Probing Dual Covalent Irreversible Inhibition of EGFR/FGFR4 by Electrophilic-Based Natural Compounds to Overcome Resistance and Enhance Combination Therapeutic Potentials and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancer types in the world and accounts for the majority of cases of primary liver cancer. A crucial part of the carcinogenesis of HCC involves aberrant stimulation of the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. Therefore, FGFR4 inhibition has become a strategic therapeutic approach for the treatment of HCC. However, the clinical treatment procedure is significantly hampered by the prevalence of kinase inhibitors resistance. It was recently established that the activation of EGFR signaling was found to be one of the primary mechanisms mediating the acquired resistance to FGFR4 inhibitors, moreover, sensitivity to FGFR4 inhibitors was effectively restored by inhibiting EGFR. These results provide compelling evidence that dual inhibition of EGFR and FGFR4 could represent a viable therapeutic approach to overcome resistance, hence enhanced management of HCC. To this end, we proposed a dual irreversible inhibition strategy through covalent binding by naturally occurring electrophilic warhead-bearing compounds (curcumin, deoxyelephantopin, eupalmerin acetate, syringolin A and andrographolide) to covalently target both EGFR and FGFR4 through cysteine residues, Cys797 and Cys552, respectively. Covalent docking and covalent molecular dynamics (MM/MDcov) simulations combined with thermodynamic binding free energy calculations were performed, and the results were compared against known potent and selective covalent EGFR and FGFR4 inhibitors with available X-ray crystal structures, Afatinib and BLU9931, respectively. Curcumin, deoxyelephantopin, eupalmerin acetate, syringolin A, and andrographolide showed relative binding free energies of -22.85, -17.14, -12.98, -21.81, and - 19.00 kcal/mol against EGFR and - 41.06, -29.45, -24.76, -40.11, and - 37.55 kcal/mol against FGFR4, respectively. The mechanisms of binding were emphasized by hydrogen bonding and binding forces analysis as well as active site physicochemical profiling. The findings of this study identified that curcumin, syringolin A and andrographolide-but not eupalmerin acetate or deoxyelephantopin -could be viable dual EGFR and FGFR4 covalent irreversible inhibitors and could be implemented in HCC combination therapy protocols alone or in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic agents. Investigations of this study conclusively indicate dual blockade of EGFR and FGFR4 may be a promising future therapeutic strategy for enhanced management of HCC.

Targeting Nonconserved and Pathogenic Cysteines of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases with Small Molecules.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are important therapeutic targets for a range of human pathologies. However, the common architecture of PTP active sites impedes the discovery of selective PTP inhibitors. Our laboratory has recently developed methods to inhibit PTPs allosterically by targeting cysteine residues that either (i) are not conserved in the PTP family or (ii) result from pathogenic mutations. Here, we describe screening protocols for the identification of selective inhibitors that covalently engage such "rare" cysteines in target PTPs. Moreover, to elucidate the breadth of possible applications of our cysteine-directed screening protocols, we provide a brief overview of the nonconserved cysteines present in all human classical PTP domains.

Effectiveness of the aromatase (P450 Arom) inhibitors Letrozole and Exemestane for masculinization of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) / Efectividad de los inhibidores de la aromatasa (aromP450) Letrozol y Exemestano para la masculinización de tilapia roja (Oreochromis spp.) / Efetividade dos inibidores da aromatase (aromP450) Letrozol e Exemestano para a masculinização da tilápia vermelha (Oreochromis spp)

Background: cytochrome P450 aromatase enzyme (aromP450) is a key enzyme in the conversion of androgens into estrogens, a crucial step in the control of sexual differentiation in fish. Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two aromatase inhibitors (AIs) as an alternative method for the masculinization of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). Methods: Letrozole (LT) and Exemestane (EM) aromatase inhibitors were used at two experimental doses (25 and 100 mg/Kg). Five days post-hatching larvae (5 dph) were fed the inhibitors for 30 days (35 dph). The control treatments consisted of 17α metil testosterone (MT) at a concentration of 60 mg/ Kg (positive control) and food with 300 ml/Kg ethanol (negative control). On 60 dph, gonadal extraction of fishes was performed for histological processing and staining with hematoxylin-eosin for analysis. Results: there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between any compound and implemented doses with the controls in terms of larval survival. Percentage of male fish increased for LT, EM, and MT (positive control), which showed significant differences (p<0.05) with the negative control. The dose analysis showed significant differences (p<0.05) for 100 mg/Kg dose and positive control with 25 mg/Kg dose and negative control; there were also differences between 25 mg/Kg dose and negative control. Conclusions: our results suggest that oral administration of third generation AIs (Type I or Type II) is effective for increasing the proportion of males without differences between inhibitor types. There is also a direct effect of the dose on male proportion. Suppression of aromatase activity allows guiding sexual differentiation towards final testicular development.

Antecedentes: la citocromo P450 aromatasa (aromP450) es una enzima clave en la conversión de andrógenos a estrógenos; un paso crucial en el control de la diferenciación sexual en peces. Objetivo: evaluar la eficiencia de dos inhibidores de la aromatasa (IAs) como método alternativo para la masculinización de tilapia roja (Oreochromis spp.). Métodos: se evaluaron los inhibidores de la aromatasa, letrozol (LT) y exemestano (EM), a dos dosis experimentales de 25 y 100 mg/Kg. Larvas de 5 días post eclosión (dpe) fueron alimentadas durante 30 días (35 dpe) con los tratamientos. Como testigos se implementaron 17α metil testosterona (MT) a una concentración de 60 mg/Kg (control positivo), y alimento con etanol 300 ml/Kg (control negativo). El día 60 dpe se realizó extracción gonadal de los peces para procesamiento histológico y tinción con hematoxilina-eosina para su análisis. Resultados: no hubo diferencias significativas (p>0,05) entre ninguno de los tratamientos y los controles para la variable sobrevivencia larvaria. La proporción de machos aumentó con la implementación de LT, EM y MT (control positivo), los cuales presentaron diferencias significativas (p<0,05) con el control negativo. Hubo diferencias significativas (p<0,05) entre la dosis de 100 mg/Kg y el control positivo con la dosis de 25 mg/Kg y el control negativo; también se presentaron diferencias entre las dosis de 25 mg/kg y el control negativo. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados sugieren que el suministro vía oral de IAs de tercera generación, tipo I o tipo II, es eficiente en aumentar la proporción de machos en los grupos tratados, sin diferencias entre el tipo de inhibidor, pero con un efecto directo de la dosis sobre la proporción de machos. La supresión de la actividad de la aromatasa, permitió orientar la diferenciación sexual hacia el desarrollo testicular.

Antecedentes: a enzima aromatase citocromo P450 (aromP450) é uma enzima chave na conversão de andrógenos em estrógenos, um passo fundamental no controle da diferenciação sexual em peixes. Objetivo: avaliar a eficiência de dois inibidores da aromatase (AIs), como um método alternativo para a masculinização da tilápia vermelha (Oreochromis spp.). Métodos: avaliaram-se os inibidores da aromatase, letrozol (LT) e exemestano (EM), em duas doses experimentais de 25 e 100 mg/Kg. Larvas 5 dias pós-eclosão (dpe) foram alimentadas durante 30 dias (35 dpe) com os tratamentos. Como testemunho, controle positivo, se implementaram 17α metil testosterona (MT) a uma concentração de 60 mg/Kg e como controle negativo alimento com etanol 300 ml/Kg. No dia 60 dpe extraíram-se as gônadas dos peixes para processamento histológico e coloração com hematoxilina-eosina para sua analise. Resultados: não houve diferenças significativas (p>0,05) entre os tratamentos e os controles para a variável sobrevivência larvária. A percentagem de machos foi aumentada com a utilização de LT, EM e MT (controle positivo), com diferenças significativas (p<0,05) comparados com o controle negativo. A análise da dose mostrou diferenças significativas (p<0,05) entre a dose de 100 mg/Kg e o controle positivo com a dose de 25 mg/Kg e o controle negativo; também apresentaram diferenças entre a dose de 25 mg/kg e o controle negativo. Conclusões: nossos resultados sugerem que o fornecimento oral de IAs de terça geração, tipo I ou II, são eficientes para aumentar a proporção de machos nos grupos tratados, sem diferenças entre o tipo de inibidor, porem com efeito direto da dose sobre a proporção de machos. A supressão da atividade da aromatase permitiu orientar a diferenciação sexual até um desenvolvimento testicular final.