sGC stimulator praliciguat suppresses stellate cell fibrotic transformation and inhibits fibrosis and inflammation in models of NASH.

Endothelial dysfunction and reduced nitric oxide (NO) signaling are a key element of the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Stimulators of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) enhance NO signaling; have been shown preclinically to reduce inflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis; and thus have been proposed as potential therapies for NASH and fibrotic liver diseases. Praliciguat, an oral sGC stimulator with extensive distribution to the liver, was used to explore the role of this signaling pathway in NASH. We found that sGC is expressed in hepatic stellate cells and stellate-derived myofibroblasts, but not in hepatocytes. Praliciguat acted directly on isolated hepatic stellate cells to inhibit fibrotic and inflammatory signaling potentially through regulation of AMPK and SMAD7. Using in vivo microdialysis, we demonstrated stimulation of the NO-sGC pathway by praliciguat in both healthy and fibrotic livers. In preclinical models of NASH, praliciguat treatment was associated with lower levels of liver fibrosis and lower expression of fibrotic and inflammatory biomarkers. Praliciguat treatment lowered hepatic steatosis and plasma cholesterol levels. The antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effects of praliciguat were recapitulated in human microtissues in vitro. These data provide a plausible cellular basis for the mechanism of action of sGC stimulators and suggest the potential therapeutic utility of praliciguat in the treatment of NASH.

The CNS-penetrant soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator CYR119 attenuates markers of inflammation in the central nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) is observed in many neurological disorders. Nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-sGC-cGMP) signaling plays an essential role in modulating neuroinflammation. CYR119 is a CNS-penetrant sGC stimulator that amplifies endogenous NO-sGC-cGMP signaling. We evaluated target engagement and the effects of CYR119 on markers of neuroinflammation in vitro in mouse microglial cells and in vivo in quinolinic acid (QA)-induced and high-fat diet-induced rodent neuroinflammation models. METHODS: Target engagement was verified in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, rat primary neurons, mouse SIM-A9 cells, and in rats by measuring changes in cGMP and downstream targets of sGC signaling [phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (pVASP), phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding (pCREB)]. In SIM-A9 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), markers of inflammation were measured when cells were treated with or without CYR119. In rats, microinjections of QA and vehicle were administered into the right and left hemispheres of striatum, respectively, and then rats were dosed daily with either CYR119 (10 mg/kg) or vehicle for 7 days. The activation of microglia [ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)] and astrocytes [glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)] was measured by immunohistochemistry. Diet-induced obese (DIO) mice were treated daily with CYR119 (10 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, after which inflammatory genetic markers were analyzed in the prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: In vitro, CYR119 synergized with exogenous NO to increase the production of cGMP in HEK cells and in primary rat neuronal cell cultures. In primary neurons, CYR119 stimulated sGC, resulting in accumulation of cGMP and phosphorylation of CREB, likely through the activation of protein kinase G (PKG). CYR119 attenuated LPS-induced elevation of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in mouse microglial cells. Following oral dosing in rats, CYR119 crossed the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and stimulated an increase in cGMP levels in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). In addition, levels of proinflammatory markers associated with QA administration or high-fat diet feeding were lower in rodents treated with CYR119 than in those treated with vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that sGC stimulation could provide neuroprotective effects by attenuating inflammatory responses in nonclinical models of neuroinflammation.

Discovery of CYR715: A novel carboxylic acid-containing soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a clinically validated therapeutic target in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Modulators of sGC have the potential to treat diseases that are affected by dysregulation of the NO-sGC-cGMP signal transduction pathway. This letter describes the SAR efforts that led to the discovery of CYR715, a novel carboxylic acid-containing sGC stimulator, with an improved metabolic profile relative to our previously described stimulator, IWP-051. CYR715 addressed potential idiosyncratic drug toxicity (IDT) liabilities associated with the formation of reactive, migrating acyl glucuronides (AG) found in related carboxylic acid-containing analogs and demonstrated high oral bioavailability in rat and dose-dependent hemodynamic pharmacology in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats.

Social Interactions among Older Adults Who Wish for Death.

Objectives: When the need for relatedness is frustrated, some older adults feel that life is not worth living and wish for death (WD). The aim of this study was to look at the perception of social interactions among older adults who express the WD.Methods: A probabilistic sample of 2787 French-speaking community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 96 years (M = 73.8) took part in the Seniors Health Survey, a study on the prevalence of mental disorders which also collected information on various demographic and social variables.Results: Results showed that 5% of participants expressed WD. Participants who WD felt significantly more isolated and in conflict with their children than participants without WD. When sociodemographic variables, self-rated physical health, and depression were controlled, three social variables predicted WD in a logistic regression: being distant toward others, dissatisfaction with social life, and a lack of participation in organizations.Conclusions: Results of the present study support the interpersonal theory of suicide, which suggests that self-reported thwarted belongingness can foster WD.Clinical implications: Clinicians should consider social dissatisfaction and withdrawal as risk factors for WD and design interventions that foster social skills or meaningful connections.

Discovery of stimulator binding to a conserved pocket in the heme domain of soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is the receptor for nitric oxide and a highly sought-after therapeutic target for the management of cardiovascular diseases. New compounds that stimulate sGC show clinical promise, but where these stimulator compounds bind and how they function remains unknown. Here, using a photolyzable diazirine derivative of a novel stimulator compound, IWP-051, and MS analysis, we localized drug binding to the ß1 heme domain of sGC proteins from the hawkmoth Manduca sexta and from human. Covalent attachments to the stimulator were also identified in bacterial homologs of the sGC heme domain, referred to as H-NOX domains, including those from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella woodyi, and Clostridium botulinum, indicating that the binding site is highly conserved. The identification of photoaffinity-labeled peptides was aided by a signature MS fragmentation pattern of general applicability for unequivocal identification of covalently attached compounds. Using NMR, we also examined stimulator binding to sGC from M. sexta and bacterial H-NOX homologs. These data indicated that stimulators bind to a conserved cleft between two subdomains in the sGC heme domain. L12W/T48W substitutions within the binding pocket resulted in a 9-fold decrease in drug response, suggesting that the bulkier tryptophan residues directly block stimulator binding. The localization of stimulator binding to the sGC heme domain reported here resolves the longstanding question of where stimulators bind and provides a path forward for drug discovery.

Pharmacological Characterization of IW-1973, a Novel Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator with Extensive Tissue Distribution, Antihypertensive, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antifibrotic Effects in Preclinical Models of Disease.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), a key signal-transduction enzyme, increases the conversion of guanosine-5'-triphosphate to cGMP upon binding of nitric oxide (NO). Endothelial dysfunction and/or reduced NO signaling have been implicated in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and complications of diabetes and have been associated with other disease states and aging. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators are small-molecule drugs that bind sGC and enhance NO-mediated cGMP signaling. The pharmacological characterization of IW-1973 [1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(((5-fluoro-2-(1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-(isoxazol-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)methyl)propan-2-ol], a novel clinical-stage sGC stimulator under clinical investigation for treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and diabetic nephropathy, is described. In the presence of NO, IW-1973 stimulated sGC in a human purified enzyme assay and a HEK-293 whole cell assay. sGC stimulation by IW-1973 in cells was associated with increased phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein. IW-1973, at doses of 1-10 mg/kg, significantly lowered blood pressure in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. In a Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension model, IW-1973 significantly reduced blood pressure, inflammatory cytokine levels, and renal disease markers, including proteinuria and renal fibrotic gene expression. The results were affirmed in mouse lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and rat unilateral ureteral obstruction renal fibrosis models. A quantitative whole-body autoradiography study of IW-1973 revealed extensive tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic studies showed a large volume of distribution and a profile consistent with predicted once-a-day dosing in humans. In summary, IW-1973 is a potent, orally available sGC stimulator that exhibits renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects in nonclinical models.

Exploring amino acids derivatives as potent, selective, and direct agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype-1.

In the quest to discover a potent and selective class of direct agonists to the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor, we explored the carboxylate functional group as a replacement to previously reported lead phosphates. This has led to the discovery of potent and selective direct agonists with moderate to substantial in vivo lymphopenia. The previously reported selectivity enhancing moiety (SEM) and selectivity enhancing orientation (SEO) in the phenylamide and phenylimidazole scaffolds were crucial to obtaining selectivity for S1P receptor subtype 1 over 3.

Olinciguat, a stimulator of soluble guanylyl cyclase, attenuates inflammation, vaso-occlusion and nephropathy in mouse models of sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reduced bioavailability of NO, a hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD), contributes to intravascular inflammation, vasoconstriction, vaso-occlusion and organ damage observed in SCD patients. Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) catalyses synthesis of cGMP in response to NO. cGMP-amplifying agents, including NO donors and phosphodiesterase 9 inhibitors, alleviate TNFα-induced inflammation in wild-type C57BL/6 mice and in 'humanised' mouse models of SCD. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Effects of the sGC stimulator olinciguat on intravascular inflammation and renal injury were studied in acute (C57BL6 and Berkeley mice) and chronic (Townes mice) mouse models of TNFα-induced and systemic inflammation associated with SCD. KEY RESULTS: Acute treatment with olinciguat attenuated increases in plasma biomarkers of endothelial cell activation and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in TNFα-challenged mice. Co-treatment with hydroxyurea, an FDA-approved SCD therapeutic agent, further augmented the anti-inflammatory effect of olinciguat. In the Berkeley mouse model of TNFα-induced vaso-occlusive crisis, a single dose of olinciguat attenuated leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, improved blood flow and prolonged survival time compared to vehicle-treated mice. In Townes SCD mice, plasma biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial cell activation were lower in olinciguat- than in vehicle-treated mice. In addition, kidney mass, water consumption, 24-h urine excretion, plasma levels of cystatin C and urinary excretion of N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin were lower in Townes mice treated with olinciguat than in vehicle-treated mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that the sGC stimulator olinciguat attenuates inflammation, vaso-occlusion and kidney injury in mouse models of SCD and systemic inflammation.

The CNS-Penetrant Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator CY6463 Reveals its Therapeutic Potential in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive and are critically needed since the burden of these diseases increases across an aging global population. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter that binds to soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to produce cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Impairment of this pathway has been demonstrated in neurodegenerative diseases. Normalizing deficient NO-cGMP signaling could address multiple pathophysiological features of neurodegenerative diseases. sGC stimulators are small molecules that synergize with NO, activate sGC, and increase cGMP production. Many systemic sGC stimulators have been characterized and advanced into clinical development for a variety of non-central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. Here, we disclose the discovery of CY6463, the first brain-penetrant sGC stimulator in clinical development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and demonstrate its ability to improve neuronal activity, mediate neuroprotection, and increase cognitive performance in preclinical models. In several cellular assays, CY6463 was demonstrated to be a potent stimulator of sGC. In agreement with the known effects of sGC stimulation in the vasculature, CY6463 elicits decreases in blood pressure in both rats and mice. Relative to a non-CNS penetrant sGC stimulator, rodents treated with CY6463 had higher cGMP levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging-blood-oxygen-level-dependent (fMRI-BOLD) signals, and cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) gamma-band oscillatory power. Additionally, CY6463 improved cognitive performance in a model of cognitive disruption induced by the administration of a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. In models of neurodegeneration, CY6463 treatment increased long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices from a Huntington's disease mouse model and decreased the loss of dendritic spines in aged and Alzheimer's disease mouse models. In a model of diet-induced obesity, CY6463 reduced markers of inflammation in the plasma. Furthermore, CY6463 elicited an additive increase in cortical gamma-band oscillatory power when co-administered with donepezil: the standard of care in Alzheimer's disease. Together, these data support the clinical development of CY6463 as a novel treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.

Exploration of amino alcohol derivatives as novel, potent, and highly selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype-1 agonists.

In pursuit of a potent and highly selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists with an improved in vivo conversion of the precursor to the active phospho-drug, we have utilized previously reported phenylamide and phenylimidazole scaffolds to identify a selectivity enhancing moiety (SEM) and selectivity enhancing orientation (SEO) within both pharmacophores. SEM and SEO have allowed for over 100 to 500-fold improvement in selectivity for S1P receptor subtype 1 over subtype 3. Utility of SEM and SEO and further SAR study allowed for discovery of a potent and selective preclinical candidate PPI-4955 (21b) with an excellent in vivo potency and dose responsiveness and markedly improved overall in vivo pharmacodynamic properties upon oral administration.

Olinciguat, an Oral sGC Stimulator, Exhibits Diverse Pharmacology Across Preclinical Models of Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Renal, and Inflammatory Disease.

Nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic 3',5' GMP (cGMP) signaling plays a central role in regulation of diverse processes including smooth muscle relaxation, inflammation, and fibrosis. sGC is activated by the short-lived physiologic mediator NO. sGC stimulators are small-molecule compounds that directly bind to sGC to enhance NO-mediated cGMP signaling. Olinciguat, (R)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-(((5-fluoro-2-(1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-(isoxazol-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)methyl)-2-hydroxypropanamide, is a new sGC stimulator currently in Phase 2 clinical development. To understand the potential clinical utility of olinciguat, we studied its pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and pharmacologic effects in preclinical models. Olinciguat relaxed human vascular smooth muscle and was a potent inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle proliferation in vitro. These antiproliferative effects were potentiated by the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor tadalafil, which did not inhibit vascular smooth muscle proliferation on its own. Olinciguat was orally bioavailable and predominantly cleared by the liver in rats. In a rat whole body autoradiography study, olinciguat-derived radioactivity in most tissues was comparable to plasma levels, indicating a balanced distribution between vascular and extravascular compartments. Olinciguat was explored in rodent models to study its effects on the vasculature, the heart, the kidneys, metabolism, and inflammation. Olinciguat reduced blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Olinciguat was cardioprotective in the Dahl rat salt-sensitive hypertensive heart failure model. In the rat ZSF1 model of diabetic nephropathy and metabolic syndrome, olinciguat was renoprotective and associated with lower circulating glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. In a mouse TNFα-induced inflammation model, olinciguat treatment was associated with lower levels of endothelial and leukocyte-derived soluble adhesion molecules. The pharmacological features of olinciguat suggest that it may have broad therapeutic potential and that it may be suited for diseases that have both vascular and extravascular pathologies.

Synthesis and evaluation of alkoxy-phenylamides and alkoxy-phenylimidazoles as potent sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype-1 agonists.

In the design of potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists, we were able to identify two series of molecules based on phenylamide and phenylimidazole analogs of FTY-720. Several designed molecules in these scaffolds have demonstrated selectivity for S1P receptor subtype 1 versus 3 and excellent in vivo activity in mouse. Two molecules PPI-4621 (4b) and PPI-4691 (10a), demonstrated dose responsive lymphopenia, when administered orally.

Synthesis and evaluation of arylalkoxy- and biarylalkoxy-phenylamide and phenylimidazoles as potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype-1 agonists.

In pursuit of potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists, we have utilized previously reported phenylamide and phenylimidazole scaffolds to explore extensive side-chain modifications to generate new molecular entities. A number of designed molecules demonstrate good selectivity and excellent in vitro and in vivo potency in both mouse and rat models. Oral administration of the lead molecule 11c (PPI-4667) demonstrated potent and dose-responsive lymphopenia.

Inhibition of melanoma tumor growth by a pharmacological inhibitor of MetAP-2, PPI-2458.

Over the past few decades, melanoma has shown the fastest growing incidence rate of all cancers. This malignancy is clinically defined by its potential to rapidly metastasize, and advanced metastatic melanomas are highly resistant to existing therapeutic regimens. Here, we report that PPI-2458, a novel, orally active agent of the fumagillin class of irreversible methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP-2) inhibitors, potently inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro, with a growth inhibitory concentration 50% (GI50) of 0.2 nM. B16F10 growth inhibition was correlated with the inhibition of MetAP-2 enzyme, in a dose-dependent fashion, as determined by a pharmacodynamic assay, which measures the amount of uninhibited MetAP-2 following PPI-2458 treatment. Prolonged exposure of B16F10 cells to PPI-2458 at concentrations of up to 1 microM, 5,000-fold above the GI50, did not alter their sensitivity to PPI-2458 growth inhibition and no drug resistance was observed. Moreover, prolonged exposure to this agent induced melanogenesis, concomitant with the elevated expression of the melanocyte-specific enzymes tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP) 1 and 2, a morphological feature associated with differentiated melanocytes. PPI-2458, when administered orally (p.o.), significantly inhibited B16F10 tumor growth in mice in a dose-dependent fashion, with a maximum inhibition of 62% at 100 mg/kg. This growth inhibition was directly correlated to the amount of irreversibly inhibited MetAP-2 (80% at 100 mg/kg PPI-2458) in tumor tissue. These data demonstrate that PPI-2458 has potent antiproliferative activity against B16F10 cells in vitro and in vivo, and that both activities are directly correlated with levels of MetAP-2 enzyme inhibition. This antiproliferative activity, coupled with additional observations from studies in vitro (absence of detectable resistance to PPI-2458 and induction of morphological features consistent with differentiated melanocytes), provides a rationale for assessing the therapeutic potential of PPI-2458 in the treatment of melanoma.

Regulation of eNOS expression in brain endothelial cells by perinuclear EP(3) receptors.

We reported upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by PGE(2) in tissues and presence of perinuclear PGE(2) receptors (EP). We presently studied mechanisms by which PGE(2) induces eNOS expression in cerebral microvessel endothelial cells (ECs). 16,16-Dimethyl PGE(2) and selective EP(3) receptor agonist M&B28767 increased eNOS expression in ECs and the NO-dependent vasorelaxant responses induced by substance P on cerebral microvessels. These effects could be prevented by prostaglandin transporter blocker bromcresol green and actinomycin D. EP(3) immunoreactivity was confirmed on plasma and perinuclear membrane of ECs. M&B28767 increased eNOS RNA expression in EC nuclei, and this effect was augmented by overexpression of EP(3) receptors. M&B28767 also induced increased phosphorylation of Erk-1/2 and Akt, as well as changes in membrane potential revealed by the potentiometric fluorescent dye RH421, which were prevented by iberiotoxin; perinuclear K(Ca) channels were detected, and their functionality corroborated by NS1619-induced Ca(2+) signals and nuclear membrane potential changes. Moreover, pertussis toxin, Ca(2+) chelator, and channel blockers EGTA, BAPTA, and SK&F96365, as well as K(Ca) channel blocker iberiotoxin, protein-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and PD 98059, and NF-kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate prevented M&B28767-induced increase in Ca(2+) transients and/or eNOS expression in EC nuclei. We describe for the first time that PGE(2) through its access into cell by prostaglandin transporters induces eNOS expression by activating perinuclear EP(3) receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, a process that depends on nuclear envelope K(Ca) channels, protein kinases, and NF-kappaB; the roles for nuclear EP(3) receptors seem different from those on plasma membrane.

The Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator IWP-953 Increases Conventional Outflow Facility in Mouse Eyes.

PURPOSE: The nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) pathway regulates aqueous humor outflow and therefore, intraocular pressure. We investigated the pharmacologic effects of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator IWP-953 on primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and conventional outflow facility in mouse eyes. METHODS: Cyclic GMP levels were determined in vitro in HEK-293 cells and four HTM cell strains (HTM120/HTM123: predominantly myofibroblast-like phenotype, HTM130/HTM141: predominantly endothelial-like phenotype), and in HTM cell culture supernatants. Conventional outflow facility was measured following intracameral injection of IWP-953 or DETA-NO using a computerized pressure-controlled perfusion system in enucleated mouse eyes ex vivo. RESULTS: IWP-953 markedly stimulated cGMP production in HEK-293 cells in the presence and absence of DETA-NO (half maximal effective concentrations: 17 nM, 9.5 µM). Similarly, IWP-953 stimulated cGMP production in myofibroblast-like HTM120 and HTM123 cells, an effect that was greatly amplified by the presence of DETA-NO. In contrast, IWP-953 stimulation of cGMP production in endothelial-like HTM130 and HTM141 cells was observed, but was markedly less prominent than in HTM120 and HTM123 cells. Notably, cGMP was found in all HTM culture supernatants, following IWP-953/DETA-NO stimulation. In paired enucleated mouse eyes, IWP-953 at 10, 30, 60, and 100 µM concentration-dependently increased outflow facility. This effect (89.5%) was maximal at 100 µM (P = 0.002) and in magnitude comparable to DETA-NO at 100 µM (97.5% increase, P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that IWP-953, via modulation of the sGC-cGMP pathway, increases aqueous outflow facility in mouse eyes, suggesting therapeutic potential for sGC stimulators as novel ocular hypotensive drugs.

Discovery and Characterization of a Potent Interleukin-6 Binding Peptide with Neutralizing Activity In Vivo.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important member of the cytokine superfamily, exerting pleiotropic actions on many physiological processes. Over-production of IL-6 is a hallmark of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as Castleman's Disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Antagonism of the interleukin IL-6/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)/gp130 signaling complex continues to show promise as a therapeutic target. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against components of this complex have been approved as therapeutics for both CD and RA. To potentially provide an additional modality to antagonize IL-6 induced pathophysiology, a peptide-based antagonist approach was undertaken. Using a combination of molecular design, phage-display, and medicinal chemistry, disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs) directed against IL-6 were developed with low nanomolar potency in inhibiting IL-6-induced pSTAT3 in U937 monocytic cells. Targeted PEGylation of IL-6 binding peptides resulted in molecules that retained their potency against IL-6 and had a prolongation of their pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles in rodents and monkeys. One such peptide, PN-2921, contained a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety and inhibited IL-6-induced pSTAT3 in U937 cells with sub-nM potency and possessed 23, 36, and 59 h PK half-life values in mice, rats, and cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. Parenteral administration of PN-2921 to mice and cynomolgus monkeys potently inhibited IL-6-induced biomarker responses, with significant reductions in the acute inflammatory phase proteins, serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This potent, PEGylated IL-6 binding peptide offers a new approach to antagonize IL-6-induced signaling and associated pathophysiology.

Altered vascular function in fetal programming of hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reduced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation partly due to loss of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability occurs in most cases of chronic hypertension. Intrauterine nutritional deprivation has been associated with increased risk for hypertension and stroke, associated with relaxant dysfunction and decreased vascular compliance, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. The present studies were undertaken to investigate whether endothelial dysfunction associated with altered NO-dependent vasodilatation pathways is also observed in a model of in utero programming of hypertension. METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats were fed a normal (18%), low (9%), or very low (6%) protein isocaloric diet during gestation. Vasomotor response of resistance cerebral microvessels (<50 micro m) was studied in adult offspring of dams fed the 18% and 9% protein diets by a video imaging technique. Endothelial NOS (eNOS), soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), and K(Ca) channel expression were measured by Western blot. NO synthase (NOS) activity was measured enzymatically as well as in situ by NADPH diaphorase staining. RESULTS: Litter size and survival to adulthood were not affected by the diets. Birth weights of offspring of dams fed the 6% diet were markedly lower than those of dams fed the 9% diet, which were marginally lower than those of controls. Systolic blood pressures of adult offspring of mothers in the 6% and 9% groups were comparably greater (156+/-2 and 155+/-1 mm Hg, respectively) than that of control offspring (137+/-1 mm Hg); we therefore focused on the 9% and 18% groups. Cerebral microvessel constriction to thromboxane A(2) mimetic and dilation to carba-prostaglandin I(2) did not differ between diet groups. In contrast, vasorelaxation to the NO-dependent agents substance P and acetylcholine was diminished by 50% in low protein-exposed offspring, but eNOS expression and activity were similar between the 2 diet groups. Vasorelaxant response to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside was also decreased and was associated with reduced (by 50% to 65%) cGMP levels and sGC expression. cGMP analogues caused comparable vasorelaxation in the 2 groups. Expression of K(Ca) (another important mediator of NO action) and relaxation to the K(Ca) opener NS1619 were unchanged by antenatal diet. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal protein deprivation, which leads to hypertension in the offspring, is associated with diminished NO-dependent relaxation of major organ (cerebral) microvasculature, which seems to be largely attributed to decreased sGC expression and cGMP levels. The study provides an additional explanation for abnormal vasorelaxation in nutrient-deprived subjects in utero.

PGE(2)-mediated eNOS induction in prolonged hypercapnia.

PURPOSE: Because prostaglandins (PGs) are implicated in acute hypercapnia-induced hyperemia, this study was conducted to test the hypothesis that prolonged hypercapnia may cause a sustained increase in retinal blood flow (RBF) through a PG-dependent induction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). METHODS: Time-dependent RBF (microsphere technique), PGE(2), nitrite (NO(2)(-)), and NOS protein (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH]-diaphorase staining) production were measured in hypercapnia (6% CO(2))-treated piglets. From the same species, PGE(2), eNOS mRNA, NOS protein, and vasomotor responses were measured in eyecup preparations, as were Ca(2+) transients in neuroretinovascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: Hypercapnia caused biphasic (at 0.5 hours and 6-8 hours) increases in RBF that were abolished with normalization of the pH. The early phase (0.5 hour) was associated with an increase in PGE(2) levels and the latter phase (6-8 hours) with an increase in NO(2)(-) and NOS protein. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase by diclofenac prevented the early and late increase in RBF. NOS inhibitor L-nitro-arginine prevented only the latter. Hypercapnic acidosis increased retinal PGE(2) levels and eNOS-dependent vasorelaxation ex vivo. The ex vivo time course of eNOS mRNA expression corresponded with the late-phase increase in RBF and was blocked by the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D and the receptor-operated Ca(2+) channel blocker SK&F96365. In neuroretinovascular cells, acidosis increased Ca(2+) transients, which were inhibited by SK&F96365, but not diclofenac. CONCLUSIONS: This study discloses a previously unexplored mechanism for late retinal hyperemia during sustained hypercapnia that appears secondary to the induced expression of eNOS mediated by PGE(2).

Platelet-activating factor in vasoobliteration of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To test whether platelet-activating factor (PAF) directly causes retinovascular endothelial cell (EC) death. METHODS: Retinovascular density was calculated in rat pups exposed to 80% O(2) from postnatal days (P)6 to P14 (to produce oxygen-induced retinopathy [OIR]), using the adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) technique, in animals treated with distinct PAF receptor blockers (PCA-4248, BN52021, or THG315). PAF levels were then measured in the retinas. Viability of ECs from piglets and humans in response to C-PAF (a stable PAF analogue) was determined by the reduction of the tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) by viable cells, incorporation of propidium iodide (PI), TUNEL assay, and release of lactate dehydrogenase. Release of thromboxane (TX) was measured in the cell media. RESULTS: PAF levels in retina were markedly increased by exposure of isolated rat retinas to H(2)O(2) (1 micro M) and of rat pups placed in 80% O(2). Exposure to 80% O(2) induced retinal vasoobliteration, which was equally significantly inhibited ( approximately 60%) by all PAF receptor blockers tested. C-PAF increased incorporation of PI by isolated rat retinal microvasculature. Also, C-PAF caused time- and concentration-dependent death of cultured retinal ECs, which was prevented by the PAF receptor antagonist CV-3988. This effect of C-PAF was selective on retinal and neurovascular ECs, but not on other ECs. DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) was hardly detected, and inhibition of apoptosis-related processes by nicotinamide, cyclosporin A, and Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-VAD-FMK (caspase inhibitors) barely protected against death in EC, whereas C-PAF increased release of lactate dehydrogenase, implying that necrosis is the nature of EC death. Finally, C-PAF-induced cell death was preceded by an increase in TXB(2) levels and was prevented by TXA(2) synthase inhibition (with CGS12970). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest PAF plays a major role in vasoobliteration in OIR by triggering death of neuroretinal microvascular ECs. The cell death seems to be mediated at least in part by TXA(2). These effects of PAF may participate in ischemic retinopathies such as diabetes and retinopathy of prematurity.