Compositions and methods for using cathepsin E cleavable substrates
Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising a therapeutic agent linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E. Also provided are methods of treating one or more symptoms of a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E in a subject and methods of eliminating a cancer cell characterized by expression of cathepsin E using the provided compositions and kits. Further provided herein are methods of detecting the presence of a cancer cell or detecting a cathepsin E expressing cell using a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E.
1. A composition comprising a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate consists of Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:6), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 11), Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 12), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 19).
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizer is a porphyrin or a chlorin.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminolevulini acid (5-ALA), Rose Bengal, bacteriochlorin, hematoporphyrin, chlorin e6, tetraphenylporphyrin, benzoporphyrin, verteporfin, and porfimer sodium.
4. A composition comprising a chemotherapeutic agent linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate consists of Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 11), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 19).
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of gemcitabine, fluorouracil, erlotinib hydrochloride, mitomycin C, doxorubicin, irinotecan, cytoxan, eloxatin, prednisone, vinorelbine, carboplatin, and taxotere.
6. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
7. A method of treating cancer or pre-cancerous cells characterized by expression of cathepsin E in a subject comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a subject with a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E; and
(b) administering to the subject an effective amount of a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate consists of Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:6), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 11), Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 12), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 19).
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cleavable substrate is cleaved by cathepsin E to separate the cleavable substrate and the photosensitizer.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising exposing the subject to a light source having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of exposing the subject to a light source comprises exposing cells in the subject associated with the disease or disorder to a light source having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode or a diode laser.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subject or cell is exposed to 1 to 50 J/Cm 2 of light.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein activation of the photosensitizer results in death of cells associated with the disease or disorder.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cancer is pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, adenoendocrine cancer, and lung cancer.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pancreatic cancer is pancreactic ductal adenocarcinoma.
16. The method of claim 7 , further comprising administering to the subject an additional therapeutic agent suitable for treating one or more symptoms of the disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.
18. The method of claim 7 , wherein the photosensitizer is a porphyrin or a chlorin.
19. The method of claim 7 , wherein the photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminolevulini acid (5-ALA), Rose Bengal, bacteriochlorin, hematoporphyrin, chlorin e6, tetraphenylporphyrin, benzoporphyrin, verteporfin, and porfimer sodium.
20. A method of treating cancer or pre-cancerous cells symptoms of a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E in a subject comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a subject with a disease or disorder characterized by expression of cathepsin E; and
(b) administering to the subject an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate consists of Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 11), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 19).
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the cleavable substrate is cleaved by cathepsin E to separate the cleavable substrate and the chemotherapeutic agent.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of gemcitabine, fluorouracil, erlotinib hydrochloride, mitomycin C, doxorubicin, irinotecan, cytoxan, eloxatin, prednisone, vinorelbine, carboplatin, and taxotere.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the cancer is pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, adenoendocrine cancer, and lung cancer.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the pancreatic cancer is pancreactic ductal adenocarcinoma.
25. A method of detecting the presence of a cancer cell expressing cathepsin E comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting a cell with an effective amount of a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate consists of Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:6), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 11), Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO: 12), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO: 19);
(b) exposing the cell to light having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer; and
(c) detecting the level of fluorescence of the photosensitizer, an increase in the level of fluorescence of the photosensitizer as compared to a control indicating the cell is a cancer cell.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the cell are in vitro or in vivo.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the cancer cell is a pancreatic cancer cell, wherein the cancer is pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, adenoendocrine cancer, and lung cancer.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminolevulini acid (5-ALA), Rose Bengal, bacteriochlorin, hematoporphyrin, chlorin e6, tetraphenylporphyrin, benzoporphyrin, verteporfin, and porfimer sodium.
29. A method of detecting a cathepsin E expressing cell comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting a cell with an effective amount of a photosensitizer linked to a cleavable substrate, wherein the cleavable substrate is capable of being cleaved by cathepsin E and wherein the cleavable substrate comprises Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:1), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:2), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:3), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:4), Phe-Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:5), Ser-Leu (SEQ ID NO:6), Arg-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:7), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:8), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:9), Gly-Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:10), Phe-Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:11), Ser-Phe (SEQ ID NO:12), Ala-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:13), Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:14), Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:15), Gly-Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:16), Phe-Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:17), Ser-Leu-Pro-Ala (SEQ ID NO:18), or Ser-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO:19);
(b) exposing the cell to light having a wavelength suitable to activate the photosensitizer; and
(c) detecting fluorescence of the photosensitizer, fluorescence of the photosensitizer above background indicating the cell is a cathepsin E expressing cell.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the cell is in vitro or in vivo.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminolevulini acid (5-ALA), Rose Bengal, bacteriochlorin, hematoporphyrin, chlorin e6, tetraphenylporphyrin, benzoporphyrin, verteporfin, and porfimer sodium.
32. A kit comprising the composition of claim 1 in one or more suitable containers.
33. The kit of claim 32 , further comprising an additional therapeutic agent.
34. The kit of claim 33 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent.
35. The kit of claim 32 , further comprising instructions for use.