The development of approaches for Ag delivery to the appropriate subcellular compartments of APCs and the optimization of Ag persistence are both of central relevance for the induction of protective immunity or tolerance. The expression of the neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, in APCs and its localization to the endosomal system suggest that it might serve as a target for Ag delivery using engineered Fc fragment-epitope fusions. The impact of FcRn binding characteristics of an Fc fragment on in vivo persistence allows this property to also be modulated. We have therefore generated recombinant Fc (mouse IgG1-derived) fusions containing the N-terminal epitope of myelin basic protein that is associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in H-2u mice. The Fc fragments have distinct binding properties for FcRn that result in differences in intracellular trafficking and in vivo half-lives, allowing the impact of these characteristics on CD4+ T cell responses to be evaluated. To dissect the relative roles of FcRn and the “classical” FcγRs in Ag delivery, analogous aglycosylated Fc-MBP fusions have been generated. We show that engineered Fc fragments with increased affinities for FcRn at pH 6.0–7.4 are more effective in delivering Ag to FcRn-expressing APCs in vitro relative to their lower affinity counterparts. However, higher affinity of the FcRn-Fc interaction at near neutral pH results in decreased in vivo persistence. The trade-off between improved FcRn targeting efficiency and lower half-life becomes apparent during analyses of T cell proliferative responses in mice, particularly when Fc-MBP fusions with both FcRn and FcγR binding activity are used.

Many secretory tissues release Zn(II) ions along with other molecules in response to external stimuli. Here we demonstrate that secretion of Zn(II) ions from normal, healthy prostate tissue is stimulated by glucose in fasted mice and that release of Zn(II) can be monitored by MRI. An ∼50% increase in water proton signal enhancement is observed in T 1 -weighted images of the healthy mouse prostate after infusion of a Gd-based Zn(II) sensor and an i.p. bolus of glucose. Release of Zn(II) from intracellular stores was validated in human epithelial prostate cells in vitro and in surgically exposed prostate tissue in vivo using a Zn(II)-sensitive fluorescent probe known to bind to the extracellular surface of cells. Given the known differences in intracellular Zn(II) stores in healthy versus malignant prostate tissues, the Zn(II) sensor was then evaluated in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model in vivo. The agent proved successful in detecting small malignant lesions as early as 11 wk of age, making this noninvasive MR imaging method potentially useful for identifying prostate cancer in situations where it may be difficult to detect using current multiparametric MRI protocols.prostate | cancer | glucose | zinc | MRI

The design, synthesis, characterization, and preliminary biological assessment of three dendrimers are reported. All three dendrimers, 1-3, present twelve paclitaxel groups linked by acylation of the 2'-hydroxyl group. The linker for dendrimers 2 and 3 also includes a disulfide. Installation of the paclitaxel group relies on reacting twelve primary amines of a second generation triazine dendrimer, a scaffold available on kilogram scale, with a dichlorotriazine bearing the drug. This dichlorotriazine is available in four steps by (i) reacting paclitaxel with glutaric anhydride, (ii) activating with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), (iii) treating the resulting ester with either 1,3-diaminopropane (for 1) or cystamine (for 2 and 3), and (iv), finally, reacting with cyanuric chloride. After reaction with the dendrimer, the resulting monochlorotriazine groups are reacted with 4-aminomethylpiperidine (AMP) and then a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) group of molecular weight 2 kDa. Two different PEG-NHS esters are employed that differ in lability. For 1 and 2, the PEG incorporates an ester-linked succinic acid group. For 3, the PEG incorporates an ether-linked acetic acid group. Both mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy prove valuable for determining the final ratios of dendrimer:paclitaxel:AMP:PEG. These values are typically 1:12:12:9. Cytotoxicity of these constructs using an MTT-based assay and PC-3 cells reveals IC(50) values in the low nanomolar range with dithiothreitol and glutathione enhancing the toxicity of the disulfide-containing constructs 2 and 3. Preliminary toxicology assessment of 1 suggests that it is well tolerated in vivo with preferential renal clearance. The elimination half-lives of all of the dendrimers appear shorter than predicted from the previous results. Tumor localization is observed for all the three dendrimers.