A peptide binding to the tetraspanin CD9 reduces cancer metastasis

• Main Author: Suwatthanarak T.
• Other Authors: Mahidol University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/80114; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85146146961&origin=inward

As an organizer of multi-molecular membrane complexes, the tetraspanin CD9 has been implicated in a number of biological processes, including cancer metastasis, and is a candidate therapeutic target. Here, we evaluated the suppressive effects of an eight-mer CD9-binding peptide (CD9-BP) on cancer cell metastasis and its mechanisms of action. CD9-BP impaired CD9-related functions by adversely affecting the formation of tetraspanin webs—networks composed of CD9 and its partner proteins. The anti-cancer metastasis effect of CD9-BP was evidenced by the in vitro inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion as well as exosome secretion and uptake, which are essential processes during metastasis. Finally, using a mouse model, we showed that CD9-BP reduced lung metastasis in vivo. These findings provide insight into the mechanism by which CD9-BP inhibits CD9-dependent functions and highlight its potential application as an alternative therapeutic nano-biomaterial for metastatic cancers.