A Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Lipoxin B4 and its Biological Activity as a Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediator of Neuroinflammation.

Two stereocontrolled, efficient, and modular syntheses of eicosanoid lipoxin B4 (LXB4 ) are reported. One features a stereoselective reduction followed by an asymmetric epoxidation sequence to set the vicinal diol stereocentres. The dienyne was installed via a one-pot Wittig olefination and base-mediated epoxide ring opening cascade. The other approach installed the diol through an asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination to afford the common dienyne intermediate. Finally, a Sonogashira coupling and an alkyne hydrosilylation/proto-desilylation protocol furnished LXB4 in 25 % overall yield in just 10 steps. For the first time, LXB4 has been fully characterized spectroscopically with its structure confirmed as previously reported. We have demonstrated that the synthesized LXB4 showed similar biological activity to commercial sources in a cellular neuroprotection model. This synthetic route can be employed to synthesize large quantities of LXB4 , enable synthesis of new analogs, and chemical probes for receptor and pathway characterization.

GNS561, a new lysosomotropic small molecule, for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Among the acquired modifications in cancer cells, changes in lysosomal phenotype and functions are well described, making lysosomes a potential target for novel therapies. Some weak base lipophilic drugs have a particular affinity towards lysosomes, taking benefits from lysosomal trapping to exert anticancer activity. Here, we have developed a new lysosomotropic small molecule, GNS561, and assessed its activity in multiple in vitro intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma models (HuCCT1 and RBE cell lines and patient-derived cells) and in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenograft model. GNS561 significantly reduced cell viability in two intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (IC50 of 1.5 ± 0.2 µM in HuCCT1 and IC50 of 1.7 ± 0.1 µM in RBE cells) and induced apoptosis as measured by caspases activation. We confirmed that GNS561-mediated cell death was related to its lysosomotropic properties. GNS561 induced lysosomal dysregulation as proven by inhibition of late-stage autophagy and induction of a dose-dependent build-up of enlarged lysosomes. In patient-derived cells, GNS561 was more potent than cisplatin and gemcitabine in 2/5 and 1/5 of the patient-derived cells models, respectively. Moreover, in these models, GNS561 was potent in models with low sensitivity to gemcitabine. GNS561 was also efficient in vivo against a human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell line in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenograft model, with a good tolerance at doses high enough to induce an antitumor effect in this model. In summary, GNS561 is a new lysosomotropic agent, with an anticancer activity against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Further investigations are currently ongoing to fully elucidate its mechanism of action.

Targeted identification of sialoglycoproteins in hypoxic endothelial cells and validation in zebrafish reveal roles for proteins in angiogenesis.

The formation of new vessels in the tumor, termed angiogenesis, is essential for primary tumor growth and facilitates tumor invasion and metastasis. Hypoxia has been described as one trigger of angiogenesis. Indeed, hypoxia, which is characterized by areas of low oxygen levels, is a hallmark of solid tumors arising from an imbalance between oxygen delivery and consumption. Hypoxic conditions have profound effects on the different components of the tumoral environment. For example, hypoxia is able to activate endothelial cells, leading to angiogenesis but also thereby initiating a cascade of reactions involving neutrophils, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. In addition, hypoxia directly regulates the expression of many genes for which the role and the importance in the tumoral environment remain to be completely elucidated. In this study, we used a method to selectively label sialoglycoproteins to identify new membrane and secreted proteins involved in the adaptative process of endothelial cells by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. We used an in vitro assay under hypoxic condition to observe an increase of protein expression or modifications of glycosylation. Then the function of the identified proteins was assessed in a vasculogenesis assay in vivo by using a morpholino strategy in zebrafish. First, our approach was validated by the identification of sialoglycoproteins such as CD105, neuropilin-1, and CLEC14A, which have already been described as playing key roles in angiogenesis. Second, we identified several new proteins regulated by hypoxia and demonstrated for the first time the pivotal role of GLUT-1, TMEM16F, and SDF4 in angiogenesis.

PLOD2, a key factor for MRL MSC metabolism and chondroprotective properties.

BACKGROUND: Initially discovered for its ability to regenerate ear holes, the Murphy Roth Large (MRL) mouse has been the subject of multiple research studies aimed at evaluating its ability to regenerate other body tissues and at deciphering the mechanisms underlying it. These enhanced abilities to regenerate, retained during adulthood, protect the MRL mouse from degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we hypothesized that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) derived from the regenerative MRL mouse could be involved in their regenerative potential through the release of pro-regenerative mediators. METHOD: To address this hypothesis, we compared the secretome of MRL and BL6 MSC and identified several candidate molecules expressed at significantly higher levels by MRL MSC than by BL6 MSC. We selected one candidate, Plod2, and performed functional in vitro assays to evaluate its role on MRL MSC properties including metabolic profile, migration, and chondroprotective effects. To assess its contribution to MRL protection against OA, we used an experimental model for osteoarthritis induced by collagenase (CiOA). RESULTS: Among the candidate molecules highly expressed by MRL MSC, we focused our attention on procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 2 (PLOD2). Plod2 silencing induced a decrease in the glycolytic function of MRL MSC, resulting in the alteration of their migratory and chondroprotective abilities in vitro. In vivo, we showed that Plod2 silencing in MRL MSC significantly impaired their capacity to protect mouse from developing OA. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the chondroprotective and therapeutic properties of MRL MSC in the CiOA experimental model are in part mediated by PLOD2.

Validation of a small molecule inhibitor of PDE6D-RAS interaction with favorable anti-leukemic effects.

RAS mutations prevalent in high-risk leukemia have been linked to relapse and chemotherapy resistance. Efforts to directly target RAS proteins have been largely unsuccessful. However, since RAS-mediated transformation is dependent on signaling through the RAS-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC) small GTPase, we hypothesized that targeting RAC may be an effective therapeutic approach in RAS mutated tumors. Here we describe multiple small molecules capable of inhibiting RAC activation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. One of these, DW0254, also demonstrates promising anti-leukemic activity in RAS-mutated cells. Using chemical proteomics and biophysical methods, we identified the hydrophobic pocket of phosphodiester 6 subunit delta (PDE6D), a known RAS chaperone, as a target for this compound. Inhibition of RAS localization to the plasma membrane upon DW0254 treatment is associated with RAC inhibition through a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT-dependent mechanism. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of PDE6D-mediated transport for RAS-dependent RAC activation and leukemic cell survival.

MANF Produced by MRL Mouse-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Pro-regenerative and Protects From Osteoarthritis.

The super healer Murphy Roths Large (MRL) mouse represents the "holy grail" of mammalian regenerative model to decipher the key mechanisms that underlies regeneration in mammals. At a time when mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy represents the most promising approach to treat degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA), identification of key factors responsible for the regenerative potential of MSC derived from MRL mouse would be a major step forward for regenerative medicine. In the present study, we assessed and compared MSC derived from MRL (MRL MSC) and C57BL/6 (BL6 MSC) mice. First, we compare the phenotype and the differentiation potential of MRL and BL6 MSC and did not observe any difference. Then, we evaluated the proliferation and migration potential of the cells and found that while MRL MSC proliferate at a slower rate than BL6 MSC, they migrate at a significantly higher rate. This higher migration potential is mediated, in part, by MRL MSC-secreted products since MRL MSC conditioned medium that contains a complex of released factors significantly increased the migration potential of BL6 MSC. A comparative analysis of the secretome by quantitative shotgun proteomics and Western blotting revealed that MRL MSC produce and release higher levels of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) as compared to MSC derived from BL6, BALB/c, and DBA1 mice. MANF knockdown in MRL MSC using a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced both MRL MSC migration potential in scratch wound assay and their regenerative potential in the ear punch model in BL6 mice. Finally, injection of MRL MSC silenced for MANF did not protect mice from OA development. In conclusion, our results evidence that the enhanced regenerative potential and protection from OA of MRL mice might be, in part, attributed to their MSC, an effective reservoir of MANF.

Identification of novel tumor-associated cell surface sialoglycoproteins in human glioblastoma tumors using quantitative proteomics.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) remains clinical indication with significant "unmet medical need". Innovative new therapy to eliminate residual tumor cells and prevent tumor recurrences is critically needed for this deadly disease. A major challenge of GBM research has been the identification of novel molecular therapeutic targets and accurate diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. Many of the current clinical therapeutic targets of immunotoxins and ligand-directed toxins for high-grade glioma (HGG) cells are surface sialylated glycoproteins. Therefore, methods that systematically and quantitatively analyze cell surface sialoglycoproteins in human clinical tumor samples would be useful for the identification of potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for malignant gliomas. In this study, we used the bioorthogonal chemical reporter strategy (BOCR) in combination with label-free quantitative mass spectrometry (LFQ-MS) to characterize and accurately quantify the individual cell surface sialoproteome in human GBM tissues, in fetal, adult human astrocytes, and in human neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We identified and quantified a total of 843 proteins, including 801 glycoproteins. Among the 843 proteins, 606 (72%) are known cell surface or secreted glycoproteins, including 156 CD-antigens, all major classes of cell surface receptor proteins, transporters, and adhesion proteins. Our findings identified several known as well as new cell surface antigens whose expression is predominantly restricted to human GBM tumors as confirmed by microarray transcription profiling, quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. This report presents the comprehensive identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of malignant gliomas using quantitative sialoglycoproteomics with clinically relevant, patient derived primary glioma cells.