Penehyclidine hydrochloride improves cognitive function of rats with brain injury via CAMP/CREB signaling pathway.

This study explored the impact of penehyclidine hydrochloride on cognitive function in rats with brain injury. Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36) were randomly assigned to sham-operation, model, and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups. Rats in the sham-operation group underwent craniotomy, while the model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups received brain injury models and interventions with normal saline and penehyclidine hydrochloride, respectively. Specimens were obtained two weeks post-intervention. Neurological deficits were evaluated using Zea-Longa scores, and memory was assessed with the Morris water maze test. ELISA determined brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) content. mRNA expressions of BDNF and NGF were assessed via qPCR, and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) protein expression was measured by Western blotting. Compared to the sham-operation group, both model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups showed increased Zea-Longa scores. Escape latencies were longer and platform crossings were fewer in model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups compared to the sham-operation group, but penehyclidine hydrochloride demonstrated a shorter latency and more platform crossings than the model group. BDNF and NGF content decreased in model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups compared to the sham-operation group, with an increase in the penehyclidine hydrochloride group compared to the model group. mRNA expression levels declined in model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups but were higher in the latter. p-CREB protein expression was lower in model and penehyclidine hydrochloride groups compared to the sham-operation group but higher in the penehyclidine hydrochloride group than the model group. Penehyclidine hydrochloride exhibited neuroprotective effects by upregulating the cAMP/CREB signaling pathway, improving cognitive function in rats with brain injury.

Penehyclidine hydrochloride alleviates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting pyroptosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to examine how penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) impacts the occurrence of pyroptosis in lung tissue cells within a rat model of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 250 g to 270 g, were randomly distributed into three distinct groups as outlined below: a sham operation group (S group), a control group (C group), and a test group (PHC group). Rats in the PHC group received a preliminary intravenous injection of PHC at a dose of 3 mg/kg. At the conclusion of the experiment, lung tissue and blood samples were collected and properly stored for subsequent analysis. The levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and myeloperoxidase in the lung tissue, as well as IL-18 and IL-1ß in the blood serum, were assessed using an Elisa kit. Pyroptosis-related proteins, including Caspase1 p20, GSDMD-N, and NLRP3, were detected through the western blot method. Additionally, the dry-to-wet ratio (D/W) of the lung tissue and the findings from the blood gas analysis were also documented. RESULTS: In contrast to the control group, the PHC group showed enhancements in oxygenation metrics, reductions in oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions, and a decrease in lung injury. Additionally, the PHC group exhibited lowered levels of pyroptosis-associated proteins, including the N-terminal segment of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N), caspase-1p20, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). CONCLUSION: Pre-administration of PHC has the potential to mitigate lung ischemia-reperfusion injuries by suppressing the pyroptosis of lung tissue cells, diminishing inflammatory reactions, and enhancing lung function. The primary mechanism behind anti-pyroptotic effect of PHC appears to involve the inhibition of oxidative stress.

Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist PHA 568487 Reduces Acute Inflammation but Does Not Affect Cardiac Function or Myocardial Infarct Size in the Permanent Occlusion Model.

Stimulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) has shown beneficial effects in several acute inflammatory disease models. This study aims to examine whether treatment with the selective α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 can dampen inflammation and thereby improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice. The possible anti-inflammatory properties of α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 were tested in vivo using the air pouch model and in a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Hematologic parameters and cytokine levels were determined. Infarct size and cardiac function were assessed via echocardiography 24 h and one week after the infarction. Treatment with α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 decreased 12 (CCL27, CXCL5, IL6, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL1, CCL2, MIP1a, MIP2, CXCL16, CXCL12 and CCL25) out of 33 cytokines in the air pouch model of acute inflammation. However, α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not alter infarct size, ejection fraction, cardiac output or stroke volume at 24 h or at 7 days after the myocardial infarction compared with control mice. In conclusion, despite promising immunomodulatory effects in the acute inflammatory air pouch model, α7nAChR agonist PHA 568487 did not affect infarct size or cardiac function after a permanent occlusion model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. Consequently, this study does not strengthen the hypothesis that stimulation of the α7nAChR is a future treatment strategy for acute myocardial infarction when reperfusion is lacking. However, whether other agonists of the α7nAChR can have different effects remains to be investigated.

Characterization of a novel 3-quinuclidinone reductase possessing remarkable thermostability.

The 3-quinuclidinone reductase plays an irreplaceable role in the biopreparation of (R)-3-quinuclidinol, an intermediate vital for synthesis of various pharmaceuticals. Thermal robustness is a critical factor for enzymatic synthesis in industrial applications. This study characterized a new 3-quinuclidinone reductase, named SaQR, with significant thermal stability. The SaQR was overexpressed in a GST-fused state, and substrate and cofactor screening were conducted. Additionally, three-dimensional structure prediction using AlphaFold and analysis were performed, along with relevant thermostability tests, and the evaluation of factors influencing enzyme activity. The findings highlight the remarkable thermostability of SaQR, retaining over 90% of its activity after 72 h at 50°C, with an optimal operational temperature of 85°C. SaQR showed typical structural traits of the SDR superfamily, with its cofactor-determining residue being aspartic acid, conferring nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(H)) preference. Moreover, K+ and Na+, at a concentration of 400 mM, could significantly enhance the activity, while Mg2+ and Mn2+ only display inhibitory effects within the tested concentration range. The findings of molecular dynamics simulations suggest that high temperatures may disrupt the binding of enzyme to substrate by increasing the flexibility of residues 205-215. In conclusion, this study reports a novel 3-quinuclidinone reductase with remarkable thermostability.

A New Aspect of Penehyclidine Hydrochloride in Alleviating Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Ferroptosis.

Penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) is an anticholinergic drug with cardioprotective effects. Ferroptosis is closely related to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). In the present study, MIRI was induced in rats by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. PHC pretreatment increased haemodynamic parameters and histopathological damage and reduced myocardial infarction size in the MIRI model. PHC pretreatment also inhibited ferroptosis, which was characterized by the decreased levels of Fe2+, 4-hydroxynonenal and ACSL4, and increased levels of GPX4, GSH-Px and GST. In response to 6 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation and 18 h of reoxygenation, PHC pretreatment had the same effects on these factors in H9c2 cells and reduced lipid ROS levels. Furthermore, ACSL4 overexpression reversed the protective effects of PHC on H9c2 cells. These results indicated that PHC inhibited MIRI through ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis. This study demonstrated that PHC could inhibit ferroptosis in MIRI and the relationship among PHC, ACSL4, ferroptosis and MIRI. This study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of PHC on ferroptosis and showed that PHC affects MIRI through ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis in vivo and in vitro.

Identification of 5-HT2 Serotonin Receptor Modulators through the Synthesis of a Diverse, Tropane- and Quinuclidine-alkaloid-Inspired Compound Library.

The recombination of natural product (NP) fragments in unprecedented ways has emerged as an important strategy for bioactive compound discovery. In this context, we propose that privileged primary fragments predicted to be enriched in activity against a specific target class can be coupled to diverse secondary fragments to engineer selectivity among closely related targets. Here, we report the synthesis of an alkaloid-inspired compound library enriched in spirocyclic ring fusions, comprising 58 compounds from 12 tropane- or quinuclidine-containing scaffolds, all of which can be considered pseudo-NPs. The library displays excellent predicted drug-like properties including high Fsp3 content and Lipinski's rule-of-five compliance. Targeted screening against selected members of the serotonin and dopamine G protein-coupled receptor family led to the identification of several hits that displayed significant agonist or antagonist activity against 5-HT2A and/or 5-HT2C, and subsequent optimization of one of these delivered a lead dual 5-HT2B/C antagonist with a highly promising selectivity profile.

Selective α3ß4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Ligand as a Potential Tracer for Drug Addiction.

α3ß4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has been recognized as an emerging biomarker for the early detection of drug addiction. Herein, α3ß4 nAChR ligands were designed and synthesized to improve the binding affinity and selectivity of two lead compounds, (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2, for the development of an α3ß4 nAChR tracer. The structural modification was achieved by retaining the key features and expanding the molecular structure with a benzyloxy group to increase the lipophilicity for blood-brain barrier penetration and to extend the ligand-receptor interaction. The preserved key features are a fluorine atom for radiotracer development and a p-hydroxyl motif for ligand-receptor binding affinity. Four (R)- and (S)-quinuclidine-triazole (AK1-AK4) were synthesized and the binding affinity, together with selectivity to α3ß4 nAChR subtype, were determined by competitive radioligand binding assay using [3H]epibatidine as a radioligand. Among all modified compounds, AK3 showed the highest binding affinity and selectivity to α3ß4 nAChR with a Ki value of 3.18 nM, comparable to (S)-QND8 and (S)-T2 and 3069-fold higher affinity to α3ß4 nAChR in comparison to α7 nAChR. The α3ß4 nAChR selectivity of AK3 was considerably higher than those of (S)-QND8 (11.8-fold) and (S)-T2 (294-fold). AK3 was shown to be a promising α3ß4 nAChR tracer for further development as a radiotracer for drug addiction.

Ocular Administration of Palonosetron in the Prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.

Cancer treatments are frequently associated with nausea and vomiting despite greatly improved preventive medication. Administration of antinausea agents as eye drops might provide easy and rapid access to the systemic circulation for prevention of nausea and vomiting and for the treatment of breakthrough nausea, but the ocular administration route has rarely been evaluated. Palonosetron is a second-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonist approved for prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. We compared ocular administration of palonosetron to non-active vehicle eye drops and to intravenous palonosetron in the prevention of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in beagle dogs. Palonosetron ocular drops at the dose of 30 µg/kg reduced cumulative nausea over time as measured with the area under the visual analog scale curve by 98% compared with the vehicle and reduced nausea-associated dog behavior by 95%. Vomiting was completely prevented with repeated palonosetron ocular dosing. Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) palonosetron formulation was well tolerated locally at the palonosetron concentration of 3 mg/ml. Absorption of palonosetron from eye drops was fast. Ten minutes after ocular administration, palonosetron plasma concentrations were similar compared with intravenous administration, and remained similar for six hours. We conclude that palonosetron is rapidly absorbed into the systemic circulation from eye drops. Ocularly administered palonosetron was well tolerated in the HP-ß-CD formulation and was highly effective in the prevention of cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of ocular administration of palonosetron is warranted in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in clinical trials. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Palonosetron, an effective and well-tolerated antiemetic drug was rapidly absorbed into the systemic blood circulation when administered as eye drops. The achieved palonosetron blood concentrations prevented cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in beagle dogs. Palonosetron eye drops might provide an easy and quick method for administering palonosetron when parenteral administration is desired and intravenous administration is not feasible.

Profiling Novel Quinuclidine-Based Derivatives as Potential Anticholinesterase Drugs: Enzyme Inhibition and Effects on Cell Viability.

The cholinergic system, relying on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), plays a significant role in muscle contraction, cognition, and autonomic nervous system regulation. The enzymes acetylcholinesterase, AChE, and butyrylcholinesterase, BChE, responsible for hydrolyzing ACh, can fine-tune the cholinergic system's activity and are, therefore, excellent pharmacological targets to address a range of medical conditions. We designed, synthesized, and profiled 14 N-alkyl quaternary quinuclidines as inhibitors of human AChE and BChE and analyzed their impact on cell viability to assess their safety in the context of application as potential therapeutics. Our results showed that all of the 14 tested quinuclidines inhibited both AChE and BChE in the micromolar range (Ki = 0.26 - 156.2 µM). The highest inhibition potency was observed for two bisquaternary derivatives, 7 (1,1'-(decano)bis(3-hydroxyquinuclidinium bromide)) and 14 (1,1'-(decano)bis(3-hydroxyiminoquinuclidinium bromide)). The cytotoxic effect within 7-200 µM was observed only for monoquaternary quinuclidine derivatives, especially those with the C12-C16 alkyl chain. Further analysis revealed a time-independent mechanism of action, significant LDH release, and a decrease in the cells' mitochondrial membrane potential. Taking all results into consideration, we can confirm that a quinuclidine core presents a good scaffold for cholinesterase binding and that two bisquaternary quinuclidine derivatives could be considered as candidates worth further investigations as drugs acting in the cholinergic system. On the other hand, specific cell-related effects probably triggered by the free long alkyl chain in monoquaternary quinuclidine derivatives should not be neglected in future N-alkyl quaternary quinuclidine derivative structure refinements. Such an effect and their potential to interact with other specific targets, as indicated by a pharmacophore model, open up a new perspective for future investigations of these compounds' scaffold in the treatment of specific conditions and diseases other than cholinergic system-linked disorders.

Venglustat Inhibits Protein N-Terminal Methyltransferase 1 in a Substrate-Competitive Manner.

Venglustat is a known allosteric inhibitor for ceramide glycosyltransferase, investigated in diseases caused by lysosomal dysfunction. Here, we identified venglustat as a potent inhibitor (IC50 = 0.42 µM) of protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) by screening 58,130 compounds. Furthermore, venglustat exhibited selectivity for NTMT1 over 36 other methyltransferases. The crystal structure of NTMT1-venglustat and inhibition mechanism revealed that venglustat competitively binds at the peptide substrate site. Meanwhile, venglustat potently inhibited protein N-terminal methylation levels in cells (IC50 = 0.5 µM). Preliminary structure-activity relationships indicated that the quinuclidine and fluorophenyl parts of venglustat are important for NTMT1 inhibition. In summary, we confirmed that venglustat is a bona fide NTMT1 inhibitor, which would advance the study on the biological roles of NTMT1. Additionally, this is the first disclosure of NTMT1 as a new molecular target of venglustat, which would cast light on its mechanism of action to guide the clinical investigations.

APR-246 triggers ferritinophagy and ferroptosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells with distinct TP53 mutations.

TP53 mutations correlate with inferior survival in many cancers. APR-246 is a compound to shift mutant p53 and exhibits anti-cancer effects. Among its effects, APR-246 facilitates the binding of restored p53 mutants to target genes and their transcription. A set of 2464 DLBCL cases from multiple cohorts including our center, was integrated to identify the type and localization of TP53 mutations and clinical impacts. APR-246 was applied in TP53-mutated DLBCL cells and xenograft mouse models to explore the anti-tumor effect. TP53 mutations frequency was 16% and TP53 mutations correlated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in all cases, especially in germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and unclassified (UNC) subtypes. Notably, TP53 single mutations in the DNA binding domain (DBD) led to poor OS and PFS. Specifically, mutations in exon 7 correlated with poorer OS, while mutations in exons 5 and 6 associated with inferior PFS. APR-246 induces p53-dependent ferritinophagy of DLBCL cells with TP53 missense mutation on exon 7 and ferroptosis of DLBCL cells harboring wild-type TP53 and other TP53 mutations. TP53 mutations on exons 5, 6 and 7 are predictors of progression and survival. Targeting mutant p53 by APR-246 is a promising therapeutic approach for DLBCL patients.

p53 reactivating small molecule PRIMA­1MET/APR­246 regulates genomic instability in MDA­MB­231 cells.

Pharmacological reactivation of tumor­suppressor protein p53 has acted as a promising strategy for more than 50% of human cancers that carry a non­functional mutant p53 (mutp53). p53 plays a critical role in preserving genomic integrity and DNA fidelity through numerous biological processes, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence and apoptosis. By contrast, non­functional mutp53 compromises the aforementioned genome stabilizing mechanisms through gain of function, thereby increasing genomic instability in human cancers. Restoring the functional activity of p53 using both genetic and pharmacological approaches has gained prominence in targeting p53­mutated tumors. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the reactivation of p53 in DNA repair mechanisms and the maintenance of genomic stability using PRIMA­1MET/APR­246 small molecules, in both MDA­MB­231 and MCF­7 breast cancer cell lines, which carry mutp53 and wild­type p53, respectively. Results of the present study revealed that reactivation of p53 through APR­246 led to an increase in the functional activity of DNA repair. Prolonged treatment of MDA­MB­231 cells with APR­246 in the presence of cisplatin led to a reduction in mutational accumulation, compared with cells treated with cisplatin alone. These findings demonstrated that APR­246 may act as a promising small molecule to control the genomic instability in p53­mutated tumors.

Evidence for Alpha7 Nicotinic Receptor Activation During the Cough Suppressing Effects Induced by Nicotine and Identification of ATA-101 as a Potential Novel Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Cough.

Studies performed in healthy smokers have documented a diminished responsiveness to tussive challenges, and several lines of experimental evidence implicate nicotine as an antitussive component in both cigarette smoke and the vapors generated by electronic cigarettes (eCigs). We set out to identify the nicotinic receptor subtype involved in the antitussive actions of nicotine and to further evaluate the potential of nicotinic receptor-selective agonists as cough-suppressing therapeutics. We confirmed an antitussive effect of nicotine in guinea pigs. We additionally observed that the alpha-4 beta-2 (α 4 ß 2)-selective agonist Tc-6683 was without effect on evoked cough responses in guinea pigs, while the α 7-selective agonist PHA 543613 dose-dependently inhibited evoked coughing. We subsequently describe the preclinical evidence in support of ATA-101, a potent and highly selective (α 7) selective nicotinic receptor agonist, as a potential candidate for antitussive therapy in humans. ATA-101, formerly known as Tc-5619, was orally bioavailable and moderately central nervous system (CNS) penetrant and dose-dependently inhibited coughing in guinea pigs evoked by citric acid and bradykinin. Comparing the effects of airway targeted administration versus systemic dosing and the effects of repeated dosing at various times prior to tussive challenge, our data suggest that the antitussive actions of ATA-101 require continued engagement of α 7 nicotinic receptors, likely in the CNS. Collectively, the data provide the preclinical rationale for α 7 nicotinic receptor engagement as a novel therapeutic strategy for cough suppression. The data also suggest that α 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activation by nicotine may be permissive to nicotine delivery in a way that may promote addiction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study documents the antitussive actions of nicotine and identifies the α7 nicotinic receptor subtype as the target for nicotine during cough suppression described in humans. We additionally present evidence suggesting that ATA-101 and other α7 nicotinic receptor-selective agonists may be promising candidates for the treatment of chronic refractory cough.

Cevimeline co-treatment attenuates olanzapine-induced metabolic disorders via modulating hepatic M3 muscarinic receptor: AMPKα signalling pathway in female rats.

BACKGROUND: Olanzapine is one of the most commonly used antipsychotic drugs; however, its metabolic disorders are the main obstacle in the clinic. Olanzapine is a potent antagonist of the M3 acetylcholine muscarinic receptor (M3R), while the downregulated hepatic M3R-AMPKα signalling pathway is involved in metabolic disorders. AIM: This study investigated the effects of chronic co-treatment with cevimeline (an agonist of M3Rs) in attenuating olanzapine-induced metabolic disorders and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Forty-eight adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally with olanzapine (2 mg/kg, 3 times/day (t.i.d.)) and/or cevimeline (9 mg/kg, t.i.d.), or control (vehicle) for 9 weeks. RESULTS: Cevimeline co-treatment significantly attenuated olanzapine-induced body weight gain and glucolipid metabolic disorders. Importantly, cevimeline co-treatment attenuated olanzapine-induced upregulation of M3Rs, while the co-treatment improved olanzapine-induced downregulation of AMPKα in the liver. Cevimeline co-treatment attenuated olanzapine-induced dyslipidaemia by modulating the hepatic M3R-AMPKα downstream pathways. Cevimeline co-treatment also improved lower activated AKT-GSK3ß signalling to reverse impairment of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance caused by chronic olanzapine treatment. CONCLUSION: These results not only support the important role of M3R antagonism and its related AMPKα and downstream pathways in antipsychotic-induced metabolic disorders but also indicate that these pathways might be promising targets for pharmacological intervention to control these side effects caused by antipsychotic therapy.

Structural basis of reactivation of oncogenic p53 mutants by a small molecule: methylene quinuclidinone (MQ).

In response to genotoxic stress, the tumor suppressor p53 acts as a transcription factor by regulating the expression of genes critical for cancer prevention. Mutations in the gene encoding p53 are associated with cancer development. PRIMA-1 and eprenetapopt (APR-246/PRIMA-1MET) are small molecules that are converted into the biologically active compound, methylene quinuclidinone (MQ), shown to reactivate mutant p53 by binding covalently to cysteine residues. Here, we investigate the structural basis of mutant p53 reactivation by MQ based on a series of high-resolution crystal structures of cancer-related and wild-type p53 core domains bound to MQ in their free state and in complexes with their DNA response elements. Our data demonstrate that MQ binds to several cysteine residues located at the surface of the core domain. The structures reveal a large diversity in MQ interaction modes that stabilize p53 and its complexes with DNA, leading to a common global effect that is pertinent to the restoration of non-functional p53 proteins.

Preclinical pharmacology of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor venglustat in a GBA-related synucleinopathy model.

Mutations in GBA, the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), represent the greatest genetic risk factor for developing synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD). Additionally, PD patients harboring a mutant GBA allele present with an earlier disease onset and an accelerated disease progression of both motor and non-motor symptoms. Preclinical studies in mouse models of synucleinopathy suggest that modulation of the sphingolipid metabolism pathway via inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) using a CNS-penetrant small molecule may be a potential treatment for synucleinopathies. Here, we aim to alleviate the lipid storage burden by inhibiting the de novo synthesis of the primary glycosphingolipid substrate of GCase, glucosylceramide (GlcCer). We have previously shown that systemic GCS inhibition reduced GlcCer and glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph) accumulation, slowed α-synuclein buildup in the hippocampus, and improved cognitive deficits. Here, we studied the efficacy of a brain-penetrant clinical candidate GCS inhibitor, venglustat, in mouse models of GBA-related synucleinopathy, including a heterozygous Gba mouse model which more closely replicates the typical GBA-PD patient genotype. Collectively, these data support the rationale for modulation of GCase-related sphingolipid metabolism as a therapeutic strategy for treating GBA-related synucleinopathies.

A Novel Mechanism of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress- and c-Myc-Degradation-Mediated Therapeutic Benefits of Antineurokinin-1 Receptor Drugs in Colorectal Cancer.

The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonists are approved as treatment for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. The emerging role of the substance P-NK-1R system in oncogenesis raises the possibility of repurposing well-tolerated NK-1R antagonists for cancer treatment. This study reports that human colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with high NK-1R expression have poor survival, and NK-1R antagonists SR140333 and aprepitant induce apoptotic cell death in CRC cells and inhibit CRC xenograft growth. This cytotoxicity induced by treatment with NK-1R antagonists is mediated by induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress triggers calcium release, resulting in the suppression of prosurvival extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-c-Myc signaling. Along with ER calcium release, one ER stress pathway mediated by protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) is specifically activated, leading to increased expression of proapoptotic C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP). Moreover, NK-1R antagonists enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy by increasing the sensitivity and overcoming resistance to 5-fluorouracil in CRC cells through the induction of sustained ER stress and the consequent suppression of ERK-c-Myc signaling both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, the findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the efficacy of NK-1R antagonists either as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

APR-246 induces apoptosis and enhances chemo-sensitivity via activation of ROS and TAp73-Noxa signal in oesophageal squamous cell cancer with TP53 missense mutation.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in p53, identified in 90% of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), are associated with unfavourable prognosis and chemo-resistance. APR-246 induces apoptosis by restoring transcriptional ability of mutant p53, and may be a promising therapeutic agent to overcome chemo-resistance in ESCC. METHODS: In ESCC cell lines differing in p53 status, we performed in vitro cell viability and apoptosis assays, evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and assessed signal changes by western blot after APR-246 administration with/without chemo-agent. Antitumour effects and signal changes were evaluated in in vivo experiments using xenograft and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. RESULTS: APR-246 administration induced significant apoptosis by upregulating p73 and Noxa via ROS induction in ESCC cell lines harbouring p53 missense mutations. Moreover, APR-246 plus chemotherapy exerted combined antitumour effects in ESCC with p53 missense mutations. This effect was also mediated through enhanced ROS activity, leading to massive apoptosis via upregulation of p73 and Noxa. These findings were confirmed by xenograft and PDX models with p53 mutant ESCC. CONCLUSION: APR-246 strongly induced apoptosis by inducing ROS activity and p73-Noxa signalling, specifically in ESCC with p53 missense mutation. This antitumour effect was further enhanced by combination with 5-FU, which we first confirmed in ESCC preclinical model.

Tumor necrosis factor α­induced protein 8­like 2 contributes to penehyclidine hydrochloride pretreatment against lipopolysaccharide­induced acute lung injury in a mouse model.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) pretreatment on mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)­induced acute lung injury (ALI) and its possible underlying mechanisms. Mice were randomly separated into six groups: i) Sham group; ii) LPS group; iii) LPS + PHC group; iv) tumor necrosis factor a­induced protein 8­like protein 2 (TIPE2) group; v) LPS + TIPE2 group; and vi) LPS + TIPE2 + PHC group. The ALI model was induced using LPS through intratracheal injection. The mice received adenovirus gene to induce the overexpression of TIPE2. After mice were sacrificed, lung injury indices were assessed, and arterial blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues were collected for subsequent assays. Expression levels of related proteins were detected by using western blotting. It was found that compared with the sham group, the mice treated with LPS showed increased lung injury and dysfunctions of gas exchange. However, these trends were significantly ameliorated in the LPS + PHC group. Evaluation of protein expression in lung tissues showed that the increased expression of nuclear NF­κB p65 and p­c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK) induced by LPS were suppressed in the LPS + PHC group and the expression of TIPE2 was increased. The mice that received adenovirus gene to induce TIPE2 overexpression could also showed protective effects compared with the mice in the LPS group. However, the expression of TIPE2 decreased rather than increased in LPS group. In the mice pretreated with PHC, the expression of TIPE2 increased in mice with LPS­induced ALI. To conclude, PHC pretreatment could inhibit the occurrence of inflammation and apoptosis in LPS­induced ALI. This process may be related to the activation of TIPE2 and the inhibition of NF­κB and JNK signaling pathway in the lungs of mice.

Neuropharmacology of Cevimeline and Muscarinic Drugs-Focus on Cognition and Neurodegeneration.

At present, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias cannot be cured. Therefore, scientists all over the world are trying to find a new approach to prolong an active life of patients with initial dementia. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pathways are investigated to improve the key symptom of the disease, memory loss. In this respect, influencing the neuromodulator acetylcholine via muscarinic receptors, such as cevimeline, might be one of the therapeutic alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of cevimeline on the cognitive functions of AD patients. The methodology is based on a systematic literature review of available studies found in Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, and Scopus on the research topic. The findings indicate that cevimeline has shown an improvement in experimentally induced cognitive deficits in animal models. Furthermore, it has demonstrated to positively influence tau pathology and reduce the levels of amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide in the cerebral spinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients. Although this drug has not been approved by the FDA for its use among AD patients and there is a lack of clinical studies confirming and extending this finding, cevimeline might represent a breakthrough in the treatment of AD.