TXB-001, a newly-developed polymer-conjugated anthracycline: Significantly lower adverse effects in animal models of alopecia and hand-foot syndrome.

Anthracycline anti-cancer drugs have been widely used in the treatment of several cancers; however, their use is limited by adverse effects (AEs). Alopecia is a common AE that is minimally invasive, but adversely affects mental health and reduces quality of life (QoL). Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a dose-limiting AE of DOXIL, a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin (DOX). Although it is not a life-threatening condition, HFS affects function and reduces QoL. TXB-001 is a new candidate polymer-conjugated anthracycline anti-cancer drug, and modified and optimized polymerized pirarubicin (THP), known as P-THP, is expected to have low toxicity and high efficacy. The anti-cancer effects of TXB-001 were examined using the 4T1 mouse model. An alopecia mouse model and HFS rat model were used to evaluate the alopecia- and HFS-inducing effects of TXB-001 and compare their severity with existing anthracycline anti-cancer drugs. A pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma as well as chest, palmar, and plantar skin samples after the single intravenous administration of DOXIL and TXB-001 to rats was also performed. The results obtained revealed that TXB-001 exerted similar anti-cancer effects to those of DOXIL in mice, weaker alopecia-inducing effects than DOX, DOXIL, and THP in mice, and no or markedly weaker HFS-like changes than DOXIL, which induced significant histopathological changes. The results of the pharmacokinetic analysis showed the accumulation of DOXIL, but not TXB-001, in skin, particularly palmar and plantar skin samples, and these differences were considered to contribute to their HFS-inducing effects.

Development of a Novel Site-Specific Pegylated Interferon Beta for Antiviral Therapy of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus.

Although nucleot(s)ide analogues and pegylated interferon alpha 2a (PEG-IFN-α2a) can suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, it is difficult to achieve complete HBV elimination from hepatocytes. A novel site-specific pegylated recombinant human IFN-ß (TRK-560) was recently developed. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral effects of TRK-560 on HBV replication in vitro and in vivo. In vitro and in vivo HBV replication models were treated with antivirals including TRK-560, and changes in HBV markers were evaluated. To analyze antiviral mechanisms, cDNA microarray analysis and an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) were performed. TRK-560 significantly suppressed the production of intracellular HBV replication intermediates and extracellular HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and the antiviral effects of TRK-560 were enhanced in combination with nucleot(s)ide analogues, such as entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The reduction in HBV DNA levels by TRK-560 treatment was significantly higher than that by PEG-IFN-α2a treatment both in vitro and in vivo (P = 0.004 and P = 0.046, respectively), and intracellular HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) reduction by TRK-560 treatment was also significantly higher than that by PEG-IFN-α2a treatment in vivo (P = 0.0495). cDNA microarrays and ELISA for CXCL10 production revealed significant differences between TRK-560 and PEG-IFN-α2a in the induction potency of interferon-stimulated genes. TRK-560 shows a stronger antiviral potency via higher induction of interferon-stimulated genes and stronger stimulation of immune cell chemotaxis than PEG-IFN-α2a. As HBsAg loss and HBV cccDNA eradication are important clinical goals, these results suggest a potential role for TRK-560 in the development of more effective treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection.

Discovery of Peripheral κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists as Novel Analgesics.

κ-Opioid receptor agonists with high selectivity over the µ-opioid receptor and peripheral selectivity are attractive targets in the development of drugs for pain. We have previously attempted to create novel analgesics with peripheral selective κ-opioid receptor agonist on the basis of TRK-820. In this study, we elucidated the biological properties of 17-hydroxy-cyclopropylmethyl and 10α-hydroxy derivatives. These compounds were found to have better κ-opioid receptor selectivity and peripheral selectivity than TRK-820.

Nrf2 activators attenuate the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related fibrosis in a dietary rat model.

Oxidative stress is considered to be a key mechanism of hepatocellular injury and disease progression in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2) plays a central role in stimulating expression of various antioxidant-associated genes in the cellular defense against oxidative stress. As the cytosolic repressor kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) negatively regulates Nrf2, activation of Nrf2 facilitated by its release from Keap1 may represent a promising strategy in the treatment of NASH. To test this hypothesis, we used two chemically distinct types of Nrf2 activator. One is the thiol-reactive agent oltipraz (OPZ), a typical Nrf2 activator, and the other is a novel biaryl urea compound, termed NK-252 (1-(5-(furan-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-3-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)urea). NK-252 exhibits a greater Nrf2-activating potential than OPZ. Furthermore, in vitro binding studies revealed that NK-252 interacts with the domain containing the Nrf2-binding site of Keap1, whereas OPZ does not. This finding indicates that NK-252 is more potent than OPZ due to its unique mechanism of action. For in vivo animal model studies, we used rats on a choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, which demonstrate pathologic findings similar to those seen in human NASH. The administration of OPZ or NK-252 significantly attenuated the progression of histologic abnormalities in rats on a CDAA diet, especially hepatic fibrosis. In conclusion, by using Nrf2 activators with independent mechanisms of action, we show that, in a rat model of NASH, the activation of Nrf2 is responsible for the antifibrotic effects of these drugs. This strategy of Nrf2 activation presents new opportunities for treatment of NASH patients with hepatic fibrosis.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 is crucial for oxidative stress-induced but not for osmotic stress-induced hepatocyte cell death.

AIMS: In this study, we investigated the involvement of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in oxidative stress and osmotic stress-induced hepatocyte death. MAIN METHODS: Activation of ASK1-JNK/p38 cascade and resulting cell death induced by oxidative and osmotic stress was investigated by Western immunoblot analysis and cell toxicity assay using human hepatoma cell lines, Huh7 expressing high level of ASK1 and HepG2 cells expressing low level of ASK1. Gene knock-down of ASK1 using shRNA against ASK1 was conducted using mouse hepatocyte cell line, AML12. KEY FINDINGS: Activation of ASK1-JNK/p38 cascade and cell death in Huh7 expressing high level of ASK1 was markedly induced by the oxidative stress. HepG2 expressing low level of ASK1 was resistant to oxidative stress while cell death induced by osmotic stress was comparable between Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Although the phosphorylation of ASK1 was not observed by osmotic stress, the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK and resulting cell death was induced in both cell lines. The phosphorylation of ASK1 and p38/JNK in the mouse primary hepatocyte were also increased by oxidative stress. Knock-down of ASK1 mRNA in AML12 in vitro significantly reduced oxidative stress-induced cell death, however, knock-down of ASK1 in cells did not affect the osmotic stress-induced cell death. SIGNIFICANCE: This study revealed that ASK1 regulates oxidative stress- but not osmotic stress-induced hepatocyte death, suggesting ASK1 plays a critical role in oxidative-stress induced hepatocyte death. These results raise the possibility that an ASK1 may be a promising therapeutic target for liver diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Multiple binding modes of a small molecule to human Keap1 revealed by X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulation.

Keap1 protein acts as a cellular sensor for oxidative stresses and regulates the transcription level of antioxidant genes through the ubiquitination of a corresponding transcription factor, Nrf2. A small molecule capable of binding to the Nrf2 interaction site of Keap1 could be a useful medicine. Here, we report two crystal structures, referred to as the soaking and the cocrystallization forms, of the Kelch domain of Keap1 with a small molecule, Ligand1. In these two forms, the Ligand1 molecule occupied the binding site of Keap1 so as to mimic the ETGE motif of Nrf2, although the mode of binding differed in the two forms. Because the Ligand1 molecule mediated the crystal packing in both the forms, the influence of crystal packing on the ligand binding was examined using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in aqueous conditions. In the MD structures from the soaking form, the ligand remained bound to Keap1 for over 20 ns, whereas the ligand tended to dissociate in the cocrystallization form. The MD structures could be classified into a few clusters that were related to but distinct from the crystal structures, indicating that the binding modes observed in crystals might be atypical of those in solution. However, the dominant ligand recognition residues in the crystal structures were commonly used in the MD structures to anchor the ligand. Therefore, the present structural information together with the MD simulation will be a useful basis for pharmaceutical drug development.

Interferon-ß Mediates Signaling Pathways Uniquely Regulated in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Attenuates the Progression of Hepatic Fibrosis in a Dietary Mouse Model.

The results of clinical and experimental studies suggest that type I interferons (IFNs) may have direct antifibrotic activity in addition to their antiviral properties. However, the mechanisms are still unclear; in particular, little is known about the antifibrotic activity of IFN-ß and how its activity is distinct from that of IFN-α. Using DNA microarrays, we demonstrated that gene expression in TWNT-4 cells, an activated human hepatic stellate cell line, was remarkably altered by IFN-ß more than by IFN-α. Integrated pathway enrichment analyses revealed that a variety of IFN-ß-mediated signaling pathways are uniquely regulated in TWNT-4 cells, including those related to cell cycle and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. To investigate the antifibrotic activity of IFN-ß and the involvement of TLR4 signaling in vivo, we used mice fed a choline-deficient l-amino acid-defined diet as a model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatic fibrosis. In this model, the administration of IFN-ß significantly attenuated augmentation of the area of liver fibrosis, with accompanying transcriptional downregulation of the TLR4 adaptor molecule MyD88. Our results provide important clues for understanding the mechanisms of the preferential antifibrotic activity of IFN-ß and suggest that IFN-ß itself, as well as being a modulator of its unique signaling pathway, may be a potential treatment for patients with hepatic fibrosis in a pathogenesis-independent manner.

Orally-administered caspase inhibitor PF-03491390 is retained in the liver for prolonged periods with low systemic exposure, exerting a hepatoprotective effect against alpha-fas-induced liver injury in a mouse model.

In a mouse model of alpha-Fas-induced acute liver injury, the orally-administered caspase inhibitor PF-03491390 (formerly named IDN-6556) was retained in the liver for prolonged periods with a low systemic exposure. Reductions in the elevated plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) revealed that the retention of PF-03491390 in the liver exerted a hepatoprotective effect, even when pre-administered to mice 4 h before alpha-Fas insult. Prolonged retention of PF-03491390 in the liver after oral administration has the benefit of low systemic exposure, making this a beneficial agent for the treatment of liver diseases.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 2 functions as a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase in a heteromeric complex with ASK1.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 1 is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways that play multiple important roles in cytokine and stress responses. Here we show that ASK2, a highly related serine/threonine kinase to ASK1, also functions as a MAP3K only in a heteromeric complex with ASK1. We found that endogenous ASK2 was constitutively degraded in ASK1-deficient cells, suggesting that ASK1 is required for the stability of ASK2. ASK2 in a heteromeric complex with a kinase-negative mutant of ASK1 (ASK1-KN) effectively activated MAP2K and was more competent to respond to oxidative stress than ASK2 alone. Knockdown of ASK2 revealed that ASK2 was required for oxidative stress-induced JNK activation. These results suggest that ASK2 forms a functional MAP3K complex with ASK1, in which ASK1 supports the stability and the active configuration of ASK2. Moreover, ASK2 was found to activate ASK1 by direct phosphorylation, suggesting that ASK1 and ASK2 in a heteromeric complex facilitate their activities to each other by distinct mechanisms. Such a formation of functional heteromeric complex between different MAP3Ks may be advantageous for cells to cope with a wide variety of stimuli by fine regulation of cellular responses.