Tailored Modulation of Cellular Pro-inflammatory Responses With Disaccharide Lipid A Mimetics.

Pro-inflammatory signaling mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation-2 (MD-2) complex plays a crucial role in the instantaneous protection against infectious challenge and largely contributes to recovery from Gram-negative infection. Activation of TLR4 also boosts the adaptive immunity which is implemented in the development of vaccine adjuvants by application of minimally toxic TLR4 activating ligands. The modulation of pro-inflammatory responses via the TLR4 signaling pathway was found beneficial for management of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders including asthma, allergy, arthritis, Alzheimer disease pathology, sepsis, and cancer. The TLR4/MD-2 complex can recognize the terminal motif of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-a glycophospholipid lipid A. Although immense progress in understanding the molecular basis of LPS-induced TLR4-mediated signaling has been achieved, gradual, and predictable TLR4 activation by structurally defined ligands has not yet been attained. We report on controllable modulation of cellular pro-inflammatory responses by application of novel synthetic glycolipids-disaccharide-based lipid A mimetics (DLAMs) having picomolar affinity for TLR4/MD-2. Using crystal structure inspired design we have developed endotoxin mimetics where the inherently flexible ß(1 → 6)-linked diglucosamine backbone of lipid A is replaced by a conformationally restricted α,α-(1↔1)-linked disaccharide scaffold. The tertiary structure of the disaccharide skeleton of DLAMs mirrors the 3-dimensional shape of TLR4/MD-2 bound E. coli lipid A. Due to exceptional conformational rigidity of the sugar scaffold, the specific 3D organization of DLAM must be preserved upon interaction with proteins. These structural factors along with specific acylation and phosphorylation pattern can ensure picomolar affinity for TLR4 and permit efficient dimerization of TLR4/MD-2/DLAM complexes. Since the binding pose of lipid A in the binding pocket of MD-2 (±180°) is crucial for the expression of biological activity, the chemical structure of DLAMs was designed to permit a predefined binding orientation in the binding groove of MD-2, which ensured tailored and species-independent (human and mice) TLR4 activation. Manipulating phosphorylation and acylation pattern at the sugar moiety facing the secondary dimerization interface allowed for adjustable modulation of the TLR4-mediated signaling. Tailored modulation of cellular pro-inflammatory responses by distinct modifications of the molecular structure of DLAMs was attained in primary human and mouse immune cells, lung epithelial cells and TLR4 transfected HEK293 cells.

Synthetic glycan-based TLR4 agonists targeting caspase-4/11 for the development of adjuvants and immunotherapeutics.

Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediated pro-inflammatory signaling plays a key role in immunoprotection against infectious challenges and boosts adaptive immunity, whereas the activation of the cytosolic LPS receptor caspase-4/11 leads to cell death by pyroptosis and is deeply implicated in the development of sepsis. Despite tremendous advances in the understanding of the LPS-TLR4 interaction, predictably regulated TLR4 activation has not yet been achieved. The structural basis for the induction of caspase-4/11 protease activity by LPS is currently unknown. The modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses through the controlled induction of TLR4 signaling without triggering caspase-4/11 activity would open novel perspectives in the development of safe vaccine adjuvants and immunotherapeutics. We report the discovery of highly potent glycan-based immunostimulants with picomolar affinity for TLR4 which interact with caspase-4/11 and promote caspase-4/11 oligomerization while abolishing caspase-11 protease activity. The rigidity and twisted molecular shape of the α,α-(1↔1')-linked disaccharide core of synthetic LPS mimicking anionic glycolipids accounted for both species-independent and adjustable TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling and the modulation of caspase-4/11 activation. By the use of crystal structure based design and advanced synthetic chemistry we created a set of versatile probes for studying the structural basis of caspase-4/11 activation and established a chemical strategy for controllable TLR4 mediated cytokine release which is dissociable from the induction of caspase-11 protease activity.

Development of αGlcN(1↔1)αMan-based lipid A mimetics as a novel class of potent Toll-like receptor 4 agonists.

The endotoxic portion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a glycophospholipid Lipid A, initiates the activation of the Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex, which results in pro-inflammatory immune signaling. To unveil the structural requirements for TLR4·MD-2-specific ligands, we have developed conformationally restricted Lipid A mimetics wherein the flexible ßGlcN(1→6)GlcN backbone of Lipid A is exchanged for a rigid trehalose-like αGlcN(1↔1)αMan scaffold resembling the molecular shape of TLR4·MD-2-bound E. coli Lipid A disclosed in the X-ray structure. A convergent synthetic route toward orthogonally protected αGlcN(1↔1)αMan disaccharide has been elaborated. The α,α-(1↔1) linkage was attained by the glycosylation of 2-N-carbamate-protected α-GlcN-lactol with N-phenyl-trifluoroacetimidate of 2-O-methylated mannose. Regioselective acylation with (R)-3-acyloxyacyl fatty acids and successive phosphorylation followed by global deprotection afforded bis- and monophosphorylated hexaacylated Lipid A mimetics. αGlcN(1↔1)αMan-based Lipid A mimetics (α,α-GM-LAM) induced potent activation of NF-κB signaling in hTLR4/hMD-2/CD14-transfected HEK293 cells and robust LPS-like cytokines expression in macrophages and dendritic cells. Thus, restricting the conformational flexibility of Lipid A by fixing the molecular shape of its carbohydrate backbone in the "agonistic" conformation attained by a rigid αGlcN(1↔1)αMan scaffold represents an efficient approach toward powerful and adjustable TLR4 activation.

The Amadori rearrangement as glycoconjugation method: Synthesis of non-natural C-glycosyl type glycoconjugates.

The Amadori rearrangement was investigated as a potential method for the conjugation of carbohydrate moieties to suitable amino components. Starting from selected aldoheptoses, which are readily available by means of the Kiliani-Fischer C-elongation reaction of the corresponding aldohexoses, glycoconjugates presenting D-gluco, D-manno and D-galacto as well as GlcNAc motifs have been synthesised. Following this strategy, non-natural C-glycosyl type glycoconjugates, which can be utilised as building blocks for the composition of larger molecular constructions, are available by a very short synthetic approach.

Design and synthesis of potent "sulfur-free" transition state analogue inhibitors of 5'-methylthioadenosine nucleosidase and 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase.

5'-Methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (MTAN) is a dual substrate bacterial enzyme involved in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) related quorum sensing pathways that regulates virulence in many bacterial species. MTANs from many bacteria are directly involved in the quorum sensing mechanism by regulating the synthesis of autoinducer molecules that are used by bacterial communities to communicate. In humans, 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is involved in polyamine biosynthesis as well as in purine and SAM salvage pathways and thus has been identified as an anticancer target. Previously we have described the synthesis and biological activity of several aza-C-nucleoside mimics with a sulfur atom at the 5' position that are potent E. coli MTAN and human MTAP inhibitors. Because of the possibility that the sulfur may affect bioavailability, we were interested in synthesizing "sulfur-free" analogues. Herein we describe the preparation of a series of "sulfur-free" transition state analogue inhibitors of E. coli MTAN and human MTAP that have low nano- to picomolar dissociation constants and are potentially novel bacterial anti-infective and anticancer drug candidates.