Open innovation for phenotypic drug discovery: The PD2 assay panel.

Phenotypic lead generation strategies seek to identify compounds that modulate complex, physiologically relevant systems, an approach that is complementary to traditional, target-directed strategies. Unlike gene-specific assays, phenotypic assays interrogate multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways in a target "agnostic" fashion, which may reveal novel functions for well-studied proteins and discover new pathways of therapeutic value. Significantly, existing compound libraries may not have sufficient chemical diversity to fully leverage a phenotypic strategy. To address this issue, Eli Lilly and Company launched the Phenotypic Drug Discovery Initiative (PD(2)), a model of open innovation whereby external research groups can submit compounds for testing in a panel of Lilly phenotypic assays. This communication describes the statistical validation, operations, and initial screening results from the first PD(2) assay panel. Analysis of PD(2) submissions indicates that chemical diversity from open source collaborations complements internal sources. Screening results for the first 4691 compounds submitted to PD(2) have confirmed hit rates from 1.6% to 10%, with the majority of active compounds exhibiting acceptable potency and selectivity. Phenotypic lead generation strategies, in conjunction with novel chemical diversity obtained via open-source initiatives such as PD(2), may provide a means to identify compounds that modulate biology by novel mechanisms and expand the innovation potential of drug discovery.

Novel 3-aryl indoles as progesterone receptor antagonists for uterine fibroids.

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel 3-aryl indoles as potent and efficacious progesterone receptor (PR) antagonists with potential for the treatment of uterine fibroids. These compounds demonstrated excellent selectivity over other steroid nuclear hormone receptors such as the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). They were prepared from 2-bromo-6-nitro indole in four to six steps using a Suzuki cross-coupling as the key step. Compound 8f was orally active in the complement 3 model of progesterone antagonism in the rat uterus and demonstrated partial antagonism in the McPhail model of progesterone activity.

Suramin interacts with RANK and inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation.

Suramin is a naphthalene trisulfonic acid derivative that inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro and in vivo; however, the mechanisms underlying this activity have not been studied. Receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK) ligand (RANKL) is a key regulator of osteoclast differentiation and function and this study evaluated the ability of suramin, which has been shown to disrupt protein-protein interactions, to interfere with RANKL functional activity and binding to RANK. Suramin inhibited osteoclastic bone resorption in a calvarial model and inhibited osteoclast differentiation in RANKL-stimulated murine spleen cells and RAW264.7 cells. RANKL-induced second messenger signaling (AKT and p38 MAP Kinase phosphorylation) was completely blocked by 100 microM suramin. The ability of RANKL to bind to recombinant human RANK-Fc (rhRANK-Fc) was reduced 50% by suramin in an in vitro binding assay. Surface plasmon resonance technology and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to evaluate the ability of suramin to bind to rhRANK-Fc. Suramin was found to selectively interact with immobilized rhRANK-Fc chimera in a concentration-dependent manner by Biacore 3000 analysis. Similar results were obtained using saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that suramin binds to rhRANK-Fc, but not IgG1Fc or sRANKL. In summary, these findings demonstrate that suramin inhibits sRANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and suggest that these effects are mediated by suramin binding to RANK and blocking the ability of sRANKL to induce second messenger signaling.

The hypolipidemic natural product guggulsterone is a promiscuous steroid receptor ligand.

Guggulsterone (GS) is the active substance in guggulipid, an extract of the guggul tree, Commiphora mukul, used to treat a variety of disorders in humans, including dyslipidemia, obesity, and inflammation. The activity of GS has been suggested to be mediated by antagonism of the receptor for bile acids, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Here, we demonstrate that both stereoisomers of the plant sterol, (E)- and (Z)-GS, bind to the steroid receptors at a much higher affinity than to FXR. Both stereoisomers bind to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) with a Ki value of approximately 35 nM, which is greater than 100 times more potent than their affinity for FXR. Both (E)- and (Z)-GS also displayed high affinity for other steroid receptors, including the androgen (AR), glucocorticoid (GR), and progesterone receptors (PR) with Ki values ranging from 224 to 315 nM. In cell-based functional cotransfection assays, GSs behaved as antagonists of AR, GR, and MR, but as agonists of PR. Agonist activity was also demonstrated with estrogen receptor (ER) alpha; however, the potency was very low (EC50 > 5000 nM). In addition, GS displayed activity in functional assays in cell lines expressing endogenous AR, GR, ER, and PR. These data suggest that the variety of pharmacological effects exhibited by GS may be mediated by targeting several steroid receptors.

Roles of stromal cell RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF expression in biphasic TGF-beta regulation of osteoclast differentiation.

To better understand the complex roles of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in bone metabolism, we examined the impact of a range of TGF-beta concentrations on osteoclast differentiation. In co-cultures of support cells and spleen or marrow osteoclast precursors, low TGF-beta concentrations stimulated while high concentrations inhibited differentiation. We investigated the influences of TGF-beta on macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression and found a dose dependent inhibition of M-CSF expression. RANKL expression was elevated at low TGF-beta concentrations with a less dramatic increase in OPG. Addition of OPG blocked differentiation at the stimulatory TGF-beta dose. Thus, low TGF-beta concentrations elevated the RANKL/OPG ratio while high concentrations did not, supporting that, at low TGF-beta concentrations, there is sufficient M-CSF and a high RANKL/OPG ratio to stimulate differentiation. At high TGF-beta concentrations, the RANKL/OPG ratio and M-CSF expression were both repressed and there was no differentiation. We examined whether TGF-beta-mediated repression of osteoclasts differentiation is due to these changes by adding M-CSF and/or RANKL and did not observe any impact on differentiation repression. We studied direct TGF-beta impacts on osteoclast precursors by culturing spleen or marrow cells with M-CSF and RANKL. TGF-beta treatment dose-dependently stimulated osteoclast differentiation. These data indicate that low TGF-beta levels stimulate osteoclast differentiation by impacting the RANKL/OPG ratio while high TGF-beta levels repress osteoclast differentiation by multiple avenues including mechanisms independent of the RANKL/OPG ratio or M-CSF expression regulation.

Novel and selective small molecule stimulators of osteoprotegerin expression inhibit bone resorption.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Because OPG functions physiologically as a locally generated (paracrine) factor, we used high-throughput screening to identify small molecules that enhance the activity of the promoter of the human OPG gene. We found three structurally unrelated compounds that selectively increased OPG gene transcription, OPG mRNA levels, and OPG protein production and release by osteoblastic cells. Structural analysis of one compound, a benzamide derivative, led to the identification of four related molecules, which are also OPG inducers. The most potent of these compounds, Cmpd 5 inhibited osteoclast formation and parathyroid hormone-induced calvarial bone resorption. In vivo, Cmpd 5 completely blocked resorptive activity (serum calcium, osteoclast number) in parathyroid hormone-treated rats. Furthermore, Cmpd 5 reduced the ability of a rat breast cancer to metastasize to bone. Finally, the compound also prevented bone loss in a rat adjuvant arthritis model. These results provide proof of the concept that low molecular weight compounds can enhance OPG production in ways that can result in effective therapies.

Properties of bisphosphonates in the 13762 rat mammary carcinoma model of tumor-induced bone resorption.

Bone metastasis from primary tumors is a clinically important complication of neoplastic progression. The role of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in this process has been clearly established. The current study describes an in vivo model of 13762 rat mammary carcinoma tumor cell-induced osteolysis in which PTHrP and TGF-beta1 expression is observed. Exposure of in vitro-cultured 13762 cells to doxorubicin, cis-platinum, carboplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, alendronate, risedronate, or pamidronate for 72 h resulted in varying effects on cell proliferation (IC(50) values of 0.005, 0.4, 1.9, >40, 17.9, 0.003, >40, >40, and 33.6 micro M, respectively). Tumor cells were implanted into the intramedullary space of the proximal tibia of rats, and the time course of tumor progression was evaluated using radiographic and microcomputed tomography scanning techniques. Trabecular bone mineral density, cortical bone mineral density, and whole bone mineral density were measured (in mg/cm(3)). In untreated animals, radiographic evidence of osteolysis was evident 7 days after implantation. Trabecular bone mineral density and whole bone mineral density were significantly decreased by 21 days after implantation (48% and 26%, respectively). Bisphosphonates showed broad protective activity against tumor-driven osteolysis, Immunohistochemical evaluation of s.c. and intratibially implanted cells demonstrated the expression of PTHrP and TGF-beta1. The results of this study demonstrate the ability of 13762 rat mammary carcinoma cells to elicit a measurable osteolysis and that bisphosphonates inhibit the tumor-induced bone resorption in this model.