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1.
Cell ; 184(18): 4651-4668.e25, 2021 09 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34450028

ABSTRACT

GRN mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (GRN-FTD) due to deficiency in progranulin (PGRN), a lysosomal and secreted protein with unclear function. Here, we found that Grn-/- mice exhibit a global deficiency in bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), an endolysosomal phospholipid we identified as a pH-dependent PGRN interactor as well as a redox-sensitive enhancer of lysosomal proteolysis and lipolysis. Grn-/- brains also showed an age-dependent, secondary storage of glucocerebrosidase substrate glucosylsphingosine. We investigated a protein replacement strategy by engineering protein transport vehicle (PTV):PGRN-a recombinant protein linking PGRN to a modified Fc domain that binds human transferrin receptor for enhanced CNS biodistribution. PTV:PGRN rescued various Grn-/- phenotypes in primary murine macrophages and human iPSC-derived microglia, including oxidative stress, lysosomal dysfunction, and endomembrane damage. Peripherally delivered PTV:PGRN corrected levels of BMP, glucosylsphingosine, and disease pathology in Grn-/- CNS, including microgliosis, lipofuscinosis, and neuronal damage. PTV:PGRN thus represents a potential biotherapeutic for GRN-FTD.


Subject(s)
Biological Products/therapeutic use , Brain/metabolism , Lysosomal Storage Diseases/therapy , Progranulins/therapeutic use , Animals , Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/metabolism , Endosomes/metabolism , Female , Frontotemporal Dementia/blood , Frontotemporal Dementia/cerebrospinal fluid , Gliosis/complications , Gliosis/pathology , Humans , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism , Inflammation/pathology , Lipid Metabolism , Lipofuscin/metabolism , Lysosomes/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , Male , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Transgenic , Microglia/metabolism , Nerve Degeneration/pathology , Phenotype , Progranulins/deficiency , Progranulins/metabolism , Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism , Receptors, Transferrin/metabolism , Tissue Distribution
3.
Mov Disord ; 38(3): 386-398, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36807624

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the potent, selective, CNS-penetrant LRRK2 inhibitor BIIB122 (DNL151) in healthy participants and patients with PD. METHODS: Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were completed. The phase 1 study (DNLI-C-0001) evaluated single and multiple doses of BIIB122 for up to 28 days in healthy participants. The phase 1b study (DNLI-C-0003) evaluated BIIB122 for 28 days in patients with mild to moderate PD. The primary objectives were to investigate the safety, tolerability, and plasma pharmacokinetics of BIIB122. Pharmacodynamic outcomes included peripheral and central target inhibition and lysosomal pathway engagement biomarkers. RESULTS: A total of 186/184 healthy participants (146/145 BIIB122, 40/39 placebo) and 36/36 patients (26/26 BIIB122, 10/10 placebo) were randomized/treated in the phase 1 and phase 1b studies, respectively. In both studies, BIIB122 was generally well tolerated; no serious adverse events were reported, and the majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild. BIIB122 cerebrospinal fluid/unbound plasma concentration ratio was ~1 (range, 0.7-1.8). Dose-dependent median reductions from baseline were observed in whole-blood phosphorylated serine 935 LRRK2 (≤98%), peripheral blood mononuclear cell phosphorylated threonine 73 pRab10 (≤93%), cerebrospinal fluid total LRRK2 (≤50%), and urine bis (monoacylglycerol) phosphate (≤74%). CONCLUSIONS: At generally safe and well-tolerated doses, BIIB122 achieved substantial peripheral LRRK2 kinase inhibition and modulation of lysosomal pathways downstream of LRRK2, with evidence of CNS distribution and target inhibition. These studies support continued investigation of LRRK2 inhibition with BIIB122 for the treatment of PD. © 2023 Denali Therapeutics Inc and The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.


Subject(s)
Parkinson Disease , Humans , Parkinson Disease/drug therapy , Parkinson Disease/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Healthy Volunteers , Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2/metabolism , Biomarkers/metabolism , Mutation
4.
J Biol Chem ; 294(30): 11525-11535, 2019 07 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31182482

ABSTRACT

Pro-Pro endopeptidase-1 (PPEP-1) is a secreted metalloprotease from the bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile that cleaves two endogenous adhesion proteins. PPEP-1 is therefore important for bacterial motility and hence for efficient gut colonization during infection. PPEP-1 exhibits a unique specificity for Pro-Pro peptide bonds within the consensus sequence VNP↓PVP. In this study, we combined information from crystal and NMR structures with mutagenesis and enzyme kinetics to investigate the mechanism and substrate specificity of PPEP-1. Our analyses revealed that the substrate-binding cleft of PPEP-1 is shaped complementarily to the major conformation of the substrate in solution. We found that it possesses features that accept a tertiary amide and help discriminate P1' residues by their amide hydrogen bond-donating potential. We also noted that residues Lys-101, Trp-103, and Glu-184 are crucial for proteolytic activity. Upon substrate binding, these residues position a flexible loop over the substrate-binding cleft and modulate the second coordination sphere of the catalytic zinc ion. On the basis of these findings, we propose an induced-fit model in which prestructured substrates are recognized followed by substrate positioning within the active-site cleft and a concomitant increase in the Lewis acidity of the catalytic Zn2+ ion. In conclusion, our findings provide detailed structural and mechanistic insights into the substrate recognition and specificity of PPEP-1 from the common gut pathogen C. difficile.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Clostridioides difficile/enzymology , Endopeptidases/metabolism , Proline/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Endopeptidases/chemistry , Hydrogen Bonding , Kinetics , Protein Conformation , Proteolysis , Substrate Specificity
5.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(15)2020 Jul 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32707880

ABSTRACT

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) and characterized by the accumulation of the primary storage substrate, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Understanding central nervous system (CNS) pathophysiology in neuronopathic MPS II (nMPS II) has been hindered by the lack of CNS biomarkers. Characterization of fluid biomarkers has been largely focused on evaluating GAGs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the periphery; however, GAG levels alone do not accurately reflect the broad cellular dysfunction in the brains of MPS II patients. We utilized a preclinical mouse model of MPS II, treated with a brain penetrant form of IDS (ETV:IDS) to establish the relationship between markers of primary storage and downstream pathway biomarkers in the brain and CSF. We extended the characterization of pathway and neurodegeneration biomarkers to nMPS II patient samples. In addition to the accumulation of CSF GAGs, nMPS II patients show elevated levels of lysosomal lipids, neurofilament light chain, and other biomarkers of neuronal damage and degeneration. Furthermore, we find that these biomarkers of downstream pathology are tightly correlated with heparan sulfate. Exploration of the responsiveness of not only CSF GAGs but also pathway and disease-relevant biomarkers during drug development will be crucial for monitoring disease progression, and the development of effective therapies for nMPS II.


Subject(s)
Brain/metabolism , Glycosaminoglycans/metabolism , Iduronate Sulfatase/metabolism , Lipid Metabolism , Lysosomes/metabolism , Mucopolysaccharidosis II/blood , Mucopolysaccharidosis II/cerebrospinal fluid , Adolescent , Animals , Biomarkers/metabolism , Brain/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatan Sulfate/blood , Dermatan Sulfate/cerebrospinal fluid , Dermatan Sulfate/metabolism , Enzyme Replacement Therapy , Female , Gangliosides/metabolism , Glycosaminoglycans/cerebrospinal fluid , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Heparitin Sulfate/blood , Heparitin Sulfate/cerebrospinal fluid , Heparitin Sulfate/metabolism , Humans , Iduronate Sulfatase/genetics , Iduronate Sulfatase/pharmacology , Infant , Inflammation/metabolism , Lysosomes/pathology , Male , Mass Spectrometry , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Mucopolysaccharidosis II/metabolism , Mucopolysaccharidosis II/therapy , Neurofilament Proteins/metabolism , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
6.
Toxicol Pathol ; 45(2): 353-361, 2017 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27565173

ABSTRACT

Inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated (MAPK/ERK) pathway is an attractive therapeutic approach for human cancer therapy. In the course of evaluating structurally distinct small molecule inhibitors that target mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and ERK kinases in this pathway, we observed an unusual, dose-related increase in the incidence of green serum in preclinical safety studies in rats. Having ruled out changes in bilirubin metabolism, we demonstrated a 2- to 3-fold increase in serum ceruloplasmin levels, likely accounting for the observed green color. This was not associated with an increase in α-2-macroglobulin, the major acute phase protein in rats, indicating that ceruloplasmin levels increased independently of an inflammatory response. Elevated serum ceruloplasmin was also not correlated with changes in total hepatic copper, adverse clinical signs, or pathology findings indicative of copper toxicity, therefore discounting copper overload as the etiology. Both ERK and MEK inhibitors led to increased ceruloplasmin secretion in rat primary hepatocyte cultures in vitro, and this increase was associated with activation of the Forkhead box, class O1 (FOXO1) transcription factor. In conclusion, increased serum ceruloplasmin induced by MEK and ERK inhibition is due to increased synthesis by hepatocytes from FOXO1 activation and results in the nonadverse development of green serum in rats.


Subject(s)
Ceruloplasmin/analysis , Copper/blood , Enzyme Inhibitors/toxicity , MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects , Serum/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/toxicity , Animals , Blood Circulation , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Female , Liver/chemistry , Liver/drug effects , Male , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Structure-Activity Relationship
7.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol ; 87 Suppl 3: S1-S15, 2017 Jul 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28483710

ABSTRACT

The transition from nonclinical to First-in-Human (FIH) testing is one of the most challenging steps in drug development. In response to serious outcomes in a recent Phase 1 trial (sponsored by Bial), IQ Consortium/DruSafe member companies reviewed their nonclinical approach to progress small molecules safely to FIH trials. As a common practice, safety evaluation begins with target selection and continues through iterative in silico and in vitro screening to identify molecules with increased probability of acceptable in vivo safety profiles. High attrition routinely occurs during this phase. In vivo exploratory and pivotal FIH-enabling toxicity studies are then conducted to identify molecules with a favorable benefit-risk profile for humans. The recent serious incident has reemphasized the importance of nonclinical testing plans that are customized to the target, the molecule, and the intended clinical plan. Despite the challenges and inherent risks of transitioning from nonclinical to clinical testing, Phase 1 studies have a remarkably good safety record. Given the rapid scientific evolution of safety evaluation, testing paradigms and regulatory guidance must evolve with emerging science. The authors posit that the practices described herein, together with science-based risk assessment and management, support safe FIH trials while advancing development of important new medicines.


Subject(s)
Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/adverse effects , Humans , Risk Assessment/methods , Safety
8.
Am J Pathol ; 185(3): 717-28, 2015 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25622542

ABSTRACT

Liposarcomas, which are malignant fatty tumors, are the second most common soft-tissue sarcomas. Several histologically defined liposarcoma subtypes exist, yet little is known about the molecular pathology that drives the diversity in these tumors. We used functional genomics to classify a panel of diverse liposarcoma cell lines based on hierarchical clustering of their gene expression profiles, indicating that liposarcoma gene expression profiles and histologic classification are not directly correlated. Boolean probability approaches based on cancer-associated properties identified differential expression in multiple genes, including MYC, as potentially affecting liposarcoma signaling networks and cancer outcome. We confirmed our method with a large panel of lipomatous tumors, revealing that MYC protein expression is correlated with patient survival. These data encourage increased reliance on genomic features in conjunction with histologic features for liposarcoma clinical characterization and lay the groundwork for using Boolean-based probabilities to identify prognostic biomarkers for clinical outcome in tumor patients.


Subject(s)
Liposarcoma/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Genomics , Humans , Liposarcoma/mortality , Liposarcoma/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/mortality , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/pathology , Survival Rate , Transcriptome
9.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol ; 300: 47-54, 2016 06 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27078884

ABSTRACT

Bromo and extra terminal (BET) proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT) are epigenetic transcriptional regulators required for efficient expression of growth promoting, cell cycle progression and antiapoptotic genes. Through their bromodomain, these proteins bind to acetylated lysine residues of histones and are recruited to transcriptionally active chromatin. Inhibition of the BET-histone interaction provides a tractable therapeutic strategy to treat diseases that may have epigenetic dysregulation. JQ1 is a small molecule that blocks BET interaction with histones. It has been shown to decrease proliferation of patient-derived multiple myeloma in vitro and to decrease tumor burden in vivo in xenograft mouse models. While targeting BET appears to be a viable and efficacious approach, the nonclinical safety profile of BET inhibition remains to be well-defined. We report that mice dosed with JQ1 at efficacious exposures demonstrate dose-dependent decreases in their lymphoid and immune cell compartments. At higher doses, JQ1 was not tolerated and due to induction of significant body weight loss led to early euthanasia. Flow cytometry analysis of lymphoid tissues showed a decrease in both B- and T-lymphocytes with a concomitant decrease in peripheral white blood cells that was confirmed by hematology. Further investigation with the inactive enantiomer of JQ1 showed that these in vivo effects were on-target mediated and not elicited through secondary pharmacology due to chemical structure.


Subject(s)
Azepines/pharmacology , Immune System/drug effects , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Triazoles/pharmacology , Animals , Azepines/administration & dosage , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Epigenomics , Immune System/pathology , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Monocytes/drug effects , Organ Size/drug effects , Reticulocytes/drug effects , Triazoles/administration & dosage
10.
Chem Res Toxicol ; 29(4): 452-72, 2016 Apr 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26625186

ABSTRACT

Discovery toxicology focuses on the identification of the most promising drug candidates through the development and implementation of lead optimization strategies and hypothesis-driven investigation of issues that enable rational and informed decision-making. The major goals are to [a] identify and progress the drug candidate with the best overall drug safety profile for a therapeutic area, [b] remove the most toxic drugs from the portfolio prior to entry into humans to reduce clinical attrition due to toxicity, and [c] establish a well-characterized hazard and translational risk profile to enable clinical trial designs. This is accomplished through a framework that balances the multiple considerations to identify a drug candidate with the overall best drug characteristics and provides a cogent understanding of mechanisms of toxicity. The framework components include establishing a target candidate profile for each program that defines the qualities of a successful candidate based on the intended therapeutic area, including the risk tolerance for liabilities; evaluating potential liabilities that may result from engaging the therapeutic target (pharmacology-mediated or on-target) and that are chemical structure-mediated (off-target); and characterizing identified liabilities. Lead optimization and investigation relies upon the integrated use of a variety of technologies and models (in silico, in vitro, and in vivo) that have achieved a sufficient level of qualification or validation to provide confidence in their use. We describe the strategic applications of various nonclinical models (established and new) for a holistic and integrated risk assessment that is used for rational decision-making. While this review focuses on strategies for small molecules, the overall concepts, approaches, and technologies are generally applicable to biotherapeutics.


Subject(s)
Drug Discovery/methods , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Animals , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/diagnosis , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/prevention & control , Humans , Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry , Pharmacology/methods , Risk Assessment/methods , Toxicity Tests/methods
11.
Toxicol Pathol ; 44(4): 555-63, 2016 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26940714

ABSTRACT

In vitro skin model systems are increasingly being used both in the early evaluation of therapeutic drug candidates and in confirmatory mechanistic studies. The most commonly used of these in vitro model systems are reconstituted human epidermis (RHE) models. These RHE models consist solely of epidermal keratinocytes, which comes with some limitations but also with the advantage of focusing toxicologic and pharmacologic evaluation on keratinocytes alone. RHE models can generally be implemented more quickly, easily, and reproducibly than in vivo models and can thus be used for high throughput compound screening while potentially reducing the need for animal studies. Histologic evaluation of RHE sections can be done quite easily, and the sections are very amenable to quantification via image analysis, including automated analysis. RHE model systems can provide very valuable early indications of therapeutic candidate biology, pharmacology, and toxicity; and early results have demonstrated that RHE models have been quite predictive for in vivo pharmacologic and toxicologic effects on the skin, including clinical skin toxicity.


Subject(s)
Epidermis , Keratinocytes , Models, Biological , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Organ Culture Techniques , Skin
12.
Toxicol Pathol ; 44(2): 267-78, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26692561

ABSTRACT

Activated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling is frequently associated with colorectal cancer. Wnt inhibitors, including tankyrase inhibitors, are being explored as potential anticancer agents. Wnt signaling is also critical for intestinal tissue homeostasis, and Wnt inhibitors have been shown to cause intestinal toxicity in mice by affecting intestinal stem cells. This study sought to characterize the intestinal toxicity of tankyrase inhibitors, including reversibility, and to assess their therapeutic index. Novel tankyrase inhibitor G-631 caused dose-dependent intestinal toxicity with a therapeutic index < 1 after 14 days of dosing in mice. At a tolerated subtherapeutic dose level, the intestinal toxicity was composed of enteritis characterized by villus blunting, epithelial degeneration, and inflammation, which fully reversed after 14 days of recovery. Doubled exposure showed weak antitumor activity in a xenograft colorectal cancer model but also caused more severe intestinal toxicity characterized by multifocal-regionally extensive necrotizing and ulcerative enteritis leading to morbidity or moribundity in some animals. This toxicity was only partially reversed after 14 days of recovery, with evidence of crypt and villus regeneration, mildly blunted villi, and/or scarring in association with chronic inflammation of the submucosa. Therefore, the clinical utility of tankyrase inhibitors is likely limited by the on-target intestinal toxicity and a therapeutic index < 1 in mice.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/toxicity , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Enzyme Inhibitors/toxicity , Intestines/drug effects , Tankyrases/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism , Intestines/pathology , Mice , Mice, Nude , Toxicity Tests , Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects
13.
Chemistry ; 21(29): 10513-21, 2015 Jul 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26096911

ABSTRACT

Sugar function, structure and dynamics are intricately correlated. Ring flexibility is intrinsically related to biological activity; actually plasticity in L-iduronic rings modulates their interactions with biological receptors. However, the access to the experimental values of the energy barriers and free-energy difference for conformer interconversion in water solution has been elusive. Here, a new generation of fluorine-containing glycomimetics is presented. We have applied a combination of organic synthesis, NMR spectroscopy and computational methods to investigate the conformational behaviour of idose- and glucose-like rings. We have used low-temperature NMR spectroscopic experiments to slow down the conformational exchange of the idose-like rings. Under these conditions, the exchange rate becomes slow in the (19) F NMR spectroscopic chemical shift timescale and allows shedding light on the thermodynamic and kinetic features of the equilibrium. Despite the minimal structural differences between these compounds, a remarkable difference in their dynamic behaviour indeed occurs. The importance of introducing fluorine atoms in these sugars mimics is also highlighted. Only the use of (19) F NMR spectroscopic experiments has permitted the unveiling of key features of the conformational equilibrium that would have otherwise remained unobserved.


Subject(s)
Biological Factors/chemistry , Fluorine/chemistry , Hexoses/chemistry , Hexoses/metabolism , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Models, Molecular , Molecular Conformation , Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular , Thermodynamics
14.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 109(51): 21052-7, 2012 Dec 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23213216

ABSTRACT

Hypersecretion of cytokines by innate immune cells is thought to initiate multiple organ failure in murine models of sepsis. Whether human cytokine storm also plays a similar role is not clear. Here, we show that human hematopoietic cells are required to induce sepsis-induced mortality following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the severely immunodeficient nonobese diabetic (NOD)/SCID/IL2Rγ(-/-) mice, and siRNA treatment to inhibit HMGB1 release by human macrophages and dendritic cells dramatically reduces sepsis-induced mortality. Following CLP, compared with immunocompetent WT mice, NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ(-/-) mice did not show high levels of serum HMGB1 or murine proinflammatory cytokines and were relatively resistant to sepsis-induced mortality. In contrast, NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ(-/-) mice transplanted with human hematopoietic stem cells [humanized bone marrow liver thymic mice (BLT) mice] showed high serum levels of HMGB1, as well as multiple human but not murine proinflammatory cytokines, and died uniformly, suggesting human cytokines are sufficient to induce organ failure in this model. Moreover, targeted delivery of HMGB1 siRNA to human macrophages and dendritic cells using a short acetylcholine receptor (AchR)-binding peptide [rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG)-9R] effectively suppressed secretion of HMGB1, reduced the human cytokine storm, human lymphocyte apoptosis, and rescued humanized mice from CLP-induced mortality. siRNA treatment was also effective when started after the appearance of sepsis symptoms. These results show that CLP in humanized mice provides a model to study human sepsis, HMGB1 siRNA might provide a treatment strategy for human sepsis, and RVG-9R provides a tool to deliver siRNA to human macrophages and dendritic cells that could potentially be used to suppress a variety of human inflammatory diseases.


Subject(s)
Dendritic Cells/cytology , HMGB1 Protein/metabolism , Macrophages/cytology , Sepsis/metabolism , Animals , Cytokines/metabolism , Gene Silencing , Gene Transfer Techniques , Humans , Immune System , Inflammation , Macrophages/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred NOD , Mice, SCID , Mice, Transgenic , Peptides/chemistry , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
15.
Toxicol Mech Methods ; 25(6): 478-86, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26275124

ABSTRACT

Application of safety lead optimization screening strategies during the early stage of drug discovery led to the identification of a series of CNS-active small molecule inhibitors with opioid off-target effects, as evidenced by potent agonistic activity in functional cell-based assays for mu (MOP), kappa (KOP) and delta (DOP) opioid receptors. The translation of these effects was confirmed in vivo with the following observations: hypoactivity and decreased fecal production in rats (characteristic of MOP agonism); increased urine production in rats (characteristic of KOP agonism); and decreased intestinal transit time in mice, which was partially blocked by the MOP antagonist naloxone, demonstrating that the in vivo effects were specific for MOP. Based on the confirmation of in vitro-in vivo translatability, an in vitro screening strategy was implemented that resulted in the identification of an optimized backup molecule, devoid of in vivo off-target opioid effects. In addition, in silico modeling by docking of the various molecules to the opioid receptors allowed the identification of the structural drivers of these off-target effects, which can be applied to future chemical-design criteria. Thus, implementation of the safety lead optimization strategy described in this article demonstrates the utility and impact of such approaches on risk mitigation and identification of lead small molecules with improved safety profiles.


Subject(s)
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/antagonists & inhibitors , Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/antagonists & inhibitors , Drug Design , Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology , Receptors, Opioid/agonists , Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/metabolism , Animals , Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/metabolism , Binding Sites , CHO Cells , Cricetulus , Defecation/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Gastrointestinal Transit/drug effects , Guinea Pigs , Ileum/drug effects , Ileum/metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Mice , Molecular Docking Simulation , Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology , Protease Inhibitors/chemistry , Protease Inhibitors/metabolism , Protease Inhibitors/toxicity , Protein Binding , Protein Conformation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, Opioid/genetics , Receptors, Opioid/metabolism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Time Factors , Transfection , Urination/drug effects
16.
Toxicol Mech Methods ; 25(3): 201-11, 2015 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25894564

ABSTRACT

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential co-factor in glycolysis and is a key molecule involved in maintaining cellular energy metabolism. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of an important salvage pathway in which nicotinamide is recycled into NAD. NAMPT is up-regulated in many types of cancer and NAMPT inhibitors (NAMPTi) have potential therapeutic benefit in cancer by impairing tumor metabolism. Clinical trials with NAMPTi APO-866 and GMX-1778, however, failed to reach projected efficacious exposures due to dose-limiting thrombocytopenia. We evaluated preclinical models for thrombocytopenia that could be used in candidate drug selection and risk mitigation strategies for NAMPTi-related toxicity. Rats treated with a suite of structurally diverse and potent NAMPTi at maximum tolerated doses had decreased reticulocyte and lymphocyte counts, but no thrombocytopenia. We therefore evaluated and qualified a human colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK) as in vitro predictive model of NAMPTi-induced MK toxicity and thrombocytopenia. We further demonstrate that the MK toxicity is on-target based on the evidence that nicotinic acid (NA), which is converted to NAD via a NAMPT-independent pathway, can mitigate NAMPTi toxicity to human CFU-MK in vitro and was also protective for the hematotoxicity in rats in vivo. Finally, assessment of CFU-MK and human platelet bioenergetics and function show that NAMPTi was toxic to MK and not platelets, which is consistent with the clinically observed time-course of thrombocytopenia.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects , Hematopoiesis/drug effects , Megakaryocytes/drug effects , Niacin/metabolism , Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/antagonists & inhibitors , Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Blood Platelets/drug effects , Blood Platelets/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Colony-Forming Units Assay , Dietary Supplements , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Food-Drug Interactions , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/pathology , Macaca fascicularis , Male , Megakaryocytes/cytology , Megakaryocytes/metabolism , Megakaryocytes/pathology , Mice , Molecular Structure , Niacin/therapeutic use , Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/genetics , Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/metabolism , Pentosyltransferases/genetics , Pentosyltransferases/metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Thrombocytopenia/metabolism , Thrombocytopenia/prevention & control
17.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; 53(36): 9597-602, 2014 Sep 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25044775

ABSTRACT

Molecular mimicry is an essential part of the development of drugs and molecular probes. In the chemical glycobiology field, although many glycomimetics have been developed in the past years, it has been considered that many failures in their use are related to the lack of the anomeric effects in these analogues. Additionally, the origin of the anomeric effects is still the subject of virulent scientific debates. Herein, by combining chemical synthesis, NMR methods, and theoretical calculations, we show that it is possible to restore the anomeric effect for an acetal when replacing one of the oxygen atoms by a CF2 group. This result provides key findings in chemical sciences. On the one hand, it strongly suggests the key relevance of the stereoelectronic component of the anomeric effect. On the other hand, the CF2 analogue adopts the natural glycoside conformation, which might provide new avenues for sugar-based drug design.


Subject(s)
Disaccharides/chemical synthesis , Acetals/chemistry , Carbohydrate Conformation , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Models, Molecular , Molecular Mimicry , Oxygen/chemistry , Stereoisomerism
18.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol ; 266(1): 86-94, 2013 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23142475

ABSTRACT

Several toxicities are clearly driven by free drug concentrations in plasma, such as toxicities related to on-target exaggerated pharmacology or off-target pharmacological activity associated with receptors, enzymes or ion channels. However, there are examples in which organ toxicities appear to correlate better with total drug concentrations in the target tissues, rather than with free drug concentrations in plasma. Here we present a case study in which a small molecule Met inhibitor, GEN-203, with significant liver and bone marrow toxicity in preclinical species was modified with the intention of increasing the safety margin. GEN-203 is a lipophilic weak base as demonstrated by its physicochemical and structural properties: high LogD (distribution coefficient) (4.3) and high measured pKa (7.45) due to the basic amine (N-ethyl-3-fluoro-4-aminopiperidine). The physicochemical properties of GEN-203 were hypothesized to drive the high distribution of this compound to tissues as evidenced by a moderately-high volume of distribution (Vd>3l/kg) in mouse and subsequent toxicities of the compound. Specifically, the basicity of GEN-203 was decreased through addition of a second fluorine in the 3-position of the aminopiperidine to yield GEN-890 (N-ethyl-3,3-difluoro-4-aminopiperidine), which decreased the volume of distribution of the compound in mouse (Vd=1.0l/kg), decreased its tissue drug concentrations and led to decreased toxicity in mice. This strategy suggests that when toxicity is driven by tissue drug concentrations, optimization of the physicochemical parameters that drive tissue distribution can result in decreased drug concentrations in tissues, resulting in lower toxicity and improved safety margins.


Subject(s)
Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/toxicity , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Down-Regulation/physiology , Female , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration/drug effects , Male , Mice , Mice, Nude , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism , Random Allocation , Tissue Distribution/drug effects , Tissue Distribution/physiology
19.
Emergencias ; 35(2): 90-96, 2023 04.
Article in English, Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37038938

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Patients with severe or potentially severe trauma must be identified early, a challenge in prehospital settings. This study aimed to analyze the possible diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of analytical markers recorded in the early moments of care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study of information extracted from the prospective multicenter Code Trauma database for 2016-2019, excluding data for isolated head injuries. Using the New Injury Severity Score (NISS), we classified cases into 4 levels of severity. NISS and mortality were considered the dependent variables in inferential analyses. We calculated the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves, identified optimal cutoff points (Youden index), and calculated positive (PPV) and negative predictive values.. RESULTS: Of the 1039 trauma patients in the registry, 709 were included in the study. Their mean (SD) age was 40.4 (17.3) years, and 77.3% were men. Motorcycle accidents were the most common causes of trauma (in 21%), and mortality was 12.1%. Lactate concentration, pH, PCO2, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and blood sugar were significantly associated with severity and mortality. The PPVs corresponding to pH for the 4 NISS score groups (34-41, 42-49, 50-59, and $ 60) and mortality, respectively, were 61.2, 64.1, 70.7, 62.2, and 66.6. The PPVs of traditionally used clinical variables were lower. CONCLUSION: Patients with more severe trauma had lower pH values and higher PCO2, lactate, and base excess values. PCO2, pH, and blood sugar findings were the best predictors of severity. Metabolic variables are better predictors than traditionally recorded hemodynamic variables.


OBJETIVO: En entornos de emergencia prehospitalarios, la detección temprana de un paciente con trauma grave o potencialmente crítico es un desafío. El objetivo es analizar las posibilidades diagnósticas y pronóstico de los parámetros analíticos obtenidos en los primeros momentos de la asistencia inicial. METODO: Estudio observacional multicéntrico de la base de datos prospectiva "Código Trauma" de 2016-2019 excluyendo el trauma craneoencefálico aislado. La evaluación de las lesiones se realizó utilizando el New Injury Severity Score (NISS). Los pacientes fueron clasificados en 4 grupos según nivel de gravedad. Para el análisis inferencial, las puntuaciones NISS y el resultado de mortalidad se consideraron variables dependientes. Se realizó el análisis de la curva ROC, puntos de corte óptimos mediante el índice de Youden y se calcularon los valores predictivos positivo (VPP) y negativo. RESULTADOS: De los 1.039 pacientes traumatizados del registro, 709 fueron incluidos en el estudio, con una edad media de 40,4 años (DE 17,3), 77,3% eran varones, el mecanismo lesional principal accidentes de moto (21%) y la mortalidad del 12,1%. El pH, lactato, pCO2, hemoglobina, hematocrito y glucemia influyeron significativamente en gravedad y mortalidad. El VPP de mortalidad para pH fue 61,2, 64,1, 70,7, 62,2 y 66,6 para los grupos de NISS 34- 41, 42-49, 50-59 y $ 60 puntos la mortalidad, respectivamente. Las variables clínicas clásicas obtuvieron valores más bajos. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con mayor gravedad presentaron menor pH y concentraciones más altas de pCO2, lactato y exceso de bases. El pH, la pCO2 y la glucemia tuvieron la mayor capacidad predictiva de gravedad. La capacidad predictiva de los valores metabólicos es superior a la de los valores hemodinámicos clásicos.


Subject(s)
Blood Glucose , Emergency Responders , Male , Humans , Adult , Female , Injury Severity Score , Prognosis , Prospective Studies
20.
Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam ; 42(1): 46-9, 2012 Mar.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22616497

ABSTRACT

Esophageal ingestion of foreign bodies is a frequent urgency. It occurs more commonly in patients with psychiatric disorders, prisoners and extreme ages of the life. Early upper endoscopy is the method of choice for the treatment of symptomatic patients. Surgery is only considered when a complication is present or the extraction can not be done by the endoscopist. We report a case of a 34-year-old male who voluntarily ingested an uncommon foreign body. Surgical treatment was required because of impaction after endoscopic maneuvers and suspicion of esophageal perforation.


Subject(s)
Esophageal Perforation/etiology , Esophagus , Foreign Bodies/complications , Adult , Esophageal Perforation/diagnosis , Esophageal Perforation/surgery , Esophagoscopy , Foreign Bodies/diagnosis , Foreign Bodies/surgery , Humans , Male , Treatment Outcome
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