A male-derived nonribosomal peptide pheromone controls female schistosome development.

Schistosomes cause morbidity and death throughout the developing world due to the massive numbers of eggs female worms deposit into the blood of their host. Studies dating back to the 1920s show that female schistosomes rely on constant physical contact with a male worm both to become and remain sexually mature; however, the molecular details governing this process remain elusive. Here, we uncover a nonribosomal peptide synthetase that is induced in male worms upon pairing with a female and find that it is essential for the ability of male worms to stimulate female development. We demonstrate that this enzyme generates ß-alanyl-tryptamine that is released by paired male worms. Furthermore, synthetic ß-alanyl-tryptamine can replace male worms to stimulate female sexual development and egg laying. These data reveal that peptide-based pheromone signaling controls female schistosome sexual maturation, suggesting avenues for therapeutic intervention and uncovering a role for nonribosomal peptides as metazoan signaling molecules.

Functional imaging of RAS pathway targeting in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cells and xenografts.

BACKGROUND: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an aggressive form of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) in children. Despite intensive therapy, relatively few children with metastatic and unresectable disease survive beyond three years. RAS pathway activation is common in MPNST, suggesting MEK pathway inhibition as a targeted therapy, but the impact on clinical outcome has been small to date. PROCEDURE: We conducted preclinical pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic studies of two MEK inhibitors, trametinib and selumetinib, in two MPNST models and analyzed tumors for intratumor drug levels. We then investigated 3'-deoxy-3'-[18 F]fluorothymidine (18 F-FLT) PET imaging followed by 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging of MPNST xenografts coupled to short-term or longer-term treatment with selumetinib focusing on PET-based imaging as a biomarker of MEK inhibition. RESULTS: Trametinib decreased pERK expression in MPNST xenografts but did not prolong survival or decrease Ki67 expression. In contrast, selumetinib prolonged survival of animals bearing MPNST xenografts, and this correlated with decreased pERK and Ki67 staining. PK studies revealed a significantly higher fraction of unbound selumetinib within a responsive MPNST xenograft model. Thymidine uptake, assessed by 18 F-FLT PET/CT, positively correlated with Ki67 expression in different xenograft models and in response to selumetinib. CONCLUSION: The ability of MEK inhibitors to control MPNST growth cannot simply be predicted by serum drug levels or drug-induced changes in pERK expression. Tumor cell proliferation assessed by 18 F-FLT PET imaging might be useful as an early response marker to targeted therapies, including MEK inhibition, where a primary effect is cell-cycle arrest.

Orally Bioavailable Quinoxaline Inhibitors of 15-Prostaglandin Dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) Promote Tissue Repair and Regeneration.

15-Prostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) regulates the concentration of prostaglandin E2 in vivo. Inhibitors of 15-PGDH elevate PGE2 levels and promote tissue repair and regeneration. Here, we describe a novel class of quinoxaline amides that show potent inhibition of 15-PGDH, good oral bioavailability, and protective activity in mouse models of ulcerative colitis and recovery from bone marrow transplantation.

Targeting ESR1 mutation-induced transcriptional addiction in breast cancer with BET inhibition.

Acquired mutations in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the gene encoding estrogen receptor α (ESR1) are common mechanisms of endocrine therapy resistance in patients with metastatic ER+ breast cancer. The ESR1 Y537S mutation, in particular, is associated with development of resistance to most endocrine therapies used to treat breast cancer. Employing a high-throughput screen of nearly 1,200 Federal Drug Administration-approved (FDA-approved) drugs, we show that OTX015, a bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor, is one of the top suppressors of ESR1 mutant cell growth. OTX015 was more efficacious than fulvestrant, a selective ER degrader, in inhibiting ESR1 mutant xenograft growth. When combined with abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, OTX015 induced more potent tumor regression than current standard-of-care treatment of abemaciclib + fulvestrant. OTX015 has preferential activity against Y537S mutant breast cancer cells and blocks their clonal selection in competition studies with WT cells. Thus, BET inhibition has the potential to both prevent and overcome ESR1 mutant-induced endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer.

Characterization of peptide chain length and constituency requirements for YejABEF-mediated uptake of microcin C analogues.

Microcin C (McC), a natural antibacterial compound consisting of a heptapeptide attached to a modified adenosine, is actively taken up by the YejABEF transporter, after which it is processed by cellular aminopeptidases, releasing the nonhydrolyzable aminoacyl adenylate, an inhibitor of aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. McC analogues with variable length of the peptide moiety were synthesized and evaluated in order to characterize the substrate preferences of the YejABEF transporter. It was shown that a minimal peptide chain length of 6 amino acids and the presence of an N-terminal formyl-methionyl-arginyl sequence are required for transport.

Tumor-Activated Benzothiazole Inhibitors of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase.

A series of N-acyl benzothiazoles shows selective and potent cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines expressing cytochrome P450 4F11. A prodrug form is metabolized by cancer cells into an active inhibitor of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). Substantial variation on the acyl portion of the inhibitors allowed the identification of (R)-27, which balanced potency, solubility, and lipophilicity to allow proof-of-concept studies in mice. The prodrugs were activated inside the tumor, where they can arrest tumor growth. Together, these observations offer promise that a tumor-activated prodrug strategy might exploit the essentiality of SCD for tumor growth, while avoiding toxicity associated with systemic SCD inhibition.

Gastrointestinal behavior of itraconazole in humans - Part 1: Supersaturation from a solid dispersion and a cyclodextrin-based solution.

This study evaluated the fasted state gastrointestinal behavior of the lipophilic drug itraconazole, orally administered to healthy volunteers as either a solid dispersion (Sporanox® capsules) or a cyclodextrin-based solution (Sporanox® solution). Following intake of the drug products, gastric and duodenal fluids were aspirated and analyzed for itraconazole concentration, total content and solubilizing capacity. Release of itraconazole from the solid dispersion generated high and metastable supersaturated levels in the stomach, but the dissolved fraction in the duodenum remained extremely low (median 2.5%). After intake of the itraconazole solution, precipitation was limited in the stomach but pronounced in the small intestine. Still, the dissolved fraction of itraconazole in the duodenum (median 38%) appeared much higher than after intake of the solid dispersion, possibly explaining the improved absorption of itraconazole from the solution. As for the solid dispersion, the absorption-enabling ability of the solution appeared mainly related to increased intraluminal concentrations by means of supersaturation. Cyclodextrin-based solubilization of itraconazole occurred only in the case of limited intraluminal dilution, but did not further enhance itraconazole absorption. The obtained data will help to understand critical aspects of supersaturating drug delivery systems and act as direct reference for the optimization of in vitro simulation tools for gastrointestinal drug behavior.

In vitro and in vivo investigation of the gastrointestinal behavior of simvastatin.

Simvastatin (SV) is marketed as a lactone ester prodrug which is hydrolyzed to the active simvastatin hydroxyacid (SVA). SV is characterized by a low solubility and undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism. In this study, the influence of the upper gastrointestinal environment on the intraluminal behavior of simvastatin was investigated by a series of in vitro experiments. Dissolution, stability and two-stage dissolution tests were performed using simulated and human gastrointestinal fluids. The dissolution studies revealed a relatively slow dissolution of SV as well as conversion of SV to SVA. The hydrolysis of SV was further examined and stability studies indicated a faster conversion in gastric fluids than in intestinal fluids. These isolated phenomena were then confirmed by the more integrative two-stage dissolution studies. To estimate the predictive value of the in vitro tests, an additional in vivo study was performed in which the gastrointestinal concentration-time profiles also revealed a slow dissolution of SV and faster degradation of SV to SVA in the stomach than in the intestinal tract. However, the plasma concentrations of SV and SVA did not directly correlate with the observed gastrointestinal concentrations, suggesting that gut wall and hepatic metabolism have a greater impact on systemic exposure of SV than the intraluminal interconversion between SV and SVA.

The Effect of Food on the Intraluminal Behavior of Abiraterone Acetate in Man.

To relate the reported positive effect of food on the oral bioavailability of abiraterone to the intraluminal behavior of abiraterone acetate, an in vivo experiment was performed, in which duodenal fluids and plasma samples were collected from healthy volunteers after the administration of abiraterone acetate in fasted and postprandial conditions. The plasma concentration-time profiles confirmed the positive food effect. Nevertheless, intraduodenal concentrations of abiraterone acetate and abiraterone did not fully reflect this observation. This apparent discrepancy was explored by performing several in vitro experiments including solubility, dissolution, and transfer studies. Gastrointestinal transfer studies illustrated a positive impact of gastric processing of the abiraterone acetate formulation on the duodenal concentrations in the fasted state, which could not be observed in the postprandial condition. As the influence of gastric dissolution on the intraluminal concentrations in the small intestine declines aborally, it is most likely the superior solubility of abiraterone acetate and abiraterone in intestinal fluids of the fed state that dictates the food effect. Furthermore, N-oxide abiraterone sulfate and abiraterone sulfate appeared in the duodenum at significantly later time points than abiraterone, suggesting biliary excretion of these abiraterone metabolites; this was confirmed by in situ biliary excretion experiments in rats.

Rapid conversion of the ester prodrug abiraterone acetate results in intestinal supersaturation and enhanced absorption of abiraterone: in vitro, rat in situ and human in vivo studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intestinal disposition of abiraterone acetate, an ester prodrug of the anticancer agent abiraterone. Stability of the prodrug and solubility and dissolution characteristics of both abiraterone and abiraterone acetate were monitored in vitro. Moreover, the in vivo intraluminal concentrations of abiraterone and abiraterone acetate upon intake of one tablet of 250 mg abiraterone acetate were assessed in healthy volunteers. The intestinal absorption resulting from the intraluminal behavior of the ester prodrug was determined using the rat in situ intestinal perfusion technique with mesenteric blood sampling. Simulated and aspirated human intestinal fluids of the fasted state were used as solvent systems. Upon incubation of abiraterone acetate in human intestinal fluids in vitro, rapid hydrolysis of the prodrug was observed, generating abiraterone concentrations largely exceeding the apparent solubility of abiraterone, suggesting the existence of intestinal supersaturation. These findings were confirmed in vivo, by intraluminal sampling of duodenal fluids upon oral intake of an abiraterone acetate tablet by healthy volunteers. Rat in situ intestinal perfusion experiments performed with suspensions of abiraterone and abiraterone acetate in human intestinal fluids of the fasted state revealed significantly higher flux values upon perfusion with the prodrug than with abiraterone. Moreover, rat in situ intestinal perfusion with abiraterone acetate suspensions in simulated fluids of the fasted state in presence or absence of esterases demonstrated that increased hydrolytic activity of the perfusion medium was beneficial to the intestinal absorption of abiraterone. In conclusion, the rapid hydrolysis of abiraterone acetate in the intraluminal environment appears to result in fast and extensive generation of abiraterone supersaturation, creating a strong driving force for abiraterone absorption.

Intestinal behavior of the ester prodrug tenofovir DF in humans.

Tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (TDF) is a double ester prodrug which enables intestinal uptake of tenofovir (TFV) after oral administration in humans. In this study, prodrug stability was monitored in situ in the human intestine and in vitro using biorelevant media. In fasted state human intestinal fluids, the prodrug was completely degraded within 90 min, resulting in the formation of the mono-ester intermediate and TFV; in fed state intestinal fluids, the degradation rate of TDF was slightly reduced and no TFV was formed. Intestinal fluid samples aspirated after administration of TDF confirmed extensive intraluminal degradation of TDF in fasted state conditions; a relatively fast absorption of TDF partly compensated for the degradation. Although food intake reduced intestinal degradation, the systemic exposure was not proportionally increased. The lower degradation in fed state conditions may be attributed to competing esterase substrates present in food, lower chemical degradation in the slightly more acidic environment and micellar entrapment, delaying exposure to the "degrading" intestinal environment. The results of this study demonstrate premature intestinal degradation of TDF and suggest that TFV may benefit from a more stable prodrug approach; however, fast absorption may compensate for fast degradation, indicating that prodrug selection should not be limited to stability assays.