Chemokine SDF1 Mediated Bone Regeneration Using Biodegradable Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) 3D Scaffolds and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Implication for the Development of an "Off-the-Shelf" Pharmacologically Active Construct.

There is an increasing need for bone substitutes for reconstructive orthopedic surgery following removal of bone tumors. Despite the advances in bone regeneration, the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) presents a significant challenge, particularly for the treatment of large bone defects in cancer patients. This study aims at developing new chemokine-based technology to generate biodegradable scaffolds that bind pharmacologically active proteins for regeneration/repair of target injured tissues in patients. Primary MSC were cultured from the uninvolved bone marrow (BM) of cancer patients and further characterized for "stemness". Their ability to differentiate into an osteogenic lineage was studied in 2D cultures as well as on 3D macroporous PLGA scaffolds incorporated with biomacromolecules bFGF and homing factor chemokine stromal-cell derived factor-1 (SDF1). MSC from the uninvolved BM of cancer patients exhibited properties similar to that reported for MSC from BM of healthy individuals. Macroporous PLGA discs were prepared and characterized for pore size, architecture, functional groups, thermostability, and cytocompatibility by ESEM, FTIR, DSC, and CCK-8 dye proliferation assay, respectively. It was observed that the MSC+PLGA+bFGF+SDF1 construct cultured for 14 days supported significant cell growth, osteo-lineage differentiation with increased osteocalcin expression, alkaline phosphatase secretion, calcium mineralization, bone volume, and soluble IL6 compared to unseeded PLGA and PLGA+MSC, as analyzed by confocal microscopy, biochemistry, ESEM, microCT imaging, flow cytometry, and EDS. Thus, chemotactic biomacromolecule SDF1-guided tissue repair/regeneration ability of MSC from cancer patients opens up the avenues for development of "off-the-shelf" pharmacologically active construct for optimal repair of the target injured tissue in postsurgery cancer patients, bone defects, damaged bladder tissue, and radiation-induced skin/mucosal lesions.

Peripheral administration of SB223412, a selective neurokinin-3 receptor antagonist, suppresses pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion by acting on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator in estrogen-treated ovariectomized female goats.

Accumulating evidence suggests that KNDy neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), which are reported to express kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A, are indispensable for the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generation that results in rhythmic GnRH secretion. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of peripheral administration of the neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R/TACR3, a receptor for neurokinin B) antagonist, SB223412, on GnRH pulse-generating activity and pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in ovariectomized Shiba goats treated with luteal phase levels of estrogen. The NK3R antagonist was infused intravenously for 4 h {0.16 or 1.6 mg/(kg body weight [BW]·4 h)} during which multiple unit activity (MUA) in the ARC was recorded, an electrophysiological technique commonly employed to monitor GnRH pulse generator activity. In a separate experiment, the NK3R antagonist (40 or 200 mg/[kg BW·day]) was administered orally for 7 days to determine whether the NK3R antagonist could modulate pulsatile LH secretion when administered via the oral route. Intravenous infusion of the NK3R antagonist significantly increased the interval of episodic bursts of MUA compared with that of the controls. Oral administration of the antagonist for 7 days also significantly prolonged the interpulse interval of LH pulses. The results of this study demonstrate that peripheral administration of an NK3R antagonist suppresses pulsatile LH secretion by acting on the GnRH pulse generator, suggesting that NK3R antagonist administration could be used to modulate reproductive functions in ruminants.

Development of Mirror-Image Screening Systems for XIAP BIR3 Domain Inhibitors.

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein baculovirus IAP repeat (XIAP BIR3) domain is a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. For the mirror-image screening campaign to identify drug candidates from an unexplored mirror-image natural product library, a facile synthetic protocol for XIAP BIR3 domain synthesis was established by a native chemical ligation strategy using conserved cysteines present among BIR domains. The native and mirror-image XIAP BIR3 domains with an appropriate functional group for labeling were prepared using the established protocol. Taking advantage of the resulting synthetic proteins, several bioassay systems were developed to characterize inhibitors of the protein-protein interaction between the XIAP BIR3 domain and the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases.

Inhibition of stromal cell-derived factor-1α/CXCR4 signaling restores the blood-retina barrier in pericyte-deficient mouse retinas.

In diabetic retinopathy (DR), pericyte dropout from capillary walls is believed to cause the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier (BRB), which subsequently leads to vision-threatening retinal edema. While various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines are upregulated in eyes with DR, their distinct contributions to disease progression remain elusive. Here, we evaluated roles of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and its receptor CXCR4 in the BRB breakdown initiated by pericyte deficiency. After inhibition of pericyte recruitment to developing retinal vessels in neonatal mice, endothelial cells (ECs) upregulated the expression of SDF-1α. Administration of CXCR4 antagonists, or EC-specific disruption of the CXCR4 gene, similarly restored the BRB integrity, even in the absence of pericyte coverage. Furthermore, CXCR4 inhibition significantly decreased both the expression levels of proinflammatory genes (P < 0.05) and the infiltration of macrophages (P < 0.05) into pericyte-deficient retinas. Taken together, EC-derived SDF-1α induced by pericyte deficiency exacerbated inflammation through CXCR4 in an autocrine or paracrine manner and thereby induced macrophage infiltration and BRB breakdown. These findings suggest that the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in DR.

Structure-Activity Relationship Study on Odoamide: Insights into the Bioactivities of Aurilide-Family Hybrid Peptide-Polyketides.

Odoamide is a cytotoxic peptide-polyketide hybrid molecule isolated from the Okinawan marine cyanobacterium Okeania sp. For an efficient structure-activity relationship study of the peptide part of odoamide, a facile synthetic protocol was established using a solid-phase peptide synthesis. Among a series of peptides, the d-MeAla6 isomer exhibited a more potent cytotoxicity than natural odoamide. It was also demonstrated that the 26-membered macrocyclic natural odoamide and the 24-membered isomer with comparable cytotoxicities were slowly interconvertible, and both isomers contributed to the potent cytotoxicity of odoamide. Examination of the physicochemical properties revealed that the in vitro cytotoxicity was affected by the serum protein binding of odoamide derivatives, while the differences in the macrocyclic structures had no significant effect on the membrane permeability.

Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Cyclic Pentapeptide Ligands for Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 (ACKR3).

The atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3)/CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) recognizes stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12 and is involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigated the SAR of the component amino acids in an ACKR3-selective ligand, FC313 [ cyclo(-d-Tyr-l-Arg-l-MeArg-l-Nal(2)-l-Pro-)], for the development of highly active ACKR3 ligands. Notably, modification at the l-Pro position with a bulky hydrophobic side chain led to improved bioactivity toward ACKR3.

Head-to-tail macrocyclization of cysteine-free peptides using an o-aminoanilide linker.

A head-to-tail macrocyclization protocol for the preparation of cysteine-free cyclic peptides was investigated. The o-aminoanilide linker constructed in the peptide sequence by a standard Fmoc-based peptide synthesis procedure was subjected to nitrite-mediated activation under acidic conditions toward N-acyl benzotriazole as the active ester species. The subsequent cyclization smoothly proceeded by neutralization in the presence of additives such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt) to afford the expected cyclic pentapeptide, a CXCR4 antagonist. The cyclization efficiencies were dependent on the precursor open-chain sequence. The application of this step-wise activation-cyclization protocol to microflow reaction systems is also described.

Study of stem cell homing & self-renewal marker gene profile of ex vivo expanded human CD34+ cells manipulated with a mixture of cytokines & stromal cell-derived factor 1.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Next generation transplantation medicine aims to develop stimulating cocktail for increased ex vivo expansion of primitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC). The present study was done to evaluate the cocktail GF (Thrombopoietin + Stem Cell factor + Flt3-ligand) and homing-defining molecule Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) for HSPC ex vivo expansion. METHODS: Peripheral blood stem cell (n=74) harvests were analysed for CD34hiCD45lo HSPC. Immunomagnetically enriched HSPC were cultured for eight days and assessed for increase in HSPC, colony forming potential in vitro and in vivo engrafting potential by analyzing human CD45+ cells. Expression profile of genes for homing and stemness were studied using microarray analysis. Expression of adhesion/homing markers were validated by flow cytometry/ confocal microscopy. RESULTS: CD34hiCD45lo HSPC expansion cultures with GF+SDF1 demonstrated increased nucleated cells (n=28, P+ cells (n=8, P=0.021) and increased colony forming units (cfu) compared to unstimulated and GF-stimulated HSPC. NOD-SCID mice transplanted with GF+SDF1-HSPC exhibited successful homing/engraftment (n=24, PInterpretation & conclusions: Cocktail of cytokines and SDF1 showed good potential to successfully expand HSPC which exhibited enhanced ability to generate multilineage cells in short-term and long-term repopulation assay. This cocktail-mediated stem cell expansion has potential to obviate the need for longer and large volume apheresis procedure making it convenient for donors.

CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway is activated by oncogenic JAK2 in a PI3K-dependent manner.

JAK2 activation is the driver mechanism in BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). These diseases are characterized by an abnormal retention of hematopoietic stem cells within the bone marrow microenvironment and their increased trafficking to extramedullary sites. The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays a central role in hematopoietic stem cell/ progenitor trafficking and retention in hematopoietic sites. The present study explores the crosstalk between JAK2 and CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling pathways in MPN. We show that JAK2, activated by either MPL-W515L expression or cytokine stimulation, cooperates with CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling to increase the chemotactic response of human cell lines and primary CD34+ cells through an increased phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Accordingly, primary myelofibrosis (MF) patient cells demonstrate an increased CXCL12-induced chemotaxis when compared to controls. JAK2 inhibition by knock down or chemical inhibitors decreases this effect in MPL-W515L expressing cell lines and reduces the CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in some patient primary cells. Taken together, these data indicate that CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway is overactivated in MF patients by oncogenic JAK2 that maintains high PI3K signaling over the threshold required for CXCR4 activation. These results suggest that inhibition of this crosstalk may contribute to the therapeutic effects of JAK2 inhibitors.

Fe(ii)-Complexation of tripodal hexapeptide ligands with three bidentate triazolylpyridines: induction of metal-centred chirality by peptide macrocyclization.

Fe(ii)-Coordinating peptides, having three bidentate 2-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine moieties at their side-chains, were designed based on the naturally occurring siderophore structures. The C3-symmetric macrocyclic peptide and an open-chain congener with the same sequence formed Fe(ii)-peptide complexes with opposite metal-centred chiralities.

Investigation of the inhibitory mechanism of apomorphine against MDM2-p53 interaction.

Mirror-image screening using d-proteins is a powerful approach to provide mirror-image structures of chiral natural products for drug screening. During the course of our screening study for novel MDM2-p53 interaction inhibitors, we identified that NPD6878 (R-(-)-apomorphine) inhibited both the native l-MDM2-l-p53 interaction and the mirror-image d-MDM2-d-p53 interaction at equipotent doses. In addition, both enantiomers of apomorphine showed potent inhibitory activity against the native MDM2-p53 interaction. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory mechanism of both enantiomers of apomorphine against the MDM2-p53 interaction. Achiral oxoapomorphine, which was converted from chiral apomorphines under aerobic conditions, served as the reactive species to form a covalent bond at Cys77 of MDM2, leading to the inhibitory effect against the binding to p53.

Identification of selective inhibitors of sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 through a structure-activity relationship study of 4-epi-jaspine B.

We recently reported that 4-epi-jaspine B exhibits potent inhibitory activity towards sphingosine kinases (SphKs). In this study, we investigated the effects of modifying the 2-alkyl group, as well as the functional groups on the THF ring of 4-epi-jaspine B using a diversity-oriented synthesis approach based on a late-stage cross metathesis reaction. The introduction of a p-phenylene tether to the alkyl group was favored in most cases, whereas the replacement of a carbon atom with an oxygen atom led to a decrease in the inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the introduction of a bulky alkyl group at the terminus led to a slight increase in the inhibitory activity of this series towards SphKs compared with 4-epi-jaspine B (the Q values of compound 13 for SphK1 and SphK2 were 0.2 and 0.4, respectively). Based on this study, we identified two isoform selective inhibitors, including the m-phenylene derivative 4 [IC50 (SphK1) ≥30µM; IC50 (SphK2)=2.2µM] and the methyl ether derivative 22 [IC50 (SphK1)=4.0µM; IC50 (SphK2) ≥30µM].

GXXXG-Mediated Parallel and Antiparallel Dimerization of Transmembrane Helices and Its Inhibition by Cholesterol: Single-Pair FRET and 2D IR Studies.

Small-residue-mediated interhelical packings are ubiquitously found in helical membrane proteins, although their interaction dynamics and lipid dependence remain mostly uncharacterized. We used a single-pair FRET technique to examine the effect of a GXXXG motif on the association of de novo designed (AALALAA)3 helices in liposomes. Dimerization occurred with sub-second lifetimes, which was abolished by cholesterol. Utilizing the nearly instantaneous time-resolution of 2D IR spectroscopy, parallel and antiparallel helix associations were identified by vibrational couplings across helices at their interface. Taken together, the data illustrate that the GXXXG motif controls helix packing but still allows for a dynamic and lipid-regulated oligomeric state.

Synthesis of Grb2 SH2 Domain Proteins for Mirror-Image Screening Systems.

Grb2 is an adaptor protein that mediates cellular signal transduction. Grb2 contains an SH2 domain that interacts with phosphotyrosine-containing sequences in EGFR and other signaling molecules, and it is a promising molecular target for anticancer agents. To identify novel inhibitors of the Grb2 SH2 domain from natural products and their mirror-image isomers, screening systems using both enantiomers of a synthetic Grb2 SH2 domain protein were established. A pair of synthetic procedures for the proteins were investigated: one employed a single native chemical ligation (NCL) of two segment peptides, and the other used the N-to-C-directed NCL of three segment peptides for easier preparation. Labeling at the N-terminus or the Ala115 residue of the Grb2 SH2 domain provided functional probes to detect binding to a phosphotyrosine-containing peptide. The resulting synthetic-protein-based probes were applied to bioassays, including chemical array analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

CXCR4/CXCL12 axis counteracts hematopoietic stem cell exhaustion through selective protection against oxidative stress.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) undergo self-renewal to maintain hematopoietic homeostasis for lifetime, which is regulated by the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 are critical factors supporting quiescence and BM retention of HSCs. Here, we report an unknown function of CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in the protection of HSCs against oxidative stress. Disruption of CXCR4 receptor in mice leads to increased endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in p38 MAPK activation, increased DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis leading to marked reduction in HSC repopulating potential. Increased ROS levels are directly responsible for exhaustion of the HSC pool and are not linked to loss of quiescence of CXCR4-deficient HSCs. Furthermore, we report that CXCL12 has a direct rescue effect on oxidative stress-induced HSC damage at the mitochondrial level. These data highlight the importance of CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in the regulation of lifespan of HSCs by limiting ROS generation and genotoxic stress.

Total synthesis of odoamide, a novel cyclic depsipeptide, from an Okinawan marine cyanobacterium.

Odoamide is a novel cyclic depsipeptide with highly potent cytotoxic activity isolated from the Okinawan marine cyanobacterium Okeania sp. It contains a 26-membered macrocycle composed of a fatty acid moiety, a peptide segment and isoleucic acid. Four possible stereoisomers of the odoamide polyketide substructure were synthesised using a chiral pool approach. The first total synthesis of odoamide was also successfully achieved. The structure of synthetic odoamide was verified by comparing its NMR spectra with those of the natural product.

Functional 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene scaffold: Design of fluorescent probes for kinesin spindle protein (KSP).

1,3a,6a-Triazapentalene is a compact fluorescent chromophore. In this study, triazapentalene was used to modify a series of biphenyl-type inhibitors of kinesin spindle protein (KSP) to develop fluorescent probes for the intracellular visualization of this protein. Microscopic studies demonstrated that these novel triazapentalene-labeled compounds exhibited inhibitory activity towards KSP in cultured cells and provided important information concerning the intracellular distribution.

Enhanced antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1 variants that are resistant to fusion inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 typically develops resistance to any single antiretroviral agent. Combined anti-retroviral therapy to reduce drug-resistance development is necessary to control HIV-1 infection. Here, to assess the utility of a combination of antibody and fusion inhibitor treatments, we investigated the potency of monoclonal antibodies at neutralizing HIV-1 variants that are resistant to fusion inhibitors. RESULTS: Mutations that confer resistance to four fusion inhibitors, enfuvirtide, C34, SC34, and SC34EK, were introduced into the envelope of HIV-1JR-FL, a CCR5-tropic tier 2 strain. Pseudoviruses with these mutations were prepared and used for the assessment of neutralization sensitivity to an array of antibodies. The resulting neutralization data indicate that the potencies of some antibodies, especially of those against the CD4 binding site, V3 loop, and membrane-proximal external region epitopes, were increased by the mutations in gp41 that conferred resistance to the fusion inhibitors. C34-, SC34-, and SC34EK-resistant mutants showed more sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies than enfuvirtide-resistant mutants. An analysis of C34-resistant mutations revealed that the I37K mutation in gp41 HR1 is a key mutation for C34 resistance, low infectivity, neutralization sensitivity, epitope exposure, and slow fusion kinetics. The N126K mutation in the gp41 HR2 domain contributed to C34 resistance and neutralization sensitivity to anti-CD4 binding site antibodies. In the absence of L204I, the effect of N126K was antagonistic to that of I37K. The results of a molecular dynamic simulation of the envelope trimer confirmation suggest that an I37K mutation induces the augmentation of structural fluctuations prominently in the interface between gp41 and gp120. Our observations indicate that the "conformational unmasking" of envelope glycoprotein by an I37K mutation is one of the mechanisms of neutralization sensitivity enhancement. Furthermore, the enhanced neutralization of C34-resistant mutants in vivo was shown by its high rate of neutralization by IgG from HIV patient samples. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in gp41 that confer fusion inhibitor resistance exert enhanced sensitivity to broad neutralizing antibodies (e.g., VRC01 and 10E8) and other conventional antibodies developed in HIV-1 infected patients. Therefore, next-generation fusion inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies could be a potential combination for future regimens of combined antiretroviral therapy.

A Novel Peptide Derived from the Fusion Protein Heptad Repeat Inhibits Replication of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Virus In Vitro and In Vivo.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a persistent, progressive, and fatal degenerative disease resulting from persistent measles virus (MV) infection of the central nervous system. Most drugs used to treat SSPE have been reported to have limited effects. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required. The SSPE virus, a variant MV strain, differs virologically from wild-type MV strain. One characteristic of the SSPE virus is its defective production of cell-free virus, which leaves cell-to-cell infection as the major mechanism of viral dissemination. The fusion protein plays an essential role in this cell-to-cell spread. It contains two critical heptad repeat regions that form a six-helix bundle in the trimer similar to most viral fusion proteins. In the case of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), a synthetic peptide derived from the heptad repeat region of the fusion protein enfuvirtide inhibits viral replication and is clinically approved as an anti-HIV-1 agent. The heptad repeat regions of HIV-1 are structurally and functionally similar to those of the MV fusion protein. We therefore designed novel peptides derived from the fusion protein heptad repeat region of the MV and examined their effects on the measles and SSPE virus replication in vitro and in vivo. Some of these synthetic novel peptides demonstrated high antiviral activity against both the measles (Edmonston strain) and SSPE (Yamagata-1 strain) viruses at nanomolar concentrations with no cytotoxicity in vitro. In particular, intracranial administration of one of the synthetic peptides increased the survival rate from 0% to 67% in an SSPE virus-infected nude mouse model.

Novel 3,4,7-Substituted Benzofuran Derivatives Having Binding Affinity to κ-Opioid Receptor.

A series of novel 3,4,7-trisubstituted benzofuran derivatives were synthesized, and their binding affinity to κ- (KOR) and µ-opioid receptors (MOR) were evaluated. Several aryl ethers showed moderate binding activities to KOR (IC50=3.9-11 µM) without binding to MOR.