Positioning of an unprecedented 1,5-oxaza spiroquinone scaffold into SMYD2 inhibitors in epigenetic space.

Lysine methyltransferases are important regulators of epigenetic signaling and are emerging as a novel drug target for drug discovery. This work demonstrates the positioning of novel 1,5-oxaza spiroquinone scaffold into selective SET and MYND domain-containing proteins 2 methyltransferases inhibitors. Selectivity of the scaffold was identified by epigenetic target screening followed by SAR study for the scaffold. The optimization was performed iteratively by two-step optimization consisting of iterative synthesis and computational studies (docking, metadynamics simulations). Computational binding studies guided the important interactions of the spiro[5.5]undeca scaffold in pocket 1 and Lysine channel and suggested extension of tail length for the improvement of potency (IC50: up to 399 nM). The effective performance of cell proliferation assay for chosen compounds (IC50: up to 11.9 nM) led to further evaluation in xenograft assay. The potent compound 24 demonstrated desirable in vivo efficacy with growth inhibition rate of 77.7% (4 fold decrease of tumor weight and 3 fold decrease of tumor volume). Moreover, mirosomal assay and pharmacokinetic profile suggested further developability of this scaffold through the identification of major metabolites (dealkylation at silyl group, reversible hydration product, the absence of toxic quinone fragments) and enough exposure of the testing compound 24 in plasma. Such spiro[5.5]undeca framework or ring system was neither been reported nor suggested as a modulator of methyltransferases. The chemo-centric target positioning and structural novelty can lead to potential pharmacological benefit.

Post-stroke transplantation of adult subventricular zone derived neural progenitor cells--A comprehensive analysis of cell delivery routes and their underlying mechanisms.

With neuroprotective approaches having failed until recently, current focus on experimental stroke research has switched towards manipulation of post-ischemic neuroregeneration. Transplantation of subventricular zone (SVZ) derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) is a promising strategy for promotion of neurological recovery. Yet, fundamental questions including the optimal cell delivery route still have to be addressed. Consequently, male C57BL6 mice were exposed to transient focal cerebral ischemia and allowed to survive for as long as 84 days post-stroke. At 6h post-stroke, NPCs were grafted using six different cell delivery routes, i.e., intravenous, intraarterial, ipsilateral intrastriatal, contralateral intrastriatal, ipsilateral intraventricular and ipsilateral intracortical injection. Control mice received PBS only using the aforementioned delivery routes. Intralesional numbers of GFP(+) NPCs were high only after ipsilateral intrastriatal transplantation, whereas other injection paradigms only yielded comparatively small numbers of grafted cells. However, acute neuroprotection and improved functional outcome were observed after both systemic (i.e., intraarterial and intravenous) and ipsilateral intrastriatal transplantation only. Whereas systemic cell delivery induced acute and long-term neuroprotection, reduction of brain injury after ipsilateral intrastriatal cell grafting was only temporary, in line with the loss of transplanted NPCs in the brain. Both systemic and ipsilateral intrastriatal NPC delivery reduced microglial activation and leukocyte invasion, thus reducing free radical formation within the ischemic brain. On the contrary, only systemic NPC administration stabilized the blood-brain-barrier and reduced leukocytosis in the blood. Although intraarterial NPC transplantation was as effective as intravenous cell grafting, mortality of stroke mice was high using the intraarterial delivery route. Consequently, intravenous delivery of native NPCs in our experimental model is an attractive and effective strategy for stroke therapy that deserves further proof-of-concept studies.

Generation of pharmacophore and atom based 3D-QSAR model of novel isoquinolin-1-one and quinazolin-4-one-type inhibitors of TNFα.

In the present report, 3D-QSAR analysis was executed on the previously synthesized and evaluated derivatives of isoquinolin-1-ones and quinazolin-4-ones; potent inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Statistically significant 3D-QSAR models were generated using 42 molecules in the training set. The predictive ability of models was determined using a randomly chosen test set of 16 molecules, which gave excellent predictive correlation coefficients for 3-D models, suggesting good predictive index. Pharmacophore prediction generated a five point pharmacophore (AAHRR): two hydrogen bond acceptor (A), one hydrophobic (H) and two ring (RR) features. This pharmacophore hypothesis furnished a statistically meaningful 3D-QSAR model with partial least-square (PLS) factors seven having R2=0.9965, Q2=0.6185, Root Mean Squared Error=0.4284 and Pearson-R=0.853. Docking study revealed the important amino acid residues (His 15, Tyr 59, Tyr 151, Gly 121 and Gly 122) in the active site of TNFα that are involved in binding of the active ligand. Orientation of the pharmacophore hypothesis AAHRR.25 corresponded very closely with the binding mode recorded in the active site of ligand bound complex. The results of ligand based pharmacophore hypothesis and atom based 3D-QSAR furnished crucial structural insights and also highlighted the important binding features of isoquinolin-1-ones and quinazolin-4-ones derivatives, which may provide guidance for the rational design of novel and more potent TNFα inhibitors.