Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy

Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Hamza, Shuai Wang, Hao Wu, Jiayi Sun, Yang Du, Chuting Zeng, Yike Liu, Kun Li, Xili Zhu, Huiying Liu, Lin Chen, Motao Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525001480
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author Muhammad Hamza
Shuai Wang
Hao Wu
Jiayi Sun
Yang Du
Chuting Zeng
Yike Liu
Kun Li
Xili Zhu
Huiying Liu
Lin Chen
Motao Zhu
author_facet Muhammad Hamza
Shuai Wang
Hao Wu
Jiayi Sun
Yang Du
Chuting Zeng
Yike Liu
Kun Li
Xili Zhu
Huiying Liu
Lin Chen
Motao Zhu
author_sort Muhammad Hamza
collection DOAJ
description Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis mechanisms that limit copper influx and cuproptosis induction. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoagent utilizing outer membrane vesicle (OMV) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) for co-delivery of antioxidant 1 copper chaperone (Atox1)-targeting siRNA and ES (siAtox1/ES@OMV) to tumors. In vitro, we demonstrated that Atox1 knockdown via siRNA significantly disrupted copper export mechanisms, resulting in elevated intracellular copper levels. Simultaneously, ES facilitated efficient copper influx and mitochondrial transport, leading to Fe–S cluster depletion, increased proteotoxic stress, and robust cuproptosis. In vivo, siAtox1/ES@OMV achieved targeted tumor delivery and induced pronounced cuproptosis. Furthermore, leveraging the immunomodulatory properties of OMVs, siAtox1/ES@OMV promoted T-cell infiltration and the activation of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells, enhancing tumor immune responses. The combination of siAtox1/ES-induced cuproptosis and immunogenic cell death synergistically suppressed tumor growth in both subcutaneous breast cancer and orthotopic rectal cancer mouse models. This study highlights the potential of integrating copper homeostasis disruption with a copper ionophore using an immunomodulatory OMV-based vector, offering a promising combinatorial strategy for cancer therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-97ba3a747e2d456793aebed909ebee632025-08-20T01:49:58ZengElsevierActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B2211-38352025-05-011552640265410.1016/j.apsb.2025.03.014Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapyMuhammad Hamza0Shuai Wang1Hao Wu2Jiayi Sun3Yang Du4Chuting Zeng5Yike Liu6Kun Li7Xili Zhu8Huiying Liu9Lin Chen10Motao Zhu11CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, ChinaCollege of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, the 8th Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Corresponding authors.CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding authors.CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding authors.Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis mechanisms that limit copper influx and cuproptosis induction. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoagent utilizing outer membrane vesicle (OMV) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) for co-delivery of antioxidant 1 copper chaperone (Atox1)-targeting siRNA and ES (siAtox1/ES@OMV) to tumors. In vitro, we demonstrated that Atox1 knockdown via siRNA significantly disrupted copper export mechanisms, resulting in elevated intracellular copper levels. Simultaneously, ES facilitated efficient copper influx and mitochondrial transport, leading to Fe–S cluster depletion, increased proteotoxic stress, and robust cuproptosis. In vivo, siAtox1/ES@OMV achieved targeted tumor delivery and induced pronounced cuproptosis. Furthermore, leveraging the immunomodulatory properties of OMVs, siAtox1/ES@OMV promoted T-cell infiltration and the activation of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells, enhancing tumor immune responses. The combination of siAtox1/ES-induced cuproptosis and immunogenic cell death synergistically suppressed tumor growth in both subcutaneous breast cancer and orthotopic rectal cancer mouse models. This study highlights the potential of integrating copper homeostasis disruption with a copper ionophore using an immunomodulatory OMV-based vector, offering a promising combinatorial strategy for cancer therapy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525001480CuproptosisElesclomolAntioxidant protein 1 siRNAOuter membrane vesicleAkkermansia muciniphilaTumor microenvironment
spellingShingle Muhammad Hamza
Shuai Wang
Hao Wu
Jiayi Sun
Yang Du
Chuting Zeng
Yike Liu
Kun Li
Xili Zhu
Huiying Liu
Lin Chen
Motao Zhu
Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
Cuproptosis
Elesclomol
Antioxidant protein 1 siRNA
Outer membrane vesicle
Akkermansia muciniphila
Tumor microenvironment
title Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
title_full Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
title_fullStr Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
title_full_unstemmed Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
title_short Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy
title_sort targeting copper homeostasis akkermansia derived omvs co deliver atox1 sirna and elesclomol for cancer therapy
topic Cuproptosis
Elesclomol
Antioxidant protein 1 siRNA
Outer membrane vesicle
Akkermansia muciniphila
Tumor microenvironment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525001480
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