BET bromodomain inhibitors regulate keratinocyte plasticity.

Although most acute skin wounds heal rapidly, non-healing skin ulcers represent an increasing and substantial unmet medical need that urgently requires effective therapeutics. Keratinocytes resurface wounds to re-establish the epidermal barrier by transitioning to an activated, migratory state, but this ability is lost in dysfunctional chronic wounds. Small-molecule regulators of keratinocyte plasticity with the potential to reverse keratinocyte malfunction in situ could offer a novel therapeutic approach in skin wound healing. Utilizing high-throughput phenotypic screening of primary keratinocytes, we identify such small molecules, including bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein family inhibitors (BETi). BETi induce a sustained activated, migratory state in keratinocytes in vitro, increase activation markers in human epidermis ex vivo and enhance skin wound healing in vivo. Our findings suggest potential clinical utility of BETi in promoting keratinocyte re-epithelialization of skin wounds. Importantly, this novel property of BETi is exclusively observed after transient low-dose exposure, revealing new potential for this compound class.

Whole-body scanning PCR; a highly sensitive method to study the biodistribution of mRNAs, noncoding RNAs and therapeutic oligonucleotides.

Efficient tissue-specific delivery is a crucial factor in the successful development of therapeutic oligonucleotides. Screening for novel delivery methods with unique tissue-homing properties requires a rapid, sensitive, flexible and unbiased technique able to visualize the in vivo biodistribution of these oligonucleotides. Here, we present whole body scanning PCR, a platform that relies on the local extraction of tissues from a mouse whole body section followed by the conversion of target-specific qPCR signals into an image. This platform was designed to be compatible with a novel RT-qPCR assay for the detection of siRNAs and with an assay suitable for the detection of heavily chemically modified oligonucleotides, which we termed Chemical-Ligation qPCR (CL-qPCR). In addition to this, the platform can also be used to investigate the global expression of endogenous mRNAs and non-coding RNAs. Incorporation of other detection systems, such as aptamers, could even further expand the use of this technology.

NIBR-LTSi is a selective LATS kinase inhibitor activating YAP signaling and expanding tissue stem cells in vitro and in vivo.

The YAP/Hippo pathway is an organ growth and size regulation rheostat safeguarding multiple tissue stem cell compartments. LATS kinases phosphorylate and thereby inactivate YAP, thus representing a potential direct drug target for promoting tissue regeneration. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the selective small-molecule LATS kinase inhibitor NIBR-LTSi. NIBR-LTSi activates YAP signaling, shows good oral bioavailability, and expands organoids derived from several mouse and human tissues. In tissue stem cells, NIBR-LTSi promotes proliferation, maintains stemness, and blocks differentiation in vitro and in vivo. NIBR-LTSi accelerates liver regeneration following extended hepatectomy in mice. However, increased proliferation and cell dedifferentiation in multiple organs prevent prolonged systemic LATS inhibition, thus limiting potential therapeutic benefit. Together, we report a selective LATS kinase inhibitor agonizing YAP signaling and promoting tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo, enabling future research on the regenerative potential of the YAP/Hippo pathway.

Discovery of potent and selective adamantane-based small-molecule P2X(7) receptor antagonists/interleukin-1beta inhibitors.

A novel series of antagonists of the human P2X7 receptor is described. Modification of substituents enabled identification of compounds selective for the rat P2X7 receptor and provides useful pharmacological tools for evaluation of the role of P2X7 in disease.

Biomarkers for isocyanate exposure: Synthesis of isocyanate DNA adducts.

Isocyanates are important intermediates in industrial manufacturing. DNA adducts and protein adducts are important tools to biomonitor people exposed to xenobiotics. In the present work, the formation of DNA adducts deriving from 4-chlorophenyl isocyanate (4CPI) and 4-methylphenyl isocyanate (4MPI) were explored. The adducts of 4CPI and/or 4MPI with 2'-deoxyadenosine, 2'-deoxyguanosine, and 2'-deoxycytidine were synthesized and characterized by NMR and MS. For low level detection, an LC-MS/MS method was developed. The formation of DNA adducts was confirmed in in vitro reactions with DNA.

Hemoglobin adducts in workers exposed to benzidine and azo dyes.

Benzidine (Bz) is a known human carcinogen. Several azo dyes have been synthesized with Bz. Bz can be metabolically released from azo dyes. In a group of Indian workers producing Bz and azo dyes the presence of hemoglobin (Hb) adducts was investigated. The following Hb adducts were identified and quantified by GC-MS: Bz, N-acetylbenzidine (AcBz), 4-aminobiphenyl (4ABP), aniline. 4ABP and aniline were quantitatively the major adducts. In the exposed workers (n = 33) all correlations between 4ABP, Bz and AcBz were r = 0.89 (P < 0.01) or greater. The group of workers exposed to Bz (Bz workers, n = 15) had 10-17-fold higher adduct levels than the workers exposed to dyes (dye workers, n = 18). 4ABP can be metabolically released from Bz and azo dyes. Aniline can be metabolically released from azo dyes. Therefore, the presence of 4ABP and aniline as Hb adducts is a consequence of exposure to the parent compounds or to the exposure of Bz and azo dyes and a consequent metabolical release of the arylamine moiety. The mean adduct ratios of 4ABP/(AcBz + Bz) varied up to 4-fold across all seven factories. Therefore, it is possible that 4ABP may have derived from general contamination in the work environment or endogenous metabolism, or a combination of the two. Since 4ABP is also a known human carcinogen, tumors observed in workers exposed to Bz or Bz dyes might be caused by both compounds. Further, these results suggest that understanding the role that genetic variants in NAT1 and NAT2 play in modifying the impact of Bz on bladder cancer risk may be complicated, as N-acetylation detoxifies 4ABP and activates Bz.

Synthesis and SAR of highly potent and selective dopamine D3-receptor antagonists: variations on the 1H-pyrimidin-2-one theme.

In our efforts to further pursue one of the most selective dopamine D(3)-receptor antagonists reported to date, we now describe the synthesis and SAR of novel and highly selective dopamine D(3) antagonists based on a 1H-pyridin-2-one or on a urea scaffold. The most potent compounds exhibited K(i) values toward the D(3) receptor in the nano- to subnanomolar range and high selectivity versus the related D(2) dopamine receptor. Thus, 1H-pyridin-2-one 7b displays oral bioavailability (F=37%) as well as brain penetration (brain plasma ratio 3.7) in rat. Within the urea series, an excellent D(3) versus D(2) selectivity (>100-fold) could be achieved by removal of one NH group (compound 6), although bioavailability (rat) was suboptimal (F<10%). These data significantly enhance our understanding of the D(3) pharmacophore and are expected to lead to novel approaches for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Hemoglobin and DNA adducts in rats exposed to 2-nitrotoluene.

2-Nitrotoluene (2NT) is an important commercial chemical intermediate. A recent National Toxicology Programme (NTP)-study demonstrated clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2NT in rats. In the present study male WELS-Fohm rats were dosed chronically with 2NT, 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts and hepatic DNA adducts were analyzed. After mild base treatment of Hb, 2-methylaniline (2MA) was released and quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. 2'-Deoxyguanosine (dG) and 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) adducts of 2MA were found in hepatic DNA using electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The dG adduct found in vivo did not co-elute with N-(2'-deoxyguanosine-8-yl)-2-methylaniline which is the expected adduct for arylamines. The dG adduct detected in the dosed rats was not present in calf thymus-DNA (ct-DNA) modified in vitro with N-acetoxy-2MA. The dA adduct detected in rats was a very minor product in ct-DNA modified in vitro. The dG and dA adducts found in the 2NT-dosed rats increased with the dose. The same increase was seen for the Hb adduct levels measured in the same animals. The increase of DNA and Hb adduct levels were supralinear. There was a very strong linear relationship between the level of dG-2MA adducts and dA-2MA adducts in hepatic DNA from rats administered 2NT over the whole dose range studied (r(2) = 0.9). A strong linear relationship also existed between the level of dG-2MA or dA-2MA adducts, in hepatic DNA, and Hb adducts, over the whole dose range (r(2) > or = 0.9). Thus, there was strong evidence to support the notion that Hb adducts were an effective surrogate marker for the hepatic DNA damage of rats chronically administered 2NT.