RESUMO
The chemokine co-receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 mediate HIV entry and signal transduction necessary for viral infection. However, to date only the CCR5 antagonist maraviroc is approved for treating HIV-1 infection. Given that approximately 50% of late-stage HIV patients also develop CXCR4-tropic virus, clinical anti-HIV CXCR4 antagonists are needed. Here, we describe a novel allosteric CXCR4 antagonist TIQ-15 which inhibits CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 infection of primary and transformed CD4 T cells. TIQ-15 blocks HIV entry with an IC50 of 13 nM. TIQ-15 also inhibits SDF-1α/CXCR4-mediated cAMP production, cofilin activation, and chemotactic signaling. In addition, TIQ-15 induces CXCR4 receptor internalization without affecting the levels of the CD4 receptor, suggesting that TIQ-15 may act through a novel allosteric site on CXCR4 for blocking HIV entry. Furthermore, TIQ-15 did not inhibit VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1 infection, demonstrating its specificity in blocking CXCR4-tropic virus entry, but not CXCR4-independent endocytosis or post-entry steps. When tested against a panel of clinical isolates, TIQ-15 showed potent inhibition against CXCR4-tropic and dual-tropic viruses, and moderate inhibition against CCR5-tropic isolates. This observation was followed by a co-dosing study with maraviroc, and TIQ-15 demonstrated synergistic activity. In summary, here we describe a novel HIV-1 entry inhibitor, TIQ-15, which potently inhibits CXCR4-tropic viruses while possessing low-level synergistic activities against CCR5-tropic viruses. TIQ-15 could potentially be co-dosed with the CCR5 inhibitor maraviroc to block viruses of mixed tropisms.
RESUMO
Low molecular weight peptidomimetic inhibitors with hydrophobic pocket binding properties and moderate fusion inhibitory activity against HIV-1 gp41-mediated cell fusion were elaborated by increasing the available surface area for interacting with the heptad repeat-1 (HR1) coiled coil on gp41. Two types of modifications were tested: 1) increasing the overall hydrophobicity of the molecules with an extension that could interact in the HR1 groove, and 2) forming symmetrical dimers with two peptidomimetic motifs that could potentially interact simultaneously in two hydrophobic pockets on the HR1 trimer. The latter approach was more successful, yielding 40-60times improved potency against HIV fusion over the monomers. Biophysical characterization, including equilibrium binding studies by fluorescence and kinetic analysis by Surface Plasmon Resonance, revealed that inhibitor potency was better correlated to off-rates than to binding affinity. Binding and kinetic data could be fit to a model of bidentate interaction of dimers with the HR1 trimer as an explanation for the slow off-rate, albeit with minimal cooperativity due to the highly flexible ligand structures. The strong cooperativity observed in fusion inhibitory activity of the dimers implied accentuated potency due to the transient nature of the targeted intermediate. Optimization of monomer, dimer or higher order structures has the potential to lead to highly potent non-peptide fusion inhibitors by targeting multiple hydrophobic pockets.
Assuntos
Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , Peptidomiméticos/farmacologia , Sítios de Ligação , Fusão Celular , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/síntese química , Células HeLa , Humanos , Cinética , Modelos Químicos , Peptidomiméticos/síntese químicaRESUMO
Continuous flow (microfluidic) chemistry was employed to prepare a small focused library of dihydropyrimidinone (DHPM) derivatives. Compounds in this class have been reported to exhibit activity against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but their molecular target had not been identified. We tested the initial set of DHPMs in phenotypic assays providing a hit (1i) that inhibited the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV in cells. Flow chemistry-driven optimization of 1i led to the identification of HIV replication inhibitors such as 1l with cellular potency comparable with the clinical drug nevirapine (NVP). Mechanism of action (MOA) studies using cellular and biochemical assays coupled with 3D fingerprinting and in silico modeling demonstrated that these drug-like probe compounds exert their effects by inhibiting the viral reverse transcriptase polymerase (RT). This led to the design and synthesis of the novel DHPM 1at that inhibits the replication of drug resistant strains of HIV. Our work demonstrates that combining flow chemistry-driven analogue refinement with phenotypic assays, in silico modeling and MOA studies is a highly effective strategy for hit-to-lead optimization applicable to the discovery of future therapeutic agents.
Assuntos
HIV-1/fisiologia , Pirimidinonas/química , Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa/química , Sítios de Ligação , Células Cultivadas , Genótipo , Transcriptase Reversa do HIV/antagonistas & inibidores , Transcriptase Reversa do HIV/metabolismo , HIV-1/genética , Meia-Vida , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Microfluídica/métodos , Microssomos/metabolismo , Conformação Molecular , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Pirimidinonas/síntese química , Pirimidinonas/farmacologia , Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa/síntese química , Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa/farmacologia , Estereoisomerismo , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
In the absence of universally available antiretroviral (ARV) drugs or a vaccine against HIV-1, microbicides may offer the most immediate hope for controlling the AIDS pandemic. The most advanced and clinically effective microbicides are based on ARV agents that interfere with the earliest stages of HIV-1 replication. Our objective was to identify and characterize novel ARV-like inhibitors, as well as demonstrate their efficacy at blocking HIV-1 transmission. Abasic phosphorothioate 2' deoxyribose backbone (PDB) oligomers were evaluated in a variety of mechanistic assays and for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection and virus transmission through primary human cervical mucosa. Cellular and biochemical assays were used to elucidate the antiviral mechanisms of action of PDB oligomers against both lab-adapted and primary CCR5- and CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 strains, including a multidrug-resistant isolate. A polarized cervical organ culture was used to test the ability of PDB compounds to block HIV-1 transmission to primary immune cell populations across ectocervical tissue. The antiviral activity and mechanisms of action of PDB-based compounds were dependent on oligomer size, with smaller molecules preventing reverse transcription and larger oligomers blocking viral entry. Importantly, irrespective of molecular size, PDBs potently inhibited virus infection and transmission within genital tissue samples. Furthermore, the PDB inhibitors exhibited excellent toxicity and stability profiles and were found to be safe for vaginal application in vivo. These results, coupled with the previously reported intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties of PDBs, support further investigations in the development of PDB-based topical microbicides for preventing the global spread of HIV-1.
Assuntos
Colo do Útero/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Oligonucleotídeos Fosforotioatos/farmacologia , Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa/farmacologia , Transcrição Reversa/efeitos dos fármacos , Internalização do Vírus/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Colo do Útero/virologia , Desoxirribose/química , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/virologia , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , HIV-1/enzimologia , HIV-1/genética , HIV-1/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Mucosa/efeitos dos fármacos , Mucosa/virologia , Técnicas de Cultura de Órgãos , Oligonucleotídeos Fosforotioatos/síntese química , Receptores CCR5/genética , Receptores CCR5/metabolismo , Receptores CXCR4/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores da Transcriptase Reversa/síntese química , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Vagina/efeitos dos fármacos , Vagina/virologiaRESUMO
Blocking HIV-1 cell entry has long been a major goal of anti-HIV drug development. Here, we report a successful design of two highly potent chimeric HIV entry inhibitors composed of one CCR5-targeting RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) variant (5P12-RANTES or 5P14-RANTES (Gaertner, H., Cerini, F., Escola, J. M., Kuenzi, G., Melotti, A., Offord, R., Rossitto-Borlat, I., Nedellec, R., Salkowitz, J., Gorochov, G., Mosier, D., and Hartley, O. (2008) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 17706-17711)) linked to a gp41 fusion inhibitor, C37. Chimeric inhibitors 5P12-linker-C37 and 5P14-linker-C37 showed extremely high antiviral potency in single cycle and replication-competent viral assays against R5-tropic viruses, with IC(50) values as low as 0.004 nm. This inhibition was somewhat strain-dependent and was up to 100-fold better than the RANTES variant alone or in combination with unlinked C37. The chimeric inhibitors also fully retained the antiviral activity of C37 against X4-tropic viruses, and this inhibition can be further enhanced significantly if the target cell co-expresses CCR5 receptor. On human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the inhibitors showed very strong inhibition against R5-tropic Ba-L strain and X4-tropic IIIB strain, with IC(50) values as low as 0.015 and 0.44 nm, which are 45- and 16-fold better than the parent inhibitors, respectively. A clear delivery mechanism requiring a covalent linkage between the two segments of the chimera was observed and characterized. Furthermore, the two chimeric inhibitors are fully recombinant and are easily produced at low cost. These attributes make them excellent candidates for anti-HIV microbicides. The results of this study also suggest a potent approach for optimizing existing HIV entry inhibitors or designing new inhibitors.
Assuntos
Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , HIV-1/fisiologia , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/farmacologia , Internalização do Vírus/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/química , Infecções por HIV/metabolismo , Células HeLa , Humanos , Peptídeos/química , Receptores CCR5/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/química , Tropismo Viral/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
The development of an anti-HIV microbicide is critical in the fight against the spread of HIV. It is shown here that the covalent linking of compounds that bind gp120 with compounds that bind gp41 can inhibit HIV entry even more potently than individual inhibitors or noncovalent combinations. The most striking example involves griffithsin, a potent HIV inhibitor that binds to the surface of HIV gp120. While griffithsin inhibits HIV Env-mediated fusion in a CCR5-tropic cell-cell fusion assay with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 1.31 ± 0.87 nM and the gp41-binding peptide C37 shows an IC(50) of 18.2 ± 7.6 nM, the covalently linked combination of griffithsin with C37 (Griff37) has an IC(50) of 0.15 ± 0.05 nM, exhibiting a potency 8.7-fold greater than that of griffithsin alone. Similarly, in CXCR4-tropic cell-cell fusion assays, Griff37 is 5.2-fold more potent than griffithsin alone. In viral assays, both griffithsin and Griff37 inhibit HIV replication at midpicomolar levels, but the linked compound Griff37 is severalfold more potent than griffithsin alone against both CCR5- and CXCR4-tropic virus strains. Another example of this strategy is the covalently linked combination of peptide C37 with a variant of the gp120-binding peptide CD4M33 (L. Martin et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 21:71-76, 2003). Also, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for several of these compounds are shown, including, to our knowledge, the first published NMR spectrum for griffithsin.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Algas/química , Proteínas de Algas/farmacologia , Antivirais/farmacologia , Proteína gp120 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV-1/metabolismo , Lectinas/química , Lectinas/farmacologia , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Antivirais/síntese química , Antivirais/química , Linhagem Celular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células HeLa , Humanos , Peptídeos/síntese química , Peptídeos/química , Lectinas de Plantas , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: At present, there is no effective vaccine or other approved product for the prevention of sexually transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. It has been reported that women in resource-poor communities use vaginally applied citrus juices as topical microbicides. These easily accessible food products have historically been applied to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and cytotoxicity of these substances using an established topical microbicide testing algorithm. Freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice and household vinegar were tested in their original state or in pH neutralized form for efficacy and cytotoxicity in the CCR5-tropic cell-free entry and cell-associated transmission assays, CXCR4-tropic entry and fusion assays, and in a human PBMC-based anti-HIV-1 assay. These products were also tested for their effect on viability of cervico-vaginal cell lines, human cervical explant tissues, and beneficial Lactobacillus species. RESULTS: Natural lime and lemon juice and household vinegar demonstrated anti-HIV-1 activity and cytotoxicity in transformed cell lines. Neutralization of the products reduced both anti-HIV-1 activity and cytotoxicity, resulting in a low therapeutic window for both acidic and neutralized formulations. For the natural juices and vinegar, the IC50 was = 3.5 (0.8-3.5)% and the TC50 = 6.3 (1.0-6.3)%. All three liquid products inhibited viability of beneficial Lactobacillus species associated with vaginal health. Comparison of three different toxicity endpoints in the cervical HeLa cell line revealed that all three products affected membrane integrity, cytosolic enzyme release, and dehydrogenase enzyme activity in living cells. The juices and vinegar also exerted strong cytotoxicity in cervico-vaginal cell lines, mainly due to their acidic pH. In human cervical explant tissues, treatment with 5% lemon or lime juice or 6% vinegar induced toxicity similar to application of 100 mug/ml nonoxynol-9, and exposure to 10% lime juice caused tissue damage comparable to treatment with 5% Triton-X-100. CONCLUSIONS: Lemon and lime juice and household vinegar do not fulfill the safety criteria mandated for a topical microbicide. As a result of their unphysiological formulation for the vaginal tract, they exhibit cytotoxicity to human cell lines, human vaginal tissues, and beneficial vaginal Lactobacillus species.
RESUMO
In previous work, we described 6-6'-bisindole compounds targeting a hydrophobic pocket on the N-heptad repeat region of viral glycoprotein-41 as effective inhibitors of HIV-1 fusion. Two promising compounds with sub-micromolar IC50's contained a benzoic acid group and a benzoic acid ester attached at the two indole nitrogens. Here we have conducted a thorough structure-activity relationship (SAR) study evaluating the contribution of each of the ring systems and various substituents to compound potency. Hydrophobicity, polarity and charge were varied to produce 35 new compounds that were evaluated in binding, cell-cell fusion and viral infectivity assays. We found that (a) activity based solely on increasing hydrophobic content plateaued atâ¯â¼â¯200â¯nM; (b) the bisindole scaffold surpassed other heterocyclic ring systems in efficacy; (c) a polar interaction possibly involving Gln575 in the pocket could supplant less specific hydrophobic interactions; and (d) the benzoic acid ester moiety did not appear to form specific contacts with the pocket. The importance of this hydrophobic group to compound potency suggests a mechanism whereby it might interact with a tertiary component during fusion, such as membrane. A promising small molecule 10b with sub-µM activity was discovered with molecular weight <500 da and reduced logP compared to earlier compounds. The work provides insight into requirements for small molecule inhibition of HIV-1 fusion.
Assuntos
Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , Indóis/farmacologia , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/síntese química , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/química , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Indóis/síntese química , Indóis/química , Estrutura Molecular , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/síntese química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/química , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Camptothecin (CPT) is a natural product discovered to be active against various cancers through its ability to inhibit Topoisomerase I (TOP1). CPT analogs also have anti-HIV-1 (HIV) activity that was previously shown to be independent of TOP1 inhibition. We show that a cancer inactive CPT analog (O2-16) inhibits HIV infection by disrupting multimerization of the HIV protein Vif. Antiviral activity depended on the expression of the cellular viral restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) that, in the absence of functional Vif, has the ability to hypermutate HIV proviral DNA during reverse transcription. Our studies demonstrate that O2-16 has low cytotoxicity and inhibits Vif-dependent A3G degradation, enabling A3G packaging into HIV viral particles that results in A3G signature hypermutations in viral genomes. This antiviral activity was A3G-dependent and broadly neutralizing against sixteen HIV clinical isolates from groups M (subtypes A-G), N, and O as well as seven single and multi-drug resistant strains of HIV. Molecular modeling predicted binding near the PPLP motif crucial for Vif multimerization and activity. O2-16 also was active in blocking Vif degradation of APOBEC3F (A3F). We propose that CPT analogs not active against TOP1 have novel therapeutic potential as Vif antagonists that enable A3G-dependent hypermutation of HIV.
Assuntos
Desaminase APOBEC-3G/metabolismo , Camptotecina/análogos & derivados , DNA Topoisomerases Tipo I/metabolismo , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Produtos do Gene vif do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/metabolismo , Desaminase APOBEC-3G/genética , Camptotecina/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular , Farmacorresistência Viral/genética , Genoma Viral , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/genética , HIV-1/fisiologia , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Mutação , Ligação Proteica , Multimerização Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Vírion/metabolismo , Replicação Viral , Produtos do Gene vif do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/químicaRESUMO
We previously described indole-containing compounds with the potential to inhibit HIV-1 fusion by targeting the hydrophobic pocket of transmembrane glycoprotein gp41. Here we report optimization and structure-activity relationship studies on the basic scaffold, defining the role of shape, contact surface area, and molecular properties. Thirty new compounds were evaluated in binding, cell-cell fusion, and viral replication assays. Below a 1 µM threshold, correlation between binding and biological activity was diminished, indicating an amphipathic requirement for activity in cells. The most active inhibitor 6j exhibited 0.6 µM binding affinity and 0.2 µM EC50 against cell-cell fusion and live virus replication and was active against T20 resistant strains. Twenty-two compounds with the same connectivity displayed a consensus pose in docking calculations, with rank order matching the biological activity. The work provides insight into requirements for small molecule inhibition of HIV-1 fusion and demonstrates a potent low molecular weight fusion inhibitor.
Assuntos
Benzoatos/química , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/química , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Indóis/química , Benzoatos/síntese química , Benzoatos/farmacologia , Fusão Celular , Linhagem Celular , Farmacorresistência Viral , Enfuvirtida , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/farmacologia , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/síntese química , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , HIV-1/fisiologia , Humanos , Indóis/síntese química , Indóis/farmacologia , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/farmacologia , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a gamma-2 herpesvirus with a genome containing a long unique coding region (LUR) flanked by GC-rich terminal repeat sequences. The LUR encodes approximately 90 annotated open reading frames (ORFs) with complex patterns of gene expression during viral latency, reactivation, and de novo infection. To identify unannotated KSHV genes, we examined the region between 21,500 and 30,000 bp of the KSHV LUR, representing approximately 8.5 kb of sequence. This region encodes seven known single-exon ORFs (K4, K4.1, K4.2, K5, K6, K7, and PAN), but previous computer analyses have failed to identify additional likely genes in the remaining 5.2 kb. We identified four novel transcripts using Northern blotting, phage library screening, and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis in the region between ORFs K4.2 and K7. In vitro analysis of KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma cell lines in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and phosphonoformic acid suggests that one latent transcript is coterminal with the previously annotated K3 gene encoding an ubiquitin-ligase known to downregulate major histocompatibility complex class I expression. This alternatively spliced transcript may contribute to KSHV adaptive immune evasion during latent infection. Other transcripts are inducible, including a 6.1-kb transcript that is the largest transcript found in the KSHV genome to date.