CAT-2003: A novel sterol regulatory element-binding protein inhibitor that reduces steatohepatitis, plasma lipids, and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden mice.

CAT-2003 is a novel conjugate of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and niacin designed to be hydrolyzed by fatty acid amide hydrolase to release EPA inside cells at the endoplasmic reticulum. In cultured liver cells, CAT-2003 blocked the maturation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 and SREBP-2 proteins and decreased the expression of multiple SREBP target genes, including HMGCR and PCSK9. Consistent with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) reduction, both low-density lipoprotein receptor protein at the cell surface and low-density lipoprotein particle uptake were increased. In apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden mice fed a cholesterol-containing western diet, CAT-2003 decreased hepatic inflammation and steatosis as evidenced by fewer inflammatory cell aggregates in histopathologic sections, decreased nuclear factor kappa B activity in liver lysates, reduced inflammatory gene expression, reduced intrahepatic cholesteryl ester and triglyceride levels, and decreased liver mass. Plasma PCSK9 was reduced and hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor protein expression was increased; plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were lowered. Aortic root segments showed reduction of several atherosclerotic markers, including lesion size, number, and severity. CAT-2003, when dosed in combination with atorvastatin, further lowered plasma cholesterol levels and decreased hepatic expression of SREBP target genes. Conclusion: SREBP inhibition is a promising new strategy for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, such as atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:311-325).

Synthesis and Characterization of Fatty Acid Conjugates of Niacin and Salicylic Acid.

This report describes the synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of novel fatty acid niacin conjugates and fatty acid salicylate conjugates. These molecular entities were created by covalently linking two bioactive molecules, either niacin or salicylic acid, to an omega-3 fatty acid. This methodology allows the simultaneous intracellular delivery of two bioactives in order to elicit a pharmacological response that could not be replicated by administering the bioactives individually or in combination. The fatty acid niacin conjugate 5 has been shown to be an inhibitor of the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), a key regulator of cholesterol metabolism proteins such as PCSK9, HMG-CoA reductase, ATP citrate lyase, and NPC1L1. On the other hand, the fatty acid salicylate conjugate 11 has been shown to have a unique anti-inflammatory profile based on its ability to modulate the NF-κB pathway through the intracellular release of the two bioactives.

Pharmacologic evaluation of sulfasalazine, FTY720, and anti-IL-12/23p40 in a TNBS-induced Crohn's disease model.

BACKGROUND: 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis has been used as an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), preclinical model. However, published data on pharmacologic and therapeutic efficacy testing of this model are limited. FTY720 inhibits lymphoid cell trafficking in inflammatory conditions and is of interest to treat IBD. AIM: We investigated the pharmacologic therapeutic efficacy of sulfasalazine, FTY720, and anti-IL-12/23p40, in a TNBS CD model. METHODS: Female, 7-week-old, BALB/c mice were given sulfasalazine orally (PO) and intraperitoneally (IP) at 10 mg/kg, FTY720 at 3 mg/kg PO, and mouse anti-IL-12/23p40 at 25 mg/kg IP. Vehicle groups given PO either phosphate-buffered saline/water or 40% ethanol served as controls. Pharmacologic efficacy was assessed using body weight loss, clinical scores of diarrhea and intestinal gross pathology, and colon weight parameters. RESULTS: Sulfasalazine and FTY720 treatment did not prevent body weight loss or reduce clinical scores of diarrhea or intestinal gross pathology, when compared with vehicle treatment. However, anti-IL-12/23p40 treatment showed significant efficacy by preventing body weight loss, reducing clinical scores of diarrhea, and reducing intestinal gross pathologic lesions, when compared with vehicle-treated animals. Sulfasalazine, anti-IL-12/23p40, and FTY720 were not effective in reducing colon weight. CONCLUSION: With the exception of anti-IL-12/23p40, sulfasalazine, and FTY720 did not demonstrate full pharmacologic efficacy in our TNBS CD model.