruyama, K, Kiwada, H

  J. Liposome Res. 13 67  2003 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Utilization efficiency of the oxidized purine nucleotide analogs by DNA polymerase eta.

  Naomi Nishimoto, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima, Shunji Izuta

  Nucleic acids research. Supplement (2001) (3) 299 - 300 2003/01/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To elucidate the behavior of DNA polymerase eta against the oxidized purine nucleotides, we determined the utilization efficiency of 2-hydroxy-dATP and 8-hydroxy-dGTP by the recombinant yeast DNA polymerase eta using the primer extension assay with the synthetic oligonucleotide template-primers, and compared those by DNA polymerase alpha. Results indicate that DNA polymerase eta incorporates 2-hydroxy-dATP opposite template G in addition to template T and 8-hydroxy-dGTP opposite A in addition to C, respectively. Kinetic analysis revealed that the rate of mutation caused by 2-OH-dATP and 8-OH-dGTP with DNA polymerase eta should be much higher than those with DNA polymerase alpha.
• Mutations induced by 2-hydroxy-dATP during in vitro replication with a HeLa extract.

  Kazuya Satou, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya

  Nucleic acids research. Supplement (2001) 325 - 326 2003/01/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mutagenicity of oxidized dATP, 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), was examined using an SV40 origin-dependent in vitro replication system with a HeLa extract. 2-OH-dATP mainly elicited a G x C to A x T transition, and a G x C to T x A transversion to a lesser extent. Interestingly, the mutagenicity of 2-OH-dATP was enhanced in the presence of 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-diphosphate, an inhibitor of the MTH1 protein, suggesting that this protein functions in the hydrolysis of 2-OH-dATP in the replication reaction mixture. These results indicate that 2-OH-dATP is mutagenic and that its mutagenicity is suppressed by the MTH1 protein in mammalian cells.
• pH-sensitive liposomes in nuclear targeting of macromolecules

  R Tachibana, S Futaki, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  LIPOSOMES, PT B 372 349 - 361 0076-6879 2003 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Size and topology of exogenous DNA as determinant factors of transgene transcription in mammalian cells

  H. Kamiya, J. Yamazaki, H. Harashima

  Gene Therapy 9 1500 - 1507 0969-7128 2002/11/01 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We prepared a series of linearized DNA duplexes of various lengths in order to examine the effects of topology and the size of exogenous, plasmid-derived DNAs on transgene expression. These linearized DNA duplexes were capped at each end with a highly stable loop (5'-GCGAAGC-3') to produce a dumbbell-shaped construct that is refractory to exonuclease digestion in comparison to the analogous uncapped DNA duplexes. Intranuclear microinjection of the DNA dumbbells into simian COS-7 cells allowed the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene on the linearized molecules, which was expressed five- to 10-fold more than that on the circular DNA of the same size. In addition, the expression by the dumbbell DNA was higher than that by the circular plasmid for at least 14 days. Interestingly, the size of the dumbbell DNA affected the transgene expression upon their microinjection into cell nuclei. The GFP expression efficiency increased with decreasing DNA size below a DNA size of 5.7 kb. The effects of topology and size on the expression of DNAs transfected with cationic lipids are similar to those of DNAs microinjected into cell nuclei. In contrast, microinjection into the cytosol showed the inverse size dependency over a range of 2.3 to 9.4 kb. Thus, transcription of a transgene in the nucleus, but not endocytosis or nuclear entry, was influenced by the exogenous DNA structure, and this was the primary determinant of transgene expression upon transfection under our conditions. These results indicate that small, linearized DNA duplexes that are end-capped with a highly stable loop (dumbbell-shaped DNA) would be very useful for nonviral gene therapy.
• Visualization of intracellular trafficking of exogenous DNA delivered by cationic liposomes

  H Kamiya, Y Fujimura, Matsuoka, I, H Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 298 (4) 591 - 597 0006-291X 2002/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  To visualize the intracellular trafficking of exogenous DNAs delivered by cationic liposomes, rhodamine-labeled DNAs were transfected into NIH3T3 cells and observed by confocal laser microscopy. After 0.5- to 1-h incubations, the DNAs reached the nucleus with a much higher frequency than that expected from the cell division rate. This result suggests that DNAs can enter the nucleus in the presence of the nuclear membrane. Interestingly, some DNAs appeared to extend through the nuclear membrane in the aggregated form which were much larger than the nuclear pore complex. The DNAs which have passed through the nuclear membrane were stained with SYTO 24, a DNA labeling reagent. The stained part may be "naked" DNA that is free of lipids or proteins. This observation indicates that a complex containing DNA fuses with the nuclear membrane and then naked DNA is released into the nucleus. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
• Quantitative analysis of correlation between number of nuclear plasmids and gene expression activity after transfection with cationic liposomes

  R Tachibana, H Harashima, N Ide, S Ukitsu, Y Ohta, N Suzuki, H Kikuchi, Y Shinohara, H Kiwada

  PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH 19 (4) 377 - 381 0724-8741 2002/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Purpose. A quantitative understanding of the intracellular trafficking of plasmids delivered by nonviral vectors is essential for optimizing vector functions to increase their transfection efficiency. In this study, quantitative methods were developed to measure plasmids delivered to the nucleus, and the relationship between transfection activity and the number of plasmids in the nucleus were analyzed. Methods. AH130 cells were transfected with plasmids in cationic liposomes at various doses. The nuclear fraction was isolated after NP-40 lysis, and the unincorporated plasmids were enzymatically degraded and washed away. Intranuclear plasmids were amplified by quantitative PCR, and the number of plasmids was determined. Plasmid amounts in the nucleus were also measured by Southern analysis to confirm the quantification. Results. Both methods led to similar results in measuring the nuclear plasmids within the same order of magnitude. A remarkable saturation was found for transfection activity vs. number of plasmids in the nucleus, whereas no saturation was observed in nuclear-delivered plasmids vs. dose. Conclusions. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of the quantitative measurement of intracellular trafficking of plasmids after transfection. The findings herein described suggest that efficient transgene expression as well as enhanced nuclear delivery is required in order to achieve the maximal transfection activity of nonviral vectors.
• Troglitazone suppresses cell growth of KU812 cells independently of PPAR-gamma

  A Abe, Y Kiriyama, M Hirano, T Miura, H Kamiya, H Harashima, Y Tokumitsu

  EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 436 (1-2) 7 - 13 0014-2999 2002/02 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We examined the effects of troglitazone, one of thiazolidinedione derivatives on human basophilic leukemia cell line KU812. Troglitazone caused the suppression of cell growth, which was suggested to result from the decrease in cyclin E and the hyperphosphorylated form of retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene product (pRb). In addition, troglitazone caused a decrease in histamine secretion due to the reduced expression of histidine decarboxylase mRNA. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma mRNA was undetectable by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in KU812 cells. These findings suggested that troglitazone suppressed cell growth and histamine synthesis independently of PPARgamma. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
• Liposome clearance.

  Ishida, T, Harashima, H, Kiwada, H

  Biosci. Rep. 22 197 - 224 2002 [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Pharmacokinetics of targeting with liposomes

  H Harashima, T Ishida, H Kamiya, H Kiwada

  CRITICAL REVIEWS IN THERAPEUTIC DRUG CARRIER SYSTEMS 19 (3) 235 - 275 0743-4863 2002 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The optimization of drug disposition in the body leads to an increase in its therapeutic effect and to a decrease in adverse effects. Liposomes can serve as a potential drug carrier for achieving this. However, the behavior of a drug carrier system under in vivo conditions is complex. Therefore, a more complete understanding of the pharmacokinetics of liposomes themselves, as well as that of the encapsulated drug, is required. The optimization of the pharmacokinetics of liposomes can be performed by linking a pharmacodynamic model of the free drugs that are encapsulated into liposomes. Sensitivity analysis was applied to optimize the delivery system to maximize the antitumor effect of liposomal doxorubicin (DOX). Advanced technology for ligand-mediated selective targeting and intracellular. targeting is also introduced for antitumor agents and for gene delivery systems.
• Substrate recognition by the human MTH1 protein.

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Laurence Dugué, Hiroyuki Yakushiji, Sylvie Pochet, Yusaku Nakabeppu, Hideyoshi Harashima

  Nucleic acids research. Supplement (2001) (2) 85 - 6 2002 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A nucleotide pool sanitizing enzyme, the human MTH1 protein, hydrolyzes 2-hydroxy-dATP, 8-hydroxy-dATP, and 8-hydroxyd-GTP. To examine the substrate recognition mechanism of the MTH1 protein, ten nucleotide analogs (8-bromo-dATP, 8-bromod-GTP, deoxyisoinosine triphosphate, 8-hydroxy-dITP, 2-aminopurine-deoxyriboside triphosphate, 2-amino-dATP, deoxyxanthosine triphosphate, deoxyoxanosine triphosphate, dITP, and dUTP) were incubated with the protein. Of these, the former five nucleotides were hydrolyzed with various efficiencies. This results suggests the importance of the anti/syn-conformation and the functional groups on the 2 and 6-positions of the purine ring.
• Intracellular trafficking and transgene expression of viral and non-viral gene vectors

  H Kamiya, H Tsuchiya, J Yamazaki, H Harashima

  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS 52 (3) 153 - 164 0169-409X 2001/11 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this review is to summarize the critical steps in intracellular trafficking and the principal factors involved in transgene expression by a comparison of viral and non-viral gene vectors. Intracellular trafficking of viral and non-viral gene vectors are reviewed kinetically as well as from the mechanistic point of view. The peptide-dependent specific mechanism of endosomal escape by viral vectors is compared with the non-specific mechanism of non-viral vectors. Regarding the nuclear transport of DNA, a number of recently developed strategies in non-viral vectors such as the application of nuclear localization signals or cell specific transcription factors are summarized in comparison with viral nuclear gene delivery. The molecular mechanisms of transcription and the translation of delivered genes to nucleus are also summarized in view of drug delivery systems. This information is intended to serve as a basis for developing a new gene delivery system for both viral and non-viral gene vectors. Optimizing the gene delivery system by integrating this intracellular trafficking as well as transgene expression will be required in order to develop an efficient and an safe gene delivery system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• Hydrolysis of oxidized nucleotides by the Escherichia coli Orf135 protein

  H Kamiya, N Murata-Kamiya, E Iida, H Harashima

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 288 (3) 499 - 502 0006-291X 2001/11 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To examine the possibility that the Orf135 protein of Escherichia coli functions as a hydrolyzing enzyme for a damaged DNA precursor (deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate), we purified the recombinant Orf135 protein and incubated it with oxidized deoxynucleotides. Of the nucleotides tested, 2-hydroxydeoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate, and somewhat less efficiently, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate, were hydrolyzed by this protein. These damaged deoxynucleotides elicit transversion mutations in E. coli (Inoue, M, Kamiya, H., Fujikawa, K., Ootsuyama, Y., Murata-Kamiya, N., Osaki, T., Yasumoto, K., Kasai, IL (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 11069-11074). These results suggest that this protein may be involved in the prevention of mutations induced by these oxidized deoxynucleotides. (C) 2001 Academic Press.
• Stearylated arginine-rich peptides: A new class of transfection systems

  S. Futaki, W. Ohashi, T. Suzuki, M. Niwa, S. Tanaka, K. Ueda, H. Harashima, Y. Sugiura

  Bioconjugate Chemistry 12 (6) 1005 - 1011 2001/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect of cholesterol content in activation of the classical versus the alternative pathway of rat complement system induced by hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine-based liposomes

  T Ishida, K Yasukawa, H Kojima, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 224 (1-2) 69 - 79 0378-5173 2001/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Liposomes composed of hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine (HEPC) and cholesterol (CHOL) were found to activate the rat complement (C) system in a CHOL content-dependent manner. Liposomes containing 22 or 33 mol% CHOL activated the C system in a Ca2+-dependent manner, suggesting that C activation occurred via the classical pathway. Liposomes containing 44 mol% CHOL activated the C system in a Ca2+ independent manner, suggesting that C activation occurred via the alternative pathway. The CHOL content appeared to dictate the pathway by which the C system was activated. This C activation was inhibited by removal of serum component(s), which adsorb to the liposomes. Activation of the alternative pathway, induced by the liposomes, was reduced by the depletion of IgG and I-M, whereas the classical pathway activation was reduced by the depletion of IgG, but not IgM. In addition, the removal of adsorbed serum component(s) by treatment with 44 mol% CHOL-containing liposomes decreased serum I.-G and IgM levels that adsorb to the same liposomes, whereas the removal of adsorbed serum component(s) by treatment with 22 mol% CHOL-containing liposomes only slightly decreased serum IgG levels, which adsorbs to the same liposomes. Collectively, both IgG and IgM, which are specifically adsorbed to the liposomes in a CHOL-content dependent manner, were responsible for C activation via the alternative pathway induced by the 44 mol% CHOL containing liposomes. I.-G alone would be partially responsible for C activation via the classical pathway induced by 22 or 33 mol% CHOL-containing liposomes. The discovery of this unique C-activating property of liposomes will be of value in attempts to decipher the underlying mechanism of C activation by providing a useful model membrane system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• The complement system enhances the clearance of phosphatidylserine (PS)-liposomes in rat and guinea pig

  TM Huong, T Ishida, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 215 (1-2) 197 - 205 0378-5173 2001/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, we investigated the contribution of the complement system to the biodistribution of phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing liposomes in rat and guinea pig. It appeared that the inclusion of PS in the liposome formulation accelerates the rate of liposome uptake by liver, resulting in rapid elimination of the liposomes from blood circulation. Pretreatment with K76COOH (K76), an anti-complement agent, decreased the rapid uptake of PS-containing liposomes by guinea pig liver, resulting in increasing blood concentration of the liposomes. Significant complement-dependent liposome destabilization was observed in vitro in both animals, whereas the complement-dependent destabilization in vivo was likely only a part of the process of the clearance of the PS-containing liposomes. This discrepancy suggests that the rate of complement-dependent liposome uptake by liver is much faster than the rate of complement-dependent liposome destabilization in vivo. Pretreatment of K76 dramatically inhibited the binding of C3 fragments, one of dominant opsonins, to PS-containing liposomes in guinea pig under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. This finding suggests that the C3 fragments in the system are responsible for the clearance of the PS-containing liposomes in guinea pig. In rat, in contrast to guinea pig, in vivo binding of C3 fragments was not inhibited by K76-pretreatment, while in vitro binding was inhibited. This discrepancy may be due to different experimental conditions between in vitro and in vivo assay. Nevertheless, based on the observations in this study, the complement components are most likely involved in the clearance of the PS-containing liposomes in rat. Taken together, the activity of PS in enhancing the liposome clearance appears to be mediated by the complement components, presumably C3 fragments, in both guinea pig and rat. This is a first report showing the mechanism on the hepatic uptake of the PS-containing liposomes in guinea pig. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• Interactions of liposomes with in vitro and in vivo: opsonins and receptors.

  Ishida, T, Harashima, H, Kiwada, H

  Current Drug Metabolism 2 397 - 409 2001 [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Molecular design and drug delivery of genetic drugs

  Yoshinobu Baba, Mitsuhiko Shionoya, Hideyoshi Harashima

  European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 13 (1) 1  0928-0987 2001 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative evaluation on relationship between liposome biodistribution in vivo and associated C3 fragments.

  Ishida, T, Kojima, H, Harashima, H, Kiwada, H

  Int. J. Pharm. 205 (No.1-2) 183 - 193 0378-5173 2000/09/15 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The biodistribution of liposomes with two different kind phospholipids (hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine and egg phosphatidylcholine) plus cholesterol (CHOL) were investigated after intravenous administration to rats. Elimination of liposomes from blood circulation was affected by the lipid composition. It appeared that the inclusion of CHOL in liposomes accelerates the rate of liposome uptake by liver, resulting in rapid elimination of liposomes. The amount of C3 fragments bound to liposomes was quantitatively determined to assess the contribution of the complement system to liposome accumulation into organs and liposome destabilization in vivo and in vitro. The amount of bound C3 fragments was directly proportional to CHOL content, and the amount was also proportional to the CLh, CLs as well as CLrel. This relationship suggests that the complement system is responsible for the elimination of liposomes from blood circulation, presumably as a consequence of opsonization by C3 fragments and assembly of membrane attack complex (MAC) onto liposomes. In addition, substitution of cholesteryl methyl ether into the liposome formulation for CHOL significantly diminished not only the binding of C3 fragments but also the CLh, CLs and CLrel, resulting in increased mean resident time (MRT) of the liposomes. This result suggests that the hydroxyl-group on CHOL is a binding site for C3 fragments on the liposomes and that CHOL in a liposome formulation promotes the accumulation of liposomes into the liver and spleen, probably due to their uptake by phagocytic cells, and impairs the stability of the liposomes in blood circulation, via a mechanism involving the complement system.
• Biodistribution of liposomes and C3 fragments associated with liposomes: evaluation of their relationship

  T Ishida, H Kojima, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 205 (1-2) 183 - 193 0378-5173 2000/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The biodistribution of liposomes with two different kind phospholipids (hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine and egg phosphatidylcholine) plus cholesterol (CHOL) were investigated after intravenous administration to rats. Elimination of liposomes from blood circulation was affected by the lipid composition. It appeared that the inclusion of CHOL in liposomes accelerates the rate of liposome uptake by liver, resulting in rapid elimination of liposomes. The amount of C3 fragments bound to liposomes was quantitatively determined to assess the contribution of the complement system to liposome accumulation into organs and liposome destabilization in vivo and in vitro, The amount of bound C3 fragments was directly proportional to CHOL content, and the amount was also proportional to the CLh. CLs as well as CLrel. This relationship suggests that the complement system is responsible for the elimination of liposomes from blood circulation, presumably as a consequence of opsonization by C3 fragments and assembly of membrane attack complex (MAC) onto liposomes. In addition, substitution of cholesteryl methyl ether into the liposome formulation for CHOL significantly diminished not only the binding of C3 fragments but also the CLh, CLs and CLI el, resulting in increased mean resident time (MRT) of the liposomes. This result suggests that the hydroxyl-group on CHOL is a binding site for C3 fragments on the liposomes and that CHOL in a liposome formulation promotes the accumulation of liposomes into the liver and spleen, probably due to their uptake by phagocytic cells, and impairs the stability of the liposomes in blood circulation, via a mechanism involving the complement system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• Cardiomegaly in the juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mouse is reduced with acute elevation of heart short-chain acyl-carnitine level after L-carnitine injection

  Masamichi Kuwajima, Masahisa Horiuchi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kang-Mo Lu, Miyuki Hayashi, Masako Sei, Kiyokazu Ozaki, Tomoko Kudo, Hiroshi Kamido, Akira Ono, Takeyori Saheki, Kenji Shima

  FEBS Letters 443 (3) 261 - 266 0014-5793 1999/01/29 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The long-term administration of L-carnitine was very effective in preventing cardiomegaly in juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice, which was confirmed by heart weight as well as the lipid contents in heart tissue. After i.p. injection of L-carnitine, the concentration of free carnitine in heart remained constant, although serum free carnitine level increased up to 80-fold. On the other hand, a significant increase in short-chain acyl-carnitine level in heart was observed. These results suggest that increased levels of short-chain acyl-carnitine, not free carnitine, might be a key compound in the protective effect of L-carnitine administration in JVS mice. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.
• Quantitative assay of transfected plasmid DNA in nucleus using PCR

  N. Ide, R. Tachibana, Y. Oota, H. Harashima, Y. Shinohara, H. Kiwada

  Proceedings of the Controlled Release Society (26) 777 - 778 1022-0178 1999
• Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic modeling of liposomally encapsulated doxorubicin: Scaling up from rats to humans

  H. Doi, H. Harashima, S. Iida, M. Tsuchihashi, H. Kiwada

  Proceedings of the Controlled Release Society (26) 779 - 780 1022-0178 1999
• Incorporation of the nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide-albumin conjugate to macrophages using pH-sensitive liposomes

  S Futaki, R Tachibana, M Shono, M Azumano, M Niwa, H Kiwada, H Harashima

  PEPTIDE SCIENCE - PRESENT AND FUTURE 699 - 700 1999 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Intracellular regulation of macromolecules using pH-sensitive liposomes and nuclear localization signal: Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of intracellular trafficking

  R Tachibana, H Harashima, M Shono, M Azumano, M Niwa, S Futaki, H Kiwada

  BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 251 (2) 538 - 544 0006-291X 1998/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study is to present a rational strategy to target macromolecules to the nucleus via the endocytic pathway. The two major barriers in this route to the nucleus are known as endosomal escape and nuclear transport. pH-sensitive liposomes were used in order to achieve endosomal escape under the conditions of low pH in endosomes. Bovine serum albumin (alb) served as a model compound to be delivered to nucleus and was encapsulated into the pH-sensitive Liposomes. The liposomes are composed of dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine: cholesterylhemisuccinate. They were taken up by rat peritoneal macrophages via endocytosis and subsequently underwent degradation, principally by lysosomal enzymes. By using pH-sensitive liposomes, intracellular degradation was reduced by a significant extent, as expected, via endosomal escape. Cytosolic delivery of FITC-labelled alb was also detected by confocal microscopy. Selective targeting to the nucleus was performed by adding the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of the SV-40 large T antigen to the FITC-alb, which were then encapsulated into the pH-sensitive liposomes, Confocal microscopy revealed that FITC-alb, in the presence of NLS was successfully delivered into nucleus, while no transport was observed in the absence of NLS. These results provide a useful strategy for the nuclear targeting of macromolecules using pH-sensitive Liposomes in conjunction with NLS, (C) 1998 Academic Press.
• Complement dependent and independent liposome uptake by peritoneal macrophages: Cholesterol content dependency

  TM Huong, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 21 (9) 969 - 973 0918-6158 1998/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The uptake mechanisms of liposomes by rat peritoneal macrophages (PMs) were investigated. Incubation of liposomes with fresh rat serum enhanced the uptake of liposomes depending on the liposome size and cholesterol (CH) content. The binding of liposomes was also enhanced by serum, and this increase depended on the size and CH content as in the case of liposome uptake, which suggested that the binding of opsonized liposomes with PMs govern the extent in liposome uptake. The rate constant for the internalization (k(int)) was calculated by measuring both uptake and binding. The k(int) cannot explain the variation of liposome uptake for different sizes and CH contents. The kint values for liposomes with high (44%) and medium (33%) CH contents were constant (2.5 h(-1)), while those for liposomes with low (22%) CH content were significantly elevated (5-9 h(-1)). These results indicate the presence of at least two kinds of uptake mechanisms of liposomes, Treatment of serum with anti-C3 antibody completely inhibited the enhanced uptake of CH-high, large liposomes, which suggested that complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis may be an uptake mechanism for CH-high and -medium liposomes. In addition, complement-independent enhanced uptake was suggested for CH-low liposomes, since no inhibition was observed for CH-low liposomes by anti-C3 antibody and these liposomes were disintegrated in serum via compliment-independent pathway. These results provided evidence that PMs take up liposomes via complement-dependent and independent mechanisms depending on the CH content of the liposomes.
• Kinetic analysis of the interaction between liposomes and the complement system in rat serum: Re-evaluation of size-dependency

  M Yamada, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 21 (9) 964 - 968 0918-6158 1998/09 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The size of liposomes is considered to be an important factor in determining the liposome-complement interaction. In this study, the release of carboxyfluorescein (CF) from liposomes was measured continuously for three different diameters (800, 400 and 200 nm) by changing the liposome concentration from 1 to 1000 nmol/ml. At a low liposome concentration range (1-10 nmol/ml), small liposomes (200 nm) released CF to a similar extent (approximately 35%) as in the medium (400 nm) and large (800 nm) liposomes. The affinity (K-m) and capacity (L-max) of a complement system to release liposomally encapsulated CF were estimated by kinetic analysis of the liposome-complement interaction. Surprisingly, there was no remarkable size dependency in the K-m and L-max in terms of liposome number, although these parameters depended on the size of liposomes in terms of lipid concentration. These results indicated the possibility that the complement system does not discriminate according to liposome size.
• Mechanism of initial distribution of blood-borne colon carcinoma cells in the liver

  N Mizuno, Y Kato, K Shirota, Y Izumi, T Irimura, H Harashima, H Kiwada, N Motoji, A Shigematsu, Y Sugiyama

  JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY 28 (5) 878 - 885 0168-8278 1998/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background/Aims/Methods: The distribution characteristics of a human colon carcinoma cell line, KM12-HX cells, were examined. After intraportal vein (i.p.v.) or intravenous (i.v.) injection into rats, almost all the injected tumor cells are distributed to liver or lung, respectively, both after 30 s and 30 min. Our previous kinetic analysis of the fate of tumor cells revealed that the cumulative amount of tumor cells distributed in the liver is a factor determining the degree of metastasis, Thus, we examined the mechanism of initial efficient trapping of tumor cells by the liver in more detail. Results: Thirty minutes after tumor cells were injected into the left ventricle of the heart, the distribution of tumor cells was more restricted in several tissues (kidney, small intestine, large intestine and spleen), as compared with the distribution of microspheres undergoing 100% extraction, indicating that the first-pass extraction of KM12-HX cells is incomplete in these organs. The hepatic first-pass distribution of these tumor cells was unaffected by pretreatment of liposomes, such that the preinjected amount was sufficient to saturate the phagocytotic function of macrophages, Thus, the mechanism of initial distribution of the tumor cells to the liver is different from the mechanism of liposome uptake by macrophages. Considering that the diameter of microvessels in sinusoid and KM12-HX cells is approximately 7 and 12 mu m, respectively, it is possible that these turner cells are trapped physically in hepatic microvessels. In fact, after i.p.v. injection of microspheres 5 mu m in diameter, only 20% of the dose was distributed to liver and the rest to other tissues. In contrast, almost 100% of microspheres 10 mu m in diameter were distributed to the liver. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that the initial organ distribution of blood-borne tumor cells is determined by mechanical and physical properties of the cells.
• Effects of repeated clarithromycin administration on the pharmacokinetic properties of pindolol in rats

  Takafumi Komori, Kazuki Shimoishi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Masaki Otagiri

  Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 21 (12) 1376 - 1378 0918-6158 1998 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The goal of the present work was to determine the effect of clarithromycin (CAM) administration on the pharmacokinetic properties of pindolol in rats. The binding of pindolol to serum components increases proportionally with increasing α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentration, indicating that AGP might play a major role in the binding of pindolol. After intravenous administration of pindolol to rats, the CAM-treated group showed a decrease in the volume of distribution, an increase in AUC and no change in the half-life as compared to the control group. Treatment with CAM increased the AGP concentration only. The serum concentration of albumin and creatinine, as well as the metabolic activity of hepatic microsomes towards pindolol, were not altered. Good correlation was observed between the AUC of pindolol in rats and the AGP concentration in serum. Moreover, at 5 min after the administration of an intravenous bolus dose of pindolol to CAM-treated rats, the free concentration of pindolol was lower but the total concentration was higher, compared with the control rats. These results suggested that the influence of CAM on the pharmacokinetic properties of pindolol in CAM-treated rats can be explained by protein binding which, in turn, may be associated with variations in AGP concentration.
• Computer simulation of the effects of alterations in blood flows and body composition on thiopental pharmacokinetics in humans

  D. Russell Wada, Sven Björkman, William F. Ebling, Hideyoshi Harashima, Sandra R. Harapat, Donald R. Stanski

  Anesthesiology 87 (4) 884 - 899 0003-3022 1997/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: Understanding the influence of physiological variables on thiopental pharmacokinetics would enhance the scientific basis for the clinical usage of this anesthetic. Methods: A physiological pharmacokinetic model for thiopental previously developed in rats was scaled to humans by substituting human values for tissue blood flows, tissue masses, and elimination clearance in place of respective rat values. The model was validated with published serum concentration data from 64 subjects. The model was simulated after intravenous thiopental administration, 250 mg, over 1 min, to predict arterial plasma concentrations under conditions of different cardiac outputs, degrees of obesity, gender, or age. Results: The human pharmacokinetic model is characterized by a steady state volume of distribution of 2.2 1/kg, an elimination clearance of 0.22 l/min, and a terminal half-life of 9 h. Measured thiopental concentrations are predicted with an accuracy of 6 ± 37% (SD). Greater peak arterial concentrations are predicted in subjects with a low versus a high cardiac output (3.1 and 9.4 l/min), and in subjects who are lean versus obese (56 and 135 kg). Acutely, obesity influences concentrations because it affects cardiac output. Prolonged changes are due to differences in fat mass. Changes with gender and age are relatively minor. Conclusions: The physiological pharmacokinetic model developed in rats predicts thiopental pharmacokinetics in humans. Differences in basal cardiac output may explain much of the variability in early thiopental disposition between subjects.
• No effect of age on the dose requirement of thiopental in the rat

  Hideyoshi Harashima, William F. Ebling, D. Russell Wada, Donald R. Stanski

  Experimental Gerontology 32 (3) 315 - 324 0531-5565 1997/05 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  With increasing human age (20-80 years), the electroencephalogram (EEG) dose requirement for the intravenous anesthetic thiopental decreases approximately 10% per decade of life. The goal of this study was to compare the dose required to attain isoelectric EEG in young (4-5-month) vs. aged (24-25-month) Fischer 344 rats. One second isoelectricity was found to be an endpoint where minimal cardiorespiratory depression occurred. The effects of age, infusion rate, and repeated administration were examined in nine young and nine old rodents. Thiopental dose requirement increased with increasing infusion rates. Repeated administration at two-day intervals did not demonstrate tolerance to thiopental. No difference in thiopental dose requirement was detected in the young vs. elderly rats. In a separate group of five young and five old rats, thiopental plasma, brain, heart, and CSF concentrations were measured when five seconds of EEG isoelectricity was achieved no consistent differences were noted. The rat may not be an appropriate model to investigate acute age-related anesthetic effects in humans, because cardiovascular changes with age are dissimilar between species.
• Kinetic analysis of the interaction between liposomes and complement system in rat serum

  M. Yamada, H. Harashima, J. Kikuishi, Y. Nemoto, M. Shibuya, H. Kiwada

  Proceedings of the Controlled Release Society (24) 793 - 794 1022-0178 1997
• Synergistic effect between size and cholesterol content in the enhanced hepatic uptake clearance of liposomes through complement activation in rats

  H Harashima, TM Huong, T Ishida, Y Manabe, H Matsuo, H Kiwada

  PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH 13 (11) 1704 - 1709 0724-8741 1996/11 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Purpose. The effect of liposome sim and cholesterol (CH) content on the pharmacokinetics of liposomes was investigated in rats. Methods. The pharmacokinetics of liposomes was examined using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as an aqueous phase marker. The extent of complement activation (EGA) was also measured by the release of CF from liposomes in serum. Results. Both the size and the CH content influenced the mean residence time, total body clearance, and the hepatic uptake clearance (CLh) of liposomes. The increase of the size of liposomes increased the CLh at each CH content. There was no CH dependency of CLh in small liposomes (200 nm in diameter), although the CLh increased with the increase in the CH content in large (800 nm) and medium (400 nm) liposomes. A significant interaction effect was observed between liposome size and the CH content on CLh according to the analysis of variance. The good correlation between CLh and ECA indicated the role of complements as opsonins in enhancing the hepatic uptake of liposomes. The interaction effect between the size and CH content on CLh was explained principally by the product of the size and CH content. Conclusions. A synergistic effect was observed between the size and the CH content on CLh An underlying hypothesis of the synergistic effect was postulated based on the size dependent recognition of liposomes by complement system.
• Species difference in the disposition of liposomes among mice, rats, and rabbits: Allometric relationship and species dependent hepatic uptake mechanism

  H Harashima, S Komatsu, S Kojima, C Yanagi, Y Morioka, M Naito, H Kiwada

  PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH 13 (7) 1049 - 1054 0724-8741 1996/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Purpose. The species difference in the pharmacokinetics of liposomes was investigated in mice, rats and rabbits. Methods. Liposomes were intravenously injected at doses of 1, 10 and 100 (nmol/g body weight), and the time courses of liposomes in blood, liver and spleen were measured. Pharmacokinetic parameters were regressed as a function of body weight (BW) and dose of liposomes (D). The uptake mechanism of liposomes was also examined with the isolated perfused liver between rats and mice. Results. Mean residence time increased with the increase of BW and D of liposomes. This increase of mean residence time resulted from the decreased total body clearance, which was principally explained by the species difference in the hepatic uptake clearance (CLh) of liposomes. The parameter CLh was regressed well by a multiple regression as a function of BW and D. In this analysis, an exponent for BW was around 0.5, which clearly indicates that smaller animals have higher uptake clearance per unit BW. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the density of Kupffer cells among these species. This suggest that the species difference in CLh resulted not from the density of Kupffer cells but from the uptake ability of Kupffer cells amoung species. In the isolated perfused liver, the hepatic uptake of liposomes was mainly explained by opsonin dependent uptake in rats, while opsonin independent uptake in mice. Conclusions. These quantitative and qualitative information on the species difference of liposome disposition will provide an useful information for constructing a drug delivery system using liposomes.
• Carnitine transport defect in fibroblasts of juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mouse

  Masamichi Kuwajima, Kang-Mo Lu, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akira Ono, Izumi Sato, Akira Mizuno, Takashi Murakami, Hiromu Nakajima, Jun-Ichiro Miyagawa, Mitsuyoshi Namba, Toshiaki Hanafusa, Jun-Ichiro Hayakawa, Yuji Matsuzawa, Kenji Shima

  Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 223 (2) 283 - 287 0006-291X 1996/06/14 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice are associated with systemic carnitine deficiency. In order to investigate the cause of this deficiency, we compared fibroblast carnitine transport activities in normal mice and JVS mice. The kinetic analysis showed that in normal fibroblasts, the Km and Vmax values for saturable uptake was 15.6 μM and 2.56 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. In JVS fibroblasts, however, saturable uptake was not observed. There was no great difference in the linear component of uptake between normal and JVS fibroblasts. At the physiological concentration (50 μM) of carnitine, the fibroblast carnitine transport activity in JVS mice was decreased to 18% of that in the normal mice. Thus there is hardly any carnitine transport activity in the fibroblasts of JVS mice, indicating that the JVS mouse can be regarded as an animal model of primary carnitine deficiency.
• Effects of thiopental on regional blood flows in the rat

  D. Russell Wada, Hideyoshi Harashima, William F. Ebling, Eileen W. Osaki, Donald R. Stanski

  Anesthesiology 84 (3) 596 - 604 0003-3022 1996/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background: The goal of this investigation was to characterize the effects of thiopental on cardiac output and regional blood flows in the rat. Blood flows influence thiopental pharmacokinetics. Acquisition of these data may ultimately permit evaluation of the contribution of thiopental-induced alterations in regional blood flows to the disposition and hypnotic effect of this drug. Methods: Chronically instrumented unrestrained Wistar rats (n = 20) aged 3-4 months received either a dose of thiopental sufficient to induce a brief period of unconsciousness (20 mg · kg2+) or a larger dose achieving electroencephalographic burst suppression (45 mg · kg-1). Cardiac output and blood flows to 14 tissues were determined at 4 times in each rat for a period of 420 min using injections of radioactive microspheres (expressed as mean ± SD). Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and blood gas tensions were determined at all measurement times. Arterial plasma concentrations were sampled at postinfusion times. Results: No important changes in systemic cardiovascular measurements were detected after the smaller dose of thiopental. One minute after the larger dose, cardiac output decreased from baseline (123 ± 14 to 84 ± 11 ml · min-1, P < 0.01), flow to muscle and fat decreased, and muscle and fat resistance increased. At 5 min, compared to baseline, no difference in cardiac output was detected (123 ± 14 vs. 119 ± 11 ml · min-1), intestinal flows increased, and intestinal resistances decreased. Cardiac output was again depressed at 30, 90, and 180 min. Brain blood flow decreased 25 ± 19% (P < 0.01) from baseline for the duration of the study. Conclusions: Thiopental acutely decreases cardiac output, and blood flows to muscle and fat tissue. The temporary return of cardiac output to baseline may be related to intestinal vasodilation. These blood flow alterations may influence the pharmacokinetics of thiopental.
• Size-dependent release of carboxyfluorescein from cetylmannoside-modified liposomes in human plasma

  AJ Ferdous, T Ishida, M Shinohara, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 17 (2) 145 - 154 0142-2782 1996/03 [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The interaction of liposomes with human plasma was investigated using 6(5)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as an aqueous phase marker of cetylmannoside-modified multilamellar vesicles (Man-MLVs) of various sizes. The release of CF decreased with increasing liposome concentration. The time courses of the CF release from Man-MLVs were monitored continuously and were analysed kinetically. The curves were characterized by two phases, the first-order release process and the maximum release, which represent the rate and the extent of CF release, respectively. The increase of liposome size increased the rate of release by 42% and the extent of release by 121%, respectively. These effects of liposome size on the release processes were suggested to result from the size-dependent affinities of liposomes to the human complement system. The assay system of liposomally bound fragments of complement component 3 (C3), such as C3b and/or iC3b, was developed by applying a sandwich enzyme-linked immunospecific assay. The percentage of C3 fragments to total proteins bound to liposomes increased with the size of liposomes and there was a good correlation between the extent of CF release and the percentage of C3 fragments bound. These results indicated that Man-MLVs released entrapped CF via activating the human complement system and the affinity of Man-MLV to complement increased with the size of Man-MLVs in human plasma. These in vitro results suggest the role of complement as an opsonin in the disposition of Man-MLVs in humans.
• Studies on the mechanism of uptake of liposomes using an isolated perfused liver system

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroshi Kiwada

  Journal of Liposome Research 6 (1) 61 - 75 0898-2104 1996 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  A useful system was developed for studies on the mechanism of uptake of liposomes by isolated perfused liver. The uptake of multilamellar vesicles (MLV) composed of hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine (HEPC), cholesterol and dicetylphosphate (ratio, 5:4:1) by perfused rat liver was enhanced by preincubation with serum. This opsonic activity decreased with increase in the liposome concentration, suggesting the depletion of opsonins. Saturation of hepatic uptake without depletion of opsonins on increasing the liposome concentration was also demonstrated. Liposomes of this composition were shown to activate the complement system in an in vitro release study using 6(5)- carboxyfluorescein (CF), so their uptake via complement receptor was examined after pretreatment of the serum with heat (56°C, 30 min) or antiC3- antiserum. The opsonic activity was completely inhibited by these treatments, suggesting complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis. K76COOH, an inhibitor of C5a formation, also inhibited the opsonic activity, indicating activation of Kupffer cells by formation of C5a. Activation of the complement system by liposomes was shown to depend on the liposome size, those of less than 200 nm showing little release of entrapped 6CF and thus its enhanced hepatic uptake. These results indicate uptake pathways, one opsonin-dependent and the other opsonin-independent. The opsonin-dependent pathway involves complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis, shows saturation and depends on liposome size. The opsonin-independent pathway shows little saturation and independent of liposome size. Cetylmannoside modified MLV, like HEPC-MLV, was found to be taken up by the liver via complement receptor mediated phagocytosis, not through the mannose receptor. We have further examined the species difference in the hepatic uptake of liposomes by comparing the results described above with those in perfused mouse liver. In mice, there was no release of entrapped CF into the serum or enhancement of hepatic uptake by serum, although the uptake clearance per g of liver is much higher than in rats. These results suggest species-dependent differences in the mechanisms of liposome uptake by the liver.
• Simulation study on the optimization of antitumor effect of liposomally encapsulated doxorubicin based on the physiological model with cell kill kinetic model

  S Iida, Y Urakami, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  23RD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONTROLLED RELEASE OF BIOACTIVE MATERIALS, 1996 PROCEEDINGS 653 - 654 1022-0178 1996 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• The effect of dose on the intracellular fate of liposomes

  K Yoshimura, Y Morioka, H Harashima, H Kiwada

  23RD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONTROLLED RELEASE OF BIOACTIVE MATERIALS, 1996 PROCEEDINGS 683 - 684 1022-0178 1996 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect between size and cholesterol content in the enhanced hepatic uptake clearance of liposomes through complement activation in rats

  Harashima, H, Huong, T.M, Ishida, T, Manabe, Y, Matsuo, H, Kiwada, H

  Progress in Drug Delivery System V 93 - 96 1996 [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• EFFECTS OF THE SIZE AND FLUIDITY OF LIPOSOMES ON THEIR ACCUMULATION IN TUMORS - A PRESUMPTION OF THEIR INTERACTION WITH TUMORS

  K UCHIYAMA, A NAGAYASU, Y YAMAGIWA, T NISHIDA, H HARASHIMA, H KIWADA

  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS 121 (2) 195 - 203 0378-5173 1995/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The distribution of liposomes with different membrane fluidity and vesicle size in tumors after intravenous injection was investigated in Yoshida sarcoma-bearing rats. Liposomes composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) or hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine (HEPC), dicetyl phosphate and cholesterol in a molar ratio of 5:1:4 were prepared. Their size was adjusted so that they had various mean diameters, ranging from 40 to 400 nm. In EPC liposomes, whose membranes were more fluid than those of HEPC liposomes, tumor accumulation increased with increasing area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUG). The size of liposomes which showed the greatest tumor accumulation and AUC was around 100 nm in diameter. In HEPC liposomes, the less fluid type, the size dependence of tumor accumulation and AUC differed. The greatest tumor accumulation or AUC were found in liposomes with a diameter of about 100 or 40 nm, respectively. This discrepancy indicates that the tumor accumulation of liposomes is not always correlated with their circulation time in the blood. To clarify the process by which these liposomes accumulate from the vascular space into the tumor, we calculated tumor uptake clearance (CL(tu)), which can separate the contribution of the blood concentration from the accumulation in tumor. The CL(tu) values for EPC and HEPC liposomes agreed at all sizes, liposomes with a diameter of 100 nm showing the highest values. These findings indicate that the accumulation of liposomes from the vascular space into the tumor is primarily governed by their size and not by their membrane fluidity or blood circulation time. When tumor blood flow was selectively enhanced by the infusion of angiotensin II, the CL(tu) of 100-nm liposomes decreased to the level of that in 40-nm liposomes, suggesting that some histological factor(s) in the tumor may be responsible for the localization of 100-nm liposomes in tumor. In an in vitro experiment using cultured Yoshida sarcoma cells, 59-nm HEPC liposomes were directly taken up by the tumor cells to an extent at least 2.5-times greater than larger liposomes (greater than or equal to 100 nm). We conclude that 100-nm liposomes may predominantly localize in the interstitial space, whereas some liposomes of smaller size may be taken up by tumor cells.
• KINETIC MODELING OF LIPOSOME DEGRADATION IN PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

  H HARASHIMA, N HIRAI, H KIWADA

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 16 (2) 113 - 123 0142-2782 1995/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to quantify and model the degradation process of liposomes in peritoneal macrophages (PMs). Iodinated albumin (I-125-alb) was chosen to be the marker of liposome degradation. The time course of the degradation of free I-125- alb after pinocytosis by PMs followed first-order kinetics with a half-life of 23 min. The degradation of liposomally encapsulated I-125-alb was also quantified. Kinetic modelling of liposome degradation indicated the existence of two kinetically different processes, one with a half-life of 13 min and the other with a half-life of 7.5 h. Comparing the degradation of liposomal and free I-125-alb suggested that I-125-alb was delivered to lysosomes much faster through phagocytosis than pinocytosis. These results indicate that the intracellular degradation kinetics of pinosomes and phagosomes is different. This method can quantify the rate and extent of liposomal degradation in macrophages and provide kinetic information on the intracellular destiny of liposomally encapsulated compounds.
• Size dependent liposome degradation in blood: In vivo/in vitro correlation by kinetic modeling

  H Harashima, T Hiraiwa, Y Ochi, H Kiwada

  JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING 3 (4) 253 - 261 1061-186X 1995 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The degradation of liposomes in blood circulation is important in regulating the releasing rate of encapsulated compounds. In this study, the effect of liposome size-one of the principal determining factors in liposome disposition-on their degradation in serum/blood was evaluated quantitatively both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, the time courses of the degradation of liposomes in fresh rat serum were measured continuously using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as an aqueous phase marker and were described by the kinetic model with the lag time (tau), first order degradation rate constant (k), and the maximum degradation (alpha). Both k and alpha increased with the increase of liposome size, which indicated a higher affinity of larger liposomes for complement activation. In the in vivo study, the degradation of liposomes was evaluated sensitively by a first order degradation rate constant (kd) in blood circulation. The kd was obtained by kinetically modeling the liposome degradation in vivo using H-3-inulin as an aqueous phase marker. The size dependent kd correlated well with the hepatic uptake clearance, which suggests an underlying complement activation mechanism common to both degradation and hepatic uptake of liposomes. There was a good correlation in the degradation rate constant between in vitro and in vivo trials. These kinetic analyses validate the quantitative evaluation of liposome degradation in blood circulation and provide a useful way to predict the degradation of liposomes in vivo from in vitro experiments.
• Size dependent characterization of cetylmannoside-modified liposomes (Man-MLVs) in human plasma

  Ishida, T, Ferdous, A.J, Shinohara, M, Harashima, H, Kiwada, H

  J.Liposome Res. 6 252  1995 [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• KINETIC MODELING OF LIPOSOME DEGRADATION IN SERUM - EFFECT OF SIZE AND CONCENTRATION OF LIPOSOMES IN-VITRO

  H HARASHIMA, Y OCHI, H KIWADA

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 15 (3) 217 - 225 0142-2782 1994/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The purpose of this study is to propose a new method for quantitative evaluation of liposome degradation in serum. The time course of liposome degradation in rat serum was monitored continuously, using 6(5)-carboxyfluorescein as an aqueous phase marker. The degradation curves exhibited three characteristic phases: lag time, degradation, and plateau. This curve was described by a kinetic model with three parameters: lag time (tau), first-order degradation rate constant (k), and maximum degradation (alpha). The rate and extent of the degradation of liposomes were evaluated separately in terms of k and alpha, respectively. The effects of size and concentration of liposomes on their degradation kinetics were examined using this method. Both k and alpha increased with increasing liposomal size. The increased affinity of larger liposomes for complement was suggested to increase both k and alpha. On the other hand, alpha decreased with increasing liposomal concentration without altering k. The decreased extent of degradation was considered to result from the depletion of complement components. There was no significant effect of size and concentration of liposomes on tau. Quantitative evaluation of the rate and extent of degradation of liposomes will provide deeper insights into the interaction between liposomes and serum components, and basic information on liposomes as potential drug carriers.
• ENHANCED HEPATIC-UPTAKE OF LIPOSOMES THROUGH COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF LIPOSOMES

  H HARASHIMA, K SAKATA, K FUNATO, H KIWADA

  PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH 11 (3) 402 - 406 0724-8741 1994/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to differentiate the roles of opsonins and phagocytic cells in the size-dependent hepatic uptake of liposomes in the submicron region. The extent of opsonization decreased with the decrease in size of liposomes (from 800 to 200 nm in diameter) and no enhancement of uptake was observed at 200 nm. There was no effect of liposome size on the uptake of unopsonized liposomes. Serum was pretreated with empty liposomes of each size and its opsonic activity was measured in the perfused liver. The small liposomes could not consume the opsonic activity, while the larger ones did so substantially. These results suggest that opsonins bind to liposomes depending on the size of liposomes and phagocytic cells take up liposomes in proportion to the extent of opsonization. Size-dependent liposome degradation in serum was also found, which was consistent with the size-dependent complement activation, because liposomes with this composition have been shown to be degraded by complement. The mechanism of opsonization was examined by treating serum at 56 degrees C for 30 min or with anti-C3 antiserum. Since both treatments inhibited the opsonic activity, the hepatic uptake of liposomes is considered to occur via complement receptor. In conclusion, the size of liposomes affected complement recognition, and the liposomes were taken up by the liver depending on the extent of opsonization.
• COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED HEPATIC UPTAKE OF MANNOSIDE-MODIFIED LIPOSOMES

  MATSUO Hirotami, FUNATO Koichi, YAMASHITA Chikamasa, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KIWADA Hiroshi

  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics The Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics 9 118 - 121 0916-1139 1994 

  In the elimination of injected liposomes in vivo, it is considered that several serum components play an important role on hepatic uptake of them. This study was conducted to clarify the hepatic uptake mechanism of cetylmannoside (Man) -modified multilamellar vesicles (Man-MLV) using perfused rat liver. In the presence of serum, Man-MLV was taken up by the liver depending on the serum concentration, and it showed an approximately 2-fold higher accumulation than non-modified MLV (PC-MLV). These hepatic uptake of liposomes were obviously inhibited by preheating the serum at 56 °C for 30 min or by the treatment with anti-rat C3 antiserum. Further, SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblot analysis showed the deposition of iC3b on the opsonized Man-MLV. These results obtained in the present study suggested that hepatic uptake of Man-MLV was mainly mediated by complement receptor rather than mannose receptor on Kupffer cells in vivo.
• THE COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED BUT NOT MANNOSE RECEPTOR-MEDIATED PHAGOCYTOSIS IS INVOLVED IN THE HEPATIC-UPTAKE OF CETYLMANNOSIDE-MODIFIED LIPOSOMES IN-SITU

  H MATSUO, K FUNATO, H HARASHIMA, H KIWADA

  JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING 2 (2) 141 - 146 1061-186X 1994 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the elimination of injected liposomes in vivo, it is considered that several serum components play an important role on hepatic uptake of them. This study was conducted to clarify the hepatic uptake mechanism of cetylmannoside (Man)-modified multilamellar vesicles (Man-MLV) using perfused rat liver. In the presence of serum, Man-MLV was taken up by the liver depending on the serum concentration, and it showed an approximately two-fold higher accumulation than MLV without any surface modifications (PC-MLV). These heptic uptakes of liposomes were obviously inhibited by preheating the serum at 56-degrees-C for thirty minutes or by the treatment with anti-rat C3 antiserum. Further, SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblot analysis showed the deposition of iC3b on the opsonized Man-MLV. These results obtained in the present study suggested that hepatic uptake of Man-MLV was mainly mediated by complement receptor rather than mannose receptor on Kupffer cells in vivo.
• KINETIC-ANALYSIS OF TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF DOXORUBICIN INCORPORATED IN LIPOSOMES IN RATS .2.

  H HARASHIMA, Y MIDORI, S OHSHIMA, K YACHI, H KIKUCHI, H KIWADA

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 14 (7) 595 - 608 0142-2782 1993/10 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study is to perform kinetic modelling of the tissue distribution of doxorubicin encapsulated into liposomes (L-DXR), especially to the heart and liver. The release process of doxorubicin (DXR) from liposomes in blood was quantified by a release clearance. This parameter defines a release rate of DXR based on the concentration of L-DXR in blood and was estimated from kinetic modelling of DXR distribution to the heart after L-DXR administration. The distribution of free DXR to the heart was modelled separately. The experimental data for this modelling were reported previously (Harashima et al., Biopharm. Drug. Disposit., 13, 155-170 (1992)). This analysis provided a free DXR concentration profile as well as a release clearance of DXR after L-DXR administration. There was a remarkable difference in the free DXR concentration in blood between free and liposomal administration. The area under the DXR curve in the heart was reduced by approximately one third from that for the first two hours after DXR administration by liposomal encapsulation, which could be the reason for reduced cardiac toxicity. In our previous report, the distribution of L-DXR to the liver was shown to be explained by a sequentially linked two-compartment model with efflux process. The validity of this efflux model was examined in this study by a repeated dose study. The apparent uptake clearance decreased with time and showed a second peak after the repeated dose, which justified the efflux model. These kinetic analyses give quantitative understanding of the effect of liposomal encapsulation on the tissue distribution of DXR.
• Tissue distribution of fentanyl and alfentanil in the rat cannot be described by a blood flow limited model

  Sven Björkman, Donald R. Stanski, Hideyoshi Harashima, Robert Dowrie, Sandra R. Harapat, D.Russell Wada, William F. Ebling

  Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics 21 (3) 255 - 279 0090-466X 1993/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Traditionally, physiological pharmacokinetic models assume that arterial blood flow to tissue is the rate-limiting step in the transfer of drug into tissue parenchyma. When this assumption is made the tissue can be described as a well-stirred single compartment. This study presents the tissue washout concentration curves of the two opioid analgesics fentanyl and alfentanil after simultaneous 1-min iv infusions in the rat and explores the feasibility of characterizing their tissue pharmacokinetics, modeling each of the 12 tissues separately, by means of either a one-compartment model or a unit disposition function. The tissue and blood concentrations of the two opioids were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The well-stirred one-compartment tissue model could reasonably predict the concentration-time course of fentanyl in the heart, pancreas, testes, muscle, and fat, and of alfentanil in the brain and heart only. In most other tissues, the initial uptake of the opioids was considerably lower than predicted by this model. The unit disposition functions of the opioids in each tissue could be estimated by nonparametric numerical deconvolution, using the arterial concentration times tissue blood flow as the input and measured tissue concentrations as the response function. The observed zero-time intercepts of the unit disposition functions were below the theoretical value of one, and were invariably lower for alfentanil than for fentanyl. These findings can be explained by the existence of diffusion barriers within the tissues and they also indicate that alfentanil is less efficiently extracted by the tissue parenchyma than the more lipophilic compound fentanyl. The individual unit disposition functions obtained for fentanyl and alfentanil in 12 rat tissues provide a starting point for the development of models of intratissue kinetics of these opioids. These submodels can then be assembled into full physiological models of drug disposition. © 1993 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
• KINETIC-ANALYSIS OF AUC-DEPENDENT SATURABLE CLEARANCE OF LIPOSOMES - MATHEMATICAL-DESCRIPTION OF AUC DEPENDENCY

  H HARASHIMA, C YAMANE, Y KUME, H KIWADA

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOKINETICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS 21 (3) 299 - 308 0090-466X 1993/06 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to examine the AUC dependency of saturable hepatic clearance (CL(h)) of liposomes and to postulate a mathematical model to describe the characteristics. The AUC dependency of saturable CL(h) was examined wider intravenous rapid administration at various doses. The CL(h) increased with increasing blood concentration but decreased with the increase of AUC at each dose. In addition, the relationship between AUC and CLA(h) was consistent with that observed in previously reported infusion studies. These experimental data confirm the AUC dependency of saturable CL(h) of liposomes. A mathematical model was developed for this, AUC dependency. The decrease of CL(h) was described by the uptake amount (X) as follows: CL(h) = CL(m)(1 - X/X(m)), where CL(m) and X(m) represent the maximum uptake clearance and the maximum uptake amount, respectively. The rate equation for uptake was analytically solved as CL(h) = X/AUC = X(m)/AUC(1 - exp(CL(m)/X(m)AUC)). Uptake clearance can be described by CL(m), X(m), and AUC, and so uptake clearance is constant if AUC is constant. These experimental analyses and theoretical considerations show the validity of the AUC-dependent saturable CL(h) of liposomes.
• KINETIC MODELING OF LIPOSOME DEGRADATION IN BLOOD-CIRCULATION

  H HARASHIMA, Y KUME, C YAMANE, H KIWADA

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 14 (3) 265 - 270 0142-2782 1993/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The aim of this study is to develop a kinetic model for the quantitative evaluation of, and to examine dose dependency in liposome degradation in blood circulation in vivo. Multilamellar liposomes labeled with H-3-inulin were administered intravenously into rats and the time courses of blood concentration and urinary excretion of H-3-inulin were measured. The dosages of liposomes were fixed at 1, 5, and 100 mumolPCkg-1. Remarkable saturation was found in the time courses of both blood concentration and urinary excretion. Then a kinetic model for the degradation of liposomes in blood was developed, assuming that the degradation follows the first order rate process for each dose. The model fitted the observed time courses of excreted H-3-inulin well, and dose dependency could be observed in the rate constants for liposome degradation, which are more sensitive than urinary excretion of H-3-inulin. The degradation rate constant correlated well with the uptake rate constant, which suggests the same underlying mechanism for both uptake and degradation. These results indicate the usefulness of kinetic modeling in the quantitative evaluation of liposome degradation in blood circulation in vivo.
• DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DEPLETION OF OPSONINS AND THE SATURATION OF UPTAKE IN THE DOSE-DEPENDENT HEPATIC-UPTAKE OF LIPOSOMES

  H HARASHIMA, K SAKATA, H KIWADA

  PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH 10 (4) 606 - 610 0724-8741 1993/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Opsonins play a role in the hepatic uptake of particles such as bacteria, lipid emulsion, and liposomes. The objective of this study was to distinguish between opsonin depletion and uptake saturation in the dose-dependent hepatic uptake of liposomes. The uptake of opsonized and unopsonized liposomes was determined in the isolated perfused liver. Serum (2.9 mL) was required to opsonize 1 mumol liposomes fully, indicating that a rat (250 g with 10 mL of serum) can opsonize 3.5 mumol liposomes. Next the dose effect on hepatic uptake of opsonized and unopsonized liposomes was examined. Saturation of uptake was found only for the opsonized liposomes. On the other hand, the hepatic uptake clearance decreased dose dependently from 4.31 to 0.79 (mL/min), with increasing doses from 0.075 to 17 mumol/250 g, respectively, after i.v. administration. Thus, the decrease in the hepatic uptake clearance at the medium dose was due to the saturation of uptake alone, and at the high dose it was due to opsonin depletion as well. These results show that the saturation of liposomal uptake in the liver and the depletion of opsonins occurred at different liposome dosage levels.
• KINETIC ANALYSIS OF LIPOSOME UPTAKE BY RES IN COMPARISON TO THEIR DEGRADATION IN BLOOD AND RES

  Harashima H., Ochi Y., Hiraiwa T., Sugino K., Kiwada H.

  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics The Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics 8 751 - 754 0916-1139 1993 

  Kinetic analysis of the hepatic uptake of liposomes was performed in comparison to the degradation of liposomes in blood and liver. The degradation clearance of liposomes in blood was shown to depend on the size of liposomes. In vitro kinetic study on the degradation of liposomes suggested the mechanism of this size dependency due to the Increased affinity of liposomes for complement. There was two kinds of hepatic uptake components of liposomes, one is a size dependent opsonized pathway, and the other is a size Independent unopsonized pathway. The size dependent opsonization of liposomes was shown to result from the size dependent complement activation and this component explained the size dependended hepatic uptake clearance of liposomes in vivo. The kinetic analysis of the hepatic degradation of liposomes was also performed by labeling liposomes with both ¹²⁵I-albumin and ³H-cholesterylhexadecylether. Although the mechanism of hepatic uptake are considered to be different depending on the size of liposomes, the kinetics of hepatic degradation of liposomes was same for each size of liposomes and lay in the order of hour.
• KINETIC-ANALYSIS OF TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF DOXORUBICIN INCORPORATED IN LIPOSOMES IN RATS .1.

  H HARASHIMA, S OHSHIMA, Y MIDORI, K YACHI, H KIKUCHI, H KIWADA

  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION 13 (3) 155 - 170 0142-2782 1992/04 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The purpose of this study was to perform a kinetic analysis of the tissue distribution of doxorubicin (DXR) and liposomes separately after intravenous administration of DXR entrapped in liposomes in rats. Liposomes were double labeled with 14C-DXR (L-DXR) and 3H-inulin (L-INU). Blood and tissues were sampled at specified times until 120 min. Blood clearance of L-DXR was similar to that of L-INU. Distribution of both L-DXR and L-INU into the liver was parallel and extensive, while in the heart, the pattern of distribution differed between L-DXR and L-INU after peak concentration. Time courses of tissue concentration were explained well by dividing tissue into a shallow compartment with efflux and a deep compartment without efflux. In the liver, pharmacokinetic parameters of L-DXR and L-INU were similar, and the two kinetically different compartments may correspond to different uptake processes in hepatic endocytosis. In the heart, the shallow compartment was considered to correspond to the cardiac vascular space, and the intercompartmental rate constant (k3) for L-DXR was much larger than that for L-INU. The estimated half-life for this process was 20 min. The half-life for the degradation of liposomes in blood circulation was also estimated at 20 min from data on the urinary excretion of released 3H-inulin. These results suggest that the release of DXR from liposomes may be the rate-limiting process in the tissue distribution of DXR to the heart.
• Kinetic Modeling of Ouabain Tissue Distribution Based on Slow and Saturable Binding to Na,K-ATPase

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Michio Mamiya, Masayo Yamazaki, Yasufumi Sawada, Tatsuji Iga, Manabu Hanano, Yuichi Sugiyama

  Pharmaceutical Research: An Official Journal of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 9 (12) 1607 - 1611 1573-904X 1992 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The significance of the binding to Na,K-ATPase in the tissue distribution of ouabain was previously documented (Harashima et al., Pharm. Res. 9:474-479, 1992). The purpose of this study was to obtain a kinetic model of ouabain tissue distribution. In most tissues, the ouabain concentration continued to rise after the termination of infusion (5 min), with the peak tissue concentration at approximately 20 min. This delay could not be explained by the rapid equilibrium model (RE model), nor could the kinetics of ouabain be explained by an RE model modified for saturable binding. Since ouabain binding to Na,K-ATPase is slow, the association and dissociation processes were incorporated into a model that can accurately fit the observed time courses of ouabain. The obtained binding parameters corresponded well with the observed values in the in vitro binding experiments, except for muscle. These results quantitatively support the role of the slow and saturable binding of ouabain to Na,K-ATPase in its tissue distribution. © 1992, Plenum Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
• Significance of Binding to Na,K-ATPase in the Tissue Distribution of Ouabain in Guinea Pigs

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Michio Mamiya, Masayo Yamazaki, Yuichi Sugiyama, Yasufumi Sawada, Tatsuji Iga, Manabu Hanano

  Pharmaceutical Research: An Official Journal of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 9 (4) 474 - 479 1573-904X 1992 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Ouabain binds specifically to Na,K-ATPase on the plasma membrane and therefore serves to measure the tissue concentration of Na,K-ATPase. We examined the role of ouabain binding to Na,K-ATPase in its overall tissue distribution. The tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (Kp,vivo) was defined in each tissue after intravenous administration of 3H-ouabain in guinea pigs, and specific binding of ouabain to Na,K-ATPase was measured in tissue homogenate to obtain the dissociation constant and binding capacity in each tissue. A predicted tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (Kp,vitro) was calculated using the obtained binding parameters and the volume of extracellular space in each tissue. The absolute values of Kp,vitro were comparable to those of Kpvivo, except in brain. Regression analysis showed that the specific binding capacity of Na,K-ATPase in each tissue is the main factor in the tissue variation of Kp,vivo. Therefore, the binding of ouabain to Na,K-ATPase plays a significant role in the tissue distribution of ouabain. © 1992, Plenum Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
• SATURABLE, NON-MICHAELIS-MENTEN UPTAKE OF LIPOSOMES BY THE RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM

  Y KUME, F MAEDA, H HARASHIMA, H KIWADA

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY 43 (3) 162 - 166 0022-3573 1991/03 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multilamellar vesicles (300-350 nm) were infused into the rat femoral vein at the rate of 4, 40 and 400 nmol phosphatidycholine min-1 for 6 h using [H-3]inulin as an aqueous marker. The time courses of blood concentration of vesicles, normalized for infusion rate, were not superimposable, showing the non-linearity of liposome disposition in the blood circulation. These time courses of blood concentration were well fitted by a single Michaelis-Menten equation. On the other hand, the time courses of tissue content could not be so accommodated. Additionally, the observed relationship between the uptake of liposomes by the liver and their clearance from it and other organs differed essentially from a simulation based on Michaelis-Menten type saturable kinetics. Therefore, it is suggested that there is a time-dependent non-Michaelis-Menten type process in the phagocytosis of macrophages in the reticuloendothelial system.
• Kinetic analysis of the dose-dependent hepatic handling of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate in rats

  Youn Bok Chung, Seiji Miyauchi, Yuichi Sugiyama, Hideyoshi Harashima, Tatsuji Iga, Manabu Hanano

  Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics 18 (4) 313 - 333 0090-466X 1990/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The dose dependency in the hepatic transport of an anionic fluorescent dye, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), was investigated by measuring the plasma disappearance and biliary excretion in rats. Bulk of the administered ANS distributed into the liver at 10 min after iv bolus injection. The plasma disappearance curves of ANS were then kinetically analyzed based on a two-compartment model, in which the ligand is eliminated only from the peripheral compartment (liver compartment). The total body clearance (CLtot) decreased with increasing dose of ANS. That is, the values of CLtot were 4.06 and 1.98 ml/min/per kg at the doses of 3 and 100 Μmol/kg, respectively. The clearances of the uptake and sequestration processes (CLup and CLseq, respectively) for a total ligand were constant irrespective of dose, while the efflux clearance (CLeff) for a total ligand was increased by twofold with increasing dose. A mechanism for the increase in the CLeff value might be explained by a saturation of the ANS binding to the intracellular proteins. The hepatocellular distribution and the binding of ANS to cytosolic proteins were then determined. ANS mainly distributed to the cytosol fraction, and the unbound fraction in the cytosol increased from approximately 0.04 to 0.09 when the cytosolic concentrations of ANS increased from 40 to 900 ΜM, respectively. In,spite of such increase in the unbound fraction in the cytosol, the CLseq values remained unchanged with increasing dose, suggesting that the saturation of sequestration clearance for unbound ANS might occur. Furthermore, the plasma disappearance curves of ANS at various doses were simultaneously analyzed based on three nonlinear kinetic models: Model I is a model incorporating both saturable intracellular binding and saturable sequestration Model II is a model incorporating only saturable intracellular binding Model III is the model incorporating only saturable sequestration. Goodness- of- fit evaluated by AIC value was best for Model I. Taken together, the nonlinearity in the plasma clearance of ANS was confirmed to be attributed to saturation of both its binding to cytosolic proteins and sequestration process. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.
• Effect of various organic anions on the plasma disappearance of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate

  Youn Bok Chung, Seiji Miyauchi, Yuichi Sugiyama, Hideyoshi Harashima, Tatsuji Iga, Manabu Hanano

  Journal of Hepatology 11 (2) 240 - 251 0168-8278 1990 [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  The effects of various organic anions on the hepatic transport of an anionic fluorescent dye, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) were investigated by measuring the plasma disappearance-time profiles in rats. Ten min after the i.v. administration of ANS (3 μmol/kg), various organic anions (60 μmol/kg) were injected in a bolus. Sulfobromophthalein (BSP),bromophenol blue (BPB) and rose bengal (RB) induced a transient increase in the plasma concentration of ANS (the so-called 'counter-transport' phenomena). The effect of rose bengal was somewhat different. After the administration of rose bengal, the plasma concentration of ANS decreased rapidly followed by a gradual increase. On the other hand, after the administration of bilirubin and taurocholate, the transient increases in plasma ANS concentrations were minimal. No effect was observed after the administration of phenolsulfophthalein (PSP) or oleate. The effects of these organic anions on the binding of ANS to rat liver cytosols were examined by equilibrium dialysis. Sulfobromophthalein, bromophenol blue and rose bengal, which yielded an in vivo 'counter-transport' phenomena, markedly inhibited ANS binding to cytosolic proteins. On the other hand, the other organic anions examined had very small, if any, inhibitory effect. The ANS binders in the cytosol were then identified by gel filtration. ANS bound mainly to X and Y (ligandin) fractions in the cytosol. Sulfobromophthalein, which is one of the organic anions exhibiting the in vivo 'counter-transport' phenomenon, remarkably inhibited ANS binding to ligandin fraction. It was thus suggested that the in vivo 'counter-transport' phenomena may be also explained by the enhancement of back diffusion due to the displacement of intracellular binding. In conclusion, one should be more cautious in interpreting data obtained from so-called in vivo 'counter-transport' experiments. © 1990.
• NONLINEAR TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF OUABAIN IN RABBITS

  H HARASHIMA, Y SUGIYAMA, T IGA, M HANANO

  DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION 16 (4) 645 - 649 0090-9556 1988/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• INFUSION RATE-DEPENDENT POSITIVE INOTROPIC ACTION OUABAIN IN RABBITS

  H HARASHIMA, Y SUGIYAMA, Y SAWADA, K SHIGENOBU, Y KASUYA, T IGA, M HANANO

  CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN 35 (7) 2923 - 2927 0009-2363 1987/07 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• ANALYSIS OF NONLINEAR TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF QUINIDINE IN RATS BY PHYSIOLOGICALLY BASED PHARMACOKINETICS

  H HARASHIMA, Y SAWADA, Y SUGIYAMA, T IGA, M HANANO

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOKINETICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS 13 (4) 425 - 440 0090-466X 1985/08 [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• PREDICTION OF THE VOLUMES OF DISTRIBUTION OF BASIC DRUGS IN HUMANS BASED ON DATA FROM ANIMALS

  Y SAWADA, M HANANO, Y SUGIYAMA, H HARASHIMA, T IGA

  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOKINETICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS 12 (6) 587 - 596 0090-466X 1984 [Refereed][Not invited]
  

MISC

• ポリカチオン/DNA複合体搭載脂質ナノ粒子による効率的な長鎖DNAトランスフェクション

  宇野秀哉, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 日比野光恵, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学系学協会北海道支部冬季研究発表会(Web)  2023-  2023
• 抗酸化能を有した心筋再生治療用ミトコンドリア活性化ヒト由来心筋前駆細胞の開発

  白石真大, 白石真大, 佐々木大輔, 日比野光恵, 日比野光恵, 武田充人, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨  日本酸化ストレス学会学術集会プログラム・抄録集  76th-  2023
• Effect of Lipid Nanoparticle Properties on the Therapeutic Effects against Acetaminophen Liver Injury

  日比野光恵, 日比野光恵, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  38th-  2023
• 難水溶性物質CoQ₁₀を搭載可能な脂質ナノ粒子設計の検討

  杉原崚太, 日比野光恵, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 中村孝司, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨  生体膜と薬物の相互作用シンポジウム講演要旨集  44th-  2023
• Validation of mitochondrial-derived component supplementation strategy for the purpose of activating mitochondrial function

  伊藤百, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集(Web)  143rd-  2023
• Evaluation of an innovative mitochondrial genome-editing system using mitochondria-targeted nanoparticles in vitro

  野呂田楓, 石塚宣, 廣瀬みさ, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨  日本薬学会年会要旨集(Web)  143rd-  2023
• 特性の異なるコエンザイムQ₁₀搭載脂質ナノ粒子を用いたアセトアミノフェン肝障害に対する治療効果の検証

  日比野光恵, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  39th-  2023
• CRISPR/Cas9システムを用いたmtDNAゲノム編集の検証

  野呂田楓, 野呂田楓, 野呂田楓, 石塚宣, 廣瀬みさ, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  39th-  2023
• 癌光治療用ミトコンドリア標的型ナノカプセルの殺細胞効果向上を目指した試み

  長縄莉奈, 高野勇太, 高野勇太, 趙韓俊, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉, 山田勇磨  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  39th-  2023
• 薬剤送達ナノ粒子作製用ガラス製マイクロ流体システムの開発

  岡田悠斗, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学系学協会北海道支部冬季研究発表会(Web)  2022-  2022
• ミトコンドリア標的型DDSを基盤とした癌光治療の検証

  山田勇磨, 窪田文佳, 高野勇太, BIJU Vasudevanpillai, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 繁富香織, 宮武由甲子, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  38th-  2022
• コエンザイムQ₁₀搭載ミトコンドリア標的型ナノカプセル注射剤の開発

  日比野光恵, 山田勇磨, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  生体膜と薬物の相互作用シンポジウム講演要旨集  43rd-  2022
• 心筋再生治療用ミトコンドリア活性化ヒト由来心筋幹細胞の開発

  白石真大, 白石真大, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 佐々木大輔, 日比野光恵, 武田充人, 原島秀吉  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  21st (CD-ROM)-  2022
• 蛍光ナノダイヤモンド搭載セラノスティクス用脂質ナノ粒子の作製

  杉浦魁星, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  45th-  2022
• マイクロ流体デバイスを用いた長鎖プラスミドDNA搭載ナノ粒子の作製

  宇野秀哉, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  46th-  2022
• Construction of preparation method using microfluidic device and validation of therapeutic effect for mitochondrial targeted coenzyme Q₁₀ encapsulated nanocapsule injectable drug

  日比野光恵, 山田勇磨, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集(Web)  142nd-  2022
• Validation of mitochondrial component supplementation strategy to activate mitochondrial function

  伊藤百, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 日比野光恵, 佐々木大輔, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 太田善浩, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集(Web)  142nd-  2022
• ミトコンドリア活性化ヒト由来心筋幹細胞を用いた細胞移植療法の検証

  白石真大, 白石真大, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 佐々木大輔, 日比野光恵, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 武田充人, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  38th-  2022
• Establishment of Preparation Method for Lipid Nanoparticles Encapsulating Poorly Water-Soluble Drug by Using Microfluidic Device

  日比野光恵, 日比野光恵, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  製剤機械技術学会誌  31-  (4)  2022
• 【モダリティ多様化を支援する創薬基盤技術】創薬におけるパラダイムシフトと大学発革新的ナノ医療の創出

  原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  57-  (7)  630  -634  2021/07  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア標的型光線力学的療法を可能とするナノキャリアの構築及び機能評価

  窪田文佳, 山田勇磨, SATRIALDI, 高野勇太, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  生体膜と薬物の相互作用シンポジウム講演要旨集  42nd (CD-ROM)-  2021
• Evaluation of therapeutic effect of myocardial stem cell transplantation using human mitochondria-enhanced cardiac stem cells in a rat model of acute heart failure

  佐々木大輔, 佐々木大輔, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 後藤悠太, 白石真大, 白石真大, 武田充人, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  36th-  2021
• 心筋ミトコンドリア標的型リポソームを用いたドキソルビシン心筋傷害軽減の試み

  辻岡孝郎, 辻岡孝郎, 山田勇磨, 佐々木大輔, 武田充人, 原島秀吉  日本腫瘍循環器学会学術集会抄録集(Web)  4th-  2021
• マイクロ流体デバイスを用いたプラスミドDNA搭載脂質ナノ粒子の作製

  宇野秀哉, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集  43rd-  2021
• 炎症性腸疾患におけるグルコシルセラミドの機能解析

  小室茉莉子, 永根大幹, 丹羽智瑛, 宮本貴祥, 遠藤力斗, 中村孝司, 原島秀吉, 相原尚之, 上家潤一, 山下匡  日本酸化ストレス学会学術集会プログラム・抄録集  74th (CD-ROM)-  2021
• 炎症性腸疾患におけるグルコシルセラミドの機能解析

  小室茉莉子, 永根大幹, 宮本貴祥, 丹羽智瑛, 遠藤力斗, 中村孝司, 原島秀吉, 相原尚之, 上家潤一, 山下匡  日本生化学会大会(Web)  94th-  2021
• Trans MIT system

  山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 日比野光恵, 伊藤百, 荒井愛永, 佐々木大輔, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 太田善浩, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  36th-  2021
• Properties of lipid nanoparticles affecting their lymph node transitivity and distribution

  中村孝司, 河合美典, 佐藤悠介, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  36th-  2021
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の開発とナノ医療への展開

  原島 秀吉  日本小児臨床薬理学会雑誌  33-  (1)  88  -88  2020/12  [Invited]
  
• ミトコンドリアを標的とする遺伝子治療用RNAナノカプセルの創製

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉  遺伝子医学  10-  (4)  74  -79  2020/10  [Invited]
   

  多彩な機能を有するミトコンドリアの機能破綻は様々な疾患を誘発する。これらの疾患の一部は,ミトコンドリアDNA(mtDNA)の変異・欠失が原因であることが報告されている。そのため,ミトコンドリアを標的とした遺伝子治療研究は,革新的医薬品の創製につながると期待されている。本稿では,われわれが創製したミトコンドリア標的型drug delivery system(DDS)"MITO-Porter"を基盤とした「ミトコンドリアを標的とする遺伝子治療用RNAナノカプセル」に関する研究を中心に紹介する。(著者抄録)
• ミトコンドリア強化幹細胞(MITO Cell)の製造および細胞移植療法への展開

  山田 勇磨, 阿部 二郎, 佐々木 大輔, 原島 秀吉  BIO Clinica  35-  (5)  448  -450  2020/05  [Invited]
   

  心筋幹細胞(Cardiac Progenitor Cell[CP Cell])移植は、心筋症に対する治療法として大規模臨床試験において、その有用性が認められている。一方で、持続的な移植効果維持が困難とされており、移植細胞のミトコンドリア機能不全などが原因として報告されている。我々はこれまでに、酸化ストレス発生源であり細胞内ATP産生を担うミトコンドリアを強化した心筋幹細胞(MITO Cell)の製造を行い、細胞移植療法の治療有効性を報告している。MITO Cellの構築は、MITO-Porter(ミトコンドリア標的型ナノカプセル)を用いてCP Cellのミトコンドリアに機能性分子を送達し構築した。本稿では、ミトコンドリア毒性を有するドキソルビシン心筋症モデルマウスを用いた。MITO Cellの細胞移植療法の心筋症治療の成績向上に関する我々の研究成果を紹介する。(著者抄録)
• 【核酸医薬の最近の話題】核酸DDS技術を用いたがん免疫療法

  中村 孝司, 原島 秀吉  細胞  52-  (5)  245  -248  2020/05  [Invited]
   

  免疫チェックポイント阻害療法の臨床での成功は、2018年のノーベル生理学・医学賞へと繋がった。さらに、遺伝子改変T細胞療法は血液がんに対する顕著な奏効を実現する。これらの治療法はがん治療に革命をもたらし、がん免疫療法は今や最も注目されている領域となっている。しかしながら、免疫チェックポイント阻害剤単剤での有効率は全体として20-30%であり、全てのがん患者に対して有効ではない。また、遺伝子改変T細胞療法は固形がんに対する有効性、煩雑性、高コストなどが課題となっている。そのような中、Drug Delivery System(DDS)は現在のがん免疫療法が抱える課題を解決することが可能な技術として注目されている。本稿では、核酸を搭載したDDS技術ががん免疫療法に与えるインパクトを我々の成果を実例として紹介する。(著者抄録)
• 【核酸創薬に貢献するバイオマテリアル】バイオマテリアルに基づいた核酸ナノ医療の創製

  山田 勇磨, 中村 孝司, 佐藤 悠介, 原島 秀吉  バイオマテリアル-生体材料-  38-  (2)  92  -99  2020/04  [Invited]
   

  核酸ナノ医療の時代が始まり、医薬品業界ではゴールドラッシュが巻き起こっている。一方で、ゾルゲンスマに代表される超高額医療費の経済的問題は、国家予算の破綻も招きかねず、新たなジレンマに直面することが予想される。本稿では、前半ではCAR-T療法、パティシラン、ゾルゲンスマについて紹介し、革新的核酸医薬・遺伝子治療の最先端技術について考察する。後半では、我々の研究成果に基づいて、細胞内動態制御の重要性とポストEPRの時代のDDS戦略について紹介し、バイオマテリアルによってこのジレンマをいかにして突破するべきか、議論したい。(著者抄録)
• T細胞のグルコシルセラミドは炎症性大腸炎を抑制する

  永根大幹, 山門みのり, 水野愛理, 遠藤力斗, 中村孝司, 原島秀吉, 相原尚之, 上家潤一, 山下匡  日本酸化ストレス学会学術集会プログラム・抄録集  73rd-  2020
• Size and charge effect of lipid nanoparticles on transitivity to lymph node and distribution in lymph node

  中村孝司, 河合美典, 佐藤悠介, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集(CD-ROM)  140th (Web)-  2020
• CRISPR/Casタンパク質搭載脂質ナノ粒子の開発

  佐藤悠介, 鈴木裕一, 小沼はるの, 佐藤里咲, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  36th-  2020
• コエンザイムQ10封入ミトコンドリア標的型DDSの開発およびアセトアミノフェン肝障害モデルへの治療効果の検証

  日比野光恵, 山田勇磨, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 石塚洋一, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  36th-  2020
• ガラス製マイクロ流体デバイスを用いたsiRNA搭載脂質ナノ粒子の作製と大量生産用集積化デバイスの開発

  真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 岡田悠斗, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  36th-  2020
• DDSナノ粒子作製用ガラス製マイクロ流体デバイスの開発

  岡田悠斗, 真栄城正寿, 真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集  42nd (Web)-  2020
• 平成維新-平成30年を振り返る- 平成のDDS(siRNA/リポソーム編)を原島先生と共に振り返る MEND(細胞内制御)とPEGジレンマはこうして誕生した

  原島 秀吉, 畠山 浩人, 金沢 貴憲  薬剤学: 生命とくすり  80-  (1)  13  -23  2020/01  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• Recent advances in the targeting of systemically administered non-viral gene delivery systems

  Ikramy A. Khalil, Yusuke Sato, Hideyoshi Harashima  Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery  16-  (10)  1037  -1050  2019/10/03  

  Introduction: Systemically administered non-viral gene delivery systems face multiple biological barriers that decrease their efficiency. These systems are rapidly cleared from the circulation and sufficient concentrations do not accumulate in diseased tissues. A number of targeting strategies can be used to provide for sufficient accumulation in the desired tissues to achieve a therapeutic effect. Areas covered: We discuss recent advances in the targeting of non-viral gene delivery systems to different tissues after systemic administration. We compare passive and active targeting applied for tumor delivery and propose some strategies that can be used to overcome the drawbacks of each case. We also discuss targeting the liver and lungs as two particularly important organs in gene therapy. Expert opinion: There is currently no optimum non-viral gene delivery system for targeting genes to specific tissues. The dose delivered to tumor tissues using passive targeting is low and shows a high patient variation. Although active targeting can enhance binding to specific cells, only a few reports are available to support its value in vivo. The design of smart nanocarriers for promoting active targeting is urgently needed and targeting the endothelium is a promising strategy for gene delivery to tumors as well as other organs.
• 【ミトコンドリアと疾患・老化 細胞内代謝プラントとしての役割を知り、ミトコンドリアを標的とした創薬に挑む】(第3章)ミトコンドリア疾患の診断技術と治療戦略 治療技術・治療薬開発 ミトコンドリア標的型ナノDDSが創る未来医療

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉  実験医学  37-  (12)  2067  -2073  2019/08  [Not refereed][Invited]
   

  多彩な機能を有するミトコンドリアへ目的分子を送達するdrug delivery system(DDS)は、医療・ライフサイエンス分野の発展に大きく貢献すると期待されている。本稿では、DDS研究者の立場から、「ミトコンドリアDDS研究の魅力を伝えること」を目標とし、さらに、「ミトコンドリアを標的とする未来医療の可能性」も提示したい。ここでは、ミトコンドリアを標的とするナノDDSについて概説するとともに、われわれが創製したミトコンドリア標的型ナノDDS"MITO-Porter"の開発研究に関して紹介する。(著者抄録)
• 心不全病態に対する多面的アプローチ 基礎から治療へ 虚血再灌流モデルマウスを用いた心不全に対するミトコンドリア活性化心筋幹細胞を用いた細胞移植療法の治療効果の検討

  佐々木 大輔, 阿部 二郎, 武田 充人, 原島 秀吉, 山田 勇磨  日本小児循環器学会雑誌  35-  (Suppl.1)  s1  -125  2019/06
• 【小児科医に知ってほしいミトコンドリア病UPDATE】治療の展望 ミトコンドリアDDSが拓く新しいミトコンドリア病治療戦略

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉  小児科診療  82-  (4)  523  -528  2019/04  [Not refereed][Invited]
   

  ●ミトコンドリアの機能異常は種々の疾患(進行性変性疾患、虚血性疾患、糖尿病、ミトコンドリア遺伝病、など)を誘発することが報告されている。●そのため、ミトコンドリアを標的とした医薬品の開発研究は、新たな疾患治療法を提供する次世代医薬品の創製につながると期待される。●本稿では、筆者らが創製したミトコンドリア標的型drug delivery system(DDS)"MITO-Porter"の開発研究に関して、特に「ミトコンドリアを標的とする遺伝子治療戦略」および「ミトコンドリア強化幹細胞を用いた移植療法」に焦点をあて紹介する。(著者抄録)
• 【加速する核酸医薬開発】siRNAのDDS開発の現状と展望

  佐藤 悠介, 原島 秀吉  医薬ジャーナル  55-  (2)  615  -619  2019/02  [Invited]
   

  ＜文献概要＞Short interfering RNA(siRNA)は,RNA干渉により任意の遺伝子発現が抑制可能な機能性核酸である。多くの難治性疾患に対する新規治療モダリティとして魅力的であるが,単独では組織移行能を示さないことから,医薬としての応用には目的細胞へ選択的かつ効率的にsiRNAを送達する技術(drug delivery system:DDS)の開発が不可欠である。これまでに脂質,ポリマーやリガンド分子コンジュゲート等の多様な分子設計・マテリアル開発がなされてきており,複数の製剤が臨床試験に進んでいる。2018年8月には世界初のsiRNA医薬品が認可され,まさにsiRNA医薬時代の幕開けとなった。本稿では,近年のsiRNAのDDS開発状況を概説するとともに,今後の課題や展望について述べる。
• 実験計画法によるmRNA送達キャリアの効率的な最適化

  橋場月, 佐藤悠介, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本核酸医薬学会年会講演要旨集  5th-  2019
• ゲノム編集タンパク質搭載脂質ナノ粒子の開発

  佐藤悠介, 鈴木裕一, 佐藤里咲, 真栄城正寿, 渡慶次学, 原島秀吉  日本核酸医薬学会年会講演要旨集  5th-  2019
• 脂質ナノ粒子形成後の二次希釈操作が粒子サイズへ与える影響の解明

  木村笑, 真栄城正寿, 岡部奈々, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集  39th-  2019
• ミトコンドリアへの分子送達技術

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉  BIO Clinica  33-  (7)  637  -640  2018/07  [Invited]
   

  オートファジーに関連するミトコンドリアの品質管理システム・マイトファジーが注目を集めている。人工的にマイトファジーを誘導するシステムは、進行性神経変性疾患などの疾患解明・治療に大きく貢献する事が期待される。本戦略を実現するためには、マイトファジー誘導分子をミトコンドリアに送達するDrug Delivery Systemが必要不可欠である。本稿では、ミトコンドリアを標的としたDDSを概説する。また、ミトコンドリア標的型ナノカプセル"MITO-Porter"に関する我々の最新の研究成果も紹介する。(著者抄録)
• 【"EPR効果"】EPR効果と血管を標的としたがん微小環境制御によるナノ粒子送達戦略

  櫻井 遊, 原島 秀吉  Drug Delivery System  33-  (2)  98  -104  2018/03  [Invited]
   

  EPR効果の発見により、ナノ粒子を用いて抗がん剤を送達する戦略を基盤としたナノ粒子製剤の開発が大きな進展を見せた。しかしながら、近年のドキソルビシン封入リポソームの複数の臨床試験のメタ解析の結果から、ヒトにおいて統計学的に有意な治療効果が認められないことが報告された。今回はこの報告について紹介する。また、ナノ粒子への腫瘍送達に与える腫瘍微小環境の影響の評価と送達効率の向上のために、筆者らは最近、血管へのsiRNA送達による微小環境リモデリングに基づくナノ粒子送達戦略を提唱している。本稿では、これまでに得られた血管正常化とナノ粒子送達効率の関係性について概説したい。(著者抄録)
• ミトコンドリア強化幹細胞(MITO Cell)の製造および心筋症モデルを用いた細胞移植療法の検証

  山田勇磨, 阿部二郎, 佐々木大輔, 武田充人, 原島秀吉  日本酸化ストレス学会学術集会プログラム・抄録集  71st-  2018
• ミトコンドリア活性化幹細胞を用いた心筋幹細胞移植療法の確立

  佐々木大輔, 山田勇磨, 阿部二郎, 武田充人, 原島秀吉  次世代を担う若手医療薬科学シンポジウム抄録集  12th-  2018
• iLiNPデバイスによるpH応答性カチオン性脂質ナノ粒子の粒径制御

  木村笑, 真栄城正寿, 岡部奈々, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集  37th-  2018
• マイクロデバイスを用いた脂質ナノ粒子作製と生体内動態挙動

  真栄城正寿, 木村笑, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学工学会秋季大会研究発表講演要旨集(CD-ROM)  49th-  2017
• Strategy for multiple cancer immunotherapy based on c-di-GMP loaded lipid nanoparticles

  中村 孝司, 原島 秀吉  細胞  48-  (13)  655  -659  2016/12
• Development of pH-Sensitive Lipid -Based Lipid Nanoparticles and Its Application to Nucleic Acid Nanomedicine

  佐藤 悠介, 原島 秀吉  化學工業  67-  (11)  821  -827  2016/11
• pH感受性脂質を基盤とした脂質ナノ粒子の開発と核酸ナノメディシンへの応用

  佐藤悠介, 原島秀吉  化学工業  67-  (11)  21  -27  2016/11  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• 【DDSを支える高分子-ポリエチレングリコール-】PEGジレンマ 生体内安定性と細胞内動態の制御によるがんへの遺伝子・核酸デリバリー

  畠山 浩人, 原島 秀吉  Drug Delivery System  31-  (4)  293  -299  2016/09  [Invited]
   

  核酸医薬のがん治療への応用にはDDSが必要不可欠である。血中投与後のがんへの送達には、DDSへのPEG修飾による血中滞留性向上とEPR効果が重要であるが、これは同時に標的細胞における著しい活性の低下を引き起こす。この体内動態と細胞内動態に対する相反するPEGの性質を「PEGのジレンマ」として提唱し、この問題の解決が、効率的なDDS開発にとって最も重要な課題であると考えている。本稿ではこのPEGのジレンマの解決にむけた筆者らの戦略や取り組みについて紹介したい。(著者抄録)
• A Lipid Nanoparticle for Efficient Delivery of siRNA to Dendritic Cells Towards Cell-based Cancer Therapy

  中村 孝司, 原島 秀吉  化學工業  67-  (7)  477  -482  2016/07
• Formation of Lipid Nanoparticles Using Microfluidic Devices and its Application for DDS

  真栄城正寿, 佐藤悠介, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  機能材料  36-  (7)  15  -21  2016/07  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• Properties and Evaluation of Liposome Drug Product

  加藤 くみ子, 石原 比呂之, 友田 寬, 松田 嘉弘, 永井 尚美, 花田 博幸, 久田 茂, 小野寺 博志, 西山 伸宏, 原島 秀吉, 松村 保広, 片岡 一則, 合田 幸広, 奥田 晴宏, 川西 徹  医薬品医療機器レギュラトリーサイエンス = Pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory science  47-  (5)  333  -341  2016/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  リポソーム製剤は有効成分をリポソームの脂質二分子膜または内相に封入することにより作製される。今回、ナノメートルサイズのリポソーム製剤で、有効成分の生体内安定性、組織移行性プロファイルをはじめとする薬物動態、細胞内動態等の向上を目的として設計された製剤について、以下の項目に分けて述べた。1)リポソーム製剤に特有の品質特性と製法変更時の同等性/同質性評価、2)非臨床薬物動態、3)非臨床毒性、として述べた。
• プラスミドDNA結合ヒストンの特異的アセチル化による外来遺伝子発現上昇

  紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 西原実香, 西原実香, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 鈴木哲矢, 山門振一郎, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  32nd-  2016
• 血管を標的とする薬物送達システムに基づいた新しい治療法

  櫻井遊, 梶本和昭, 原島秀吉  Dementia Japan  30-  (1)  30  -40  2016  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• BCG-CWS搭載ナノ粒子を用いた膀胱がん免疫療法剤の開発

  中村 孝司, 吹上 雅文, 鈴木 嘉晃, 矢野 郁也, 宮崎 淳, 西山 博之, 赤座 英之, 中山 俊憲, 原島 秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  135年会-  (4)  84  -84  2015/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 脂質ナノ粒子の粒径制御のためのマイクロ流体デバイス設計

  真栄城正寿, 藤島由佳, 佐藤悠介, 石田晃彦, 谷博文, 原島秀吉, 渡慶次学  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム学会研究会講演要旨集  32nd-  2015
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創世とナノ医療への展開

  佐藤悠介, 山田勇磨, 梶本和昭, 原島秀吉  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム  14-  (1)  15  -23  2015  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• Anti-angiogenic nanotherapy via active targeting systems to tumors and adipose tissue vasculature

  Yu Sakurai, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE  3-  (9)  1253  -1265  2015  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Sophisticated drug delivery systems (DDS) are required for delivering drugs, especially macromolecules such as nucleic acids or proteins, to their sites of action. Therefore it is a prerequisite that future DDS are designed to selectively target a tissue. In this review, we focus on systems that actively target the vasculature in tumors or adipose tissues. For targeting tumor vasculatur, a new strategy referred to as dual-targeting is proposed that uses a combination of a receptor specific ligand and a cell penetrating peptide, which can induce the synergistic enhancement of tissue selectivity under in vivo conditions. A novel pH-sensitive cationic lipid was designed to enhance the endosomal release of encapsulated compounds such as siRNA as well as to improve the stability in blood circulation after intravenous administration. A cyclic RGD peptide is used as an active targeting ligand. For targeting adipose vasculature, prohibitin, which is expressed on the surface of adipose endothelial cells, was targeted with KGGRAKD peptides on the surface of PEGylated nanoparticles. Prohibitin targeted nanoparticles (PTNP) encapsulating Cytochrome c (CytC) can selectively target adipose vasculature by optimizing the lengths of the PEG linkers and can deliver CytC to adipose endothelial cells. PTNP can successfully induce anti-obese effects as well as apoptosis by delivering CytC to the cytosol in endothelial cells. Unexpectedly, the EPR (enhanced permeability and retention) effect, which is usually observed in tumor tissue, was also observed in the adipose vasculature, especially in obese mice, where PEGylated nanoparticles can pass through the endothelial barriers in adipose tissue. We believe that these achievements in active targeting will allow a greatly expanded use of DDS for nanomedicines.
• Microfluidic approach for production of lipid nanoparticles-based nano medicine

  M. Maeki, T. Saito, Y. Node, Y. Sato, T. Yasui, N. Kaji, A. Ishida, H. Tani, Y. Baba, H. Harashima, M. Tokeshi  MicroTAS 2015 - 19th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences  838  -840  2015  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  © 15CBMS-0001. This paper described a simple preparation method for small-size and monodispersed lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) by using microfluidic devices. The fundamental role and importance of chaotic micromixer in the microfluidic device was demonstrated. The suitable cycle number of chaotic micromixer was confirmed for precise controlling LNPs size with narrow distribution under the any flow rate conditions. In addition, LNPs containing siRNA was synthesized for evaluation of penetration efficiency via in vivo experiment. The PEGylated LNPs containing siRNA with a diameter of 30 nm could penetrate to the mouse parenchymal liver cells rather than the LNPs with a diameter of 50 nm.
• ヒアルロン酸受容体を用いた肝類洞内皮細胞へ集積する新規Drug delivery system製剤の開発

  佐野 直樹, 田村 孝史, 中山 健, 田野井 智倫, 村田 聡一郎, 鳥谷部 尚之, 兵藤 守, 原島 秀吉, 大河内 信弘  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  30回-  169  -169  2014/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 肝臓集積性DDSおよび肝類洞内皮細胞選択性DDSを用いた肝炎治療効果の検討

  田野井 智倫, 田村 孝史, 中山 健, 佐野 直樹, 村田 聡一郎, 鳥谷部 尚之, 櫻井 遊, 原島 秀吉, 大河内 信弘  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  30回-  178  -178  2014/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device for non-viral gene delivery: Concept and Application for Nanomedicine

  Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  16-  (7-8)  204  -205  2014/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR IN VIVO MITOCHONDRIAL GENE DELIVERY USING HYDRODYNAMIC LIMB VEIN INJECTION

  Yukari Yasuzaki, Yuma Yamada, Tsutomu Kanefuji, Dexi Liu, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  16-  (7-8)  275  -275  2014/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 【先端的医薬品等におけるレギュラトリーサイエンス研究の現状・課題】 ナノテクノロジーを基盤とした医薬品のレギュラトリーサイエンス研究への取り組み

  原島 秀吉, 秋田 英万, 加藤 くみ子, 石井 武彦, 松村 保広, 片岡 一則  Drug Delivery System  29-  (3)  217  -225  2014/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  ナノメートルサイズの物質は、バルク物質が有する特性とは、化学的、物理的、または生物学的に区別しうる特性をしばしば有し、このような特異な性質は、医薬品開発にも応用されつつある。ナノテクノロジーを基盤とした医薬品(ナノ医薬品)は、従来の製剤とは体内での挙動や生体との相互作用などさまざまな点で異なると考えられるため、ナノ医薬品の特性に配慮した評価が必要とされている。筆者らは、主として有効成分の生体内安定性や生体内分布等の体内動態の制御による薬効の向上と毒性低減等を目的とした脂質ナノ粒子並びに高分子ミセルの製剤化研究や非臨床、臨床試験を行っている。本稿では、筆者らが取り組んでいるナノ医薬品のレギュラトリーサイエンス研究について紹介する。(著者抄録)
• Development of Nanotechnology for Mitochondrial Drug Delivery

  山田 勇磨, 原島 秀吉  化學工業  65-  (6)  418  -423  2014/06
• 肝臓におけるDrp1の発現抑制は糖代謝を改善する

  井林 雄太, 畠山 浩人, 佐藤 悠介, 王 麗華, 原島 秀吉, 高柳 涼一, 野村 政壽  日本内分泌学会雑誌  90-  (1)  348  -348  2014/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 肝類洞内皮細胞を標的としたDrug Delivery Systemによる新規肝炎治療法の開発

  田野井 智倫, 田村 孝史, 村田 聡一郎, 鳥谷部 尚之, 櫻井 遊, 原島 秀吉, 大河内 信弘  肝臓  55-  (Suppl.1)  A329  -A329  2014/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• BCG-CWS搭載ナノ粒子を基盤とした膀胱癌治療剤の開発

  中村 孝司, 吹上 雅文, 中谷 彰洋, 矢野 郁也, 宮崎 淳, 西山 博之, 赤座 英之, 伊藤 俊宏, 細川 裕之, 中山 俊憲, 原島 秀吉  泌尿器外科  27-  (3)  338  -339  2014/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• プラスミドDNA特異的ヒストン修飾による導入遺伝子発現上昇

  西原実香, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 山門振一郎, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  30th-  2014
• 特異的ヒストン修飾による導入プラスミドDNAの発現上昇

  西原実香, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 山門振一郎, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web)  37th-  2014
• B型肝炎ウイルスの持続感染を再現する効率的な培養細胞評価系の開発に関する研究 自然免疫認識機構の制御によるHBV複製への影響

  高岡晃教, 佐藤精一, LI Kai, 亀山武志, 林隆也, 原島秀吉, 秋田英万, 櫻井遊  B型肝炎ウイルスの持続感染を再現する効率的な培養細胞評価系の開発に関する研究 平成25年度 総括・分担研究報告書  55‐59  2014  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ブロック共重合体ミセル医薬品の評価

  加藤 くみ子, 中西 健, 小崎 雅人, 松田 嘉弘, 平野 舞, 花田 博幸, 久田 茂, 小野寺 博志, 西山 伸宏, 原島 秀吉, 松村 保広, 片岡 一則, 奥田 晴宏, 川西 徹  医薬品医療機器レギュラトリーサイエンス  44-  (12)  968  -975  2013/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Global Picture of Nanomedicine Regulation and Promotion

  SAKURAGI Makoto, ANZAI Tomohiro, KIMURA Hiromichi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  薬剤学 = The archives of practical pharmacy  73-  (5)  312  -320  2013/09/01
• Nano Packagingが拓く次世代核酸医療

  松尾保隆, 加地範匡, 畠山浩人, 渡慶次学, 小暮健太朗, 馬場嘉信, 原島秀吉  表面  51-  (5)  227-240  2013/05  [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• DNAマイクロアレイとin vivo siRNA送達システムの融合による新規2型糖尿病治療薬創出

  末光 永理奈, 林 泰弘, 梶本 和昭, 佐藤 悠介, Akhter Afsana, 櫻井 遊, 畠山 浩人, 兵藤 守, 加地 範匡, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集  28年会-  237  -237  2013/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 網羅的遺伝子発現情報に基づいた遺伝子キャリアの免疫応答メカニズムの解析

  畠山 浩人, 山本 桃子, 林 泰弘, 梶本 和昭, 加地 範匡, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  133年会-  (4)  83  -83  2013/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 革新的医薬品の創出に向けたレギュラトリーサイエンス(RS)の推進 ナノテクノロジーを基盤とした革新的医薬品に関する評価方法

  原島 秀吉, 松村 保広, 片岡 一則  日本薬学会年会要旨集  133年会-  (1)  132  -132  2013/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 樹状細胞に対するKALA修飾MENDの免疫活性化能評価

  三浦尚也, 秋田英万, 石井聡一郎, シャリフ シャヒーン, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集(CD-ROM)  133rd-  2013
• 樹状細胞に対するKALA修飾MENDの免疫活性化能評価

  三浦尚也, 秋田英万, 石井聡一郎, SHARIF Shaheen, 原島秀吉  医療薬学フォーラム講演要旨集  21st-  2013
• 樹状細胞に対するKALA修飾MENDの免疫活性化能評価

  三浦尚也, 秋田英万, 石井聡一郎, シャヒーン シャリフ, 中村孝司, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  29th-  2013
• In vivoにおける外来遺伝子発現の持続を達成するDNA配列の同定

  神田元紀, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 小林三和子, 松岡一郎, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web)  36th-  2013
• 遺伝子治療用ナノ構造体精製のためのフリーフロー電気泳動マイクロデバイスの開発

  重中大輔, 鵜川真美, 加地範匡, 渡慶次学, 秋田英万, 原島秀吉, 馬場嘉信  日本化学会講演予稿集  93rd-  (2)  2013
• Medical Innovation via Pharmaceutical Technologies and Sciences

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  薬剤学 = The archives of practical pharmacy  73-  (1)  1  -1  2013/01/01
• High throughput purification devices for in vivo applications of gene-delivery multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices

  Noritada Kaji, Daisuke Shigenaka, Masami Ukawa, Manabu Tokeshi, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba  17th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2013  2-  1170  -1172  2013  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We developed microfluidic continuous purification devices based on free-flow electrophoresis for gene-delivery multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MEND) which consists of DNA core and phospholipid bilayer envelope. Various impurities, such as DNA, DNA-peptide complex, and liposomes, produced during the fabrication process were removed in an efficient manner and over 75% collection of the input plasmid DNA which corresponds to purified MEND was achieved.
• 膵島移植とミトコンドリア標的型drug delivery system(DDS)

  山田勇磨, 野村政壽, 原島秀吉  人工臓器(日本人工臓器学会)  41-  (3)  212  -214  2012/12/15  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A Potential non-viral vector to transfect dendritic cell and thereby MHC-Class I antigen presentation might be a potential use in carcinoma

  S. Shaheen, H. Akita, I. Souichirou, N. Miura, H. Harashima  CANCER RESEARCH  72-  2012/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Pretreatment of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Transfer Mediated by Octaarginine Peptide-Modified Nanoparticles Ameliorates LPS/D-Galactosamine-Induced Hepatitis

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Ryoichi Mizuno, Khalil A. Ikramy, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS  22-  (5)  360  -363  2012/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We previously reported that an octaarginine- and pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device (R8-GALA-MEND) produces a high level of gene expression in the liver. In this study, we report on an examination of whether this gene delivery system exerts potent hepatoprotective effects against lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN)-induced acute liver injury. In vivo-jetPEI (TM)-Gal, a commercially available in vivo transfection reagent, was used as a reference. The systemic administration of the R8-GALA-MEND or in vivo-jetPEI (TM)-Gal showed that the latter was more toxic than the R8-GALA-MEND, indicating that R8-GALA-MEND is a safer system than in vivo-jetPEI (TM)-Gal. Pretreatment with R8-GALA-MEND or in vivo-jetPEI (TM)-Gal loaded with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) pDNA inhibited serum GPT and GOT levels from becoming elevated. However, the survival rate of the mice was significantly enhanced in the case of R8-GALA-MEND, but not for the in vivo-jetPEI (TM)-Gal treatment. These results demonstrate that R8-GALA-MEND has the potential for use in the pretreatment of an acute liver injury.
• Immunotherapy of bladder cancer with BCG cell wall skeleton encapsulated sub-200 nm nano particles

  T. Nakamura, M. Fukiage, M. Higuchi, A. Nakaya, I. Yano, J. Miyazaki, A. Joraku, H. Akaza, T. Ito, H. Hosokawa, T. Nakayama, H. Harashima  IMMUNOLOGY  137-  763  -763  2012/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Design of Artificial Gene Carrier Based on the Quantitative Comparison of Intracellular Trafficking with Adenovirus

  AKITA Hidetaka, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  高分子  61-  (8)  533  -535  2012/08/01
• Mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery using a DF-MITO-Porter, an innovative nano carrier with cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fusogenic envelopes

  Yuma Yamada, Eriko Kawamura, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH  14-  (8)  1  -15  2012/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial gene therapy has the potential for curing a variety of diseases that are associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations and/or defects. To achieve this, it will be necessary to deliver therapeutic agents into the mitochondria in diseased cells. A number of mitochondrial drug delivery systems have been reported to date. However, reports of mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery are limited. To achieve this, the therapeutic agent must be taken up by the cell (1), after which, the multi-processes associated with intracellular trafficking must be sophisticatedly regulated so as to release the agent from the endosome and deliver it to the cytosol (2) and to pass through the mitochondrial membrane (3). We report herein on the mitochondrial delivery of oligo DNA as a model therapeutic using a Dual Function (DF)-MITO-Porter, an innovative nano carrier designed for mitochondrial delivery. The critical structural elements of the DF-MITO-Porter include mitochondria-fusogenic inner envelopes and endosome-fusogenic outer envelopes, modified with octaarginine which greatly assists in cellular uptake. Inside the cell, the carrier passes through the endosomal and mitochondrial membranes via step-wise membrane fusion. When the oligo DNA was packaged in the DF-MITO-Porter, cellular uptake efficiency was strongly enhanced. Intracellular observation using confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the DF-MITO-Porter was effectively released from endosomes. Moreover, the findings confirmed that the mitochondrial targeting activity of the DF-MITO-Porter was significantly higher than that of a carrier without outer endosome-fusogenic envelopes. These results support the conclusion that mitochondrial-targeted DNA delivery using a DF-MITO-Porter can be achieved when intracellular trafficking is optimally regulated.
• Size-controlled, dual-ligand modified liposomes that target the tumor vasculature show promise for use in drug-resistant cancer therapy

  Kazuhiro Takara, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Golam Kibria, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  162-  (1)  225  -232  2012/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Anti-angiogenic therapy is a potential chemotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of drug resistant cancers. However, a method for delivering such drugs to tumor endothelial cells remains to be a major impediment to the success of anti-angiogenesis therapy. We designed liposomes (LPs) with controlled diameter of around 300 nm, and modified them with a specific ligand and a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) (a dual-ligand LP) for targeting CD13-expressing neovasculature in a renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We modified the LPs with an NGR motif peptide on the top of poly(ethylene glycol) and tetra-arginine (R4) on the surface of the liposome membrane as a specific and CPP ligand, respectively. The large size prevented extravasation of the dual-ligand LP, which allowed it to associate with target vasculature. While a single modification with either the specific or CPP ligand showed no increase in targetability, the dual-ligand enhanced the amount of delivered liposomes after systemic administration to OS-RC-2 xenograft mice. The anti-tumor activity of a dual-ligand LP encapsulating doxorubicin was evaluated and the results were compared with Doxil (R), which is clinically used to target tumor cells. Even though Doxil showed no anti-tumor activity, the dual-ligand LP suppressed tumor growth because the disruption of tumor vessels was efficiently induced. The comparison showed that tumor endothelial cells (TECs) were more sensitive to doxorubicin by 2 orders than RCC tumor cells, and the disruption of tumor vessels was efficiently induced. Collectively, the dual-ligand LP is promising carrier for the treatment of drug resistant RCC via the disruption of TECs. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
• 学会報告記 第28回日本DDS学会学術集会を振り返って

  原島 秀吉, 秋田 英万  Drug delivery system : DDS : official Journal of the Japan Society of Drug Delivery System  27-  (3)  218  -220  2012/07
• A Multifunctional Envelope-type Nanodevice for Use in Nanomedicine: Concept and Applications

  T. Nakamura, H. Akita, Y. Yamada, H. Hatakeyama, H. Harashima  ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH  45-  (7)  1113  -1121  2012/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the 21st century, drug development has shifted toward larger molecules such as proteins and nucleic adds, which require the use of new chemical strategies. In this process, the drug delivery system plays a central role and intracellular targeting using nanotechnology has become a key technology for the development of successful new medicines. We have developed a new delivery system, a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) based on "Programmed Packaging." In this new concept of packaging, multifunctional nanodevices are integrated into a nanocarrier system according to a program designed to overcome all barriers during the course of biodistribution and intracellular trafficking. In this Account, we introduce our method for delivering nucleic adds or proteins to intracellular sites of action such as the cytosol, nucleus, and mitochondria and for targeting selective tissues in vivo via systemic administration of the nanodevices. First, we introduce an octaarginine-modified MEND (R8-MEND) as an efficient intracellular delivery system, designed especially for vaccinations and transgene expression. Many types of cells can internalize the R8-MEND, mainly by inducing macropinocytosis, and the MEND escapes from macropinosomes via membrane fusion, which leads to efficient antigen presentation via the major histocompatibility complex I pathway in antigen-presenting cells. In addition, the transfection activities of the R8-MEND in dividing cells, such as Hela or A549 cells, are as high as those for adenovirus. However, because the R8-MEND cannot induce sufficient transgene activity in primary cultured dendritic cells, which are critical regulators of the immune response, we converted the R8-MEND into a tetralamellar MEND (T-MEND). The T-MEND uses a new packaging method and delivers condensed pDNA into the nucleus via fusion between the envelopes and the nuclear membrane. To achieve efficient transfection activity, we also optimized the decondensation of nucleic adds within the nucleus. To optimize mitochondrial drug delivery, we introduced the MITOPorter. Many types of materials can be packaged into this liposome-based nanocarrier and then delivered to mitochondria via membrane fusion mechanisms. Finally, we describe an integrated strategy for in vivo tumor delivery and optimization of intracellular trafficking. Successful tumor delivery typically requires coating the surfaces of nanoparticles with PEG, but PEG can also limit uptake by the reticuloendothelial system and reduce the efficiency of intracellular trafficking Here we integrate the optimum biodistribution and intracellular trafficking of the MEND with an Innovative strategy such as enzymatically cleavable PEG and a short membrane peptide, GALA. Some of these strategies will soon be tested in the clinic
• Intracellular stability of 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleoside modified siRNA leads to long-term RNAi effect

  Mayumi Takahashi, Chisato Nagai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noriaki Minakawa, Hideyoshi Harashima, Akira Matsuda  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH  40-  (12)  5787  -5793  2012/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Chemically modified siRNAs are expected to have resistance toward nuclease degradation and good thermal stability in duplex formation for in vivo applications. We have recently found that 2'-OMe-4'-thioRNA, a hybrid chemical modification based on 2'-OMeRNA and 4'-thioRNA, has high hybridization affinity for complementary RNA and significant resistance toward degradation in human plasma. These results prompted us to develop chemically modified siRNAs using 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleosides for therapeutic application. Effective modification patterns were screened with a luciferase reporter assay. The best modification pattern of siRNA, which conferred duration of the gene-silencing effect without loss of RNAi activity, was identified. Quantification of the remaining siRNA in HeLa-luc cells using a Heat-in-Triton (HIT) qRT-PCR revealed that the intracellular stability of the siRNA modified with 2'-OMe-4'-thioribonucleosides contributed significantly to the duration of its RNAi activity.
• ミトコンドリア標的型核酸デリバリーシステムの開発

  古川亮, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  28th-  134  2012/06/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 骨格筋ミトコンドリアを標的とした外来遺伝子送達技術の開発

  安崎友香理, 山田勇磨, 兼藤努, LIU Dexi, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  28th-  119  2012/06/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 肺血管内皮細胞標的型siRNAキャリアの標的メカニズムとその抗腫瘍効果

  楠本 憲司, 秋田 英万, 松本 有, 野本 貴大, 片岡 一則, 原島 秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  28回-  119  -119  2012/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• マイクロ流体チップによる多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の作製

  加地 範匡, 北添 雄眞, 重中 大輔, 小暮 健太朗, 秋田 英万, 原島 秀吉, 渡慶次 学, 馬場 嘉信  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  28回-  182  -182  2012/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of a new DNA aptamer against primary cultured tumor endothelial cells by a cell-based SELEX method to discover a new drug delivery system

  Mst Naznin Ara, Mamoru Hyodo, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima  CANCER RESEARCH  72-  2012/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリアを標的とした遺伝子治療に向けて

  古川亮, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  132nd-  (1)  246  2012/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ボンクレキン酸搭載MITO‐Porterの構築およびミトコンドリア送達・抗アポトーシス効果の検証

  中村宏平, 山田勇磨, 古川亮, 河村恵理子, 奥田勝博, 新藤充, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  132nd-  (4)  209  2012/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Translation of multifunctional envelope-type nano device to nanomedicine

  林 泰弘, 梶本 和昭, 原島 秀吉  細胞  44-  (2)  56  -59  2012/02
• クロマチン化プラスミドDNAはin vivoにおいて外来遺伝子発現を上昇させる

  紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 宮本紫甫, 後藤仁美, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 小林三和子, 松岡一郎, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web)  35th-  2012
• クロマチン化プラスミドDNAによる発現上昇

  紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 宮本紫甫, 後藤仁美, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 小林三和子, 松岡一郎, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本DDS学会学術集会プログラム予稿集  28th-  2012
• フリーフロー電気泳動法を用いた遺伝子治療用ナノデバイスの精製

  重中大輔, 鵜川真美, 加地範匡, 岡本行広, 渡慶次学, 秋田英万, 原島秀吉, 馬場嘉信  日本化学会講演予稿集  92nd-  (2)  2012
• DDS技術による遺伝子・核酸医薬の将来

  梶本和昭, 兵藤守, 小暮健太朗, 原島秀吉  月刊ファインケミカル 特集 先端医療実用化のための最新DDS技術の動向  41-  (4)  31  -36  2012  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創薬への応用

  林泰弘, 梶本和昭, 原島秀吉  細胞. 特集 疾患治療とドラッグデリバリーシステム  44-  8  -11  2012  [Not refereed][Invited]
  
• ドラッグデリバリーシステムの新展開

  原島 秀吉, 松村 保広, 木村 廣道, 片岡 一則  HUMAN SCIENCE  23-  (1)  4  -12  2012/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• P-091 Influences of reduced Werner syndrome protein level on mutagenesis by 8-hydroxyguanine(Poster Presentation)

  Kamiya Hiroyuki, Yamazaki Daiki, Harashima Hideyoshi  Taikai Program Yoshisyu of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan  0-  (40)  138  -138  2011/10/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A DNA MICROARRAY-BASED ANALYSIS OF THE HOST RESPONSE TO A NONVIRAL GENE CARRIER: EXPLORING CPG-DEPENDENT/INDEPENDENT MECHANISMS

  H. Hatakeyama, M. Yamamoto, Y. Hayashi, K. Kajimoto, H. Akita, N. Kaji, Y. Baba, H. Harashima  NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS  21-  (5)  A34  -A34  2011/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• IN VIVO SIRNA DELIVERY WITH PH- SENSITIVE LIPOSOME

  Yusuke Sato, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yu Sakurai, Mamoru Hyodo, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS  21-  (5)  A41  -A42  2011/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ENDOSOMAL ESCAPE OF LIPOSOMAL SIRNA VIA MEMBRANE FUSION AND IN VIVO DELIVERY TO TUMOR

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Yusuke Sato, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS  21-  (5)  A41  -A41  2011/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Cell penetrating peptide-mediated systemic siRNA delivery to the liver

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Jun Yamauchi, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  419-  (1-2)  308  -313  2011/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) is one of the most attractive tools for efficiently delivering biomolecules to a target organelle. Here, we describe the use of octaarginine (R8)-modified lipid nanoparticles for the efficient and targeted in vivo delivery of siRNA to the liver. In this study, SR-BI (a scavenger receptor class B, member 1) was targeted by this nanoparticle. Our results demonstrate that R8-modified lipid nanoparticles can be used for the efficient and targeted delivery of liver siRNA to induce the specific knock-down of an endogenous gene with minimum liver toxicity and immune response, and that this CPP based technology holds considerable promise for further in vivo biological applications of siRNA. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• バイオイメージングで可視化するナノメディシンの世界多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体が拓く遺伝子治療への道

  原島 秀吉  バイオイメージング  20-  (2)  49  -50  2011/08/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Dual Function MITO-Porter, a Nano Carrier Integrating Both Efficient Cytoplasmic Delivery and Mitochondrial Macromolecule Delivery

  Yuma Yamada, Ryo Furukawa, Yukari Yasuzaki, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  19-  (8)  1449  -1456  2011/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with a variety of human diseases including inherited mitochondrial diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Effective medical therapies for mitochondrial diseases will ultimately require an optimal drug delivery system, which will likely be achieved through innovations in the nanotechnology of intracellular trafficking. To achieve efficient mitochondrial drug delivery, two independent processes, i.e., "cytoplasmic delivery through the cell membrane" and "mitochondrial delivery through the mitochondrial membrane" are required. In previous studies, we developed an octaarginine (R8) modified nano carrier for efficient cytoplasmic delivery, showing that R8-modified liposomes were internalized into cells efficiently. On the other hand, we also constructed MITO-Porter for the mitochondrial delivery of macromolecules, a liposome-based carrier that delivers cargos to mitochondria via membrane fusion. Here, we report the development of a dual function MITO-Porter (DF-MITO-Porter), based on the concept of integrating both R8-modified liposomes and MITO-Porter. We show that the DF-MITO-Porter effectively delivers exogenous macro-biomolecules into the mitochondrial matrix, and provide a demonstration of its potential use in therapies aimed at mitochondrial DNA.
• Dual imaging of mRNA and protein production: An investigation of the mechanism of heterogeneity in cationic lipid-mediated transgene expression

  Hidetaka Akita, Yuko Umetsu, Dai Kurihara, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  415-  (1-2)  218  -220  2011/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Heterogeneity of transgene expression is a severe disadvantage in the use of cationic lipid-mediated gene vectors. We previously demonstrated that heterogeneity of the post-nuclear delivery process, as well as intracellular trafficking (i.e. nuclear delivery) is a major determinant in the overall heterogeneity in gene expression, when plasmid DNA (pDNA) is transfected to HeLa cells using a lipoplex. In this study, we explored the mechanism underlying this heterogeneity in a post-nuclear transport process by the dual imaging of mRNA and its encoded protein (histone H2B-tagged mTFP1: mTFP1-H2B) in a single cell. To establish a highly sensitive imaging system for mRNA, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with tyramide signal amplification (TSA) and a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) probe. The mRNA expression and protein production were quantified by counting the total pixel intensity in the region of interest (r.o.i.) surrounding single cells. As a result, the correlation was poor in a scattered plot of mRNA expression versus protein production in individual cells. These findings demonstrate that cell-to-cell differences in the translation process are also a key factor in heterogeneous gene expression. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Functional improvement of an IRQ-PEG-MEND for delivering genes to the lung

  Taichi Ishitsuka, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  154-  (1)  77  -83  2011/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The targeted delivery of genes to endothelial cells is a potential strategy for curing certain types of disorders including cancer, inflammation and obesity. We previously reported that a liposome (IRQ-LP) modified with the IRQ peptide (IRQRRRR) was taken up by cells via a unique pathway, namely caveolar endocytosis, a cellular uptake pathway that is involved in the blood-to-tissue uptake of macromolecules in vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, we initally investigated the effect of IRQ peptide-modification on the biodistribution of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG)-coated liposomes (PEG-LP) after i.v. administration. The IRQ peptide-modified PEG-LP (IRQ-PEG-LP), as well as the PEG-LP were found to be mainly accumulated in the liver. Nevertheless, the fold increase in the lung accumulation of IRQ-PEG-LP, compared to the PEG-LP (approximately 20-folds) was substantially higher than other tissues (<5-fold). Thus, IRQ could function as a target ligand for lungs. We then used the IRQ peptide as a model for a ligand for targeting normal tissue endothelial cells, and then applied it to a gene delivery system. We previously developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), in which plasmid DNA is condensed using a polycation to form a core particle that is encapsulated in a lipid envelope. We modified the IRQ-modified PEG to the MEND (IRQ-PEG-MEND) and marker gene expression was evaluated after i.v. administration. However the transgene expression of the IRQ-PEG-MEND in lungs was low. This is most likely due to the inhibitory effect of the PEG spacer on intracellular trafficking (especially endosomal escape) of the IRQ-PEG-MEND. To overcome the dilemma associated with PEGylation, we improved the MEND system from the point of view of PEG length, lipid chain of the PEG derivative, the polycation and cationic lipid. As a result, transgene expression in lungs was enhanced in stepwise manner, and was finally improved by 5 orders of magnitude compared with the original IRQ-PEG-MEND. Overcoming the dilemma of PEGylation is critical issue for in vivo applications of gene delivery targeting endothelial cells. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• siRNAキャリアーとしてのリポソームの現状と将来

  楠本 憲司, 畠山 浩人, 原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  47-  (8)  719  -723  2011/08/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A DNA Microarray-based Analysis of the Host Response to a Nonviral Gene Carrier: A Strategy for Improving the Immune Response

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Erika Ito, Momoko Yamamoto, Hidetaka Akita, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Noritada Kaji, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  19-  (8)  1487  -1498  2011/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The purpose of this study was to investigate the host response to systemically administered lipid nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating plasmid DNA (pDNA) in the spleen using a DNA microarray. As a model for NPs, we used a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND). Microarray analysis revealed that 1,581 of the differentially expressed genes could be identified by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-unmodified NP using a threefold change relative to the control. As the result of PEGylation, the NP treatment resulted in the reduction in the expression of most of the genes. However, the expression of type I interferon (IFN) was specifically increased by PEGylation. Based on the microarray and a pathway analysis, we hypothesize that PEGylation inhibited the endosomal escape of NP, and extended the interaction of toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) with CpG-DNA accompanied by the production of type I IFN. This hypothesis was tested by introducing a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide, GALA, which enhances the endosomal escape of PEGylated NP. As expected, type I IFN was reduced and interleukin-6 (IL-6) remained at the baseline. These findings indicate that a carrier design based on microarray analysis and the manipulation of intracellular trafficking constitutes a rational strategy for reducing the host immune response to NPs.
• Dual-ligand modification of PEGylated liposomes shows better cell selectivity and efficient gene delivery

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  153-  (2)  141  -148  2011/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to develop an efficient dual-ligand based PEGylated liposomal delivery system that had target specificity as well as properties that would enhance cellular uptake. PEGylated liposomes (PEG-LP) were prepared by the lipid film hydration method by adding distearoyl phosphoethanolamine-polyethylene-glycol-2000 conjugate (DSPE-PEG2000) to a lipid mixture. The cyclic RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide, a specific ligand with affinity for Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) was coupled to the distal end of the PEG on the PEG-LP (RGD-PEG-LP). Stearylated octaarginine (STR-R8) was incorporated on the surface of the RGD-PEG-LP as dual-ligand (R8/RGD-PEG-LP) that functions as a cell penetrating peptide (CPP). RGD-PEG-LP and R8/RGD-PEG-LP were preferentially taken up by caveolae-mediated and clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathways, respectively. Compared to PEG-LP, R8/RGD-PEG-LP showed an enhanced cellular uptake as well as a higher transfection efficiency in Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expressing cells. However, the amount of cellular uptake or gene expression by the single ligand versions was negligible, even in Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expressing cells. No remarkable difference in cellular uptake or gene expression was observed for cells in which the expression of targeted receptors was absent. It can be concluded that dual-ligand modified PEG-LP possesses a strong capability for the efficient internalization of PEG-LP and consequently would be an effective tool for the targeted delivery of macromolecules or chemotherapeutics through accelerated cellular uptake. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• A new peptide motif present in the protective antigen of anthrax toxin exerts its efficiency on the cellular uptake of liposomes and applications for a dual-ligand system

  Golam Kibria, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  412-  (1-2)  106  -114  2011/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Protective antigen (PA) is a nontoxic protein present in anthrax toxin. Domain 4 of PA (PA-D4) acts as a receptor binding site for tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8). In this study, KYND motif from PA-D4 was utilized as a ligand against TEM8. The efficiency of KYND motif on cellular association was assessed by evaluating the cellular uptake of PEGylated liposomes (PEG-LPs) in TEM8 positive and negative cells. The peptide was attached on the top of the PEG of PEG-LP. Compared to PEG-LP, KYND modified PEG-LP (KYND-PEG-LP) enhanced the cellular uptake to a greater extent in all cell lines. Based on the inhibition assay, no receptor involvement was observed in the cellular association of KYND-PEG-LP, suggesting that KYND motif functions as a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) which facilitated the internalization of PEG-LP via clathrin mediated endocytosis pathway. Further enhancement of cellular uptake was observed when KYND-PEG-LP was combined with octaarginine (R8) on the surface of lipid membrane as dual-CPP ligand formulation, however, when PEG-LP combined with only R8, only negligible enhancement was observed. These findings suggest that two CPP ligands act in a synergistic fashion; therefore the dual-CPP ligand based liposomal formulation can be assumed to be an effective delivery system. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• ミトコンドリア転写因子TFAM‐プラスミドDNA複合体のin vitro転写評価

  古川亮, 山田勇磨, 松島雄一, 後藤雄一, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  26-  (3)  317  2011/05/28  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア遺伝子を標的とした機能分子送達の試み

  山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  26-  (3)  285  2011/05/28  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア(Mt)を標的とした遺伝子治療への挑戦―Dual Function MITO‐Porterを用いたMtマトリクスへの核酸送達―

  山田勇磨, 河村恵理子, 安崎友香理, 古川亮, 原島秀吉  日本薬剤学会年会講演要旨集  26th-  102  2011/05/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• The end of blockbuster model and a new paradigm-shift

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  バイオマテリアル : 生体材料 : journal of Japanese Society for Biomaterials  29-  (2)  77  -78  2011/04/28  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• SY11-3 BCG注入療法の新展開(11.ハイリスク筋層非浸潤性膀胱癌の再発・進展予防の新戦略,シンポジウム,第99回日本泌尿器科学会総会)

  常樂 晃, 宮崎 淳, 中谷 彰洋, 中村 孝司, 河合 弘二, 矢野 郁也, 原島 秀吉, 赤座 英之  日本泌尿器科學會雜誌  102-  (2)  148  -148  2011/03/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 新たなパッケージングコンセプトに基づく多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創製

  山田勇磨, 鈴木亮佑, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  131st-  (4)  159  2011/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア標的型DDS,MITO‐Porterを用いたオリゴ核酸送達の試み

  河村恵理子, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  131st-  (4)  159  2011/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• マウス肝臓におけるleft-handedly curved配列を付加したプラスミドからの外来遺伝子発現上昇

  神田元紀, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 福永賢輝, 棚瀬潤一, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉, 大山隆, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web)  34th-  2011
• AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR MITOCHONDRIAL GENE DELIVERY: MITOCHONDRIAL DELIVERY OF OLIGO DNA USING MITO-PORTER, A LIPOSOME-BASED CARRIER FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DELIVERY VIA MEMBRANE FUSION

  KAWAMURA Eriko, YAMADA Yuma, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  11th-  178  2011  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• TECHNICAL APPLICATION OF HYDRODYNAMIC LIMB VEIN INJECTION FOR IN VIVO MITOCHONDRIAL GENE DELIVERY

  YASUZAKI Yukari, YAMADA Yuma, KANEFUJI Tsutomu, LIU Dexi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  11th-  170  2011  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• EFFECT OF DNA PACKAGED WITH TFAM ON TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATION

  FURUKAWA Ryo, YAMADA Yuma, MATSUSHIMA Yuichi, GOTO Yu‐ichi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  11th-  179  2011  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME TARGETING STRATEGY: MITOCHONDRIAL MATRIX DELIVERY OF BIO-MACROMOLECULE USING DF-MITO-PORTER, AN INNOVATIVE NANO CARRIER WITH CYTOPLASMIC AND MITOCHONDRIAL FUSOGENIC ENVELOPES.

  YAMADA Yuma, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  11th-  149  2011  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Unexpectedly weak impacts of decreased p53 and retinoblastoma protein levels on mutagenesis by 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-hydroxyguanine)

  Tetsuya Suzuki, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  Genes and Environment  33-  (3)  103  -108  2011  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The loss of tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb), causes genomic instability. 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (G O, 8-hydroxyguanine) is a major oxidatively damaged base that induces G:C←T:A transversions in cells. In this study, the effects of p53 and Rb reductions on the mutagenicity of GO in DNA were investigated, using a supF shuttle plasmid propagated in human U2OS and HT1080 cells. The p53 and Rb proteins were individually knocked-down by siRNAs, and then the plasmid DNA containing G O was introduced into the knocked-down cells. The knock-downs of p53 and Rb had quite weak effects on mutagenesis by G O in the shuttle plasmid. These results suggested that p53 and Rb minimally affect the G O-induced mutagenic processes in living cells. © The Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society.
• P-012 Effects of p53- and Rb-knockdowns on mutations induced by 8-hydroxyguanine(Poster Presentation)

  Kamiya Hiroyuki, Suzuki Tetsuya, Harashima Hideyoshi  Taikai Program Yoshisyu of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan  0-  (39)  98  -98  2010/10/29  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 8‐Hydroxy‐dGTP(8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydro‐dGTP)二次酸化産物の変異誘発能

  紙谷浩之, 堀美香, 原島秀吉  日本放射線影響学会大会講演要旨集  53rd-  91  -91  2010/10/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Purpose: 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine) is oxidized more easily than the normal nucleobases and further oxidation products are generated. Spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp) and guanidinohydantoin (Gh) are secondary oxidation products of 8-hydroxyguanine and highly mutagenic when they are formed in DNA. In this study, we evaluated mutagenicity of oxidation products of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate) in Escherichia coli cells.
  Methods: E. coli cells deficient in the mutT gene were treated with H2O2 and induced mutations were analyzed. Moreover, the 2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate derivatives of Sp and Gh were introduced into competent E. coli.
  Results: The H2O2 treatment of mutT E. coli cells resulted in increase of G:C-->C:G and G:C-->A:T mutations instead of decreased A:T-->C:G mutations. However, none of the Sp and Gh 2'-deoxyribonucleotides significantly increased mutation frequency.
  Conclusions: These results suggested that oxidation product(s) of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate induces G:C-->C:G and G:C-->A:T mutations and that the 2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate derivatives of Sp and Gh are weakly mutagenic in contrast to the bases in DNA.
• Ligand-based targeted delivery of a peptide modified nanocarrier to endothelial cells in adipose tissue

  Md. Nazir Hossen, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Mamoru Hyodo, Taichi Ishitsuka, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  147-  (2)  261  -268  2010/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Ligand-based targeted delivery is an emerging platform in nanomedicine. We report herein on a peptide modified nanocarrier for a ligand-based targeted delivery system. The liposomal surface of the carrier was first modified with a linear peptide, followed by an adipose tissue-specific circular peptide (KGGRAKD) via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer. To evaluate the specificity of the carrier, we purified primary cells from the endothelium of adipose tissue. The liposomes bound only to isolated primary cultured endothelial cells derived from inguinal adipose tissue (pcEC-IWAT) and not to other endothelial cell lines, such as MBEC-4 and MFLM-4. Cellular uptake was confirmed both qualitatively and quantitatively by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry. The mechanism for the intracellular uptake of tPep-PEG-LPs into pcEC-IWAT, as evidenced by three independent experiments, involves saturation of receptor binding sites by excess free peptide, the blocking of receptors by an anti-prohibitin antibody and low temperature (4 C) experiments, resulting in the inhibition of uptake of tPep-PEG-LPs into pcEC-IWAT, suggesting that receptor mediated endocytosis largely contributed to the observed cellular uptake. A co-localization study using double labeled modified liposomes (lipid membrane: NBD-DOPE and aqueous phase: rhodamine) indicated that a predominant part of tPep-PEG-LPs was found without co-localization with lysosomes and retained their intactness. The selective delivery of tPep-PEG-LPs to endothelial cells in adipose tissue represents a potential approach for the design of diverse nanocarrier-based targeted delivery systems for targeting the vasculature in adipose tissue. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Design of a dual-ligand system using a specific ligand and cell penetrating peptide, resulting in a synergistic effect on selectivity and cellular uptake

  Kazuhiro Takara, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Noritaka Ohga, Kyoko Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  396-  (1-2)  143  -148  2010/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, a dual-ligand liposomal system comprised of a specific ligand and a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) is described to enhance selectivity and cellular uptake. Dual-ligand PEGylated liposomes were prepared by modifying the end of the PEG with an NGR motif peptide, followed by a surface coating of the liposomes with stearylated oligoarginine (STR-RX) The NGR motif recognizes CD13. a marker protein located on tumor endothelial cells A suitable number of RX units was determined to be R4, since it can be masked by the PEG aqueous layer Although no enhanced cellular uptake was observed when a single modification of PEGylated liposomes with either NGR- or STR-R4 was used, the dual-modification with NGR and STR-R4 stimulated uptake of PEGylated liposomes by CD13 positive cells, and this uptake was superior to that obtained by PEG-unmodified liposomes modified with STR-R4 The dual-ligand system shows a synergistic effect on cellular uptake Collectively, the dual-ligand system promises to be useful in the development efficient and specific drug delivery systems. (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved.
• Cytotoxic Effect of Drosophila Deoxynucleoside Kinase Gene on Replicating Plasmid in HeLa Cells

  Mana Ito, Yusuke Suda, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  33-  (7)  1223  -1227  2010/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To enhance the levels of transgene expression from plasmid-based nonviral vectors, replicating plasmids containing the SV40 origin and the SV40 large T antigen gene, as a model replicating unit, were constructed. The replicating luciferase plasmid DNA produced the luciferase protein more efficiently than the non-replicating luciferase plasmid DNA, as expected. Surprisingly, the introduction of the replicating plasmid DNA containing the Drosophila melanogaster deoxyribonucleoside kinase (Dm-dNK) gene was highly cytotoxic and caused cell death without nucleoside analogs. Our results confirm that transgenes on a replicating plasmid represent an excellent tool for effective protein production and suggest that efficient production of the Dm-dNK protein in tumor cells could be an attractive cancer therapy.
• DNA Microarray Analysis of Whole Blood Cells and Insulin-Sensitive Tissues Reveals the Usefulness of Blood RNA Profiling as a Source of Markers for Predicting Type 2 Diabetes

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Shinya Iida, Yuichiro Sato, Shogo Mizufune, Noritada Kaji, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  33-  (6)  1033  -1042  2010/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To determine if gene expression profiling of whole blood cells is a useful source of markers for the early diagnosis of the onset of type 2 diabetes, we examined gene expression profiling of whole blood cells and type 2 diabetes-related organs, such as liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. At the age of 6 weeks, RNA was isolated from tissues of fasted OLETF and control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Gene expression was analyzed using the Agilent rat oligo microarray. Gene ontology analysis showed that gene expression of biologically meaningful groups of genes in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, which are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, differed between OLETF and LETO rats. Three hundred genes of whole blood cells were differentially expressed. Four out of these 300 genes were related to the insulin-signaling pathway and 57 out of 300 genes were up- or down-regulated in at least one tissues in OLETF rats. These results support our hypothesis that gene expression profiling of whole blood cells might be a useful source of markers to predict the onset of type 2 diabetes.
• Transgene expression efficiency from plasmid DNA delivered as a complex with histone H3

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hitomi Goto, Genki Kanda, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  392-  (1-2)  249  -253  2010/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of plasmid DNA is extremely important for transgene expression. Exogenous histones have been used as carriers of plasmid DNA in histone-mediated gene delivery. In this study, the effects of exogenous histone H3 complexed with plasmid DNA on transgene expression efficiency were examined. The plasmid-histone complexes in various ratios were transfected into HeLa cells by osmotic pressure. Histone H3 suppressed transgene expression in the nucleus in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that the histone-mediated gene delivery is unlikely to be useful, from the viewpoint of the intranuclear disposition. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• ボンクレキン酸(抗アポトーシス作動薬)搭載ミトコンドリア標的型DDS(MITO‐Porter)の開発

  山田勇磨, 河村恵理子, 安崎友香理, 新藤充, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  25-  (3)  307  2010/05/28  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• マウス肝プライマリー細胞における多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体(MEND)のMPCポリマー修飾による遺伝子発現活性上昇メカニズムの解明

  鵜川真実, 秋田英万, 増田智也, 林泰弘, 金野智浩, 石原一彦, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  25-  (3)  293  -293  2010/05/28  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Drug delivery system via multifunctional envelope-type nano device

  小暮 健太朗, 原島 秀吉  表面  48-  (5)  163  -175  2010/05
• Comparison between a Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano Device and Lipoplex for Delivery to the Liver

  Jun Yamauchi, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  33-  (5)  926  -929  2010/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The utility of using a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for delivering a gene to the liver was examined. Lipotrust, a commercially available transfection reagent whose lipid composition is DC6-14 : DOPE : cholesterol=4 :3 :3, was used as a reference. When Lipotrust was administrated intravenously, luciferase activity of the lung was 25 times higher than that of the liver. The luciferase activity of the lung was greatly reduced when a MEND was administered, even though the lipid composition of the lipid envelope was the same in both devices. Furthermore, the luciferase activity of the liver was 5 times higher than that for lipotrust, suggesting that the encapsulation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in liposomes is more advantageous for delivering pDNA to the liver than complex formation. The isolation of parenchymal cells (PCs) and non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) showed that the MEND system is capable of expressing the luciferase protein more preferentially in NPCs than the lipoplex system. In addition, when the surface was modified with a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (GALA) used as a device for endosomal escape, overall liver luciferase activity was greatly enhanced. This suggests that endosomal escape is a limiting step for the MEND system. In the case of the GALA-modified MEND, the luciferase activity of PCs and NPCs was 18 times and 11 times higher than MEND system, while the transfection efficiency of NPCs was significantly higher compared to that of PCs. Collectively, these data show that a GALA-modified MEND prepared with DC6-14 : DOPE: cholesterol represents a promising device for NPC-targeting gene delivery in vivo.
• Suppression of mutagenesis by 8-hydroxy-2 '-deoxyguanosine 5 '-triphosphate (7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2 '-deoxyguanosine 5 '-triphosphate) by human MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5

  Mika Hori, Kazuya Satou, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE  48-  (9)  1197  -1201  2010/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To assess the functions of the three human MutT-type enzymes, MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5, mutation induction by an oxidized form of dGTP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP; 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate), was examined using human 293T cells treated with their specific siRNAs. Shuttle plasmid DNA containing the supF gene was first transfected into the cells, and then 8-OH-dGTP was introduced by means of osmotic pressure. Escherichia coli cells were transformed with the DNAs replicated in the treated cells. The knockdown of the MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 proteins increased the A:T -> C:G substitution mutations induced by 8-OH-dGTP. In addition, the increase in the induced mutation frequency was more evident in the triple-knockdown cells. These results indicate that all three of the human MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 proteins act as a defense against the mutagenesis induced by oxidized dGTP. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Isolation and culture of microvascular endothelial cells from murine inguinal and epididymal adipose tissues

  Kazuaki Kajimoto, Md. Nazir Hossen, Kyoko Hida, Noritaka Ohga, Hidetaka Akita, Mamoru Hyodo, Yasuhiro Hida, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS  357-  (1-2)  43  -50  2010/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Adipose tissue has long been considered to be a simple tissue that contains adipocytes. Because of this, the isolation and characterization of microvascular endothelical cells, which are also present in adipose tissue, have been neglected, even though they are components of a capillary network that surrounds each individual adipocyte. Here we report on a protocol for producing highly purified murine microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) from diverse sites of murine adipose tissues including inguinal and epididymal adipose tissues. The method is based on a combination of negative and positive immunomagnetic selection. The protocol involves the preparation of a single cell suspension (digestion, filtration and density gradient centrifugation), immunomagnetic enrichment of the CD45(-) cell population and the purification of the MECs by a combination of common specific markers CD31, CD 102 and isolectin B4. The isolated MECs can be successively cultured for 10 to 12 passages without any detectable changes in morphology and phenotype. Therefore, the method described herein represents a protocol for the isolation and long-term maintenance of highly pure mouse MECs in high yields from adipose tissues. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• DDS技術を基盤とした生細胞ミトコンドリアDNAの可視化

  安崎友香理, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  70-  (Supplement)  104  2010/04/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 効率的な細胞内導入を目的としたレシチン化SOD(PC‐SOD)搭載R8リポソームの構築およびその機能評価

  古川亮, 山田勇磨, 武永美津子, 五十嵐理慧, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  70-  (Supplement)  103  2010/04/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• プラスミド‐ヒストン複合体からの外来遺伝子発現効率

  紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 後藤仁美, 後藤仁美, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  70-  (Supplement)  148  -148  2010/04/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• MPCポリマー修飾GALA‐MENDによる肝臓での遺伝子発現上昇と免疫応答の軽減

  林泰弘, 山内順, 秋田英万, 増田智也, 鵜川真実, 金野智浩, 石原一彦, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  70-  (Supplement)  184  -184  2010/04/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 革新的遺伝子発現ベクター『ポリロタキサン/pDNAナノ粒子搭載型MEND』の構築および核内動態・遺伝子発現活性評価

  山田勇磨, 野村卓, 原島秀吉, 山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井信彦  日本薬学会年会要旨集  130th-  (4)  198  2010/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PC‐SOD搭載型リポソームの構築および細胞内動態・抗酸化効果の評価

  古川亮, 山田勇磨, 武永美津子, 五十嵐理慧, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  130th-  (4)  198  2010/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 生分解性ポリロタキサンを用いたpDNA,siRNAのナノ粒子の調製および核酸ナノ粒子形成機構に関する検討

  橋田真裕, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉, 山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井信彦  日本薬学会年会要旨集  130th-  (4)  198  2010/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体のMPCポリマー修飾による遺伝子発現活性上昇メカニズムの解明

  鵜川真実, 秋田英万, 増田智也, 林泰弘, 金野智浩, 石原一彦, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  130th-  (4)  164  -164  2010/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 遺伝子ベクターへのPEG修飾が及ぼすサイトカイン産生への影響

  畠山 浩人, 伊東 恵里佳, 林 泰弘, 秋田 英万, 梶本 和昭, 加地 範匡, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  130年会-  (4)  165  -165  2010/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PP-149 リポソームベクターと結核菌細胞壁成分による新規BCG製剤によるNKG2Dリガンドの発現増加について(発表・討論,一般演題ポスター,第98回日本泌尿器科学総会)

  宮崎 淳, 河合 弘二, 及川 剛宏, 常楽 晃, 原島 秀吉, 鳥居 徹, 赤座 英之  日本泌尿器科學會雜誌  101-  (2)  406  -406  2010/02/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Intracellular fate of octaarginine-modified liposomes in polarized MDCK cells

  Takahiro Fujiwara, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  386-  (1-2)  122  -130  2010/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Octaarginine (R8)-modified liposomes have been used to deliver therapeutic substances into cells owing to the efficient cellular uptake via macropinocytosis. Recent analyses revealed that T8-modified liposomes are mainly taken up via macropinocytosis. and escape from endosomes efficiently to avoid lysosomal degradation in non-polarized NIH-3T3 cells. In the present study, we evaluated the intracellular fate of R8-modfied liposomes in polarized MDCK cells, comparing their trafficking with that of conventional cationic liposomes by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In contrast to what occurs in NIH-3T3 cells, R8-modified liposomes are internalized by MDCK cells equally well via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. The most salient characteristic in subsequent intracellular trafficking in MDCK cells is that R8-modified liposomes become trapped in the endosomal compartment and subsequently, a portion of them colocalizes with the Golgi apparatus. Similar colocalization with the Golgi apparatus was observed for octalysine (K8)-modified liposomes. In contrast, cationic liposomes were found to colocalize predominantly with lysosomes stained with lysotracker. Collectively, in polarized MDCK cells, cationic peptide-modified liposomes may be subjected to a different sorting pathway from that used for liposomes composed of cationic lipids. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 2種類の「発現持続型」プラスミドの核内挙動の違い

  冨樫亮平, 冨樫亮平, 神田元紀, 神田元紀, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  生化学  2010
• 内在性転写活性化因子を用いた細胞系における外来遺伝子発現の活性化

  神田元紀, 神田元紀, 落合浩史, 落合浩史, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷浩之  生化学  2010
• 自己活性化システムによるin vivo外来遺伝子発現上昇

  神田元紀, 落合浩史, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  10th-  2010
• マイクロ流体デバイスによる遺伝子治療用ナノデバイスの高速作製

  北添雄眞, 岡本行広, 岡本行広, 加地範匡, 加地範匡, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 小暮健太郎, 原島秀吉, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信  日本化学会講演予稿集  90th-  (3)  2010
• 生細胞ミトコンドリアDNAセンシング技術の開発

  安崎友香理, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  10th-  P.38  2010  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 効率的な遺伝子送達を実現する非ウィルス性ベクターの創製

  鈴木亮佑, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  10th-  P.33  2010  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A microdevice with chaotic mixer to constract multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice for delivery system

  K. Kitazoe, Y. Okamoto, N. Kaji, M. Tokeshi, K. Kogure, H. Harashima, Y. Baba  14th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences 2010, MicroTAS 2010  2-  827  -829  2010  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We report a new microdevice with a chaotic mixer for preparing multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) for gene delivery system. Our developed device affords MEND with narrow size distribution, needs no troublesome procedures, and greatly reduces preparation time from 3 hours to 30 minutes compared to conventional MEND preparation method. Therefore, MEND prepared with our microdevice is expected to be applied in clinical use.
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体のMPCポリマー修飾による肝実質細胞における遺伝子発現活性上昇のメカニズムの解明

  鵜川真実, 秋田英万, 増田智也, 林泰弘, 金野智浩, 石原一彦, 原島秀吉  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  10th-  P.13  2010  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• siRNA delivery by multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND)

  Hidetaka Akita, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima  Drug Delivery System  25-  (6)  590  -597  2010  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  RNA interference (RNAi), discovered in the latter part of the 20 th century is a promising technology for use in curing intractable genetic diseases by the sequence-specific cleavage of mRNA. Since incorporation of siRNA into the multi-protein RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) is a key process for siRNA activity, efficient cytoplasmic delivery system is essential for the application of siRNA in clinical use. In the present manuscript, we introduce our recent approach to control an intracellular trafficking of siRNA by means of multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND).
• MULTIFUNCTIONAL ENVELOPE-TYPE NANO DEVICE FOR IN VIVO SYSTEMIC DELIVERY OF SIRNA

  Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  11-  (12)  1150  -1150  2009/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• THE FUNCTION OF A NOVEL IRQ LIGAND-MODIFIED CARRIER FOR AN EFFICIENT CYTOSOLIC DELIVERY OF SIRNA

  Diky Mudhakir, Hidetaka Akita, Erdal Tan, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  11-  (12)  1183  -1183  2009/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• OCTAARGININE-MODIFIED MULTIFUNCTIONAL ENVELOPE-TYPE NANOPARTICLES FOR GENE DELIVERY

  I. A. Khalil, K. Kogure, M. Yamada, H. Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  11-  (12)  1171  -1171  2009/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF OCTAARGININE AND OCTALYSINE MODIFIED NANOPARTICLES FOR INTRACELLULAR DELIVERY OF PLASMID DNA AND SIRNA

  Ayman El-Sayed, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  11-  (12)  1178  -1178  2009/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• P-031 Involvement of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in bypass of 8-hydroxyguanine(Replication and repair,Poster Session)

  Kamiya Hiroyuki, Yamaguchi Ayaka, Suzuki Tetsuya, Harashima Hideyoshi  Taikai Program Yoshisyu of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan  0-  (38)  116  -116  2009/11/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Ethics Required for Researchers on New Medicines(Pharmacy and Ethics)

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Annals of the Japanese Association for Philosophical and Ethical Researches of Medicine  0-  (27)  102  -105  2009/10/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 1SA2-09 Quantitative analysis of transfection efficiency between viral and non-viral vector : From cellular uptake to transcription/translation(1SA2 BSJ&ABA Joint Symposium, "Prion and Virus Infections",The 47th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society o

  Harashima Hideyoshi  Biophysics  49-  (1)  S4  -S5  2009/09/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ヒトNUDT5蛋白質は様々な酸化デオキシリボヌクレオシド二リン酸を分解する

  紙谷 浩之, 堀 美香, 有森 貴夫, 関口 睦夫, 山縣 ゆり子, 原島 秀吉  日本生化学会大会プログラム・講演要旨集  82回-  3T18p  -15  2009/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Envelope-type lipid nanoparticles incorporating a short PEG-lipid conjugate for improved control of intracellular trafficking and transgene transcription

  Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Kenichi Niikura, Takashi Nishio, Masami Ukawa, Kaoru Enoto, Radostin Danev, Kuniaki Nagayama, Kuniharu Ijiro, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOMATERIALS  30-  (27)  4806  -4814  2009/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Lipid envelope-type nanoparticles are promising carriers for gene delivery. The modification of liposomes with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) can often be useful in liposomal formation and pharmacokinetics. However, there is a dilemma concerning the use of PEG because of its poor intracellular trafficking properties. To overcome this problem, in the present study, we report on a strategy for improving the intracellular trafficking of PEG-modified lipid particles by incorporating a short PEG lipid. The findings presented here show that the incorporation of tetra(ethylene)glycol (TEG)-conjugated cholesterol into a liposome composition is useful in controlling the number of lipid envelopes, resulting in an improvement in particle uniformity with a reduced particle size. The TEG-modified lipid particles were found to enhance transfection activity by more than 100-fold. This increase is attributed to an enhancement of cellular uptake, and nuclear transcription by improving intracellular decoating. Moreover, the use of a various short PEG lipids in lipid particle formation showed a clear threshold polymerization degree (less or equal 25: PEG(1100)), for achieving stimulated transfection activity. Collectively, the use of short PEG lipid promises to be useful in developing an efficient non-viral gene vector. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Enhanced gene expression by a novel stearylated INF7 peptide derivative through fusion independent endosomal escape

  Ayman El-Sayed, Tomoya Masuda, Ikramy Khalil, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  138-  (2)  160  -167  2009/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  An octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device (R8-MEND) was previously reported to be an efficient nonviral vector for the delivery of plasmid DNA, in vitro and after topical administration. We report herein on a novel stearylated derivative of the INF7 peptide, a derivative of the N-terminal domain of the HA2 protein of the influenza virus envelope, which enhances the endosomal escape of R8-MEND through a mechanism independent of fusion between the MEND coat and the endosomal membrane. The use of the novel peptide derivative would permit the gene expression of the R8-MEND to be improved, both in vitro and in vivo. R8-MEND modified with stearylated INF7 resulted in gene expression levels that were 77-fold higher than unmodified and 20-fold higher than the free INF7 peptide-modified R8-MEND with no cellular toxicity. Spectral imaging in live cells confirmed that the stearylated INF7 modification did not mediate fusion between liposomes and the endosomal membrane. The inclusion of DOPE to the R8-MEND coat was synergistic with the peptide in improving gene transfection. The intravenous injection of an R8-MEND modified with stearylated INF7 to ICR mice resulted in luciferase expression levels 240-fold higher in liver and 115-fold higher in spleen than that of the R8-MEND. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• ヌクレオチドプール浄化酵素は、ヒト細胞において8-ヒドロキシ-dGTPにより誘発される変異を抑制する(Nucleotide pool sanitization enzymes suppress the mutation induced by 8-hydroxy-dGTP in human cells)

  堀 美香, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之  日本癌学会総会記事  68回-  39  -39  2009/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• NUDT5は幅広い基質特異性を有する酸化dNDP分解酵素である(NUDT5 hydrolyzes oxidized deoxyribo nucleoside diphosphates with broad substrate specificity)

  紙谷 浩之, 堀 美香, 関口 睦夫, 原島 秀吉  日本癌学会総会記事  68回-  377  -377  2009/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PK-PD modeling of 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine and the enhanced antitumor effect of its phospholipid derivatives in long-circulating liposomes

  Akitsugu Takada, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Satoshi Shuto, Akira Matsuda, Hideyoshi Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  377-  (1-2)  52  -59  2009/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The efficacy of an antitumor nucleoside, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (3'-ethynylcytidine, ECyd), was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The in vivo antitumor effect of ECyd encapsulated into long-circulating liposomes was also examined. Based on pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) analyses, a model that quantitatively explains the in vivo effects of ECyd was proposed, using the concept of minimum effective concentration. The model suggests that ECyd followed a time-dependent mechanism of action in vivo, and that availability of ECyd in tumor tissue was highly important. To improve the availability of ECyd, its phospholipid derivatives were synthesized and encapsulated into long-circulating liposomes, which increased the antitumor effect. These results indicate that it is very important to design carriers of antitumor drugs based on PK-PD modeling. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Mono‐cationic detergentによるsiRNAナノ粒子パッケージング法の構築

  鈴木亮佑, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  24-  (3)  326  2009/06/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 細胞内分解性ポリロタキサン搭載多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の構築

  野村卓, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉, 山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井伸彦  Drug Deliv Syst  24-  (3)  326  2009/06/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア標的型ナノデバイス“多重型MITO‐Porter”の製剤化に関する検討

  山田勇磨, 古川亮, 安崎友香理, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  24-  (3)  302  2009/06/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PEG修飾による人工遺伝子ベクターの安全性向上のメカニズムの解析

  畠山 浩人, 伊東 恵里佳, 林 泰弘, 秋田 英万, 梶本 和昭, 加地 範匡, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  Drug Delivery System  24-  (3)  325  -325  2009/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Novel lipidated sorbitol-based molecular transporters for non-viral gene delivery

  Tomoko Higashi, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kaustabh K. Maiti, Woo Sirl Lee, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima, Sung-Kee Chung  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  136-  (2)  140  -147  2009/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, we investigated the possible use of novel lipiclated sorbitol-based transporters as functional devices for the improvement of non-viral gene delivery. These transporters are composed of a sorbitol scaffold bearing 8 guanidine moieties that mimic the arginine residues of well-known cell-penetrating peptides. In addition, the transporters carry different lipid groups to aid DNA condensation and facilitate lipid vesicle-binding. We found that the transporters described in this study have the potential to function as plasmid DNA/siRNA-condensers and surface ligands for the enhancement of cellular uptake of lipid vesicles. Shorter lipid chains were found to be better for condensation, whereas longer chains were superior surface ligands. The differential activity of different cores might be explained by facilitated decondensation of cores prepared with transporters comprised of shorter lipid chains. However, we suggest that there is an optimum value of decondensation to achieve higher transfection activities. The proper use of the transporters presented in this study enabled us to prepare a highly efficient non-viral gene delivery system based on a core-shell structure, in which a condensed DNA core is encapsulated by a lipid envelope. A multifunctional envelope-type nano-device prepared with an optimal surface ligand favorably competes with commonly used transfection systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Incorporation of 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine) 5'-triphosphate by bacterial and human RNA polymerases

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Akihiro Suzuki, Yuki Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Handa, Hideyoshi Harashima  FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE  46-  (12)  1703  -1707  2009/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oxidized RNA precursors formed in the nucleotide pool may be incorporated into RNA. In this study, the incorporation of 8-hydroxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-GTP; 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine 5'-triphosphate) into RNA by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase was examined in Vitro, using a primer RNA and a template DNA with defined sequences. 8-OH-GTP was incorporated opposite C and A in the template DNA. Surprisingly, 8-OH-GTP was quite efficiently incorporated by the bacterial RNA polymerase, in contrast to the incorporation of the 2'-deoxyribo counterpart by DNA polymerases, as indicated by the kinetic parameters. The primer was further extended by the addition of a ribonucleotide complementary to the nucleobase adjacent to C or A (the nucleobase opposite which 8-OH-GTP was inserted). Thus, the incorporation of 8-OH-GTP did not completely inhibit further RNA chain elongation. 8-OH-GTP was also incorporated opposite C and A by human RNA polymerase II. These results suggest that 8-OH-GTP in the nucleotide pool call cause the formation of oxidized RNA and disturb the transmittance of genetic information. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
• 核内pDNA放出制御によるトランスフェクション活性の向上

  山田勇磨, 野村卓, 原島秀吉, 山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井伸彦  高分子学会予稿集(CD-ROM)  58-  (1 Disk1)  1PG147  2009/05/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of Small, Homogenous Non-Viral Gene Vector Using Mono-Cationic Detergents

  Ryosuke Suzuki, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  17-  S52  -S52  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of Multifunctional Envelope-Type Nano-Device (MEND) for Hepatic Gene Transfer Via i.v. Administration: Impact for the Modification with Devices for Intracellular Trafficking

  Hidetaka Akita, Tomoya Masuda, Kinichi Niikura, Takashi Nishio, Kuniharu Ijiro, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  17-  S54  -S54  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Durable Transgene Expression by the Artificial Transcription Factor GAL4-VP16

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  17-  S333  -S333  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Analysis of Microtubule-Dependent Transport in Lipid-Encapsulated DNA Nano-Carrier by Real-Time Imaging: Comparison with Adenovirus

  Kaoru Enoto, Hidetaka Akita, Tomoya Masuda, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  17-  S51  -S51  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• DNA Microarray Analysis of Whole Blood Cells and Insulin-Sensitive Tissues Reveals the Usefulness of Blood RNA Profiling as a Source of Markers for Predicting Type 2 Diabetes

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Kazuaki Kajimoto, Shinya Iida, Yuichiro Sato, Noritada Kaji, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  17-  S74  -S74  2009/05  [Refereed][Not invited]
  
• Efficient Short Interference RNA Delivery to Tumor Cells Using a Combination of Octaarginine, GALA and Tumor-Specific, Cleavable Polyethylene Glycol System

  Yu Sakurai, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Motoi Oishi, Yukio Nagasaki, Shiro Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  32-  (5)  928  -932  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We recently developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Here, we report on the development of an octaarigine (R8)-modified MEND encapsulating small interfering RNA (siRNA) with a tumor-specific, cleavable, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipid (PPD). We first determined the optimal concentration of R8 and pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (GALA) on the lipid envelope of MEND (R8/GALA-MEND). Then, we examined the combination of optimized R8/GALA-MEND with a PEG-lipid. When a conventional PEG-lipid was used, the R8/GALA-MEND failed to knockdown expression of the target gene. On the other hand, PPD-modified R8/GALA-MEND exhibited efficient silencing activity to the level of the PEG-unmodified R8/GALA-MEND. In addition, we compared a R8/GALA-MEND with a MEND composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) that is a conventional cationic lipid used as a lipoplex component. The knockdown ability of the R8/GALA-MEND was much higher than that of the DOTAP-based MEND at the dose that is commonly employed in in vitro siRNA transfection. These results demonstrate that the R8/GALA-MEND is a promising delivery system for the transfer of siRNA to tumor cells.
• Enhanced antigen presentation and CTL activity by transduction of mature rather than immature dendritic cells with octaarginine-modified liposomes

  Atthachai Homhuan, Kentaro Kogure, Takashi Nakamura, Nilabh Shastri, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  136-  (1)  79  -85  2009/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To improve uptake and cross-presentation of exogenous antigens (Ag) by dendritic cells (DCs), octaarginine-modified liposomes (R8-Lip) were used as a novel strategy for protein-Ag transduction. Immature DCs endocytose macromolecules efficiently. While mature DCs lose their ability to capture Ag, but have an increased capacity for T-cell activation. Thus Ag-transduction has been performed mostly in immature DCs. In the present study, R8-Lip were efficiently taken up by both immature and mature DCs. DCs transduced after maturation were highly efficient at cross-presentation of Ag and induced higher cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) activity than were DCs transduced before maturation. The mechanism of Ag presentation involved the escape of R8-Lip from endosomes to cytosol, which require the acidic environment. The Ag released was then processed by a proteasome-dependent pathway. This novel transduction approach is clinically applicable, easy to perform, and has more practical advantages than current protein transduction methods. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• ミトコンドリア標的型ナノデバイス“多重型MITO‐Porter”の有用性の検証

  山田勇磨, 古川亮, 安崎友香理, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  69-  (Supplement)  150  2009/04/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• MPCコート多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による静脈内投与型in vivo肝臓デリバリーシステムの構築

  秋田英万, 増田智也, 金野智浩, 石原一彦, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  69-  (Supplement)  101  -101  2009/04/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 2型糖尿病の発症を予測するマーカーとしての白血球遺伝子発現プロファイルの有用性の検証

  林 泰弘, 梶本 和昭, 飯田 慎也, 加地 範匡, 高崎 一朗, 田渕 圭章, 紙谷 浩之, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  糖尿病  52-  (Suppl.1)  S  -287  2009/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• DNAマイクロアレイ解析による2型糖尿病遺伝子治療を可能とする新規標的遺伝子の探索

  高橋 恭平, 林 泰弘, 梶本 和昭, 飯田 慎也, 加地 範匡, 紙谷 浩之, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学: 生命とくすり  69-  (Suppl.)  101  -101  2009/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 効率的な核内遺伝子放出を可能とする多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創製

  山田勇磨, 野村卓, 原島秀吉, 山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井伸彦  日本薬学会年会要旨集  129th-  (4)  177  2009/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Learning from the viral journey: How to enter cells and how to overcome intracellular barriers to reach the nucleus

  Diky Mudhakir, Hideyoshi Harashima  AAPS Journal  11-  (1)  65  -77  2009/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Viruses deliver their genome into host cells where they subsequently replicate and multiply. A variety of relevant strategies have evolved by which viruses gain intracellular access and utilize cellular machinery for the synthesis of their genome. Therefore, the viral journey provides insight into the cell's trafficking machinery and how it can be best exploited to improve nonviral gene delivery systems. This review summarizes viral internalization pathways and intracellular trafficking of viruses, with an emphasis on the endosomal escape processes of nonenveloped viruses. Intracellular events from viral entry through nuclear delivery of the viral complementary DNA are also discussed. © American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists 2009.
• Two-step transcription amplificationを用いたin vivoにおける外来遺伝子発現活性化

  神田元紀, 落合浩史, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之  日本分子生物学会年会講演要旨集  32nd-  (Vol.2)  2009
• Rapid construction of Multifunctional Envelope-type Nanodevice using microfluidic device

  北添雄眞, 加地範匡, 加地範匡, 岡本行広, 岡本行広, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 小暮健太郎, 原島秀吉, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信  日本化学会講演予稿集  89th-  (2)  2009
• マイクロ流体デバイスを利用した多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の高速作製

  北添雄眞, 加地範匡, 加地範匡, 岡本行広, 岡本行広, 渡慶次学, 渡慶次学, 小暮健太朗, 原島秀吉, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信, 馬場嘉信  化学とマイクロ・ナノシステム研究会講演要旨集  20th-  2009
• 細胞内分解性ポリロタキサンの構造因子が与える遺伝子送達過程への影響

  山下敦, 上遠野亮, 由井伸彦, 山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 原島秀吉  遺伝子・デリバリー研究会シンポジウム要旨集  9th-  P.24  2009  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア標的型ナノデバイス“多重型MITO‐Porter”の創製

  山田勇磨, 古川亮, 安崎友香理, 原島秀吉  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  9th-  86  2009  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A new microdevice to rapidly constract Multifunctional Envelope-type Nanodevice for gene therapy

  Katsuma Kitazoe, Noritada Kaji, Yukihiro Okamoto, Manabu Tokeshi, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba  Proceedings of Conference, MicroTAS 2009 - The 13th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences  1267  -1269  2009  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  Multifunctional Envelope-type Nanodevice (MEND) is a promising gene delivery system. However, the application of MEND for the medical use has been prevented due to labor-intensive and time-consuming procedures in the preparation of MEND. In this paper, we report a microfluidic device which realizes to prepare MEND with narrow size distribution in 5 min (the conventional method needs 2 days). Our results strongly indicate that MEND prepared with our microfluidic device has a potential for medical use. © 2009 CBMS.
• 哺乳動物細胞におけるヌクレオチドプール浄化酵素の8‐hydroxy‐dGTP誘発変異の抑制

  堀美香, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之  日本放射線影響学会大会講演要旨集  51st-  87  -87  2008/11/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  [Purpose]
  Reactive oxygen species formed endogenously and by mutagens as ionizing radiation produce damaged DNA precursors (deoxyribonucleotides). The hydrolysis of the damaged DNA precursors before their incorporation into DNA by nucleotide pool sanitization enzymes would prevent the mutagenesis by the damaged DNA precursors. Mammalian MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 hydrolyze 8-hydroxy-dGTP or 8-hydroxy-dGDP in vitro, and are expected to function as nucleotide pool sanitization enzymes. However, it is unclear whether they actually prevent the mutagenesis by 8-hydroxy-dGTP/8-hydroxy-dGDP. In this study, we examined roles of MTH1, MTH2 and NUDT5 in suppression of the mutations induced by 8-hydroxy-dGTP in living cells by their knock-downs using siRNAs.
  [Methods]
  siRNAs against MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 and shuttle plasmid DNA containing the supF gene were transfected into human 293T cells. After 24 hr, 8-hydroxy-dGTP was introduced by means of osmotic pressure. After 48 hr, the plasmid amplified in the cells was recovered and transfected into E.coli KS40/pOF105 cells and supF mutant frequencies were calculated.
  [Results]
  Triple knock-downs of MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 increased frequency of the mutation induced by 8-hydroxy-dGTP by two-fold. The knock-downs promoted occurrence of A:T  C:G transversion. We are analyzing effects of knock-down of each protein on the mutation.
  [Conclusion]
  MTH1, MTH2, and NUDT5 are involved in the suppression of the mutations induced by 8-hydroxy-dGTP as nucleotide pool sanitization enzymes in mammalian cells.
• 哺乳動物細胞におけるヌクレオチドプール浄化酵素の酸化損傷ヌクレオチド誘発変異に対する影響

  堀美香, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之  生化学  81回・31回-  4T4-8  -8  2008/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 第一部 Nanomedicineへの貢献 : 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による遺伝子デリバリー(二つのトランスレーショナル研究:基礎研究から患者の手元へ,第15回PharmaScienceフォーラム,来るべき時代への道を拓く)

  原島 秀吉  日本医療薬学会年会講演要旨集  18-  (0)  235  -235  2008/09/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 多重型MITO‐Porterによるミトコンドリアを標的とした薬物送達戦略

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 紙谷浩之, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  23-  (3)  374  2008/06/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of small, homogeneous pDNA particles condensed with mono-cationic detergents and encapsulated in a multifunctional envelope-type nano device

  Ryosuke Suzuki, Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  31-  (6)  1237  -1243  2008/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Non-viral DNA vectors are promising gene delivery systems and a variety of non-viral DNA vectors have been developed to date. Recently, we developed a novel non-viral gene delivery system-multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND). The MEND system has high transfection activity, similar to that of adenovirus vector, which is a potent viral vector. However, conventional MEND is relatively large and heterogeneous (approximately 300 nm), probably because they contain relatively large- and heterogeneous-pDNA particles condensed with polycations, such as poly-L-lysine. Small particle size is important for in vivo delivery, because large particles are rapidly eliminated from systemic circulation. Moreover, heterogeneous size of drug carriers is difficult to apply to clinical applications. Here, we describe construction of small homogeneous MEND. First, we screened mono-cationic detergents (MCD(s)) to obtain optimal pDNA condensed particles. We determined that benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium chloride (BDHAC) and thonzonium bromide (TB) were optimal pDNA condensers. Next, we packaged the condensed pDNA particles into a lipid bi-layer. The resulting lipid-encapsulated pDNA particles were then equipped with octaarginine to facilitate cell-uptake (R8-MEND (MCD)). The carrier showed high transfection activity in cultured HeLa cells. Furthermore, the R8-MEND (MCD) were small and homogeneous compared with conventional MEND. These results indicate that R8-MEND (MCD) has potential as a novel non-viral delivery system for clinical application.
• 効率的な遺伝子送達を目指した1遺伝子パッケージング法の構築

  鈴木亮佑, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  68-  (Supplement)  194  2008/04/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative analysis of transfection efficiency between viral and non-viral vectors

  Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  10-  (4)  435  -436  2008/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 白血球を用いた2型糖尿病遺伝子診断を可能とする遺伝子の探索

  林 泰弘, 飯田 慎也, 佐藤 雄一郎, 中谷 明弘, 澤田 章弘, 加地 範匡, 馬場 嘉信, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  糖尿病  51-  (3)  264  -264  2008/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of various multifunctional envelope-type nano device MEND based on novel assembly technologies

  Kentaro Kogure, Hidetaka Akita, Hideyoshi Harashima  Yakugaku Zasshi  128-  (2)  219  -232  2008/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Non-viral vectors need to overcome several barriers such as the plasma membrane, the endosomal membrane and the nuclear membrane for efficient gene delivery to the nucleus of target cells. To overcome these obstacles, the delivery system must be equipped with various functional devices. However, it is difficult to package all these needed devices into a single system to exert each of their functions at the appropriate time and at the correct location. Thus, our group proposed a new packaging concept, "Programmed Packaging". A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) was developed for use as an efficient non-viral system for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA), oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and siRNA. Various types of MEND were developed as to strategy and situations. For example, the octaarginine (R8)-modified MEND (R8-MEND) encapsulating pDNA showed significantly high transfection activity comparable to adenovirus, and the up-take pathway of the R8-MEND was macropinocytosis, which can avoid lysosomal degradation. The R8-MEND successfully delivered a gene to hair follicles of mouse skin by in vivo topical application. Consequently, our group succeeded in the development of the MEND based on the Programmed Packaging, and found this to be a promising new delivery system of pDNA and functional nucleic acids. © 2008 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
• MITO-Porter: A liposome-based carrier system for delivery of macromolecules into mitochondria via membrane fusion

  Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Kentaro Kogure, Takenori Yamamoto, Yasuo Shinohara, Kikuji Yamashita, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES  1778-  (2)  423  -432  2008/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mitochondria are the principal producers of energy in higher cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a variety of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Effective medical therapies for such diseases will ultimately require targeted delivery of therapeutic proteins or nucleic acids to the mitochondria, which will be achieved through innovations in the nanotechnology of intracellular trafficking. Here we describe a liposome-based carrier that delivers its macromolecular cargo to the mitochondrial interior via membrane fusion. These liposome particles, which we call MITO-Porters, carry octaarginine surface modifications to stimulate their entry into cells as intact vesicles (via macropinocytosis). We identified lipid compositions for the MITO-Porter which promote both its fusion with the mitochondrial membrane and the release of its cargo to the intra-mitochondrial compartment in living cells. Thus, the MITO-Porter holds promise as an efficacious system for the delivery of both large and small therapeutic molecules into mitochondria. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.
• P-006 8-Hydroxyguanine and translesion synthesis DNA polymerases(Poster Session)

  Kamiya Hiroyuki, Yamaguchi Ayaka, Suzuki Tetsuya, Satou Kazuya, Hori Mika, Kawai Kazuaki, Kasai Hiroshi, Harashima Hideyoshi  日本環境変異原学会大会プログラム・要旨集  (37)  109  -109  2008
• Transdermal delivery of insulin-encapsulated liposomes via iontophoresis

  Kentaro Kogure, Masahiko Yamamoto, Misuzu Watanabe, Kiyoshi Kanemura, Akiyoshi Saito, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kazuaki Kajimoto  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  128-  81  -82  2008  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Efficient in-vitro and in-vivo gene transfer mediated by octaarginine-modified nanoparticles

  I. A. Khalil, K. Kogure, M. Yamada, H. Harashima  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  128-  115  -116  2008  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Microfluidic device to construct multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice for gene therapy

  K. Kitazoe, N. Kaji, Y. Okamoto, M. Tokeshi, K. Kogure, H. Harashima, Y. Baba  12th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences - The Proceedings of MicroTAS 2008 Conference  1891  -1893  2008  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this paper, a new method to construct a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) on a chip is described. MEND is an extremely efficient non-viral vector for a gene delivery system, which is composed of a condensed DNA and a lipid envelope. Using the microfluidic device, MEND we constructed had stable size distribution for gene therapy. We also could make the volume of accessory product lower. © 2008CBMS.
• Dynamic Cellular Stress Sensing using Sugar Displaying CdTe Quantum Dots

  NISHIO Takashi, NIIKURA Kenichi, MATSUO Yasutaka, AKITA Hidetaka, KOGURE Kentaro, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, IJIRO Kuniharu, IJIRO Kuniharu  Abstr RIES Hokudai Symp  9th-  110-111  2008  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A novel IRQ ligand-modified nano-carrier targeted to a unique pathway of caveolar endocytic pathway

  Diky Mudhakir, Hidetaka Akita, Erdal Tan, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  125-  (2)  164  -173  2008/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the present study, the cellular uptake and subsequent intracellular trafficking of liposomes was investigated, in which a novel peptide (IRQ), identified with in vivo phage display, was modified on the surface. Since the novel peptide IRQRRRR is rich in arginine, the cellular uptake mechanism was compared with octaarginine (R8)-modified liposomes, which are known to be taken up by cells via macropinocytosis. The uptake mechanism and intracellular trafficking of peptide-modified liposomes was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. Modification of the liposomal surface with the IRQ peptide (IRQ-Lip), induced internalization via a novel pathway-caveolar endocytosis-in parallel with clathrin-mediated endocytosis, Furthermore, the IRQ peptide stimulated escape from endocytic vesicles, leading to efficient gene silencing. When siRNA was condensed and encapsulated in an IRQ-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano-device (IRQ-MEND), transgene expression was reduced 52% with the fusogenic lipid, DOPE/CHEMS. This result shows that the novel IRQ can be utilized for cytoplasmic delivery of macromolecules. Moreover, the IRQ has the potential to be useful for delivery therapeutic agents to parenchymal cells via caveolar endocytosis, as this uptake pathway also plays an important role in transcytosis. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• MITO-Porter: a liposome-based carrier system for delivery of macromolecules into mitochondria via membrane fusion.

  YAMADA Yuma, AKITA Hidetaka, KAMIYA Hiroyuki, KOGURE Kentaro, YAMAMOTO Takenori, SHINOHARA Yasuo, YAMASHITA Kikuji, KOBAYASHI Hideo, KIKUCHI Hiroshi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta  1778-  (2)  423  -432  2008  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Base excision repair enzyme endonuclease III suppresses mutagenesis caused by 8-hydroxy-dGTP

  Tetsuya Suzuki, Kazuo Yamamoto, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  DNA REPAIR  7-  (1)  88  -94  2008/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To examine whether base excision repair suppresses mutations induced by oxidized deoxyribonucleotide 5'-triphosphates in the nucleotide pool, 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP) and 2-hydroxy-dATP were introduced into Escherichia coli strains deficient in endonucleases III (Nth) and VIII (Nei) and MutY, and mutations in the chromosomal rpoB gene were analyzed. The spontaneous rpoB mutant frequency was also examined in mutT/nth and mutT/nei strains, to assess the influence on the mutations induced by the endogenous 8-OH-dGTP accumulated in the mutT mutant. The mutations induced by exogenous 2-hydroxy-dATP were similar in all of the strains tested. Exogenous 8-OH-dGTP increased the rpoB mutant frequency more efficiently in the nth strain than that in the wild-type strain. The spontaneous mutant frequency in the mutT/nth strain was 2-fold higher than that in the mutT strain. These results suggest that E. coli endonuclease III also acts as a defense against the mutations caused by 8-OH-dGTP in the nucleotide pool. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Mutation spectra induced by incorporation of oxidized dNTPs into DNA by human DNA polymerase eta

  Masami Yamada, Katsuhiko Hidaka, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Chikahide Masutani, Hideyoshi Harashima, Fumio Hanaoka, Takehiko Nohmi  GENES & GENETIC SYSTEMS  82-  (6)  557  -557  2007/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• UvrA and UvrB enhance mutations induced by oxidized deoxyribonucleotides

  Mika Hori, Chieko Ishiguro, Tetsuya Suzuki, Noriko Nakagawa, Tatsuo Nunoshiba, Seiki Kuramitsu, Kazuo Yamarnoto, Hiroshi Kasai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  DNA REPAIR  6-  (12)  1786  -1793  2007/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oxidatively damaged DNA precursors (deoxyribonucleotides) are formed by reactive oxygen species. After the damaged DNA precursors are incorporated into DNA, they might be removed by DNA repair enzymes. in this study, to examine whether a nucleotide excision repair enzyme, Escherichia coli UvrABC, could suppress the mutations induced by oxidized deoxyribonucleotides in vivo, oxidized DNA precursors, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate and 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate, were introduced into uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC E. coli strains, and mutations in the chromosomal rpoB gene were analyzed. Unexpectedly, these oxidized DNA precursors induced mutations only slightly in the uvrA and uvrB strains. In contrast, effect of the uvrC-deficiency was not observed. Next, mutT, mutT/uvrA, and mutT/uvrB E. coli strains were treated with H2O2, and the rpoB mutant frequencies were calculated. The frequency of the H2O2-induced mutations was increased in all of the strains tested; however, the increase was three- to four-fold lower in the mutT/uvrA and mutT/uvrB strains than in the mutT strain. Thus, UvrA and UvrB are involved in the enhancement, but not in the suppression, of the mutations induced by these oxidized deoxyribonucleotides. These results suggest a novel role for UvrA and UvrB in the processing of oxidative damage. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• Development of a novel systemic gene delivery system for cancer therapy with a tumor-specific cleavable PEG-lipid

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  Yakugaku Zasshi  127-  (10)  1549  -1556  2007/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  For successful cancer gene therapy via intravenous administration, it is essential to optimize the stability of carriers in the systemic circulation and the cellular association after the accumulation of the carrier in tumor tissue. However, a dilemma exists regarding the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which is useful for conferring stability in the systemic circulation, but is undesirable for the cellular uptake and subsequent processes. We report the development of a PEG-peptide-lipid ternary conjugate (PPD). In this strategy, PEG is removed from the carriers via cleavage by a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which is specifically expressed in tumor tissues. An in vitro study revealed that the PPD-modified gene carrier (multifunctional envelope-type nano device, MEND) exhibited pDNA expression activity that was dependent on the MMP expression level in the host cells. In vivo studies further revealed that the PPD was potent in stabilizing MEND in the systemic circulation and facilitating tumor accumulation. Moreover, the intravenous administration of PPD or PEG/PPD dually modified MEND resulted in the stimulation of pDNA expression in tumor tissue, as compared with a conventional PEG-modified MEND. Thus MEND modified with PPD is a promising device with the potential to make in vivo cancer gene therapy achievable. © 2007 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
• Development of multifunctional envelope type artificial viral like gene delivery system

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Kentaro Kogure, Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Hiroyuki Kamiya  Yakugaku Zasshi  127-  (10)  1655  -1672  2007/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  This review introduces a new concept "Programmed Packaging" to develop a non-viral gene delivery system. Based on this concept, multifunctional envelope type nano devices (MEND) were developed for in vitro, in situ and in vivo conditions. A quantitative study to identify a rate limiting step in intracellular trafficking was also shown between viral and non-viral vectors, which indicated an important role of controlled intranuclear disposition for development a safe and efficient non-viral gene delivery system. This review will provide a future direction of non-viral gene delivery system. © 2007 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.
• 単一細胞のストレスをイメージングできる糖鎖プローブ分子の開発

  西尾崇, 新倉謙一, 松尾保孝, 秋田英万, 小暮健太朗, 原島秀吉, 居城邦治, 居城邦治  高分子学会予稿集(CD−ROM)  56-  (2 Disk1)  1Y17  2007/09/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effects of 8-hydroxy-GTP and 2-hydroxy-ATP on in vitro transcription

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Akihiro Suzuki, Kazuaki Kawai, Hiroshi Kasai, Hideyoshi Harashima  FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE  43-  (5)  837  -843  2007/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Oxidation of RNA precursors may disturb genetic information. In this study, the effects of oxidized RNA precursors on in vitro transcription were examined. Two oxidized ribonucleoside triphosphates, 8-hydroxyguanosine 5 '-triphosphate (8-OH-GTP) and 2-hydroxyadenosine 5 '-triphosphate (2-OH-ATP), were added to in vitro transcription reactions. The addition of 8-OH-GTP and 2-OH-ATP reduced the amount of RNA synthesized in vitro. Moreover, to examine qualitative alteration of the mRNA, it was converted to cDNA by reverse transcriptase, and the cDNA was then amplified by PCR. The PCR product was subsequently cloned into plasmid DNA, and the DNA sequence was analyzed for each bacterial colony. The two oxidized ribonucleotides induced mutations in cDNA, suggesting the disturbance of genetic information during transcription and/or reverse transcription. 8-OH-GTP induced T -> G plus T -> C mutations, and 2-OH-ATP caused T -> C mutations. These results indicate that the formation of these oxidized RNA precursors in cells affects transcription quantitatively and qualitatively. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• 遺伝子の細胞内動態に化学でせまる

  秋田 英万, 原島 秀吉  現代化学  (437)  21  -26  2007/08
• Transient activation of transgene expression by hydrodynamics-based injection may cause rapid decrease in plasmid DNA expression

  H. Ochiai, M. Fujimuro, H. Yokosawa, H. Harashima, H. Kamiya  GENE THERAPY  14-  (15)  1152  -1159  2007/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The intranuclear disposition of exogenous DNA is quite important for the therapeutic effects of the administered DNA. The expression efficiency from one copy of exogenous DNA delivered by hydrodynamics-based injection dramatically decreases over time, and this 'silencing' occurs without CpG methylation. In this study, naked luciferase-plasmid DNA was delivered into mouse liver by hydrodynamics-based injection, and modifications of the histones bound to the plasmid DNA were analyzed by a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. In addition, the effects of a second hydrodynamics-based injection on the expression from the plasmid DNA were examined. The ChIP analysis revealed that the modification status of histone H3 remained constant from 4 h to 4 weeks. Surprisingly, the injection of saline without DNA enhanced the luciferase expression from the preexisting DNA administered 4 and 14 days previously. Our results suggest that histone modification plays no role in the silencing. Instead, our data suggest that the transgene expression is activated by the hydrodynamics-based injection manipulation, and that the return from the activated status causes the silencing.
• 細胞のストレスイメージングを可能とする糖鎖プローブの開発

  新倉謙一, 西尾崇, 松尾保孝, 秋田英万, 小暮健太朗, 原島秀吉, 居城邦治, 居城邦治  日本糖質学会年会要旨集  27th-  79  2007/07/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of in vivo gene delivery system by multifunctional envelope-type nano device : Awarded with Nagai Prize in 7th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Drug Delivery System

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KOGURE Kentaro, AKITA Hidetaka, YAMADA Yuma, KAMIYA Hiroyuki  Drug delivery system  22-  (5)  569  -577  2007/06/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• MEND(multifunctional envelope-type nano device)による腫瘍への遺伝子デリバリー (特集 抗がん剤のDrug Delivery System)

  畠山 浩人, 秋田 英万, 原島 秀吉  Mebio oncology  4-  (2)  27  -35  2007/06
• 細胞内FRET法を用いたMITO‐Porter(ミトコンドリア膜融性リポソーム)の膜融合能評価

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 紙谷浩之, 小暮健太朗, 篠原康雄, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  22-  (3)  315  2007/05/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• オクタアルギニン修飾リポソームによるMHCクラスI特異的抗原デリバリーメカニズムの解析

  小野 耕平, 森口 留美子, 中村 孝司, 小暮 健太朗, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  67-  293  -293  2007/05/10
• 血管内皮細胞標的化ペプチド搭載リポソームの細胞内取り込み機構の解析

  秋田 英万, ムダキュル ディッキー, タン エルダル, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  67-  359  -359  2007/05/10
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体(MEND)を用いたタンパク質の効率的な細胞質送達

  鈴木亮佑, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  67-  (Supplement)  280  -280  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 血液サンプルを用いた2型糖尿病の遺伝子診断システムの開発

  林 泰弘, 飯田 慎也, 中谷 明弘, 澤田 章弘, 加地 範匡, 紙谷 浩之, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  67-  296  -296  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による人工遺伝子デリバリーシステムの創製

  原島 秀吉  Drug delivery system  22-  (3)  249  -249  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ヒストン高親和性配列が外来DNAの発現に与える影響

  福永 賢輝, 大山 隆, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  67-  (0)  309  -309  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 標的DNA配列はセンス/アンチセンス一本鎖DNA断片による遺伝子修復効率に影響する

  内山 雅普, 原島 秀吉, 紙谷 浩之  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  67-  (0)  310  -310  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• siRNAのデリバリーのための多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の構築

  原島 秀吉  Drug delivery system  22-  (3)  273  -273  2007/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 【細胞内情報デリバリーの新手法】 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による遺伝子デリバリー

  秋田 英万, 小暮 健太朗, 原島 秀吉  再生医療  6-  (2)  161,122  -167,122  2007/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• In vitro efficacy of a sterically stabilized immunoliposomes targeted to membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)

  Kazutaka Atobe, Tatsuhiro Ishida, Emi Ishida, Kouichi Hashimoto, Hideo Kobayashi, Jyunko Yasuda, Takanori Aoki, Ken-ichi Obata, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Hidetaka Akita, Tomohiro Asai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Naoto Oku, Hiroshi Kiwada  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  30-  (5)  972  -978  2007/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The poor selective cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs lead to dose-limiting adverse effects which compromise the clinical outcome. Solid tumors recruit new blood vessels to support their growth, and epitopes that are uniquely expressed on tumor cells and tumor endothelial cells (ECs) can function as targets for immunoliposomal anticancer drugs. Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), an important protein related to tumor growth and angiogenesis, is expressed on malignant tumor cells and is activated ECs. Selective delivery could be achieved by targeting MT1-MMP, as well as other angiogenic ECs. In this regard, an anti-MT1-MMP Fab' antibody was used to prepare a MT1-MMP targeted sterically stabilized immunoliposomes (SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')]). The binding and intracellular distribution of S1L[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')] and a non-targeted sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) were examined using human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')] was taken up by the cells in a lipid concentration, temperature, and time dependent manner, ultimately accumulating in the lysosomes. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DXR)-containing SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')] (DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')1) was significantly higher than that of DXR-containing SL. The cellular internalization of S1L[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')I was inhibited by endocytosis inhibitors, suggesting that their internalization was mediated via clathrin- or caveolae-depen dent endocytosis. Furthermore, the efficient binding of S1L[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')1 was observed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Based on these results, it would be expected that DXR-SIL[anti-MT1-MMP(Fab')] may achieve direct tumor cell kill and indirect tumor cell kill via the destruction of the tumor endothelium in vivo. This strategy may have the potential for overcoming some major limitations in conventional chemotherapy in vivo.
• Mutagenic effects of 8-hydroxy-dGTP in live mammalian cells

  Kazuya Satou, Kazuaki Kawai, Hiroshi Kasai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE  42-  (10)  1552  -1560  2007/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mutagenicity of an oxidized form of dGTP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP), was examined using COS-7 cells. 8-OH-dGTP and supF shuttle plasmid DNA were cointroduced by means of cationic liposomes, and the DNAs replicated in the cells were recovered and then transfected into Escherichia coli. 8-OH-dGTP induced A:T -> C:G substitution mutations in the COS-7 cells. This result agrees with previous observations indicating that DNA polymerases misincorporate 8-OH-dGTP opposite A in vitro, and that the oxidized deoxyribonucleotide induces A:T -> C:G transversions in E. coli. These results constitute the first direct evidence to show that 8-OH-dGTP actually induces mutations in living mammalian cells. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Efficient cytoplasmic protein delivery by means of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device

  Ryosuke Suzuki, Yuma Yamada, Hdeyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  30-  (4)  758  -762  2007/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The potential for protein therapy, such as the use of antibodies, and vaccines is now well accepted. However, it is difficult to enhance efficiency in protein therapy without a suitable delivery system for delivering proteins to target sites. Here we describe the development of protein delivery system, which is capable of cytoplasmic delivery as well as efficient packaging. The multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), which was originally developed for the delivery of nucleic acids such as plasmid DNA and oligodeoxynucleotides, can also be applied to protein delivery. In this study, the green fluorescent protein (GFP), a model protein, was condensed with stearyl octaarginine (stearyl R8) to form a nano particle, which was then coated with a lipid membrane, thus permitting R8 to be introduced for efficient cellular uptake and controlled intracellular trafficking. The packaging efficiency of the MEND was significantly higher than that of conventional liposomes, because the GFP can be encapsulated a condensed form. According to confocal laser scanning microscopy, the MEND is internalized efficiently and escapes from the acidic compartment to efficiently release GFP into the cytosol. These results indicate that the MEND can serve as a useful cytoplasmic delivery system for protein therapy.
• DNA microarray analysis of type 2 diabetes-related genes co-regulated between white blood cells and livers of diabetic Otsuka long-evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats

  Yasuhiro Hayashi, Shinya Iida, Yuichiro Sato, Akihiro Nacaya, Akihiro Sawada, Noritada Kaji, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  30-  (4)  763  -771  2007/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In a previous study, we hypothesized that some type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptible genes may be up/down-regulated in white blood cells (WBC) of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, reflecting their up/down-regulation in major insulin-target tissues such as the liver before the onset of diabetes. We identified 57 potential candidate genes for predicting diabetes. In this study, we examined this hypothesis further by extending the experimental conditions from before the onset (6 weeks) to after the onset (24 weeks) of diabetes that type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptible genes are co-regulated in WBC, reflecting their expression in the liver. Using rat oligo DNA microarrays, we found that 48 genes are up/down-regulated in OLETF rats compared to control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats in WBC and liver under fasting or insulin administration conditions. Twenty nine and 33 genes were up/down-regulated in both WBC and livers, respectively, under fasting and insulin administration conditions, respectively. Eight out of 29 genes in fasting condition and 12 out of 33 genes in insulin administration conditions have been reported to be type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptible genes and the remainder have not been reported to be related to type 2 diabetes mellitus. These results support our hypothesis that the expression levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus related genes in WBC are reflective of those in the liver after the onset of diabetes.
• Induction of various mutations during PCRs with manganese and 8-hydroxy-dGTP

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Maria Ito, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  30-  (4)  842  -844  2007/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To induce various mutations randomly, PCRs with Mn2+ and with a mutagenic deoxyribonucleotide, 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP), were performed. Mutations were induced by deoxyribonucleotide imbalance plus 500 mu m Mn2+ in the Mn2+-PCR, and the amplified DNA was inserted into a plasmid. The plasmid library obtained from the transformed bacterial cells was then used as the template in the next PCR, which was done with 50 or 100 mu M 8-OH-dGTP Four kinds of mutations, A:T -> G:C and G:C -> A:T transitions and A:T -> T:A and A:T -> C:G transversions, occurred with similar frequencies. These results suggest that this strategy will be useful in random PCR mutagenesis for the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins, and for analyses of residues in these biomolecules.
• Under the spell of nanomachine

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Drug delivery system  22-  (2)  105  -105  2007/03/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリア選択的な高分子薬物送達を可能とする薬物送達システムの開発

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 紙谷浩之, 小暮健太朗, 篠原康雄, 小林英夫, 菊池寛, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  127th-  (1)  284  2007/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• タンパク質を効率的に細胞質へ送達するナノ構造体の開発

  鈴木亮佑, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  127th-  (3)  87  2007/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 2型糖尿病発症前遺伝子診断用遺伝子の探索

  飯田 慎也, 中谷 明宏, 林 泰弘, 澤田 章弘, 加地 範匡, 紙谷 浩之, 馬場 嘉信, 原島 秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  127年会-  (3)  96  -96  2007/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Cell cycle dependent transcription, a determinant factor of heterogeneity in cationic tipid-mediated transgene expression

  Hidetaka Akita, Rie Ito, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE  9-  (3)  197  -207  2007/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Background Heterogeneity of transgene expression, the presence or absence (below the limit of detection) of transgene expression on a cell-by-cell basis, is a severe disadvantage in the use of cationic lipid-mediated gene vectors for gene therapy and experiments in molecular biology. Understandings of intracellular trafficking and the function (transgene expression) of vectors related to cellular physiology are essential in terms of clarifying the mechanism underlying the heterogeneity. Methods To distinguish the contribution of nuclear transfer efficiency and subsequent intranuclear transcription efficiency to the overall heterogeneity in transgene expression, a novel imaging system was established for the dual visualization of the nuclear transfer of pDNA and marker gene expression (lacZ) in single cells. Results The expression of LacZ occurred in only approximately 30% of HeLa cells of the nuclear pDNA-positive cells, indicating that intranuclear transcription efficiency contributed to the heterogeneity. Dual imaging against synchronized cells further revealed that the efficiency of nuclear delivery was comparable irrespective of cell cycle status, which is contrary to the generally accepted hypothesis that nuclear import of pDNA is enhanced during cell division when the nuclear membrane structure is perturbed. The most significant finding in the present study is that nuclear transcription efficiency in terms of the ratio of LacZ-positive cells to nuclear pDNA-positive cells drastically increased in the late S and G2/M phase. Conclusions This is the first demonstration to show that cell cycle dependent intranuclear transcription appears to be responsible for the overall heterogeneity of transgene expression. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Mitochondrial drug delivery and mitochondrial disease therapy - An approach to liposome-based delivery targeted to mitochondria

  Yuma Yamada, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima  MITOCHONDRION  7-  (1-2)  63  -71  2007/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Recent progress in genetics and molecular biology has provided useful information regarding the molecular mechanisms associated with the mitochondrial diseases. Genetic approaches were initiated in the late 1980s to clarify the gene responsible for various mitochondrial diseases, and information concerning genetic mutations is currently used in the diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases. Moreover, it was also revealed that mitochondria play a central role in apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which is closely related to the loss of physiological functions of tissues. Therefore, drug therapies targeted to the mitochondria would be highly desirable. In spite of the huge amount of mechanism-based studies of mitochondrial diseases, effective therapies have not yet been established mainly because of the lack of an adequate delivery system. To date, numerous investigators have attempted to establish a mitochondrial drug delivery system. However, many problems remain to be overcome before a clinical application can be achieved. To fulfill a drug delivery targeted to mitochondria, we first need to establish a method to encapsulate various drugs, proteins, peptides, and genes into a drug carrier depending on their physical characteristics. Second, we need to target it to a specific cell. Finally, multi-processes of intracellular trafficking should be sophisticatedly regulated so as to release a drug carrier from the endosome to the cytosol, and thereafter to deliver to the mitochondria. In this review, we describe the current state of the development of mitochondrial drug delivery systems, and discuss the advantage and disadvantage of each system. Our current efforts to develop an efficient method for the packaging of macromolecules and regulating intracellular trafficking are also summarized. Furthermore, novel concept of "Regulation of intramitochondrial trafficking" is proposed herein as a future challenge to the development of a mitochondrial drug delivery system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.
• 大腸菌DNAポリメラーゼIIIによる酸化的損傷ヌクレオチドの取り込み

  清水雅富, 清水雅富, GRUZ Petr, 藤井慎吾, 紙谷浩之, XU Yan, 碓井之雄, 杉山弘, 原島秀吉, FUCHS Robert P, 能美健彦  生化学  2007
• P045 Involvement of Y-family DNA polymerases in mutagenesis by 8-OH-dGTP

  KAMIYA Hiroyuki, SATOU Kazuya, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本環境変異原学会大会プログラム・要旨集  (36)  90  -90  2007
• Mechanism of membrane fusion between endosomal membrane and octaarginine or octalysine surface modified liposomes in live cells

  Ayman El-Sayed, Ikramy A. Khalil, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  127-  87  -88  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Novel approach for the nuclear delivery of macromolecule via membrane fusion in non-dividing cell

  Hidetaka Akita, Asako Kudo, Arisa Minoura, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  127-  85  -86  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative imaging of intracellular trafficking of siRNA vector

  Tomoko Higashi, Yoshio Nakamura, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  127-  171  -172  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative and mechanism-based investigation of post-nuclear delivery events between adenovirus and lipoplex

  Susumu Hama, Hidetaka Akita, Shinya Iida, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH  35-  (5)  1533  -1543  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Quantitative and mechanism-based information on differences in transfection efficiency between viral and non-viral vectors would be highly useful for improving the effectiveness of non-viral vectors. A previous quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking between adenovirus and LipofectAMINE PLUS (LFN) revealed that the three orders of magnitude lower transfection efficiency of LFN was dominantly rate limited by the post-nuclear delivery process. In the present study, the contribution of transcription and translation processes to the overall differences in the transgene expression efficiency of nucleus-delivered DNA was independently evaluated by quantifying mRNA. As a result, transcription efficiency (E-transcript) of LFN, denoted as transgene expression divided by the amount of nuclear pDNA was about 16 times less than that for adenovirus. Furthermore, translation efficiency (E-translate), denoted as transfection activity divided by mRNA expression was approximately 460 times less in LFN. Imaging of the decondensed form of DNA by in situ hybridization revealed that poor decondensation efficiency of LFN is involved in the inferior E-transcript- Moreover, the inferior translation efficiency (E-translate) of LFN was mainly due to electrostatic interactions between LFN and mRNA. Collectively, an improvement in nuclear decondensation and the diminution of the interaction between vector and mRNA is essential for the development of new generations of non-viral vectors.
• A novel high efficient and speed construction method of a multi functional envelope-type nano device on microdevice

  Hiroshi Kuramoto, Noritada Kaji, Kentarou Kogure, Manabu Tokeshi, Yasuo Shinohara, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba  Micro Total Analysis System 2007  2007-  781-783  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of multifunctional envelope-type nano-device (mend) based on the regulation of intracellular trafficking

  Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Hideyoshi Harashima  Drug Delivery System  22-  (2)  115  -122  2007  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  For the development of efficient gene vector, intracellular barriers such as cellular membrane and nuclear membrane must be overcome. To regulate the intracellular trafficking, we have developed a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND), which is useful for the in vivo application. © 2007, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Effective drug delivery toward mitochondria by combination of mitochondrial membrane fusion system and mitochondrial targeting signal peptide

  YAMADA Yuma, AKITA Hidetaka, KAMIYA Hiroyuki, KOGURE Kentaro, SHINOHARA Yasuo, KOBAYASHI Hideo, KIKUCHI Hiroshi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  6th-  31  2006/12/13  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Involvement of Y-family DNA polymerases in mutagenesis caused by oxidized nucleotides in Escherichia coli

  Masami Yamada, Tatsu Nunoshiba, Masatomi Shimizu, Gruz Petr, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Hideyoshi Harashima, Takehiko Nohmi  GENES & GENETIC SYSTEMS  81-  (6)  411  -411  2006/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Recognition of nucleotide analogs containing the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo structure by the human MTH1 protein

  Hiroyuki Kamiya, Claudio Cadena-Amaro, Laurence Dugue, Hiroyuki Yakushiji, Noriaki Minakawa, Akira Matsuda, Sylvie Pochet, Yusaku Nakabeppu, Hideyoshi Harashima  JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY  140-  (6)  843  -849  2006/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The MTH1 protein catalyzes hydrolysis of oxidatively damaged purine nucleotides including 8-hydroxy-dGTP to the monophosphates. The MTH1 protein seems to act as an important defense system against mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death induced by oxidized purine nucleotides. We previously reported that the functional groups at the 2- and 6-positions of the purine ring affect the recognition by the human MTH1 protein. 8-Hydroxy-dGTP and 8-hydroxy-dATP are substrates of MTH1, and both have the "7,8-dihydro-8-oxo structure." In this study, three nucleotide analogs containing this motif were examined. A synthetic purine analog containing the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo structure and the 2-amino function (dJTP) was hydrolyzed to the monophosphate with high efficiency by MTH1 On the other hand, two analogs that lack the two-ring system of their bases [formamidopyrimidine-dGTP (FAPY-dGTP) and 2-OH-dYTP] were poor substrates. FAPY-dGTP is a mixture of conformers and was hydrolyzed more than ten-fold less efficiently than 8-hydroxy-dGTP. These results clarify the effects of the 2-amino group and the two-ring system of the purine base on the recognition by the human MTH1 protein.
• Genome wide expression analysis of white blood cells and liver of pre-diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats using a cDNA microarray

  Shinya Iida, Yuichiro Sato, Akihiro Nakaya, Yasuo Shinohara, Yasuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Sawada, Hideya Nagata, Noritada Kaji, Hiroyuki Kamiya, Yoshinobu Baba, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  29-  (12)  2451  -2459  2006/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In a prior study, we reported on a significant decrease in calpain10 gene expression in white blood cells (WBC) as well as the major insulin-target tissues including liver and adipose tissue, before the onset of diabetes in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. In this study, we extended our hypothesis that some type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) susceptible genes are up/down-regulated before the onset in WBC of OLETF rats, reflecting their up/down-regulation in major insulin-target tissues, such as the liver. We tested this hypothesis using rat cDNA microarrays. The findings show that 1080 genes are up/down-regulated by more than 2-fold compared to the controls, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats, before the onset in WBC and liver under fasted or insulin administered condition. Fifty-seven of the 1080 genes were up/down-regulated in both WBC and the liver. More than half have been reported to NIDDM susceptible genes and the remainder have not been reported to be related to NIDDM. These results indicate that there some NIDDM related genes are up/down-regulated in WBC before the onset of diabetes.
• Development of non-viral vector based on the quantitative comparison of intracellular trafficking with viral vector

  Hidetaka Akita, Susumu Hama, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  YAKUGAKU ZASSHI-JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN  126-  (11)  1047  -1057  2006/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  For the development of efficient gene vector, intracellular processes such as cellular uptake, endosomal release and nuclear delivery must be overcome. Viruses have also evolved and have developed sophisticated mechanisms for controlling intracellular trafficking for the efficient delivery of their genomes to nuclei in host cells for symbiosis. In the light of these mechanisms, various kinds of artificial devices have been developed to overcome the intracellular barriers. However, in the majority of studies, variation of the transfection activity before and after the modification of devices was evaluated, and intracellular trafficking remained unclear. Therefore, it is understand to recognize which of the intracellular barrier should be intensively improved to enhance the transfection activity. To clarify the rate-limited process in the current non-viral vector, we compared the intracellular trafficking between adenovirus and LipofectAMINE PLUS. As a result, we found that difference of the transfection efficiency between adenovirus and LipofectAMINE PLUS was dominantly derived from the differences on transcription activity. Therefore it is essential to consider the regulation of the intranuclear events to improve the transfection activity of artificial vector.
• Induction of Substitution and Deletion Mutations by 2-Hydroxyadenine during Replication in a HeLa Extract

  Satou Kazuya, Kasai Hiroshi, Harashima Hideyoshi, Kamiya Hiroyuki  Genes and environment : the official journal of the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society  28-  (3)  92  -96  2006/08/31  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mutagenicity of oxidized adenine, 2-hydroxyadenine (2-OH-Ade), was examined using an SV40 origindependent in vitro replication system with a HeLa extract. 2-OH-Ade was mutagenic with an induced mutation frequency of 0.03-0.8%. 2-OH-Ade mainly caused deletion and A→G mutations. These results indicate that 2-OH-Ade is mutagenic under in vitro replication conditions. The mutation spectrum of 2-hydroxy-dATP in in vitro replication, obtained in a previous study, is discussed.
• 人工ナノ遺伝子ベクターの細胞内動態制御 (特集 ナノバイオロジー--ナノテクでバイオを変える)

  秋田 英万, 原島 秀吉  細胞工学  25-  (8)  899  -904  2006/08
• Involvement of Y-family DNA polymerases in oxidized dNTPs-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli.

  M. Yamada, T. Nunoshiba, M. Shimizu, P. Gruz, H. Kamiya, H. Harashima, T. Nohmi  ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS  47-  (6)  428  -428  2006/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 膜融合を介してミトコンドリアへの高分子薬物送達を可能とする,“MITO‐Porter”の細胞内での膜融合能評価

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 紙谷浩之, 小暮健太朗, 山本武範, 篠原康雄, 山下菊治, 小林英夫, 菊池寛, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  21-  (3)  298  2006/06/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Size and topology of exogenous DNA as determinant factors of transgene transcription in mammalian cells (Retraction of vol 9, pg 1500, 2002)

  H. Kamiya, J. Yamazaki, H. Harashima  GENE THERAPY  13-  (11)  932  -932  2006/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effects of overexpression and antisense RNA expression of Orf17, a MutT-type enzyme

  Mika Hori, Taketoshi Asanuma, Osamu Inanami, Mikinori Kuwabara, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  29-  (6)  1087  -1091  2006/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Escherichia coli Orf17 (NtpA, NudB) protein, a Muff-type enzyme, hydrolyzes oxidized deoxyribonucleotides, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate, in vitro. To examine its in vivo role(s) in bacteria, plasmid DNAs containing the orf17 gene in the sense and antisense orientations were introduced. When the Orf17 protein was overexpressed in mutT cells, the rpoB mutant frequency was decreased. On the other hand, similar effects were not observed when Orf17 was overexpressed in wild type and orf135 cells. Expression of the antisense RNA of the orf17 gene did not produce an obvious phenotype, such as increased mutant frequency and resistance to ionizing radiation. These results suggest that the role of the Orf17 protein is to back up the MutT function, and to assist in the elimination of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine nucleotides.
• Delivery of condensed DNA by liposomal non-viral gene delivery system into nucleus of dendritic cells

  Takashi Nakamura, Rumiko Moriguchi, Kentaro Kogure, Arisa Minoura, Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Kazunori Kato, Hirofumi Hamada, Shiroh Futaki, Hideyoshi Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  29-  (6)  1290  -1293  2006/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, we developed novel double-membranous non-viral gene delivery system modified with SV-40 T antigen-derived nuclear localization signal (NLS-DMEND) for delivery of luciferase plasmid DNA to nucleus of non-dividing mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). Intracellular trafficking and gene expression of NLS-DMEND in the BMDC were evaluated. Condensed DNA was observed in the nucleus by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the NLS-DMEND induced significant luciferase activity in the BMDC. It was suggested that the condensed DNA particle transferred into nucleus via energy dependent manner, since the nuclear transfer was inhibited by metabolic inhibitors. In conclusion, condensed plasmid DNA was delivered into the nucleus of non-dividing BMDC by NLS-DMEND.
• ミトコンドリアを標的としたDDSと疾患治療への応用 : ミトコンドリア融合性リポソーム、"MITO-Porter" を用いたアプローチ

  山田 勇麿, 秋田 英万, 小暮 健太朗, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉, 篠原 康雄, 小林 英夫, 菊池 寛  Drug delivery system  21-  (3)  275  -275  2006/05/10
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による人工遺伝子デリバリーシステムの開発

  原島 秀吉, 秋田 英万, 小暮 健太朗  Drug delivery system  21-  (3)  254  -254  2006/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Mechanism of Difference in the Transcription Activity of Nucleus-Delivered Transgene Introduced by Adenovirus and Lipoplex

  Hidetaka Akita, Susumu Hama, Hiroyuki Mizuguchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  13-  S199  -S199  2006/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of Nuclear Targeting System of Plasmid DNA; Impact of Sugar Display on the Surface of Lipid Envelope

  Tomoya Masuda, Hidetaka Akita, Takashi Nishio, Kenichi Niikura, Asako Kudo, Kentaro Kogure, Akitada Iwasa, Kuniharu Ijiro, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  13-  S388  -S388  2006/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of Novel Systemic Gene Delivery System for Cancer Therapy with Tumor-Specifically Cleavable PEG-Lipid

  Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hidetaka Akita, Kentaro Kogure, Motoi Oishi, Yukio Nagasaki, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  13-  S203  -S203  2006/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Impact of Convective Flow on the Cellular Uptake and Transfection Activity of Lipoplex and Adenovirus

  Takahiro Fujiwara, Hidetaka Akita, Katsuko Furukawa, Takashi Ushida, Hideyoshi Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  13-  S128  -S128  2006/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 【先端生物医学研究・医療のための遺伝子導入テクノロジー ウイルスを用いない遺伝子導入法の材料,技術,方法論の新たな展開】 遺伝子導入のための材料 MEND

  小暮 健太朗, 原島 秀吉  遺伝子医学MOOK  (5)  90  -94  2006/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Significant and prolonged antisense effect of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device encapsulating antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

  Y Nakamura, K Kogure, Y Yamada, S Futaki, H Harashima  JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY  58-  (4)  431  -437  2006/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  A multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) was developed for use as an efficient non-viral system for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) using octaarginine (R8) as an internalizing ligand. Three types of R8-MENDs were prepared, co-encapsulating luciferase-encoding pDNA and antiluciferase oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) condensed by three polycations, stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8), poly-L-lysine (PLL) and protamine, and the antisense effects of the ODN-encapsulated R8-MENDs (ODN-MEND) were analysed in-vitro. The ODN-MEND packaged using protamine as a condenser showed a 90% antisense effect 16 h after the transfection, and a persistent antisense effect of over 75% for up to 48 h, which was much more effective than that of LipofectAmine2000. On the other hand, the ODN-MENDs prepared using PLL and STR-R8 as condensers did not show any significant inhibition of luciferase activity. Although there was no specific relation between the physicochemical characteristics of the ODN-MENDs and their antisense effect, the pattern of the antisense effect among the ODN-MENDs was similar to that of the silencing effect of R8-MEND encapsulating plasmid DNA encoding siRNA. These results suggest that R8-MENDs are able to deliver encapsulated DNA to the cytosol as well as to the nucleus, and that protamine can also function as an efficient decondenser, not only in the nucleus but also in the cytosol. In conclusion, we successfully developed an ODN-MEND with a high antisense effect using protamine as a DNA condensing as well as a decondensing agent.
• オリゴデオキシヌクレオチドの機能向上を目指した多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体への封入

  小暮健太朗, 小暮健太朗, 中村宣央, 中村宣央, 山田勇磨, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  126th-  (2)  138  2006/03/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 核膜融合に基づく新規核内送達デバイスの構築

  工藤亜沙子, 秋田英万, 増田智也, 山田勇磨, 小暮健太朗, 箕浦ありさ, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  66-  (Supplement)  113  2006/02/24  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• オリゴDNAの多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体へのパッケージングの確立とその機能評価

  中村宜央, 小暮健太朗, 山田勇磨, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  66-  (Supplement)  114  2006/02/24  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ミトコンドリアを標的とする膜融合性リポソーム,MITO‐Porterを用いた生細胞ミトコンドリアへの高分子薬物送達―共焦点レーザースキャン顕微鏡を用いた細胞内動態観察―

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 紙谷浩之, 小暮健太朗, 篠原康雄, 小林英夫, 菊池寛, 原島秀吉  薬剤学  66-  (Supplement)  109  2006/02/24  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 白血球の網羅的遺伝子発現情報にもとづいた新規2型糖尿病診断用候補遺伝子の探索

  飯田 慎也, 佐藤 雄一郎, 中谷 明弘, 林 泰弘, 馬場 嘉信, 篠原 康雄, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  糖尿病  49-  (2)  179  -179  2006/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 【ナノテクノロジーと医療 基礎・臨床研究と展望】 ナノテクノロジーによる遺伝子治療 エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による遺伝子デリバリー

  小暮 健太朗, 秋田 英万, 原島 秀吉  日本臨床  64-  (2)  258  -262  2006/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Non-linear pharmacodynamics in a non-viral gene delivery system: Positive non-linear relationship between dose and transfection efficiency

  R Moriguchi, K Kogure, A Iwasa, H Akita, H Harashima  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  110-  (3)  605  -609  2006/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  A remarkable non-linearity was found between dose and transfection activities of non-viral gene delivery systems, such as a Lipofectamine/DNA complex and an octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device (R8-MEND). We measured the nuclear delivery of pDNA to distinguish the non-linearity in intracellular pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics after transfection with R8-MEND at different doses. A remarkable positive non-linearity was found in the pharmacodynamics when the dose was increased. Even dummy pDNA enhanced the efficiency of transcription and/or translation per pDNA in the nucleus, but empty liposomes did not. These results suggest the importance of controlled pharmacodynamics as well as the importance of intracellular pharmacokinetics for the rational design of non-viral gene delivery systems. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• On-chip construction of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device for a non-viral gene delivery system

  Hiroshi Kuramoto, Noritada Kaji, Kentarou Kogure, Manabu Tokeshi, Yasuo Shinohara, Hideyoshi Harashima, Yoshinobu Baba  Micro Total Analysis Systems - Proceedings of MicroTAS 2006 Conference: 10th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences  μTAS2006-  1005  -1007  2006  [Refereed][Not invited]
   

  We developed a simple microdevice to construct a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) on a chip. MEND is an extremely efficient technology for a non-viral gene delivery system, however, the existing method to construct it is time-consuming, labor intensive, and tedious task. In the simple microdevice developed here, just by changing flow rate and concentrations of materials in microchip, we succeeded to construct MEND efficiently and easily. © 2006 Society for Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems.
• Syntheses of Sugar-displaying Quantum Dots as a Cellular Stress Sensing Probe

  NISHIO Takashi, NIIKURA Kenichi, MATSUO Yasutaka, AKITA Hidetaka, KOGURE Kentaro, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, IJIRO Kuniharu, IJIRO Kuniharu  Abstr RIES Hokudai Symp  8th-  72-73  2006  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 【DDS研究の現状と将来展望】 遺伝子治療とDDS 多機能性リポソーム

  原島 秀吉, 小暮 健太朗, 秋田 英万, 紙谷 浩之  PHARM TECH JAPAN  21-  (12)  2059  -2063  2005/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of efficient packaging method of oligodeoxynucleotides by a condensed nano particle in lipid envelope structure

  Y Yamada, K Kogure, Y Nakamura, K Inoue, H Akita, F Nagatsugi, S Sasaki, T Suhara, H Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  28-  (10)  1939  -1942  2005/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  An efficient delivery system is required if antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) are to be utilized for gene therapy. We report herein on the development of a novel ODN delivery system, ODN-encapsulated nano particles (ODN-ENP) using an efficient and simple packaging method. The ODN-ENP consists of a condensed ODN particle and a lipid envelope, which can be equipped with various functional devices for the efficient delivery of ODN with a small diameter (150 nm). The encapsulation efficiency and ODN recovery of ODN-ENP were significantly higher than those of other packaging methods, such as a stabilized antisense-lipid particles method or a freezethaw method. Furthermore, the time required for the preparation of the ODN-ENP was shorter than the other methods. The method developed in this study is a simple and efficient packaging method for ODN with a condensed nano particle in lipid-envelope structure.
• Correction of frameshift mutations with single-stranded and double-stranded DNA fragments prepared from phagemid/plasmid DNAs

  H Tsuchiya, T Sawamura, H Harashima, H Kamiya  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  28-  (10)  1958  -1962  2005/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We recently found that a heat-denatured, double-stranded DNA fragment, prepared from plasmid DNA (dsHES), and a sense single-stranded DNA fragment, prepared from single-stranded phagemid DNA (fSense), corrected an inactivated hygromycin-resistance and enhanced green fluorescence protein fusion (Hyg-EGFP) gene containing a base substitution (G:C to C:G) mutation 2-fold and more than 10-fold, respectively, more efficiently than the conventional PCR fragment (pcrHES), in the small fragment homologous replacement method. In this study, we tested the abilities of these new DNA fragments to correct Hyg-EGFP genes inactivated by one base insertion (+G) and deletion (-C) mutations. In contrast to its activity with the substitution mutation, the fSense fragment showed similar efficiencies to those of the dsHES fragment in the correction of frameshift mutations. For the correction of the insertion mutation, the efficiencies were in the order of dsHES (0.21%)>= fSense (0.18%)> pcrHES (0.08%). In the case of the correction of the deletion mutation, the efficiencies were in the order of fSense (0.27%)>= dsHES (0.19%)> pcrHES (0.12%). These results suggest that sense single- and double-stranded DNA fragments prepared from phagemid and plasmid DNAs, respectively, have the potential to correct frameshift mutations.
• Mitochondrial delivery of mastoparan with transferrin liposornes equipped with a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide for selective cancer therapy

  Y Yamada, Y Shinohara, T Kakudo, S Chaki, S Futaki, H Kamiya, H Harashima  INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS  303-  (1-2)  1  -7  2005/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Mastoparan (NIP), a potent facilitator of mitochondrial permeability transition (PT), could be used as an antitumor agent, if it were encapsulated in a tumor selective delivery system. We recently developed transferrin-modified liposomes (Tf-L) with a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (GALA), which delivers an encapsulated fluorescent marker into cytosol efficiently. In this study, we encapsulated NIP into Tf-L with GALA for the selective delivery to mitochondria of tumor cells. The NIP showed potent PT activity at concentrations above 25 mu M in a homogenate of K 562 cells as well as in isolated mitochondria in the presence of phosphate. Tf-L equipped with cholesteryl GALA can release encapsulated sulforhodamine B, while Tf-L failed, as evidenced by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The MP, which was delivered with Tf-L with GALA, released cytochrome c (cyt c) from mitochondria to the cytosol, while free NIP released cyt c not only to the cytosol but also extracellulary. These results demonstrate the utility of MP in Tf-L with GALA for cancer therapy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 膜融合を介してミトコンドリアへの送達を可能とするリポソーム,“Mitosome”の開発

  山田勇磨, 秋田英万, 小暮健太朗, 紙谷浩之, 篠原康雄, 小林英夫, 菊池寛, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  20-  (3)  312  2005/07/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• RNA interference induced by siRNAs modified with 4 '-thioribonucleosides in cultured mammalian cells

  S Hoshika, N Minakawa, H Kamiya, H Harashima, A Matsuda  FEBS LETTERS  579-  (14)  3115  -3118  2005/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) variously modified with 4'-thioribonucleosides against the Photinus luciferase gene were tested for their induction of the RNA interference (RNAi) activity in cultured NIH/3T3 cells. Results indicated that modifications at the sense-strand were well tolerated for RNAi activity except for full modification with 4'-thioribonucleosides. However, the activity of siRNAs modified at the antisense-strand was dependent on the position and the number of modifications with 4'-thioribonucleosides. Since modifications of siRNAs with 4'-thioribonucleosides were well tolerated in RNAi activity compared with that of 2'-O-methyl nucleosides, 4'-thioribonucleosides might be potentially useful in the development of novel and effective chemically modified siRNAs. (c) 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 遺伝子デリバリーシステムの細胞内動態の定量的解析 : ウイルスvs非ウイルス

  秋田 英万, 濱 進, 水口 裕之, 原島 秀吉  Drug delivery system  20-  (3)  279  -279  2005/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の開発 : Programmed Packaging の提唱

  原島 秀吉, 小暮 健太朗, 秋田 英万, 紙谷 浩之  Drug delivery system  20-  (3)  292  -292  2005/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 網羅的遺伝子発現情報にもとづいた新規2型糖尿病診断候補遺伝子の探索

  飯田 慎也, 佐藤 雄一郎, 中谷 明弘, 馬場 嘉信, 篠原 康雄, 鈴木 要介, 原島 秀吉  糖尿病  48-  (Suppl.2)  S127  -S127  2005/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Evaluation of nuclear transfer and transcription of plasmid DNA condensed with protamine by microinjection: The use of a nuclear transfer score

  T Masuda, H Akita, H Harashima  FEBS LETTERS  579-  (10)  2143  -2148  2005/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the present study, the nuclear delivery of a green fluorescence protein (GFP)-encoding pDNA condensed by protamine was investigated in terms of trans-gene expression after cytoplasmic (E(cyt)) and nuclear (E(nuc)) microinjection. To compare the nuclear transfer process, a novel parameter; the nuclear transfer (NT) score was introduced. The E(cyt) value for protamine/pDNA particles increased in a charge ratio-dependent manner. The calculated NT score showed that this increase results from an enhancement in nuclear transfer efficiency, which was also quantitatively confirmed by a recently developed confocal image-assisted three-dimensionally integrated quantification (CIDIQ) method. Moreover, E(nuc) for protamine/pDNA particles was significantly higher than that for poly-L-lysine/pDNA particles. suggesting that pDNA, when condensed with protamine, is more accessible to intra-nuclear transcription. Collectively, protamine is an excellent DNA condenser, with bi-functional advantages: improvement in nuclear delivery and efficient intra-nuclear transcription. (c) 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
• 外来DNAによる転写・翻訳効率の新規定量的評価法

  山田勇磨, 紙谷浩之, 原島秀吉  日本薬学会年会要旨集  125th-  (2)  147  2005/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• In vivo mutagenicities of damaged nucleotides produced by nitric oxide and ionizing radiation

  M Hori, C Ishiguro, H Harashima, H Kamiya  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  28-  (3)  520  -522  2005/03  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To evaluate the in vivo mutagenicities of damaged DNA precursors (deoxyribonucleoside 5 '-triphosphates) produced by exposure to nitric oxide (NO) and ionizing radiation, five damaged deoxyribonucleotides (deoxyxanthosine triphosphate, deoxyoxanosine triphosphate, dITP, dUTP, and 8-hydroxy-dATP) were introduced into competent Escherichia coli cells. Their mutagenic potentials were assayed using the chromosomal rpoB gene as a mutagenesis target. In contrast to 8-hydroxy-dGTP and 2-hydroxy-dATP, which were examined in an earlier study, none of these damaged deoxyribonucleotides significantly increased the rpoB mutant frequency. These results suggest that these five damaged deoxyribonucleotides are weakly mutagenic in vivo if at all. Thus their contributions to mutations induced by NO and ionizing radiation may be small.
• P-56 Mutational property of 8-hydroxy-dGTP during DNA replication by cellular extract lacking DNA polymerase eta(Poster Presentations(2))

  Kamiya H, Satou K, Harashima H, Masutani C, Hanaoka F  日本環境変異原学会大会プログラム・要旨集  (34)  132  -132  2005
• MITO-Porter, a new-type carrier for mitochondrial macromolecules delivery system via a membrane fusion mechanism

  YAMADA Yuma, AKITA Hidetaka, KAMIYA Hiroyuki, KOGURE Kentaro, SHINOHARA Yasuo, KOBAYASHI Hideo, KIKUCHI Hiroshi, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  日本ミトコンドリア学会年会要旨集  5th-  69  2005  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Development of a Novel Non-Viral DNA Vaccine-Delivering Gene into the Nucleus of Dendritic Cells.

  Nakamra T, Kogure K, Moriguchi R, Futaki S, Fujimuro M, Yokosawa H, Seya T, Harashima H  Mol.Therapy  11-  S27-S28  2005  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Experiences in the FIP 2004

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, OZAWA Koichiro  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  65-  (1)  52  -54  2005/01/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• New NTP analogs: the synthesis of 4 '-thioUTP and 4 '-thioCTP and their utility for SELEX

  Y Kato, N Minakawa, Y Komatsu, H Kamiya, N Ogawa, H Harashima, A Matsuda  NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH  33-  (9)  2942  -2951  2005  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The synthesis of the triphosphates of 4'-thiouridine and 4'-thiocytidine, 4'-thioUTP ( 7; thioUTP) and 4'-thioCTP ( 8; thioCTP), and their utility for SELEX ( systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) is described. The new nucleoside triphosphate ( NTP) analogs 7 and 8 were prepared from appropriately protected 4'-thiouridine and - cytidine derivatives using the one-pot method reported by J. Ludwig and F. Eckstein [( 1989) J. Org. Chem., 54, 631 - 635]. Because SELEX requires both in vitro transcription and reverse transcription, we examined the ability of 7 and 8 for SELEX by focusing on the two steps. Incorporation of 7 and 8 by T7 RNA polymerase to give 4'-thioRNA ( thioRNA) proceeded well and was superior to those of the two sets of frequently used modified NTP analogs for SELEX (2'- NH(2)dUTP and 2'-NH(2)dCTP; 2'-FdUTP and 20-FdCTP), when an adequate leader sequence of DNA template was selected. We revealed that a leader sequence of about +15 of DNA template is important for the effective incorporation of modified NTP analogs by T7 RNA polymerase. In addition, reverse transcription of the resulting thioRNA into the complementary DNA in the presence of 2'-deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) also proceeded smoothly and precisely. The stability of the thioRNA toward RNase A was 50 times greater than that of the corresponding natural RNA. With these successful results in hand, we attempted the selection of thioRNA aptamers to human α-thrombin using thioUTP and thioCTP, and found a thioRNA aptamer with high binding affinity (K-d = 4.7 nM).
• Increased A : T -> C : G mutations in the mutT strain upon 8-hydroxy-dGTP treatment: Direct evidence for MutT involvement in the prevention of mutations by oxidized dGTP

  H Kamiya, C Ishiguro, H Harashima  JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY  136-  (3)  359  -362  2004/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The Escherichia coli MutT protein hydrolyzes 8-hydroxy-dGTP (8-OH-dGTP) in vitro, and muff gene deficiencies cause increased spontaneous A:T->C:G mutations. However, no direct evidence exists for enhanced mutagenicity of 8-OH-dGTP in muff cells. In this study, 8-OH-dGTP was introduced into wild type and muff E. coli cells, and mutations of a chromosomal gene were monitored. 8-OH-dGTP induced mutations of the rpoB gene, the degree of the mutation induction in the muff strain being similar to6-fold higher than that in the wild type strain. On the other hand, 2-hydroxy-dATP, which is not a substrate of the MutT protein, increased the mutation to similar degrees in the two strains. These results constitute the first evidence that the MutT protein suppresses mutation by 8-OH-dGTP in vivo.
• 直接導入法とDNAトランスフェクション法による蛋白質送達の定量的評価

  山田勇磨, 紙谷浩之, 秋田英万, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  19-  (3)  290  2004/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PEG修飾リポソームの細胞内動態制御の検討

  茶木伸治, 小暮健太朗, 二木史朗, 丸山一雄, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  19-  (3)  270  2004/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Induction of transition and transversion mutations during random mutagenesis PCR by the addition of 2-hydroxy-dATP

  H Kamiya, M Ito, H Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  27-  (5)  621  -623  2004/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  A 2-substituted purine nucleotide analog, 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (2-OH-dATP), was added to a PCR mixture, to examine its mutagenic potential. The 2-OH-dATP enhanced the total mutation frequency. Interestingly, 2-OH-dATP induced both transition and transversion mutations, including A:T-->G:C, A:T -->C:G and G:C-->T:A mutations. In contrast, other 2-substituted purine nucleotide analogs, 2-aminopurine-2'-deoxyriboside 5'-triphosphate and 2-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate, did not affect the total mutation frequency. These results suggest that 2-OH-dATP is useful in random PCR mutagenesis for the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins, and for analyses of residues in these biomolecules.
• 大腸菌Orf135の変異抑制能と2-ヒドロキシ-dATP分解活性との相関

  紙谷浩之, 飯田恵美子, 三島正規, 児嶋長次郎, 原島秀吉  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・講演要旨集  27th-  2004
• SCREENING AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF TYPE-II DIABETES-RELATED GENES WITH OTSUKA LONG-EVANS TOKUSHIMA FATTY ( OLETF ) RATS

  Iida Shinya, Sato Yuichiro, Kamiya Hiroyuki, Suzuki Yosuke, Shinohara Yasuo, Baba Yoshinobu, Harashima Hideyoshi  Abstracts of Annual meeting of Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics  19-  (0)  46  -46  2004  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• A Challenge to New Drug Delivery System

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  64-  (1)  29  -31  2004/01/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Calpain 10 as a predictive gene for type 2 diabetes: Evidence from a novel screening system using white blood cells of Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) Rats

  Y Sato, M Kuwajima, H Kamiya, H Harashima  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  26-  (12)  1765  -1768  2003/12  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The mRNA expression of type 2 diabetes-related genes in white blood cells (WBC) was examined before and after onset in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat. The level of the calpain 10 (CAPN10) transcript was significantly decreased compared to control animals in WBC before and after onset. Significant decreases in this gene expression were also found in the major insulin-target tissues as well as WBC before onset. These results suggest that gene expression in WBC could be a useful screening system for predicting the incidence of type 2 diabetes before onset in OLETF rats, and that CAPN10 represents a potential candidate gene for predicting type 2 diabetes in human.
• Mechanistic Study of Membrane Transport of Octaarginine, Stearylated-octaarginine and Octaarginine-modified Liposomes (第25回生体膜と薬物の相互作用シンポジウム--ダイナミックインターフェイスとしての生体膜 講演要旨集)

  Khalil Ikramy A., Futaki Shiroh, Harashima Hideyoshi  薬学雑誌  123-  304  -307  2003/11/13
• Cholesteryl‐GALA導入トランスフェリン修飾リポソームの細胞内動態の解析

  茶木伸治, 角道智行, 中瀬生彦, 丸山一雄, 二木史朗, 紙谷浩之, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  18-  (3)  241  2003/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Semi-quantitative analysis of the intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA with confocal laser scanning microscopy

  H Akita, R Ito, H Kamiya, H Harashima  MOLECULAR THERAPY  7-  (5)  S214  -S214  2003/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• シトシンメチル化酵素欠損株由来のプラスミドDNAによる発現上昇

  山崎 淳, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  63-  131  -131  2003/03/05
• 白血球の遺伝子発現測定による2型糖尿病の診断法の構築

  佐藤 雄一郎, 桑島 正道, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  63-  92  -92  2003/03/05
• Controlled Intracellular Trafficking Using Plasma and Endosomal Membrane Interactive Peptides

  KAKUDO Tomoyuki, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Membrane  28-  (2)  46  -54  2003/03/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  It is important to control intracellular trafficking of genes as well as drugs for developing a new drug delivery system. Plasma membrane and endosomal membrane are considered to be strong barriers for hydrophilic, high molecular weight compounds such as DNA. Virus are sophisticated gene delivery carriers which can overcome these barriers using specific peptides to bind cell surface receptors or to fuse with plasma or endosomal membranes. In this review, we will focus on the interaction between these biomembranes and virus peptides as well as recently synthesized fusogenic peptides to utilize them for developing a new delivery system.
• 21世紀のDDSとBT, IT, NT : 将来を担う若手研究者による将来展望

  橋田 充, 五十嵐 理慧, 岡田 純一, 原島 秀吉, 米谷 芳枝, 松村 保広, 水口 裕之, 山下 富義, 横山 昌幸  Drug delivery system  18-  (1)  7  -20  2003/01/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• ヒトYファミリーDNAポリメラーゼによる酸化的損傷ヌクレオチドの取り込み

  清水雅富, GRUZ P, 紙谷浩之, 益谷央豪, XU Y, 杉山弘, 原島秀吉, 花岡文雄, 能美健彦  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・講演要旨集  26th-  2003
• 大腸菌Orf135 phosphohydrolase module中のアミノ酸のヌクレオチド加水分解活性における重要性

  飯田恵美子, 三島正規, 児嶋長次郎, 原島秀吉, 紙谷浩之  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・講演要旨集  26th-  2003
• 大腸菌Orf135タンパク質の構造解析とその基質認識

  米山桃子, 三島正規, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷(村田)尚子, 原島秀吉, 児嶋長次郎  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・講演要旨集  26th-  2003
• 大腸菌Orf135タンパク質の構造解析とその基質認識

  米山桃子, 三島正規, 紙谷浩之, 紙谷(村田)尚子, 原島秀吉, 児嶋長次郎  NMR討論会講演要旨集  42nd-  2003
• Mechanism of improved gene transfer by the N-terminal stearylation of octaarginine

  Khalil I.A., 馬場 嘉信, 二木 史朗, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  日本薬物動態学会年会講演要旨集  18-  (0)  63  -63  2003  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Introduction: The introduction of stearyl moieties to the N-terminus of octaarginine (R8) peptide improved the transfection efficiency by two-orders of magnitude. In this study, we attempted to understand the reasons behind the improved transfection efficiency of stearylated octaarginine (STR-R8). We compared the gene transfer processes mediated by R8 or STR-R8. The comparison included the amounts of plasmid DNA internalized, its intracellular localization, the mechanisms involved in the internalization process, and the characteristics of the complexes in both cases. Methods: Complexes formed between R8 and STR-R8 were added to cells and incubated for 3 hr at 37oC then fixed and observed by confocal laser microscopy. The efficiencies of R8 and STR-R8 in the transfection of NIH/3T3 cells were examined using a luciferase-coding plasmid DNA. The characteristics of the complexes were investigated using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results and discussion: Cells incubated with R8/DNA complexes showed intracellular plasmid localized in the cytosol of cells while those incubated with STR-R8/DNA complexes showed higher amounts of intracellular plasmid localized in both cytosol and nucleus. Both complexes are mainly internalized through the clathrin-mediated endocytosis. By comparing the characteristics of both complexes, we concluded that STR-R8, but not R8, is able to completely condense DNA into stable complexes that would bind tightly to cell surfaces and subsequently be readily internalized into cells. The improved transfection efficiency of STR-R8 thus can be explained by the enhanced internalization as well as the improved nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA.
• Mutagenicity of 5-formylcytosine, an oxidation product of 5-methylcytosine, in DNA in mammalian cells

  H Kamiya, H Tsuchiya, N Karino, Y Ueno, A Matsuda, H Harashima  JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY  132-  (4)  551  -555  2002/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To examine the mutagenicity of 5-formylcytosine (5-fC), an oxidation product of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), 5-fC was incorporated into predetermined sites of double-stranded shuttle vectors. The nucleotide sequences in which the modified base was incorporated were 5'-AFGCGT-3' and 5'-ACGFGT-3' (F represents 5-fC), the recognition site for the restriction enzyme MluI (5'-ACGCGT-3'). 5-fC was incorporated into the template strand of either the leading or lagging strand of DNA replication. The modified DNAs were transfected into simian COS-7 cells, and the DNAs replicated in the cells were recovered and analyzed after a second transfection into Escherichia coli. 5-fC weakly blocked DNA replication in mammalian cells. The 5-fC residues were mutagenic, with mutation frequencies in double-stranded vectors of 0.03-0.28%. The mutation spectrum of 5-fC was broad, and included targeted (5-fC-->G, 5-fC-->A, and 5-fC T) and untargeted mutations. These results suggest that the oxidation of 5-mC results in mutations at and around the modified sites.
• トポロジー・塩基修飾を考慮した新規遺伝子治療用DNAの開発 : 転写効率の決定因子は発現効率の決定因子である

  紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  Drug delivery system  17-  (3)  206  -206  2002/05/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Effect of cationic liposomes in an in vitro transcription and translation system

  R Tachibana, H Harashima, T Ishida, Y Shinohara, M Hino, H Terada, Y Baba, H Kiwada  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  25-  (4)  529  -531  2002/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The effects of cationic liposomes complexed with plasmid DNA on the process of transcription was examined using a recently developed rapid cell free translation system. The findings indicate that the liposome itself inhibited the process when the ratio of DNA/liposome typically used in transfection studies was used.
• クリアランスモデルに基づいた TAS-102 経口投与時の FTD 体内動態の予測 : ラット, サルからヒトへ

  土谷 博之, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉, 桑田 慶三, 東 龍太郎, 永山 績夫, 山下 和正  薬剤学  62-  271  -271  2002/03/05
• PK/PDを基盤とするDDS

  原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  62-  (0)  30  -31  2002/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• イムノリポソームの膜流動性の差が及ぼす殺細胞効果と細胞内取り込み量への影響

  小林 友貴, 岡田 百合絵, 石田 竜弘, 際田 弘志, 曽根 三郎, 原島 秀吉, 丸山 一雄  薬剤学  62-  (0)  81  -81  2002/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Oxidized DNA and DNA precursors : genomic instability induced and its defense system :

  KAMIYA Hiroyuki, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Journal of radiation research  43-  (4)  408  -408  2002
• GALAによるTf‐修飾リポソームの細胞内動態の解析

  角道智行, 茶木伸治, 中瀬生彦, 丸山一雄, 二木史朗, 紙谷浩之, 原島秀吉  生体膜と薬物の相互作用シンポジウム講演要旨集  23rd-  189  -192  2001/11/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Gene delivery systems: viral vs. non-viral vectors

  K Kataoka, H Harashima  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  52-  (3)  151  -151  2001/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Quantitative studies on the nuclear transport of plasmid DNA and gene expression employing nonviral vectors

  R Tachibana, H Harashima, Y Shinohara, H Kiwada  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  52-  (3)  219  -226  2001/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The nuclear membrane is the main barrier to nonviral gene delivery. Thus, in the case of nondividing cells, a device for nuclear delivery of exogeneous DNA is necessary. In addition, to precisely evaluate the efficacy of various plasmid modifications and/or nonviral vectors, it is necessary to measure, not only gene expression but also the amount of delivered plasmid DNA into the subcellular compartment, particularly the nucleus. Moreover, it is also necessary to examine effects of the state of the plasmid DNA in the nucleus or various modifications of the plasmid DNA on the process after nuclear transport, i.e., transcription. Here, we address the issues of (1) the efficient delivery of genetic materials using a nuclear localization signal (NLS), (2) the quantitative evaluation of plasmid DNA delivered to the nucleus and the relationship between the amount of plasmid DNA delivered into the nucleus and gene expression, and (3) methods for evaluating of the effect of the state of plasmid DNA on transcription in vitro. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• TAS-102経口投与におけるヒトFTD代謝の予測

  桑田 慶三, 東 龍太郎, 小室 昌仁, 永山 績夫, 川口 安郎, 土谷 博之, 紙谷 浩之, 原島 秀吉  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  16-  S293  2001/09/17
• 共焦点レーザー顕微鏡によるTF‐リポソームの細胞内動態の解析とその制御

  茶木伸治, 紙谷浩之, 角道智行, 二木史朗, 丸山一雄, 松岡一郎, 原島秀吉  Drug Deliv Syst  16-  (4)  308  2001/07/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 細胞内動態制御のためのインテリジェント素子の開発 : GALAとNLSによるエンドソーム膜・核膜バリアーの突破

  原島 秀吉  Drug delivery system  16-  (4)  286  -286  2001/07/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Intracellular control of gene trafficking using liposomes as drug carriers

  H Harashima, Y Shinohara, H Kiwada  EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES  13-  (1)  85  -89  2001/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this review is to summarize some of the critical barriers in gene delivery and recent progress in overcoming such barriers using non-viral carrier systems. Receptor-mediated endocytosis is generally considered to be a principal entering pathway. Therefore, endosomal escape is an essential step for achieving efficient transfection. The nuclear membrane is also a critical barrier in gene delivery and the application of the nuclear localization signal is discussed, based on recent strategies. It is essential to optimize the carrier system, in order to enhance the transfection ability equivalent to a viral system. The importance of developing an intracellular pharmacokinetic model of genes is emphasized in the optimization of non-viral carrier systems. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• Species difference in correlation between in vivo/in vitro liposome-complement interactions

  TM Huong, T Ishida, H Harashima, H Kiwada  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  24-  (4)  439  -441  2001/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between in vitro and in vivo liposome-complement interactions. Third component of the complement (C3) fragments associated with hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine (HEPC)-based liposomes in vivo and complement-dependent destabilization in vitro were determined as an indication of liposome-complement interaction in vivo and in vitro, respectively. C3 fragments on the liposomes were detected in both rats and guinea pigs. Pretreatment with K76COOH (K76), a complement inactivating agent, reduced the binding of C3 fragments. These findings indicated that the liposomes remarkably activated the complement system in both animals in vivo. Interestingly, significant complement-dependent liposome destabilization was observed in rat serum, but not in guinea pig serum, indicating that the liposomes activated the complement system in rats, but not in guinea pigs in vitro. Taken together it is apparent that in vivo complement activation by the liposomes is not in agreement with in vivo complement activation in ginea pigs. This discrepancy in the liposome-complement interaction would suggest the need for further investigation to utilize the information obtained from the liposome-complement interaction to predict in vivo behavior of the liposomes.
• 人工ベクターによる導入遺伝子の核内移行及び発現メカニズム(1)

  浮津 佐知子, 橘 理恵子, 鈴木 則男, 菊池 寛, 篠原 康雄, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  61-  (0)  72  -72  2001/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 人工ベクターによる導入遺伝子の核内移行及び発現メカニズム(2)

  橘 理恵子, 鈴木 則男, 菊池 寛, 馬場 嘉信, 篠原 康雄, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  61-  (0)  73  -73  2001/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• トランスフェリン修飾リポソームを用いたP-gpによる抗癌剤排出回避の試み

  小林 友貴, 岡田 百合絵, 石田 竜弘, 際田 弘志, 曽根 三郎, 原島 秀吉, 丸山 一雄  薬剤学 = Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan  61-  (0)  118  -118  2001/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• CRS-The 27th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials 2002年7月7〜13日, Paris (会長 Dr. Cleary)

  横山 昌幸, 井上 和博, 五十嵐 理慧, 原島 秀吉, 武永 美津子  Drug delivery system  15-  (5)  470  -472  2000/09/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 物理化学的視点からみた薬物の分布 (特集 物理化学的視点から医薬品をみる--化学構造・物性を臨床に活かすために)

  原島 秀吉  月刊薬事  42-  (9)  2407  -2411  2000/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 耐性癌克服を目指したキャリアーシステムの開発

  伊勢さおり, 原島秀吉, 小林友貴, 丸山一雄, 曽根三郎, 際田弘志  日本薬学会年会要旨集  120th-  (4)  19  2000/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Optimization of long circulating liposomes for antitumor agents

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Hisako Doi, Mari Tsuchihashi, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  15-  (5)  437  -442  2000  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Development of long circulating liposomes(LCL)has become a break through in establishing a drug delivery system using liposomes for antitumor agents. In this study, we have constructed a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynaniic (PIK/PD)-model for doxorubicin (DOX) in mice to analyze the optimum conditions of LCL. Simulation anaIysis revealed that there existed the optimum release rate of DOX from LCL with a half life approximately 10 hs, regardless of tumor growth rate or tumor sensitivity to DOX. Then, we have tested our PK/PD-model by in vivo survival experiments, which has shown validity of our model. We have also scaled-up the PK/PD-model from mice to humans by substitution of PR parameters for free DOX and LCL. In our preliminary simulations, it was suggested that the optimum release rate of DOX was depended on tumor growth rate as well as tumor sensitivity to DOX, which was different in the case of mice. This PK/PD-modeling will become a useful strategy when we optimize DDS. © 2000, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of antitumor agents encapsulated into liposomes

  H Harashima, M Tsuchihashi, S Iida, H Doi, H Kiwada  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  40-  (1-2)  39  -61  1999/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling of antitumor agents has been developed for doxorubicin (DOX) in order to predict the optimum conditions for a drug carrier to maximize the antitumor effect. A PK model was constructed for free and liposomal doxorubicin using a hybrid model wherein the disposition in the whole body is described by compartment models, which were Linked to the tumor compartment via the blood flow rate. The PD model for doxorubicin was described by a cell-kill kinetic model, which represents the number of tumor cells quantitatively, as a function of the free concentration of doxorubicin in the tumor compartment. The influence of each parameter on the antitumor effects was examined by sensitivity analysis based on the PK/PD model, which clearly showed the importance of optimizing the release rate of DOX from liposomes. The validity of the model has been tested using animal experiments. Preliminary simulations were also performed for humans after scaling up the PK/PD model from rodents to humans. The optimum conditions in the rate of drug release from liposomes were different for rodents vis-a-vis humans, which indicates the limitations involved in extrapolating optimum conditions for experimental animals to those for humans. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• The pharmacokinetics of liposomes in tumor targeting

  H Harashima, H Kiwada  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  40-  (1-2)  1  -2  1999/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 選択的抗癌システムを目指した細胞内動態の分子シンクロナイゼーション

  伊勢さおり, 原島秀吉, 小林友貴, 際田弘志, 丸山一雄, 曽根三郎  高分子学会予稿集  48-  (12)  3088  -3089  1999/09/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Optimization of anti-tumor effect of liposomally encapsulated doxorubicin based on simulations by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling

  H Harashima, S Iida, Y Urakami, M Tsuchihashi, H Kiwada  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  61-  (1-2)  93  -106  1999/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  It has been reported that long circulating liposomes enhanced the antitumor effect of doxorubicin (DOX) by increasing delivery of DOX to tumor tissues. However, there is no quantitative information on the relationship between the antitumor effect and liposomal characteristics governing the release rate of entrapped drugs, although the importance of drug release-rate control from liposomes has been pointed out. Here, we developed a physiological model for free and liposomal DOX to calculate the time course of free DOX in the extracellular space and linked this with a cell kill kinetic model to quantify the antitumor effect of DOX. Simulations were performed to clarify the relationship between antitumor effect and pharmacokinetic or physicochemical parameters of liposomes, as well as pharmacological or physiological parameters of tumor tissues. The importance of long circulation time of liposomes was confirmed. The optimum rate of drug release from long circulating liposomes was found at the release rate constant of around 0.06 h(-1). This optimum value was not dependent on the tumor proliferation time, sensitivity of tumor cells to DOX, or the tumor blood flow-rate. This simulation indicated that the optimization of the delivery to tumor tissue by long circulating liposomes could be possible by changing the release rate of DOX for the maximum antitumor effect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• Development of a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD)-simulation system for doxorubicin in long circulating liposomes in mice using peritoneal P388

  M Tsuchihashi, H Harashima, H Kiwada  JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE  61-  (1-2)  9  -19  1999/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to develop a simulation system that optimizes the pharmacokinetic parameters of drug carriers for anticancer agents in order to maximize their anticancer effects, The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model of doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulated into liposomes has been developed for mice and each parameter required for simulations was obtained in the peritoneally inoculated P388 leukemia model in mice. PK parameters, which describe the dispositions of free and liposomally encapsulated DOX, were obtained by kinetic analysis of experimental data in this study, as well as from literature. PD parameters, which describe the growth and death rate of cancer cells in vivo, were also determined. The PK/PD model developed in this study is capable of simulating the time course of the number of cancer cells quantitatively and evaluating the significance of each parameter on the carrier system for DOX. Simulations based on the PK/PD model predict the optimum rate of drug release from long circulating liposomes as 0.06 h(-1) for maximum anticancer effect. Thus, this simulation system provides useful information relative to the optimization of drug carriers for DOX. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
• リポソームによる細胞内動態制御法の構築

  原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  35-  (8)  792  -796  1999/08/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 人工遺伝子ベクターによる遺伝子の細胞内動態の解明 : 遺伝子の核内送達量と発現の定量的評価

  原島 秀吉, 橘 理恵子, 井手 奈保子, 篠原 康雄, 際田 弘志  Drug delivery system  14-  (4)  251  -251  1999/07/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 核局在化シグナルによる遺伝子の核内送達促進は可能か?

  原島 秀吉  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  14-  (3)  260  -260  1999/06/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• In vivo studies on the role of complement in the clearance of liposomes in rats and guinea pigs

  TM Huong, H Harashima, H Kiwada  BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN  22-  (5)  515  -520  1999/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The ability of complement (C) system to remove liposomes from blood circulation was examined in vivo using rat and guinea pig as models. Although the liposomes were not degraded in guinea pig serum bl vitro, they were degraded remarkably in guinea pig circulation, as assessed by the urinary excretion of [H-3]inulin released from liposomes, The suppression of rat C system to 64% normal C hemolytic activity by treating animals with K76COOH agent resulted in a significant decrease in both the uptake of liposomes by liver and the release of [H-3]inulin, providing in vivo evidence for C-mediated clearance of liposomes in rats via uptake by macrophages and degradation in blood circulation, respectively. On the other hand, the K76COOH-induced suppression of C (70% normal hemolytic activity) in guinea pigs slightly increased both the hepatic uptake and the release of [H-3]inulin, In addition, the hepatic uptake and in vivo degradation in guinea pigs varied in an opposite manner when the animals were preloaded by empty liposomes or when the liposome size and cholesterol content varied. These results suggest there is a difference between the factors involved in liposome degradation and the factors involved in hepatic uptake and also support the likelihood that there is no C-mediated degradation in guinea pigs.
• Pharmacokinetic analysis of the cardioprotective effect of 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium) propionate in mice: Inhibition of carnitine transport in kidney

  M Kuwajima, H Harashima, M Hayashi, S Ise, M Sei, KM Lu, H Kiwada, Y Sugiyama, K Shima  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS  289-  (1)  93  -102  1999/04  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The site of action of 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium) propionate (THP), a new cardioprotective agent, was investigated in mice and rats. l.p. administration of THP decreased the concentrations of free carnitine and long-chain acylcarnitine in heart tissue, In isolated myocytes, THP inhibited free carnitine transport with a Ki of 1340 mu M, which is considerably higher than the observed serum concentration of THP. The major cause of the decreased free carnitine concentration in heart was found to be the decreased serum concentration of free carnitine that resulted from the increased renal clearance of carnitine by THP. The estimated K-i of THP for inhibiting the reabsorption of free carnitine in kidneys was 52.2 mu M, which is consistent with the serum THP concentration range. No inhibition of THP on the carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity in isolated mitochondrial fractions was observed. These results indicate that the principal site of action of THP as a cardioprotective agent is the carnitine transport carrier in the kidney, but not the carrier in the heart.
• Design and synthesis of cholestane derivatives bearing a cascade-type polyol and the effect of their property on a complement system in rat serum

  H Nemoto, J Kikuishi, S Yanagida, T Kawano, M Yamada, H Harashima, H Kiwada, M Shibuya  BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS  9-  (2)  205  -208  1999/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The beta-cholestane derivatives 1a similar to c bearing a cascade-type polyol, were newly synthesized. The release of fluorescent marker 6-CF [5(6)-carboxyfluorescein] encapsulated in the modified liposomes prepared from 1 was dramatically faster than that in the conventional liposomes prepared from cholesterol. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Rational drug delivery system for DOX encapsulated in long circulating liposomes in mice with peritneal tumors

  Mari Tsuchihashi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  14-  (2)  109  -113  1999  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  There is no quantitative analysis on the relationship between antitumor effect and optimum conditions of liposomes as drug carriers. We have developed a physiological model which incorporates a cell kill kinetic model for the antitumor effects of free and liposomal DOX in mice. Antitumor effect predicted by this model showed an optimum rate of drug release from liposomes (∼10hr in half life) and this prediction was varified by animal experiments in vivo. There was a good relationship of antitumor effects between simulations and experiments, which validates our model. This model will provide useful information for optimization of drug carriers for anticancer drugs. © 1999, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Perspective on the new strategy of intracellular delivery of macromolecules with carrier

  Hideyoshi Harashima, Yasuo Shinohara, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  14-  (3)  157  -164  1999  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The concept of drug delivery system (DDS) was born approximately 30 years ago and developed in many aspects such as controlled release, absorption enhancement and targeting. New aspect in DDS is required for gene therapy with highly controlled delivery system especially to control the intracellular trafficking of carrier as well as DNA. Multi-functional carrier system will he required to overcome the barriers such as plasma membrane, endosomal membrane and nuclear membrane. Receptor-mediated endocytosis is one of the most selective and efficient entrance pathway for gene delivery, however, endosomal escape is then a critical barrier for efficient cytosolic delivery. pH-sensitive liposome is able to deliver encapsulated macromolecules into cytosol depending on the decreased endosomal pH. Active targeting to nuclear compartment is essential, otherwise DNA will be degraded in cytosol. Nuclear localization signals have been identified and used for nuclear delivery of macromolecules including DNA. For the rational optimization of the carrier system for gene delivery, quantitative assay of DNA in each organella should be critical. New method in measuring the amount of DNA in nucleus has been established using PCR amplification method. This method can be applied to measure intracellular amount of DNA in other organella, which leads to optimize the intracellular trafficking of DNA with artificial carrier and to surpass the efficiency of virus. © 1999, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Identification of proteins mediating clearance of liposomes using a liver perfusion system

  H Harashima, H Matsuo, H Kiwada  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  32-  (1-2)  61  -79  1998/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this paper is to identify the principal blood components governing the fate of liposomes in blood circulation. Information based on an isolated perfused liver system in rats has revealed the central role of the complement system in enhancing the uptake of liposomes by the liver. A species difference was an important factor in determining the uptake mechanisms of liposomes by the liver. Limited evidence revealed the tendency that opsonin-dependent hepatic uptake is principal in rats, while opsonin-independent or dysopsonin-dependent uptake governs in mice, although there are some exceptions. These studies provide us with important information for understanding the uptake mechanisms of liposomes by the liver, and useful insights in predicting the in vivo disposition of liposomes in humans. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
• シミュレーションによるリポソーム封入ドキソルビシンの抗腫瘍効果決定因子の探索

  土橋 麻理, 飯田 慎也, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  58-  (0)  59  -59  1998/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Liposome封入薬物の肝臓内動態に関する研究

  増田 佳子, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  58-  (0)  61  -61  1998/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• リポソームによる高分子医薬品の細胞内動態制御法に関する研究(1)

  橘 理恵子, 太田 慈子, 庄野 正行, 二木 史郎, 篠原 康雄, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  58-  (0)  62  -62  1998/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 補体活性化に及ぼすリポソームの変動要因に関する研究 : 粒子径, コレステロールの水酸基側鎖長の影響

  山田 みづき, 原島 秀吉, 菊石 純也, 河野 友昭, 柳田 志穂, 根本 尚夫, 渋谷 雅之, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  58-  (0)  63  -63  1998/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• コレステロール修飾による補体回避型リポソームの開発

  小島 弘子, 石田 竜弘, 宗像 達夫, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬剤学  58-  (0)  66  -66  1998/03/05  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Influence of cholesterol contents on binding of complement component 3(C3) and disposition of liposomes

  Hiroko Kojima, Tatsuhiro Ishida, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  13-  (1)  55  -61  1998  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study we analyzed the binding ability of complement component 3 (C3) associated with liposomes after incubation in rat serum in order to determine the effect of cholesterol content of liposomes on the complement system liposomes interactions and the fate of liposomes in vivo. Liposomes having different cholesterol content showed no difference in clearances from blood circulation, while in both hepatic and renal clearances the liposomes showed marked difference. The hepatic clearance increased with increasing cholesterol content and the renal clearance decreased with increasing cholesterol content. Further, it appeared that those liposomes had different C3 binding potentials : cholesterol-rich (44 mol%) liposomes had higher affinity for C3 than cholesterol-poor (22 mol%) liposomes. Interestingly, there was a good correlation between the C3 binding ability and hepatic clearance of liposomes, while there was an inverse correlation between the C3 binding ability and renal clearance of liposomes. These results suggested that the extent of interaction of liposomes with complement system directly related to the distribution of liposomes in liver, leading to a possibility that the liposomes having high affinity for C3 are phagocytosed by Kuppfer cells via complement receptors. Release of encapsulated carboxy fluorescein from liposomes was inhibited in heat-treated rat serum, less done in EDTA-treated one. This finding indicated that degradation of liposomes in in vivo or in vitro was attributed to a heat-labile serum component, but not complement system. We clarified in this study that the complement-liposome interactions play a critical role on the hepatic uptake of liposomes, but not on the degradation of liposomes in blood circulation. © 1998, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Competitive Mechanisms in the Hepatic Uptake of Liposomes In Vivo

  SHIMADA TAKAHIRO, HARASHIMA HIDEYOSHI, KIWADA HIROSHI  薬剤学  57-  (4)  197  -203  1997/12/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Simulation study on the optimum conditions of liposomes for antitumor effect of doxorubicin and its experimental validation

  TSUCHIHASHI Mari, IIDA Shinya, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KIWADA Hiroshi  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics  12-  (0)  90  -91  1997/10/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To estimate quantitative information of antitumor effect, simulations were performed by the physiological model linked with a cell kill kinetic model. Antitumor effect of liposomal DOX was increased with the increase of blood circulating time. There was the optimum rate of drug release (krel) from long circulating liposomes. To examine this model, we prepared liposomes with different krel, which can be made by changing lipid composition such as HEPC, EPC and CHO. Antitumor effect of liposomal DOX with different krel was evaluated by survival experiments. Liposomes with the lowest krel showed the highest antitumor effect. This result was different from our predicitori based on the computer simulations, which regured some corrections of our model.
• リポソーム封入薬物の肝臓内動態についての評価法の研究

  増田 佳子, 谷地 清人, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  12-  (0)  166  -166  1997/10/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• In vivo/in vitro 実験系による異種リポソーム間の肝取込における競合機構の解明

  島田 貴浩, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  12-  (0)  167  -167  1997/10/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• pH-感受性リポソームによる核局在化シグナル修飾アルブミンの細胞内動態制御法の開発

  橘 理恵子, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志, 庄野 正行, 東野 満喜子, 二木 史朗  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  12-  (0)  167  -167  1997/10/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• 腫瘍抗原を認識するステルスイムノリポソームによる癌治療法

  原島 秀吉  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  12-  (4)  409  -410  1997/08/30  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Control of intracellular disposition of liposomally encapsulated FITC-albumin in macrophages

  R. Tachibana, H. Harashima, S. Futaki, M. Shono, H. Kiwada  Proceedings of the Controlled Release Society  (24)  791  -792  1997/01/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Kinetic study on the optimization of tumor delivery of antitumor agents by liposomes: Simulation study based on the physiological modeling

  Yumiko Urakami, Hideyoshi Harashima, Shinya Iida, Atsushi Nagayasu, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  12-  (6)  403  -408  1997  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We have developed a physiological model for free and liposomal DOX to calculate the time course of free DOX in extracellular space of tumor tissue and to calculate area under the curve as an index of antitumor effect of doxorubicin. Simulations were performed to clarify the relationship between antitumor effect and pharmacokinetic or physicochemical parameters of liposomes under different physiological conditions of tumor tissues. The importance of long circulation time of liposomes was confirmed and the optimum rate of drug release from long circulating liposomes was found to depend on tumor sensitivity to the antitumor agent. This simulation can provide useful information in development of optimized drug carrier for antitumor agents. © 1997, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• Biopharmaceutical evaluation of the liposomes prepared by rehydration of freeze-dried empty liposomes (FDELs) with an aqueous solution of a drug

  K Yachi, H Harashima, H Kikuchi, R Sudo, H Yamauchi, K Ebihara, H Matsuo, K Funato, H Kiwada  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION  17-  (7)  589  -605  1996/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  We have evaluated a method for preparation of a dispersion of liposomes encapsulating a drug, namely rehydration of freeze-dried empty (not containing drug) liposomes with an aqueous drug solution (FDEL method). In the present study, we characterized and compared this method with the conventional method using a lipid composition of DPPC-DPPG cholesterol in a molar ratio of 27:3:20. Two hydrophilic compounds, [H-3]-inulin and [H-3]-mannitol, were used as model drugs. Liposomal preparations by the FDEL method had an encapsulation efficiency of 2.9 and 6.7% for [H-3]-inulin and [H-3]-mannitol, respectively, when rehydrated and incubated at 70 degrees C. Since non-specific adsorption of these markers to liposomal membrane is negligible, this method produces liposomes which encapsulate a drug in the intravesicular space. One-tenth of the marker encapsulated in the liposomes prepared by the FDEL method (F-liposomes) was released very rapidly on incubation with rat plasma, followed by the slow release of the remaining fraction thereafter. No such rapid-release phase was observed for the liposomes prepared by the conventional method (C-liposomes). This suggests the existence of two types of encapsulation, loose encapsulation and tight encapsulation, in F-liposomes at least. Pharmacokinetic parameters of marker encapsulated tightly in F-liposomes were comparable to those in C-liposomes. It is likely that amphipathic drugs such as doxorubicin are incorporated into liposomes more easily than inulin and mannitol when formulated by the FDEL method. These results therefore suggest that the FDEL method is useful in the preparation of a liposomal formulation of a drug.
• Simulation study on the prediction of optimum release rate of antitumor drugs from liposomes based on the physiological model with cell kill kinetic model

  IIDA Shinya, URAKAMI Yumiko, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KIWADA Hiroshi  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics  11-  (0)  S100  -S101  1996/09/20  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In this study, we constructed the physiological model linked with cell kill kinetic model via the concentration of antitumor drugs in extracellular space. We studied the antitumor effect of liposomal antitumor drugs with alteration on uptake rate constant of liposomes by reticuloendothelial system and release rate constant of drug from liposomes. This simulation study was performed to clarify the relationship between antitumor effect and pharmacokinetic or physicochemical parameters of liposomes as well as pharmacological or physiological parameters of tumor tissues. Thus, we attempted to estimate the antitumor effect of liposomal antitumor drugs quantitatively with the tumor cells numbers. The existence of optimum release rate of each liposomal doxorubicin and vincristine was indicated constantly in this study.
• Liposomal targeting and drug delivery: Kinetic consideration

  H Harashima, H Kiwada  ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS  19-  (3)  425  -444  1996/06  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  As drug carriers, liposomes have great potential in that selective targeting and release rate control of drugs can be performed by appropriate modifications to the carrier itself, without altering the structure of original drugs. In this paper, factors determining the disposition of liposomes were discussed in relation to the underlying mechanisms. Selective targetings of liposomes to specific tissues such as hepatocytes, macrophages and tumors were also evaluated based on the in vitro as well as in vivo data. Finally, the perspective of intracellular drug delivery was also discussed from the mechanistic as well as kinetic points of view for the development of intracellular targetable drug carriers.
• 細胞内小胞輸送の分子制御機構

  原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  32-  (4)  437  -438  1996/04/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• The effect of liposomal dose on the intracellular fate of liposomes in rats in vivo

  Yumi Morioka, Hideyoshi Harashima, Kouji Yoshimura, Hiroshi Kiwada  Drug Delivery System  11-  (1)  27  -35  1996  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively the intracellular fate of liposomes especially their degradation process in vivo. Multilamellar liposomes were double labeled with3H-cholesteryl hexadecyl ether (3H-CHE) and with125I-bovin serum albumin (125I-BSA) and the degradation of liposomes was expressed by the ratio of intact125I-BSA to3H-CHE in rat liver. The effect of liposome dose on their degradation in liver was examined after intravenous administration of liposomes at 2, 60, and 200 μmol lipid/kg. The time course of liposome degradation at low dose decreased bi-phasic, indicating at least two degradation processes. A remarkable dose dependency was also observed in the hepatic degradation of liposomes as well as in the hepatic uptake of liposomes. Two kinds of kinetic models were developed to explain these phenomena, one is “Sorting model”, having heterogenous degradation processes, the other is “Traffic-Jam model”, having heterogenous intracellular transport pathways with single degradation process (k1). The dose-dependent liposome degradation in liver was analyzed by these two models. In a Sorting model, the effect of dose was explained by a sorting ratio, f, by which liposomes were sorted into fast and slow degradation compartments. In the Traffic-Jam model, the heterogenous intracellular transport of liposomes was explained by adding a Traffic-Jam compartment to degradation compartment. The effect of dose was reflected on the fraction of liposomes into Traffic-Jam compartment and the volume of Trafic-Jam compartment indicated by kdj/(k1+Kdj) and kdj/kjd, respectively. Since both models could fit the observed data well, model discrimination was not possible based on these study. Further studies to clarify the specific mechanism of these heterogenous intracellular traffic and/or degradation processes are required for the rational strategy in the drug delivery system using liposomes as drug carriers. © 1996, THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM. All rights reserved.
• リポソームの腹腔内投与による抗腫瘍効果制御システムの速度論的アプローチ

  真鍋 容子, 田中 照夫, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  10-  (0)  216  -216  1995/10/18  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• リポソームによる抗癌剤の抗腫瘍効果の最適化に関する速度論的研究(II)殺細胞モデルを導入した生理学的モデルに基づくシュミレーションスタディー

  飯田 慎也, 浦上 裕美子, 原島 秀吉, 際田 弘志  薬物動態 = Xenobiotic metabolism and disposition  10-  (0)  217  -217  1995/10/18  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• Pharmacokinetic Studies on the Drug Delivery System Using Liposomes

  HARASHIMA Hideyoshi  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics  10-  (4)  566  -575  1995/08/31  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  This review describes our recent investigation on the pharmacokinetic analysis of liposome disposition, especially hepatic uptake of liposomes. We have examined the saturable uptake processes of liposomes by the liver and postulated a new kinetic model "Manpuku Model (Satiated Model)" which explains AUC-dependent saturation kinetics of liposome uptake by the liver. This model assumes that the hepatic uptake clearance (CLh) is described by the maximum hepatic uptake clearance (CLh, max), maximum hepatic uptake (X_max) and the hepatic uptake (X) as CLh=CLh, max (1-X/X_max). This model explains the saturation kinetics of hepatic uptake of liposomes well and can be applicable to characterize the saturation kinetics of other kinds of liposome uptake.
  The mechanism of hepatic uptake of liposomes was investigated using isolated perfused liver and hepatic uptake of liposomes was shown to be enhanced by preincubation with serum. This opsonic activity was shown to be mediated via complement receptor mediated phagocytosis. The activation of complement system dependended on the size of liposomes. There are two kinds of uptake pathways, one via size dependent, complement receptor mediated pathway, the other is size independent, nonspecific pathway.
  The intracellular disposition of liposomes was further examined using ¹²⁵I-BSA as a degradable, aqueous phase marker in the isolated peritoneal macrophages. The intracellular degradation of liposomes was shown to be biphasic. The degradation process of liposomes was also examined in intact liver and biphasic pattern was confirmed. These results indicate heterogeneous intracellular disposition (both transport and degradation) of liposomes.
  The rational strategies for the drug delivery system using liposomes will be developed based on both quantitative evaluation of liposome movement in blood circulation, hepatic uptake and intracellular disposition and clarification of the mechanisms of liposome uptake and intracellular disposition of liposomes.
• EFFECTS OF BENIDIPINE HYDROCHLORIDE (CONIEL(R)), A NEW CALCIUM-ANTAGONIST, ON THE CARDIAC-OUTPUT, REGIONAL BLOOD-FLOW AND VASCULAR-RESISTANCE IN CONSCIOUS, SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

  H HARASHIMA, H KIWADA, J KAJITA, S KOBAYASHI  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION  15-  (5)  431  -438  1994/07  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Benidipine hydrochloride is a calcium antagonist with a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative structure, and exhibits long-lasting antihypertensive effects by inhibiting the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of benidipine on central haemodynamics and regional blood flow (RBF) after intravenous administration of benidipine in conscious, spontaneously hypertensive rats. The microsphere method was used to measure cardiac output and RBF before and after the drug administration, using microspheres labelled with Co-57 and Cr-51. Thirty minutes after the intravenous administration of benidipine (3 mu g kg(-1)), the mean arterial pressure fell by 15% without significantly increasing the heart rate. The cardiac output increased by 41% and the systemic resistance decreased by 39%. Benidipine significantly increased RBF by 37, 35, and 22% in kidney, heart, and small intestine, respectively, and decreased vascular resistance by 38, 38, and 32%, respectively. We concluded that benidipine reduced blood pressure by increasing RBF in the kidney and heart, while keeping RBF in other organs at a normal level. These results will provide a fundamental basis in support of the clinical benefits of benidipine for hypertensive patients, particularly those with renal failure.
• リポソームによる薬物送達システムの構築 : 体内動態から細胞内動態の制御へ向けて

  原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  30-  (5)  496  -501  1994/05/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• INVIVO EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF THE SIZE AND OPSONIZATION ON THE HEPATIC EXTRACTION OF LIPOSOMES IN RATS - AN APPLICATION OF OLDENDORF METHOD

  H HARASHIMA, Y OHNISHI, H KIWADA  BIOPHARMACEUTICS & DRUG DISPOSITION  13-  (7)  549  -553  1992/10  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  In the hepatic uptake of large particles such as liposomes, a serum component called opsonin plays an important role. In this study, the 'Oldendorf method' is introduced to evaluate the hepatic extraction under the condition of single passage, which enabled examination of the effect of opsonization on liposome uptake by the intact liver. C-14-labelled liposomes and, an internal reference, H-3-H2O were injected as a bolus into portal vein. Liver uptake index (LUI) was calculated from the ratio of the extraction of C-14 to that of H-3. The effect of liposome size (mean diameter of 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, and 0.05 mum) and opsonization (preincubation with fresh blood for 5 min) on liposomal hepatic uptake were investigated using this method. LUI increased with size significantly (p < 0.001), and opsonization enhanced LUI only for the large liposomes (0.8 mum). This result suggests that the critical diameter of opsonization for these liposomes lies between 0.4 and 0.8 mum.
• NON-MICHAELIS-MENTEN TYPE HEPATIC-UPTAKE OF LIPOSOMES IN THE RAT

  H HARASHIMA, Y KUME, C YAMANE, H KIWADA  JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY  44-  (9)  707  -712  1992/09  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The objective of this study was to verify the methodology for measuring uptake clearance of liposomes and to characterize kinetically the saturable hepatic uptake of liposomes through phagocytosis. The correction of vascular space was important in the evaluationof hepatic uptake. The efflux of liposomes from liver was shown to be negligible, by a repeated dose study, and thus, hepatic clearance can be obtained by the hepatic uptake divided by the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC). The determinant parameter which describes the saturability of uptake clearance of liposomes, independent of infusion rate, was investigated, using the data of an in-vivo constant infusion study, where infusion rate-dependent saturable hepatic clearance was observed. The mean blood concentration failed to obtain an infusion rate-independent function. On the other hand, the AUC could explain the saturability of hepatic clearance for every infusion rate by a unique relationship. The hepatic uptake amount could also explain this saturability, independent of infusion rate. These kinetic characteristics are inconsistent with Michaelis-Menten type kinetics, therefore a new model is required to describe the saturable hepatic clearance in the disposition of liposomes.
• KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THE UPTAKE PROCESS OF LIPOSOMES BY RES

  KUME Yoshihiro, YAMANE Chizu, MAEDA Fumiyo, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KIWADA Hiroshi  Journal of pharmacobio-dynamics  14-  (2)  "s  -31"  1991/02
• Quantitative analysis of the stability of liposomes in blood in vivo.

  KUME Yoshihiro, YAMANE Chizu, HARASHIMA Hideyoshi, KIWADA Hiroshi  Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics  6-  (2)  201  -208  1991  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  To evaluate the stability of liposomes in vivo is an important issue in the kinetic analysis of liposomes disposition, because the leakage of liposomal marker occurs in vivo blood circulation and this leads to incorrect measurement of blood concentration of intact liposomes. In this study, we developed novel quantitative method for the evaluation of the stability of liposomes in blood circulation based on the clearance concept for liposomal degradation. Inulin was used as an aqueous marker of liposomes, because it is impermeable through a biological membrane and is rapidly excreted solely by glomerular filtration. We have further examined the effect of time delay of inulin during the passage of ureter to bladder on the estimation of the free fraction, using deconvolution method. The results showed that this delay was small enough to be neglected in the practical calculation. The degradation clearance of the liposomes in in vivo study was calculated as [f/(1-f)·GFR], where f, GFR are the fraction of free concentration of inulin in blood, and glomerular filtrationr ate. On the other hand, the degradation clearance of the liposomes in in vitro study was calculated as(dose/AUC), where AUC was the area under the time course of the concentration of intact liposomes from t=0 to infinite. The in vivo clearance was 0.0214ml/min, while in vitro one was 0.00103ml/min. There was about 20-fold difference. It shows that the in vitro data is not appropriate for the ananlysis of in vivo data. This method of evaluation of liposome stability in vivo is simple and useful in the pharmacokinetic study of liposomes.
• マクロファージに取込まれたエンドソームの細胞内運命

  原島 秀吉  ファルマシア  26-  (5)  453  -453  1990/05/01  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• KINETIC-ANALYSIS OF THE POSITIVE INOTROPIC ACTION (PIA) OF OUABAIN IN ISOLATED PERFUSED RABBIT HEART - SLOW ONSET OF PIA AND SLOW BINDING TO NA+, K+- ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATASE

  H HARASHIMA, Y SUGIYAMA, Y SAWADA, K SHIGENOBU, Y KASUYA, T IGA, M HANANO  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOBIO-DYNAMICS  11-  (8)  533  -540  1988/08  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The positive inotropic action (PIA) of ouabain was analyzed kinetically using isolated perfused rabbit heart. The input function of the ouabain concentration in the perfusate (C_i) into the heart was controlled by changing the volume of the reservoir and the rate of ouabain infusion into the reservoir fixed in front of the heart. The time courses of PIA were measured continuously with different infusion rates. The relationship between C_i and PIA clearly depended on the infusion rate in isolated perfused rabbit heart. The binding kinetics of ouabain to Na^+, K^+-adenosine triphosphatase (AT...
• NA,K-ATPASE AS A DETERMINANT OF TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF OUABAIN IN GUINEA-PIGS

  H HARASHIMA, M MAMIYA, Y SUGIYAMA, T IGA, M HANANO  JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES  76-  (11)  S72  -S72  1987/11  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  
• PREDICTION OF SERUM CONCENTRATION-TIME COURSE OF QUINIDINE IN HUMAN USING A PHYSIOLOGICALLY BASED PHARMACOKINETIC MODEL DEVELOPED FROM THE RAT

  H HARASHIMA, Y SAWADA, Y SUGIYAMA, T IGA, M HANANO  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOBIO-DYNAMICS  9-  (2)  132  -138  1986/02  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  Serum concentration-time courses of quinidine in humans were predicted by a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model developed from the rat using reported values for the serum protein binding, blood-to-serum concentration ratio, renal clearance and physiological constants, i.e. tissue volume and blood flow rate of each tissue. The tissue binding parameters of the rat were used for humans. The hepatic intrinsic clearance (CL_<H, int>) of quinidine for human was extrapolated by using the relation between CL_<H, int> of humans and those of the rat reported for antipyrine, phenytoin and hexo...
• PREDICTION OF THE PLASMA-CONCENTRATION TIME COURSES OF VARIOUS DRUGS IN HUMANS BASED ON DATA FROM RATS

  Y SAWADA, H HARASHIMA, M HANANO, Y SUGIYAMA, T IGA  JOURNAL OF PHARMACOBIO-DYNAMICS  8-  (9)  757  -766  1985  [Not refereed][Not invited]
   

  The concentrations of seven drugs, i.e., phenobarbital (PB), phenytoin (DPH), hexobarbital (HXB), quinidine (QD), tolbutamide (TB), valproate (VA), and diazepam (DZP) in human plasma were predicted by a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model using the intrinsic clearance of unbound drug and the tissue-to-plasma unbound concentration ratios extrapolated from rat data, and the plasma protein binding, blood-to-plasma concentration ratios and physiological parameters in humans. The predicted concentration curves of DPH, HXB, QD and PB in human plasma showed comparatively good agreements wi...
• COMPARISON BETWEEN INVIVO AND INVITRO TISSUE-TO-PLASMA UNBOUND CONCENTRATION RATIOS (KP,F) OF QUINIDINE IN RATS

  H HARASHIMA, Y SUGIYAMA, Y SAWADA, T IGA  JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY  36-  (5)  340  -342  1984  [Not refereed][Not invited]
  

Books etc

• THE創薬 小資源国家にっぽんの生きる道

  (Contributor薬物送達システムから革新的医薬品の創出へ)
  日本薬学会編、薬事日報社 2021/03
• DDSキャリア設計入門

  原島秀吉 (Editor編集と総論の執筆)
  丸善出版株式会社 2019/01
• Mitochondrial Biology and Experimental Therapeutics

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima (ContributorTargeting the Mitochondrial Genome Through a Nanocarrier and the Regulation of Mitochondrial Gene Expression)
  Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2018
• 製剤学（改訂第7版）

  原島秀吉 (Joint work薬物速度論)
  南江堂 2017
• パートナー薬剤学（改訂第3版）

  原島秀吉, 伊藤智夫, 寺田勝英 (Joint editor編集、序章薬剤学総論と「分布」の執筆)
  南江堂 2017
• 医療・診断・創薬の化学 医療分野に挑む革新的な化学技術

  原島秀吉 (Joint work新しい遺伝子キャリア：多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体の創製)
  日本化学会編 2017
• スタンダード薬学シリーズII

  原島秀吉 (Joint workVI.薬の生体内運命 第6章 薬物速度論)
  東京化学同人 2016
• Pharmacology of Mitochondria. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 240

  Hideyoshi Harashima (ContributorMITO-Porter for Mitochondrial Delivery and Mitochondrial Functional Analysis)
  Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
• 生物薬剤学（改訂第3版）

  原島秀吉 (Joint work生理学的モデル)
  南江堂 2015
• 公益社団法人日本薬剤学会薬剤学概史 私はこう見る120人による俯瞰図

  原島秀吉 (Joint translation薬剤学発展に影響をお呼びした会議、セミナーと国立大学 北海道大学)
  公益社団法人日本薬剤学会 2015
• Mitochondrial Medicine, Volume II, Manipulating Mitochondrial Function. (Methods in Molecular Biology 1265 Springer Protocols)

  Yuma Yamada, Hideyoshi Harashima (ContributorTargeting the mitochondrial genome via a dual function MITO-oter: Evaluation of mtDNA levels and mitochondrial function)
  Humana Press 2015
• 遺伝子治療・診断の最先端技術と新しい医薬品・診断薬の開発

  秋田英万, 原島秀吉 (Contributor非ウイルスベクターでの適切なプロトコール、トラブル対策)
  技術情報協会 2014
• 薬剤学実験法必携マニュアル～Pharmaceutical Scientistのために～ II 生物薬剤学

  秋田英万, 原島秀吉 (Contributor7.1 核酸製剤)
  南江堂 2014
• 非経口投与製剤の開発と応用～次世代型医薬品の新規投与携帯の開拓を目指して～

  中村孝司, 梶本和昭, 原島秀吉 (Contributor遺伝子の体内動態・細胞内動態制御システムの構築とその最適化)
  株式会社シーエムシー出版 2013
• 応用が拡がるＤＤＳ

  秋田英万, 山田勇磨, 畠山浩人, 林泰弘, 原島秀吉 (Contributor第6章 遺伝子治療におけるＤＤＳ. 1. 非ウイルスベクター)
  株式会社エヌ・ティー・エス 2013
• 毛髪再生の最前線

  小暮健太朗, 原島秀吉 (Contributor人工遺伝子デリバリーシステムMENDによる毛孔内へのBMPR1A遺伝子の送達)
  株式会社シーエムシー出版 2013
• ファインケミカルシリーズ、ペプチド医薬の最前線

  梶本和昭, 原島秀吉 (第３章 ペプチド創薬に向けてー製剤化・安定化・投与法ー、８ 脂肪血管指向性ペプチドを搭載したナノデバイスによる肥満治療の新戦略)
  シーエムシー出版 2012
• 先端バイオマテリアルハンドブック

  小暮健太朗, 林泰弘, 原島秀吉 (Contributor第３章 DDS用バイオマテリアル 第５節多機能性エンベロープ型ナノ構造体による遺伝子デリバリー)
  株式会社エヌ・ティー・エス 2012
• ドラッグデリバリーシステム（高分子学会 編集）

  中村孝司, 原島秀吉 (Contributor遺伝子治療DDS」最先端材料システムone pointシリーズ（9巻）)
  共立出版 2012
• 新薬剤学

  原島 秀吉 (Editor)
  南江堂 2011/12 (ISBN: 4524402861) 458

  
• 新薬剤学

  原島 秀吉 
  南江堂 2011 (ISBN: 9784524402861)
• バイオとナノの融合〈2〉新生命科学の応用

  居城 邦治, 有賀 寛万, 五十嵐 靖之, 伊藤 悦朗, 上出 利光, 長田 義仁, 小野江 和則, 小林 淳一, 志田 壽利, 高田 賢三, 田村 守, 西村 伸一郎, 野口 昌幸, 畠山 昌則, 原島 秀吉, 松田 彰, 研究成果編集委員会 (Joint work)
  北海道大学図書刊行会 2007/03 (ISBN: 4832981781) 355

  
• バイオとナノの融合〈1〉新生命科学の基礎

  高畑 雅一, 原島 秀吉, 田中 勲, 辻井 薫, 出村 誠, 永井 健治, 中村 貴義, 山口 淳二, 守内 哲也, 金城 政孝, 芳賀 永, 長田 義仁, 稲垣 冬彦, 山下 正兼, 田中 一馬, 笹木 敬司, 下村 政嗣, 鈴木 範男, 土田 義和, 研究成果編集委員会 (Joint work)
  北海道大学図書刊行会 2007/03 (ISBN: 4832981773) 363

  
• ウイルスを用いない遺伝子導入法の材料,技術,方法論の新たな展開-先端生物医学研究・医療のための遺伝子導入テクノロジー

  原島 秀吉, 田畑 泰彦, 原島 秀吉, 田畑 泰彦 (Joint editor)
  メディカルドゥ 2006/04 (ISBN: 4944157355) 268

  
• 細胞内動態制御・核内転写制御の最適化に基づいた人工遺伝子ベクターの開発

  原島 秀吉 
  [北海道大学大学院薬学研究科] 2005