Eukaryotic Initiation Translation Factor 2A activation by cannabidiolic acid alters the protein homeostasis balance in glioblastoma cells.

Eukaryotic Initiation Translation Factor 2A (EIF2A) is considered to be primarily responsible for the initiation of translation when a cell is subjected to stressful conditions. However, information regarding this protein is still incomplete. Using a combination of proteomic approaches, we demonstrated that EIF2A is the molecular target of the naturally occurring bioactive compound cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) within human glioblastoma cells. This finding allowed us to undertake a study aimed at obtaining further information on the functions that EIF2A plays in tumor cells. Indeed, our data showed that CBDA is able to activate EIF2A when the cells are in no-stress conditions. It induces conformational changes in the protein structure, thus increasing EIF2A affinity towards the proteins participating in the Eukaryotic Translation Machinery. Consequently, following glioblastoma cells incubation with CBDA we observed an enhanced neosynthesis of proteins involved in the stress response, nucleic acid translation and organization, and protein catabolism. These changes in gene expression resulted in increased levels of ubiquitinated proteins and accumulation of the autophagosome. Our results, in addition to shedding light on the molecular mechanism underlying the biological effect of a phytocannabinoid in cancer cells, demonstrated that EIF2A plays a critical role in regulation of protein homeostasis.

An updated patent review of TRPA1 antagonists (2020 - present).

INTRODUCTION: TRPA1 is a nonselective calcium channel, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily, also referred to as the 'irritant' receptor, being activated by pungent and noxious exogenous chemicals as well as by endogenous algogenic stimuli, to elicit pain, itching, and inflammatory conditions. For this reason, it is considered an attractive therapeutic target to treat a wide range of diseases including acute and chronic pain, itching, and inflammatory airway diseases. AREAS COVERED: The present review covers patents on TRPA1 antagonists disclosed from 2020 to present, falling in the following main classes: i) novel therapeutic applications for known or already disclosed antagonists, ii) identification and characterization of TRPA1 antagonists from natural sources, and iii) synthesis and evaluation of novel compounds. EXPERT OPINION: Despite the limited number of TRPA1 antagonists in clinical trials, there is an ever-growing interest on this receptor-channel as therapeutic target, mainly due to the relevant outcomes from basic research, which unveiled novel physio-pathological mechanisms where TRPA1 is believed to play a pivotal role, for example the Alzheimer's disease or ocular diseases, expanding the panel of potential therapeutic applications for TRPA1 modulators.

Marine Natural and Nature-Inspired Compounds Targeting Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs).

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α, γ and ß/δ (PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARß/δ) are a family of ligand-activated transcriptional factors belonging to the superfamily of nuclear receptors regulating the expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, energy homeostasis, inflammation, and the immune response. For this reason, they represent attractive targets for the treatment of a variety of metabolic diseases and, more recently, for neurodegenerative disorders due to their emerging neuroprotective effects. The degree of activation, from partial to full, along with the selectivity toward the different isoforms, greatly affect the therapeutic efficacy and the safety profile of PPAR agonists. Thus, there is a high interest toward novel scaffolds with proper combinations of activity and selectivity. This review intends to provide an overview of the discovery, optimization, and structure-activity relationship studies on PPAR modulators from marine sources, along with the structural and computational studies that led to their identification and/or elucidation, and rationalization of their mechanisms of action.

Identification and Characterization of Cannabidiol as an OX1R Antagonist by Computational and In Vitro Functional Validation.

The potential, multifaceted therapeutic profile of cannabidiol (CBD), a major constituent derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, covers a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, ranging from anxiety to pediatric epilepsy and drug addiction. However, the molecular targets responsible for these effects have been only partially identified. In this view, the involvement of the orexin system, the key regulator in arousal and the sleep/wake cycle, and in motivation and reward processes, including drug addiction, prompted us to explore, using computational and experimental approaches, the possibility that CBD could act as a ligand of orexin receptors, orexin 1 receptor of type 1 (OX1R) and type 2 (OX2R). Ligand-binding assays showed that CBD is a selective ligand of OX1R in the low micromolar range (Ki 1.58 ± 0.2 µM) while in vitro functional assays, carried out by intracellular calcium imaging and mobilization assays, showed that CBD acts as an antagonist at this receptor. Finally, the putative binding mode of CBD has been inferred by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations and its selectivity toward the OX1R subtype rationalized at the molecular level. This study provides the first evidence that CBD acts as an OX1R antagonist, supporting its potential use in addictive disorders and/or body weight regulation.

The Combined Effect of Branching and Elongation on the Bioactivity Profile of Phytocannabinoids. Part I: Thermo-TRPs.

The affinity of cannabinoids for their CB1 and CB2 metabotropic receptors is dramatically affected by a combination of α-branching and elongation of their alkyl substituent, a maneuver exemplified by the n-pentyl -> α,α-dimethylheptyl (DMH) swap. The effect of this change on other cannabinoid end-points is still unknown, an observation surprising since thermo-TRPs are targeted by phytocannabinoids with often sub-micromolar affinity. To fill this gap, the α,α-dimethylheptyl analogues of the five major phytocannabinoids [CBD (1a), Δ8-THC (6a), CBG (7a), CBC (8a) and CBN (9a)] were prepared by total synthesis, and their activity on thermo-TRPs (TRPV1-4, TRPM8, and TRPA1) was compared with that of one of their natural analogues. Surprisingly, the DMH chain promoted a shift in the selectivity toward TRPA1, a target involved in pain and inflammatory diseases, in all investigated compounds. A comparative study of the putative binding modes at TRPA1 between DMH-CBC (8b), the most active compound within the series, and CBC (8a) was carried out by molecular docking, allowing the rationalization of their activity in terms of structure-activity relationships. Taken together, these observations qualify DMH-CBC (8b) as a non-covalent TRPA1-selective cannabinoid lead that is worthy of additional investigation as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

The (Poly)Pharmacology of Cannabidiol in Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Molecular Mechanisms and Targets.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychoactive Cannabis constituent, has been proposed for the treatment of a wide panel of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy and drug addiction due to the ability of its versatile scaffold to interact with diverse molecular targets that are not restricted to the endocannabinoid system. Albeit the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of CBD have yet to be fully elucidated, many efforts have been devoted in the last decades to shed light on its complex pharmacological profile. In particular, an ever-increasing number of molecular targets linked to those disorders have been identified for this phytocannabinoid, along with the modulatory effects of CBD on their cascade signaling. In this view, here we will try to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the molecular basis underlying the therapeutic effects of CBD involved in the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

2-Pentadecyl-2-oxazoline ameliorates memory impairment and depression-like behaviour in neuropathic mice: possible role of adrenergic alpha2- and H3 histamine autoreceptors.

Neuropathic pain (NP) remains an untreatable disease due to the complex pathophysiology that involves the whole pain neuraxis including the forebrain. Sensory dysfunctions such as allodynia and hyperalgesia are only part of the symptoms associated with neuropathic pain that extend to memory and affectivity deficits. The development of multi-target molecules might be a promising therapeutic strategy against the symptoms associated with NP. 2-pentadecyl-2-oxazoline (PEA-OXA) is a plant-derived agent, which has shown effectiveness against chronic pain and associated neuropsychiatric disorders. The molecular mechanisms by which PEA-OXA exerts its effects are, however, only partially known. In the current study, we show that PEA-OXA, besides being an alpha2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, also acts as a modulator at histamine H3 receptors, and report data on its effects on sensory, affective and cognitive symptoms associated with the spared nerve injury (SNI) model of neuropathic pain in mice. Treatment for 14 days with PEA-OXA after the onset of the symptoms associated with neuropathic pain resulted in the following effects: (i) allodynia was decreased; (ii) affective/cognitive impairment associated with SNI (depression, spatial, and working memories) was counteracted; (iii) long-term potentiation in vivo in the lateral entorhinal cortex-dentate gyrus (perforant pathway, LPP) was ameliorated, (iv) hippocampal glutamate, GABA, histamine, norepinephrine and dopamine level alterations after peripheral nerve injury were reversed, (v) expression level of the TH positive neurons in the Locus Coeruleus were normalized. Thus, a 16-day treatment with PEA-OXA alleviates the sensory, emotional, cognitive, electrophysiological and neurochemical alterations associated with SNI-induced neuropathic pain.

N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine, a Natural Monosaccharide-Based Glycolipid, Inhibits TLR4 and Prevents LPS-Induced Inflammation and Neuropathic Pain in Mice.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key receptors through which infectious and non-infectious challenges act with consequent activation of the inflammatory cascade that plays a critical function in various acute and chronic diseases, behaving as amplification and chronicization factors of the inflammatory response. Previous studies have shown that synthetic analogues of lipid A based on glucosamine with few chains of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, bind MD-2 and inhibit TLR4 receptors. These synthetic compounds showed antagonistic activity against TLR4 activation in vitro by LPS, but little or no activity in vivo. This study aimed to show the potential use of N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine (PGA), a bacterial molecule with structural similarity to the lipid A component of LPS, which could be useful for preventing LPS-induced tissue damage or even peripheral neuropathies. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that PGA stably binds MD-2 with a MD-2/(PGA)3 stoichiometry. Treatment with PGA resulted in the following effects: (i) it prevented the NF-kB activation in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells; (ii) it decreased LPS-induced keratitis and corneal pro-inflammatory cytokines, whilst increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines; (iii) it normalized LPS-induced miR-20a-5p and miR-106a-5p upregulation and increased miR-27a-3p levels in the inflamed corneas; (iv) it decreased allodynia in peripheral neuropathy induced by oxaliplatin or formalin, but not following spared nerve injury of the sciatic nerve (SNI); (v) it prevented the formalin- or oxaliplatin-induced myelino-axonal degeneration of sciatic nerve. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We report that PGA acts as a TLR4 antagonist and this may be the basis of its potent anti-inflammatory activity. Being unique because of its potency and stability, as compared to other similar congeners, PGA can represent a tool for the optimization of new TLR4 modulating drugs directed against the cytokine storm and the chronization of inflammation.

Discovery of a Remarkable Methyl Shift Effect in the Vanilloid Activity of Triterpene Amides.

As part of a study on triterpenoid conjugates, the dietary pentacyclic triterpenoids oleanolic (2a) and ursolic acids (3a) were coupled with vanillamine, and the resulting amides (2b and 3b, respectively) were assayed for activity on the vanilloid receptor TRPV1. Despite a structural difference limited to the location of a methyl group in their conformationally rigid pentacyclic core, oleanoloyl vanillamide dramatically outperformed ursoloyl vanillamide in terms of potency (EC50 = 35 ± 2 nM for 2b and 5.4 ± 2.3 µM for 3b). Using molecular docking and dynamics, this difference was translated into distinct accommodation modes at the TRPV1 vanillyl ligand pocket, suggesting a critical role of a C-H πphenyl interaction between the triterpenoid C-29 methyl and Phe591 of TRPV1. Because the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation process of transient receptor channels (TRPs) remain to be fully elucidated, the observation of spatially restricted structure-activity information is of significant relevance to identify the molecular detail of TRPV1 ligand gating.

Identification of the hydantoin alkaloids parazoanthines as novel CXCR4 antagonists by computational and in vitro functional characterization.

CXCR4 chemokine receptor represents an attractive pharmacological target due to its key role in cancer metastasis and inflammatory diseases. Starting from our previously-developed pharmacophoric model, we applied a combined computational and experimental approach that led to the identification of the hydantoin alkaloids parazoanthines, isolated from the Mediterranean Sea anemone Parazoanthus axinellae, as novel CXCR4 antagonists. Parazoanthine analogues were then synthesized to evaluate the contribution of functional groups to the overall activity. Within the panel of synthesized natural and non-natural parazoanthines, parazoanthine-B was identified as the most potent CXCR4 antagonist with an IC50 value of 9.3 nM, even though all the investigated compounds were able to antagonize in vitro the down-stream effects of CXC12, albeit with variable potency and efficacy. The results of our study strongly support this class of small molecules as potent CXCR4 antagonists in tumoral pathologies characterized by an overexpression of this receptor. Furthermore, their structure-activity relationships allowed the optimization of our pharmacophoric model, useful for large-scale in silico screening.

Design, Synthesis and In Vitro Experimental Validation of Novel TRPV4 Antagonists Inspired by Labdane Diterpenes.

Labdane diterpenes are widespread classes of natural compounds present in variety of marine and terrestrial organisms and plants. Many of them represents "natural libraries" of compounds with interesting biological activities due to differently functionalized drimane nucleus exploitable for potential pharmacological applications. The transient receptor potential channel subfamily V member 4 (TRPV4) channel has recently emerged as a pharmacological target for several respiratory diseases, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Inspired by the labdane-like bicyclic core, a series of homodrimane-derived esters and amides was designed and synthesized by modifying the flexible tail in position 1 of (+)-sclareolide, an oxidized derivative of the bioactive labdane-type diterpene sclareol. The potency and selectivity towards rTRPV4 and hTRPV1 receptors were assessed by calcium influx cellular assays. Molecular determinants critical for eliciting TRPV4 antagonism were identified by structure-activity relationships. Among the selective TRPV4 antagonists identified, compound 6 was the most active with an IC50 of 5.3 µM. This study represents the first report of semisynthetic homodrimane TRPV4 antagonists, selective over TRPV1, and potentially useful as pharmacological tools for the development of novel TRPV4 channel modulators.

Cannabitwinol, a Dimeric Phytocannabinoid from Hemp, Cannabis sativa L., Is a Selective Thermo-TRP Modulator.

Cannabitwinol (CBDD, 3), the second member of a new class of dimeric phytocannabinoids in which two units are connected by a methylene bridge, was isolated from a hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) industrial extract. The structural characterization of cannabitwinol, complicated by broadening of 1H NMR signals and lack of expected 2D NMR correlations at room temperature, was fully carried out in methanol-d4 at -30 °C. All the attempts to prepare CBDD by reaction of CBD with formaldehyde or its iminium analogue (Eschenmoser salt) failed, suggesting that this sterically congested dimer is the result of enzymatic reactions on the corresponding monomeric acids. Analysis of the cannabitwinol profile of transient receptor potential (TRP) modulation evidenced the impact of dimerization, revealing a selectivity for channels activated by a decrease of temperature (TRPM8 and TRPA1) and the lack of significant affinity for those activated by an increase of temperature (e.g., TRPV1). The putative binding modes of cannabitwinol with TRPA1 and TRPM8 were investigated in detail by a molecular docking study using the homology models of both channels.

Identification and Characterization of Cannabimovone, a Cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, as a Novel PPARγ Agonist via a Combined Computational and Functional Study.

Phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are a large family of meroterpenoids isolated from the plant Cannabis sativa. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the best investigated phytocannabinoids due to their relative abundance and interesting bioactivity profiles. In addition to various targets, THC and CBD are also well-known agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a nuclear receptor involved in energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. In the search of new pCBs potentially acting as PPARγ agonists, we identified cannabimovone (CBM), a structurally unique abeo-menthane pCB, as a novel PPARγ modulator via a combined computational and experimental approach. The ability of CBM to act as dual PPARγ/α agonist was also evaluated. Computational studies suggested a different binding mode toward the two isoforms, with the compound able to recapitulate the pattern of H-bonds of a canonical agonist only in the case of PPARγ. Luciferase assays confirmed the computational results, showing a selective activation of PPARγ by CBM in the low micromolar range. CBM promoted the expression of PPARγ target genes regulating the adipocyte differentiation and prevented palmitate-induced insulin signaling impairment. Altogether, these results candidate CBM as a novel bioactive compound potentially useful for the treatment of insulin resistance-related disorders.

In Silico Identification and Experimental Validation of (-)-Muqubilin A, a Marine Norterpene Peroxide, as PPARα/γ-RXRα Agonist and RARα Positive Allosteric Modulator.

The nuclear receptors (NRs) RARα, RXRα, PPARα, and PPARγ represent promising pharmacological targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the search for molecules able to simultaneously target all the above-mentioned NRs, we screened an in-house developed molecular database using a ligand-based approach, identifying (-)-Muqubilin (Muq), a cyclic peroxide norterpene from a marine sponge, as a potential hit. The ability of this compound to stably and effectively bind these NRs was assessed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Muq recapitulated all the main interactions of a canonical full agonist for RXRα and both PPARα and PPARγ, whereas the binding mode toward RARα showed peculiar features potentially impairing its activity as full agonist. Luciferase assays confirmed that Muq acts as a full agonist for RXRα, PPARα, and PPARγ with an activity in the low- to sub-micromolar range. On the other hand, in the case of RAR, a very weak agonist activity was observed in the micromolar range. Quite surprisingly, we found that Muq is a positive allosteric modulator for RARα, as both luciferase assays and in vivo analysis using a zebrafish transgenic retinoic acid (RA) reporter line showed that co-administration of Muq with RA produced a potent synergistic enhancement of RARα activation and RA signaling.

Identification and characterization of phytocannabinoids as novel dual PPARα/γ agonists by a computational and in vitro experimental approach.

BACKGROUND: The nuclear Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors playing a fundamental role in energy homeostasis and metabolism. Consequently, functional impairment or dysregulation of these receptors lead to a variety of metabolic diseases. While some phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are known to activate PPARγ, no data have been reported so far on their possible activity at PPARα. METHODS: The putative binding modes of pCBs into PPARα/γ Ligand Binding Domains were found and assessed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Luciferase assays validated in silico predictions whereas the biological effects of such PPARα/γ ligands were assessed in HepG2 and 3T3L1 cell cultures. RESULTS: The in silico study identified cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerol (CBG) from C. sativa as PPARα/γ dual agonists, suggesting their binding modes toward PPARα/γ isoforms and predicting their activity as full or partial agonists. These predictions were confirmed by luciferase functional assays. The resulting effects on downstream gene transcription in adipocytes and hepatocytes were also observed, establishing their actions as functional dual agonists. CONCLUSIONS: Our work broadens the activity spectrum of CBDA, CBGA and CBG by providing evidence that these pCBs act as dual PPARα/γ agonists with the ability to modulate the lipid metabolism. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dual PPARα/γ agonists have emerged as an attractive alternative to selective PPAR agonists to treat metabolic disorders. We identified some pCBs as dual PPARα/γ agonists, potentially useful for the treatment of dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Potent Cytotoxic Analogs of Amphidinolides from the Atlantic Octocoral Stragulum bicolor.

Amphidinolides are cytotoxic macrolides produced by symbiotic unicellular microalgae of the genus Amphidinium. Here we describe the identification of four related molecules belonging to this macrolide family isolated from the invertebrate Stragulum bicolor. The new molecules, named amphidinolide PX1-PX3 and stragulin A (1⁻4), show an unprecedented carbon skeleton whose complete stereochemistry has been determined by spectroscopic and computational methods. Differences in the structures of these molecules modulate their biological activity in a panel of tumor cell lines, but the opened derivative stragulin (4) shows a very potent and specific cytotoxic activity (IC50 0.18 µM) against the aggressive human melanoma cell A2058.

Patatin-like lipolytic acyl hydrolases and galactolipid metabolism in marine diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.

Diatoms are eukaryotic microalgae that play a pivotal role in biological and geochemical marine cycles. These microorganisms are at the basis of the trophic chain and their lipids are essential components (e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) of aquatic food webs. Galactolipids are the primary lipid components of plastid membranes and form the largest lipid family of diatoms. As source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), these compounds are also involved in the synthesis of lipoxygenase (LOX) products such as non-volatile oxylipins and polyunsaturated aldehydes. Here, we report the first identification of two genes, namely PmLAH1 and PaLAH1, coding for lipolytic enzymes in two diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Functional and modeling studies evidence a patatin-like domain endowed with galactolipase and phospholipase activity at the C-terminus of both proteins. Homologues of Pseudo-nitzschia LAH1 genes were retrieved in other diatom species so far sequenced in agreement with conservation of the functional role of these proteins within the lineage.

FAAH-Catalyzed C-C Bond Cleavage of a New Multitarget Analgesic Drug.

The discovery of extended catalytic versatilities is of great importance in both the chemistry and biotechnology fields. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) belongs to the amidase signature superfamily and is a major endocannabinoid inactivating enzyme using an atypical catalytic mechanism involving hydrolysis of amide and occasionally ester bonds. FAAH inhibitors are efficacious in experimental models of neuropathic pain, inflammation, and anxiety, among others. We report a new multitarget drug, AGN220653, containing a carboxyamide-4-oxazole moiety and endowed with efficacious analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, which are partly due to its capability of achieving inhibition of FAAH, and subsequently increasing the tissue concentrations of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This inhibitor behaves as a noncompetitive, slowly reversible inhibitor. Autoradiography of purified FAAH incubated with AGN220653, opportunely radiolabeled, indicated covalent binding followed by fragmentation of the molecule. Molecular docking suggested a possible nucleophilic attack by FAAH-Ser241 on the carbonyl group of the carboxyamide-4-oxazole moiety, resulting in the cleavage of the C-C bond between the oxazole and the carboxyamide moieties, instead of either of the two available amide bonds. MRM-MS analyses only detected the Ser241-assisted formation of the carbamate intermediate, thus confirming the cleavage of the aforementioned C-C bond. Quantum mechanics calculations were fully consistent with this mechanism. The study exemplifies how FAAH structural features and mechanism of action may override the binding and reactivity propensities of substrates. This unpredicted mechanism could pave the way to the future development of a completely new class of amidase inhibitors, of potential use against pain, inflammation, and mood disorders.