Venetoclax resistance leads to broad resistance to standard-of-care anti-MM agents, but not to immunotherapies.

Venetoclax is the first example of personalized medicine for multiple myeloma (MM), with meaningful clinical activity as a monotherapy and in combination in myeloma patients harboring the t(11:14) translocation. However, despite the high response rates and prolonged PFS, a significant proportion of patients eventually relapse. Here, we aimed to study adaptive molecular responses after the acquisition of venetoclax resistance in sensitive t(11:14) MM cell models. We therefore generated single-cell venetoclax-resistant t(11:14) MM cell lines and investigated the mechanisms contributing to resistance as well as the cells' sensitivity to other treatments. Our data suggests that acquired resistance to venetoclax is characterized by reduced mitochondrial priming and changes in BCL-2 family proteins' expression in MM cells, conferring broad resistance to standard-of-care anti-myeloma drugs. However, our results show that the resistant cells are still sensitive to immunotherapeutic treatments, highlighting the need to consider appropriate sequencing of these treatments following venetoclax-based regimens.

Regulation of tumor metabolism by post translational modifications on metabolic enzymes.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Several metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, lipid metabolism, and glutamine catabolism are frequently altered to support cancer growth. Importantly, the activity of the rate-limiting metabolic enzymes in these pathways are specifically modulated in cancer cells. This is achieved by transcriptional, translational, and post translational regulations that enhance the expression, activity, stability, and substrate sensitivity of the rate-limiting enzymes. These mechanisms allow the enzymes to retain increased activity supporting the metabolic needs of rapidly growing tumors, sustain their survival in the hostile tumor microenvironments and in the metastatic lesions. In this review, we primarily focused on the post translational modifications of the rate-limiting enzymes in the glucose and glutamine metabolism, TCA cycle, and fatty acid metabolism promoting tumor progression and metastasis.

Field-Template, QSAR, Ensemble Molecular Docking, and 3D-RISM Solvation Studies Expose Potential of FDA-Approved Marine Drugs as SARS-CoVID-2 Main Protease Inhibitors.

Currently, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has infected people among all countries and is a pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). SARS-CoVID-2 main protease is one of the therapeutic drug targets that has been shown to reduce virus replication, and its high-resolution 3D structures in complex with inhibitors have been solved. Previously, we had demonstrated the potential of natural compounds such as serine protease inhibitors eventually leading us to hypothesize that FDA-approved marine drugs have the potential to inhibit the biological activity of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Initially, field-template and structure-activity atlas models were constructed to understand and explain the molecular features responsible for SARS-CoVID-2 main protease inhibitors, which revealed that Eribulin Mesylate, Plitidepsin, and Trabectedin possess similar characteristics related to SARS-CoVID-2 main protease inhibitors. Later, protein-ligand interactions are studied using ensemble molecular-docking simulations that revealed that marine drugs bind at the active site of the main protease. The three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) studies show that marine drugs displace water molecules at the active site, and interactions observed are favorable. These computational studies eventually paved an interest in further in vitro studies. Finally, these findings are new and indeed provide insights into the role of FDA-approved marine drugs, which are already in clinical use for cancer treatment as a potential alternative to prevent and treat infected people with SARS-CoV-2.

Phytochemicals in Garlic Extract Inhibit Therapeutic Enzyme DPP-4 and Induce Skeletal Muscle Cell Proliferation: A Possible Mechanism of Action to Benefit the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a severe health problem in Mexico, and its prevalence is increasing exponentially every year. Recently, DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) inhibitors have become attractive oral anti-hyperglycemic agents to reduce the pathology of diabetes. Gliptin's family, such as sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and alogliptin, are in clinical use to treat diabetes mellitus but possess side effects. Therefore, there is a specific need to look for new therapeutic scaffolds (biomolecules). Garlic bulb is widely used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of diabetes. The garlic extracts are scientifically proven to control glucose levels in patients with diabetes, despite the unknown mechanism of action. The aim of the study is to investigate the antidiabetic effects of ultrasonication assisted garlic bulb extract. To achieve this, in-vitro assays such as DPP-4 inhibitory and antioxidant activities were investigated. Further, functional group analysis using FTIR and identification of phytochemicals using mass spectrometry analysis was performed. The results showed that 70.9 µg/mL of garlic bulb extract inhibited 50% DPP-4 activity. On top of that, the garlic extract exhibited a 20% scavenging activity, equivalent to 10 µg/mL of ascorbic acid. Molecular docking simulations on identified phytochemicals using mass spectrometry revealed their potential binding at the DPP-4 druggable region, and therefore the possible DPP-4 inhibition mechanism. These results suggest that prepared garlic extract contains phytochemicals that inhibit DPP-4 and have antioxidant activity. Also, the prepared extract induces skeletal muscle cell proliferation that demonstrates the antidiabetic effect and its possible mechanism of action.

New Molecular Insights into the Inhibition of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 by Natural Cyclic Peptide Oxytocin.

Protease inhibition has led to treating many diseases and has been successful in producing many commercial drugs by pharmaceutical companies. Among many proteases, serine protease has been attractive in treating metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus (DM). Gliptins have been proven to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), a serine protease, and are an emerging therapeutic drug target to reduce blood glucose levels, but until now there is no natural cyclic peptide proven to inhibit serine protease DPP4. This study demonstrates the potential mechanism of natural cyclic peptide oxytocin (OXT) as a DPP4 inhibitor. To achieve this, initially, activity atlas and field-based models of DPP4 inhibitors were utilized to predict the possible features of positive and negative electrostatic, hydrophobic, and activity shapes of DPP4 inhibition. Oxytocin binding mode, flexibility, and interacting residues were studied using molecular docking simulations studies. 3D-RISM calculations studies revealed that the stability of water molecules at the binding site are favorable. Finally, an experimental study using fluorescence assay revealed OXT inhibits DPP4 in a concentration-dependent manner in a significant way (p < 0.05) and possess IC50 of 110.7 nM. These new findings significantly expand the pharmaceutical application of cyclic peptides, and in specific OXT, and implicate further optimization of OXT inhibition capacity to understand the effect of DPP4 inhibition. This work highlights the development of natural cyclic peptides as future therapeutic peptides to reduce glucose levels and treat diabetes mellitus.

Repurposing of FDA-Approved NSAIDs for DPP-4 Inhibition as an Alternative for Diabetes Mellitus Treatment: Computational and in Vitro Study.

A drug repurposing strategy could be a potential approach to overcoming the economic costs for diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment incurred by most countries. DM has emerged as a global epidemic, and an increase in the outbreak has led developing countries like Mexico, India, and China to recommend a prevention method as an alternative proposed by their respective healthcare sectors. Incretin-based therapy has been successful in treating diabetes mellitus, and inhibitors like sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, and alogliptin belong to this category. As of now, drug repurposing strategies have not been used to identify existing therapeutics that can become dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Hence, this work presents the use of bioinformatics tools like the Activity Atlas model, flexible molecular docking simulations, and three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) calculations to assist in repurposing Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs into specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as DPP-4 inhibitors. Initially, the Activity Atlas model was constructed based on the top scoring DPP-4 inhibitors, and then the model was used to understand features of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a function of electrostatic, hydrophobic, and active shape features of DPP-4 inhibition. The FlexX algorithm was used to infer protein-ligand interacting residues, and binding energy, to predict potential draggability towards the DPP-4 mechanism of action. 3D-RISM calculations on piroxicam-bound DPP-4 were used to understand the stability of water molecules at the active site. Finally, piroxicam was chosen as the repurposing drug to become a new DPP-4 inhibitor and validated experimentally using fluorescence spectroscopy assay. These findings are novel and provide new insights into the role of piroxicam as a new lead to inhibit DPP-4 and, taking into consideration the biological half-life of piroxicam, it can be proposed as a possible therapeutic strategy for treating diabetes mellitus.

Discovery of Galangin as a Potential DPP-4 Inhibitor That Improves Insulin-Stimulated Skeletal Muscle Glucose Uptake: A Combinational Therapy for Diabetes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is a well-known therapeutic drug target proven to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetes mellitus, and clinically, DPP-4 inhibitors are used in combination with other anti-diabetic agents. However, side effects and skeletal muscle health are not considered in the treatment for diabetic patients. Recently, natural compounds have been proven to inhibit DPP-4 with fewer side effects. In this work, initially, molecular docking simulations revealed that a natural compound, Galangin, possess a binding energy of -24 KJ/mol and interaction residues SER 630 and TYR 547, that are responsible for potent DPP-4 inhibition. In vitro studies showed that galangin not only inhibits DPP-4 in a concentration-dependent manner but also regulates glucose levels, enabling the proliferation of rat L6 skeletal muscle cells. The combination of galangin with insulin benefits regulation of glucose levels significantly in comparison to galangin alone (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the beneficial effect of the use of galangin, both alone or in combination with insulin, to reduce glucose levels and improve skeletal muscle health in diabetes mellitus.

Designed Functional Dispersion for Insulin Protection from Pepsin Degradation and Skeletal Muscle Cell Proliferation: In Silico and In Vitro Study.

Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes with polyethylene glycol (PEGylated SWCNTs) are a promising nanomaterial that recently has emerged as the most attractive "cargo" to deliver chemicals, peptides, DNA and RNAs into cells. Insulin therapy is a recommended therapy to treat diabetes mellitus despite its side effects. Recently, functional dispersion made up of bioactive peptides, bioactive compounds and functionalized carbon nanomaterials such as PEGylated SWCNTs have proved to possess promising applications in nanomedicine. In the present study, molecular modeling simulations are utilized to assist in designing insulin hormone-PEGylated SWCNT composites, also called functional dispersion; to achieve this experimentally, an ultrasonication tool was utilized. Enzymatic degradation assay revealed that the designed functional dispersion protects about 70% of free insulin from pepsin. In addition, sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, the quantification of insulin and glucose levels in differentiated skeletal muscle cell supernatants, reveals that functional dispersion regulates glucose and insulin levels to promote skeletal muscle cell proliferation. These findings offer new perspectives for designed functional dispersion, as potential pharmaceutical preparations to improve insulin therapy and promote skeletal muscle cell health.

Structure⁻Activity Relationship and Molecular Docking of Natural Product Library Reveal Chrysin as a Novel Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitor: An Integrated In Silico and In Vitro Study.

Numerous studies indicate that diets with a variety of fruits and vegetables decrease the incidence of severe diseases, like diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Diets contain a variety of bioactive compounds, and their features, like diverge scaffolds, and structural complexity make them the most successful source of potential leads or hits in the process of drug discovery and drug development. Recently, novel serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors played a role in the management of diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This study describes the development of field template, field-based qualitative structure⁻activity relationship (SAR) model demonstrating DPP-4 inhibitors of natural origin, and the same model is used to screen virtually focused food database composed of polyphenols as potential DPP-4 inhibitors. Compounds' similarity to field template, and novelty score "high and very high", were used as primary criteria to identify novel DPP-4 inhibitors. Molecular docking simulations were performed on the resulting natural compounds using FlexX algorithm. Finally, one natural compound, chrysin, was chosen to be evaluated experimentally to demonstrate the applicability of constructed SAR model. This study provides the molecular insights necessary in the discovery of new leads as DPP-4 inhibitors, to improve the potency of existing DPP-4 natural inhibitors.