P-Selectin Targeted Dexamethasone-Loaded Lipid Nanoemulsions: A Novel Therapy to Reduce Vascular Inflammation

Mediators Inflamm. 2016:2016:1625149. doi: 10.1155/2016/1625149. Epub 2016 Sep 14.

Abstract

Inflammation is a common process associated with numerous vascular pathologies. We hypothesized that targeting the inflamed endothelium by coupling a peptide with high affinity for P-selectin to the surface of dexamethasone-loaded lipid nanoemulsions will highly increase their specific binding to activated endothelial cells (EC) and reduce the cell activation. We developed and characterized dexamethasone-loaded lipid nanoemulsions directed towards P-selectin (PLN-Dex) and monitored their anti-inflammatory effects in vitro using cultured EC (EA.hy926 cells) and in vivo using a mouse model of acute inflammation [lipopolysaccharides (LPS) intravenously administered in C57BL/6 mice]. We found that PLN-Dex bound specifically to the surface of activated EC are efficiently internalized by EC and reduced the expression of proinflammatory genes, thus preventing the monocyte adhesion and transmigration to/through activated EC. Given intravenously in mice with acute inflammation, PLN-Dex accumulated at a significant high level in the lungs (compared to nontargeted nanoemulsions) and significantly reduced mRNA expression level of key proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1. In conclusion, the newly developed nanoformulation, PLN-Dex, is functional in vitro and in vivo, reducing selectively the endothelium activation and the consequent monocyte infiltration and diminishing significantly the lungs' inflammation, in a mouse model of acute inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / chemistry*
  • Emulsions / administration & dosage
  • Emulsions / chemistry*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanostructures / administration & dosage
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • P-Selectin / chemistry
  • P-Selectin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Emulsions
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • P-Selectin
  • Dexamethasone