Nanobiologic-regulation of trained immunity

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute

 

Research topic

Our research team develops nanobiologics, based on high-density lipoprotein (HDL), that effectively target myeloid cells (monocytes and macrophages) in atherosclerotic plaques, tumors and hematopoietic organs. Using innovative microfluidics technology, we can generate HDL mimetics that vary in shape, size, composition and function, allowing the establishment of a so-called nanobiologic library. HDL nanobiologics from this library can be designed to contain surface payloads, such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, or core payloads, including epigenetics inhibitors. 

Using this strategy, we have developed myeloid cell-specific nanobiologics that either promote or inhibit epigenetic modifications associated with trained immunity.

In mouse models, we have shown nanobiologics’ ability to promote or inhibit trained immunity. Activation of trained immunity, if presented as a host defense mechanism against malignancies, can have unprecedented real-life benefits for treating cancer. Contrastingly, induction of immune tolerance is highly desired in allograft transplantation to prevent rejection, or to treat autoimmune diseases.

 

 

 

Group leaders

  • Willem Mulder, PhD, professor in cardiovascular nanomedicine
  • Carlos Pérez-Medina, assistant professor, department of radiology

 

Group members

  • Ewelina Kluza, PhD, postdoctoral researcher in nanomedicine
  • Bram Teunissen, PhD, postdoctoral researcher in immune-nanomedicine
  • Mandy van Leent, MD, postdoctoral researcher in cardiovascular immunology
  • Max Senders, MD, PhD student in cardiovascular imaging
  • Thijs Beldman, MSc, PhD student in cardiovascular nanomedicine
  • Bram Priem, MD, PhD student in immune-oncology
  • Yohana Camila, BSc, technician

 

Selected publications

  • Mulder WJM, van Leent MMT, Lameijer M, Fisher EA, Fayad ZA, Pérez-Medina C. High-Density Lipoprotein Nanobiologics for Precision Medicine. Acc Chem Res. 2018 Jan 16;51(1):127-137. PMID: 29281244.
  • Tang J, Baxter S, Menon A, Alaarg A, Sanchez-Gaytan BL, Fay F, Zhao Y, Ouimet M, Braza MS, Longo VA, Abdel-Atti D, Duivenvoorden R, Calcagno C, Storm G, Tsimikas S, Moore KJ, Swirski FK, Nahrendorf M, Fisher EA, Pérez-Medina C, Fayad ZA, Reiner T, Mulder WJM. Immune cell screening of a nanoparticle library improves atherosclerosis therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Nov 1;113(44):E6731-E6740. PMID: 27791119
  • Pérez-Medina C, Binderup T, Lobatto ME, Tang J, Calcagno C, Giesen L, Wessel CH, Witjes J, Ishino S, Baxter S, Zhao Y, Ramachandran S, Eldib M, Sánchez-Gaytán BL, Robson PM, Bini J, Granada JF, Fish KM, Stroes ES, Duivenvoorden R, Tsimikas S, Lewis JS, Reiner T, Fuster V, Kjær A, Fisher EA, Fayad ZA, Mulder WJM. In Vivo PET Imaging of HDL in Multiple Atherosclerosis Models. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2016 Aug;9(8):950-61. PMID: 27236528
  • Zhao Y, Fay F, Hak S, Manuel Perez-Aguilar J, Sanchez-Gaytan BL, Goode B, Duivenvoorden R, de Lange Davies C, Bjørkøy A, Weinstein H, Fayad ZA, Pérez-Medina C, Mulder WJM. Augmenting drug-carrier compatibility improves tumour nanotherapy efficacy. Nat Commun. 2016 Apr 13;7:11221. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11221. PMID: 27071376
  • Mulder WJ, Jaffer FA, Fayad ZA, Nahrendorf M. Imaging and nanomedicine in inflammatory atherosclerosis. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Jun 4;6(239):239sr1. PMID: 24898749

 

Financial support

  • NWO Vidi 016.136.324
  • NIH/NHLBI R01 HL118440
  • NIH/NHLBI R01 HL125703
  • NIH/NHLBI P01 HL131478