BTK inhibition potentiates anti-PD-L1 treatment in murine melanoma: potential role for MDSC modulation in immunotherapy.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been linked to loss of immune effector cell function through a variety of mechanisms such as the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the production of inhibitory cytokines. Our group has shown that signaling through Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is important for MDSC function. Ibrutinib is an orally administered targeted agent that inhibits BTK activation and is currently used for the treatment of B cell malignancies. Using a syngeneic murine model of melanoma, the effect of BTK inhibition with ibrutinib on the therapeutic response to systemic PD-L1 blockade was studied. BTK was expressed by murine MDSC and their activation was inhibited by ibrutinib. Ibrutinib was not directly cytotoxic to cancer cells in vitro, but it inhibited BTK activation in MDSC and reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and production of nitric oxide. Ibrutinib treatments decreased the levels of circulating MDSC in vivo and increased the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment. Gene expression profiling showed that ibrutinib decreased Cybb (NOX2) signaling, and increased IL-17 signaling (upregulating downstream targets Mmp9, Ptgs2, and S100a8). These results suggest that further exploration of MDSC inhibition could enhance the immunotherapy of advanced melanoma.PrécisInhibition of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a key enzyme in myeloid cellular function, improves therapeutic response to an anti-PD-L1 antibody in an otherwise fairly resistant murine melanoma model.

Steroidal Antagonists of Progesterone- and Prostaglandin E1-Induced Activation of the Cation Channel of Sperm.

The cation channel of sperm (CatSper) is the principal entry point for calcium in human spermatozoa and its proper function is essential for successful fertilization. As CatSper is potently activated by progesterone, we evaluated a range of steroids to define the structure-activity relationships for channel activation and found that CatSper is activated by a broad range of steroids with diverse structural modifications. By testing steroids that failed to elicit calcium influx as inhibitors of channel activation, we discovered that medroxyprogesterone acetate, levonorgestrel, and aldosterone inhibited calcium influx produced by progesterone, prostaglandin E1, and the fungal natural product l-sirenin, but these steroidal inhibitors failed to prevent calcium influx in response to elevated K+ and pH. In contrast to these steroid antagonists, we demonstrated for the first time that the T-type calcium channel blocker ML218 acts similarly to mibefradil, blocking CatSper channels activated by both ligands and alkalinization/depolarization. These T-type calcium channel blockers produced an insurmountable blockade of CatSper, whereas the three steroids produced antagonism that was surmountable by increasing concentrations of each activator, indicating that the steroids selectively antagonize ligand-induced activation of CatSper rather than blocking channel function. Both the channel blockers and the steroid antagonists markedly reduced hyperactivated motility of human sperm assessed by computer-aided sperm analysis, consistent with inhibition of CatSper activation. Unlike the channel blockers mibefradil and ML218, which reduced total and progressive motility, medroxyprogesterone acetate, levonorgestrel, and aldosterone had little effect on these motility parameters, indicating that these steroids are selective inhibitors of hyperactivated sperm motility. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The steroids medroxyprogesterone acetate, levonorgestrel, and aldosterone selectively antagonize progesterone- and prostaglandin E1-induced calcium influx through the CatSper cation channel in human sperm. In contrast to T-type calcium channel blockers that prevent all modes of CatSper activation, these steroid CatSper antagonists preferentially reduce hyperactivated sperm motility, which is required for fertilization. The discovery of competitive antagonists of ligand-induced CatSper activation provides starting points for future discovery of male contraceptive agents acting by this unique mechanism.

N-Butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin Induces Reversible Infertility in Male CD Rats.

This study shows for the first time that an iminosugar exerts anti-spermiogenic effect, inducing reversible infertility in a species that is not related to C57BL/6 male mice. In CD rats, N-butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin (NB-DGJ) caused reversible infertility at 150 mg/kg/day when administered daily as single oral dose. NB-DGJ inhibited CD rat-derived testicular ß-glucosidase 2 (GBA2) activity at 10 µM but did not inhibit CD rat-derived testicular ceramide-specific glucosyltransferase (CGT) at doses up to 1000 µM. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that sufficient plasma levels of NB-DGJ (50 µM) were achieved to inhibit the enzyme. Fertility was blocked after 35 days of treatment and reversed one week after termination of treatment. The rapid return of fertility indicates that the major effect of NB-DGJ may be epididymal rather than testicular. Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo studies in rats suggest that iminosugars should continue to be pursued as potential lead compounds for development of oral, non-hormonal male contraceptives. The study also adds evidence that GBA2, and not CGT, is the major target for the contraceptive effect of iminosugars.

Fluorescent Detection of Peroxynitrite Produced by Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Cancer and Inhibition by Dasatinib.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells that expand dramatically in many cancer patients. This expansion contributes to immunosuppression in cancer and reduces the efficacy of immune-based cancer therapies. One mechanism of immunosuppression mediated by MDSCs involves production of the reactive nitrogen species peroxynitrite (PNT), where this strong oxidant inactivates immune effector cells through destructive nitration of tyrosine residues in immune signal transduction pathways. As an alternative to analysis of nitrotyrosines indirectly generated by PNT, we used an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted fluorescent sensor termed PS3 that allows direct detection of PNT produced by MDSCs. When the MDSC-like cell line MSC2 and primary MDSCs from mice and humans were treated with PS3 and antibody-opsonized TentaGel microspheres, phagocytosis of these beads led to production of PNT and generation of a highly fluorescent product. Using this method, we show that splenocytes from a EMT6 mouse model of cancer, but not normal control mice, produce high levels of PNT due to elevated numbers of granulocytic (PMN) MDSCs. Similarly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from blood of human melanoma patients produced substantially higher levels of PNT than healthy human volunteers, coincident with higher peripheral MDSC levels. The kinase inhibitor dasatinib was found to potently block the production of PNT both by inhibiting phagocytosis in vitro and by reducing the number of granulocytic MDSCs in mice in vivo, providing a chemical tool to modulate the production of this reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the tumor microenvironment.

Discovery and Characterization of Multiple Classes of Human CatSper Blockers.

The cation channel of sperm (CatSper) is a validated target for nonhormonal male contraception, but it lacks selective blockers, hindering studies to establish its role in both motility and capacitation. Via an innovative calcium uptake assay utilizing human sperm we discovered novel inhibitors of CatSper function from a high-throughput screening campaign of 72,000 compounds. Preliminary SAR was established for seven hit series. HTS hits or their more potent analogs blocked potassium-induced depolarization and noncompetitively inhibited progesterone-induced CatSper activation. CatSper channel blockade was confirmed by patch clamp electrophysiology and these compounds inhibited progesterone- and prostaglandin E1-induced hyperactivated sperm motility. One of the hit compounds is a potent CatSper inhibitor with high selectivity for CatSper over hCav1.2, hNav1.5, moderate selectivity over hSlo3 and hERG, and low cytotoxicity and is therefore the most promising inhibitor identified in this study. These new CatSper blockers serve as useful starting points for chemical probe development and drug discovery efforts.

Fluorescent detection of peroxynitrite during antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis.

Peroxynitrite (PNT) is a highly reactive oxidant that plays a key role in the destruction of foreign pathogens by specific phagocytic immune cells such as macrophages. However, when its production is dysregulated, this oxidant can contribute to cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, and cancer. To facilitate the detection of PNT in living cells, we designed and synthesized a fluorescent sensor termed PS3 that accumulates in membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This subcellular targeting enhances the proximity of PS3 to the phagosome of macrophages where PNT is generated. When PS3-treated macrophages are stimulated with 10 µm opsonized tentagel microspheres, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) of these particles results in production of endogenous PNT, oxidative cleavage of the fluorescence-quenching phenolic side chain of PS3, and increased fluorescence that can be detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy, flow cytometry, and other assays. We describe methods for the synthesis of PS3 and evaluation of its photophysical properties, selectivity, and reactivity. We further report differential production of PNT during ADCP by the phagocytic cell lines RAW 264.7, J774A.1, and THP-1, as detected by confocal microscopy and changes in fluorescence intensity on 96-well plates. This approach may be useful for identification of modulators of PNT and related studies of ADCP.

Structure-Activity Studies of N-Butyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) Analogues: Discovery of Potent and Selective Aminocyclopentitol Inhibitors of GBA1 and GBA2.

Analogues of N-butyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) were prepared and assayed for inhibition of ceramide-specific glucosyltransferase (CGT), non-lysosomal ß-glucosidase 2 (GBA2) and the lysosomal ß-glucosidase 1 (GBA1). Compounds 5 a-6 f, which carry sterically demanding nitrogen substituents, and compound 13, devoid of the C3 and C5 hydroxy groups present in DNJ/NB-DGJ (N-butyldeoxygalactojirimycin) showed no inhibitory activity for CGT or GBA2. Inversion of stereochemistry at C4 of N-(n-butyl)- and N-(n-nonyl)-DGJ (compounds 24) also led to a loss of activity in these assays. The aminocyclopentitols N-(n-butyl)- (35 a), N-(n-nonyl)-4-amino-5-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentane- (35 b), and N-(1-(pentyloxy)methyl)adamantan-1-yl)-1,2,3-triol (35 f), were found to be selective inhibitors of GBA1 and GBA2 that did not inhibit CGT (>1 mm), with the exception of 35 f, which inhibited CGT with an IC50 value of 1 mm. The N-butyl analogue 35 a was 100-fold selective for inhibiting GBA1 over GBA2 (Ki values of 32 nm and 3.3 µm for GBA1 and GBA2, respectively). The N-nonyl analogue 35 b displayed a Ki value of ≪14 nm for GBA1 inhibition and a Ki of 43 nm for GBA2. The N-(1-(pentyloxy)methyl)adamantan-1-yl) derivative 35 f had Ki values of ≈16 and 14 nm for GBA1 and GBA2, respectively. The related N-bis-substituted aminocyclopentitols were found to be significantly less potent inhibitors than their mono-substituted analogues. The aminocyclopentitol scaffold should hold promise for further inhibitor development.

The Fungal Sexual Pheromone Sirenin Activates the Human CatSper Channel Complex.

The basal fungus Allomyces macrogynus (A. macrogynus) produces motile male gametes displaying well-studied chemotaxis toward their female counterparts. This chemotaxis is driven by sirenin, a sexual pheromone released by the female gametes. The pheromone evokes a large calcium influx in the motile gametes, which could proceed through the cation channel of sperm (CatSper) complex. Herein, we report the total synthesis of sirenin in 10 steps and 8% overall yield and show that the synthetic pheromone activates the CatSper channel complex, indicated by a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular calcium in human sperm. Sirenin activation of the CatSper channel was confirmed using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology with human sperm. Based on this proficient synthetic route and confirmed activation of CatSper, analogues of sirenin can be designed as blockers of the CatSper channel that could provide male contraceptive agents.