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Sukanya S, Bellver-Sanchis A, Singh Choudhary B, Kumar S, Pérez B, Leandro Martínez Rodríguez A, Brea J, Griñán-Ferré C, Malik R. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of tetrahydropyrimidine analogue as GSK-3β/Aβ aggregation inhibitor and anti-Alzheimer's agent. Bioorg Chem 2024; 153:107811. [PMID: 39270527 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The complex nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiopathology is among the principal hurdles to developing effective anti-Alzheimer agents. Tau pathology and Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation are hallmarks and validated therapeutic strategies of AD. GSK-3β is a serine/threonine kinase involved in tau phosphorylation. Its excessive activity also contributes to the production of Aβ plaques, making GSK-3β an attractive AD target. Taking this into account, In this article, we outline the design, synthesis, and biological validation of a focused library of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine based derivatives as inhibitors of GSK-3β, tau phosphorylation, and Aβ accumulation. The inhibitory activity of forty nine synthetic compounds was tested against GSK-3β and other AD-relevant kinases. The kinetic experiments revealed the mode of GSK-3β inhibition by the most potent compound 44. The in- vitro drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies were thereafter performed. The anti-aggregation activity of the most potent GSK-3β inhibitor was tested using AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain CL2006 for quantification of Aβ plaques and BR5706 C. elegans strain for tau pathology evaluation. We then evaluated the blood-brain barrier permeability and got promising results. Therefore, we present compound 44 as a potential ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitor with good metabolism and pharmacokinetic profile, anti-aggregation properties for amyloid beta protein, and reduction in tau-phosphorylation levels. We recommend more investigation into compound 44-based small molecules as possible targets for AD disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Sukanya
- Department of Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindari, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305817, India
| | - Aina Bellver-Sanchis
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bhanwar Singh Choudhary
- Department of Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindari, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305817, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindari, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305817, India
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Institute of Neuroscience, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antón Leandro Martínez Rodríguez
- Innopharma screening platform, Biofarma research group. Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jose Brea
- Innopharma screening platform, Biofarma research group. Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Trav. Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruchi Malik
- Department of Pharmacy, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindari, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305817, India.
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Zhang WY, Zheng XL, Coghi PS, Chen JH, Dong BJ, Fan XX. Revolutionizing adjuvant development: harnessing AI for next-generation cancer vaccines. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1438030. [PMID: 39206192 PMCID: PMC11349682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1438030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of vaccines has been widely recognized and has led to increased research and development efforts. Vaccines also play a crucial role in cancer treatment by activating the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. However, enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines remains a challenge. Adjuvants, which enhance the immune response to antigens and improve vaccine effectiveness, have faced limitations in recent years, resulting in few novel adjuvants being identified. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in drug development has provided a foundation for adjuvant screening and application, leading to a diversification of adjuvants. This article reviews the significant role of tumor vaccines in basic research and clinical treatment and explores the use of AI technology to screen novel adjuvants from databases. The findings of this review offer valuable insights for the development of new adjuvants for next-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ying Zhang
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Xiao-Li Zheng
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Paolo Saul Coghi
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
| | - Jun-Hui Chen
- Intervention and Cell Therapy Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bing-Jun Dong
- Gynecology Department, Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xing-Xing Fan
- Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, Macao SAR, China
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Nohesara S, Abdolmaleky HM, Thiagalingam S, Zhou JR. Gut microbiota defined epigenomes of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases reveal novel targets for therapy. Epigenomics 2024; 16:57-77. [PMID: 38088063 PMCID: PMC10804213 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The origins of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) involve genetic mutations, epigenetic changes, neurotoxin exposure and gut microbiota dysregulation. The gut microbiota's dynamic composition and its metabolites influence intestinal and blood-brain barrier integrity, contributing to AD and PD development. This review explores protein misfolding, aggregation and epigenetic links in AD and PD pathogenesis. It also highlights the role of a leaky gut and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in promoting these diseases through inflammation-induced epigenetic alterations. In addition, we investigate the potential of diet, probiotics and microbiota transplantation for preventing and treating AD and PD via epigenetic modifications, along with a discussion related to current challenges and future considerations. These approaches offer promise for translating research findings into practical clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Nohesara
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boson, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jin-Rong Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Nutrition/Metabolism laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boson, MA 02215, USA
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Jana A, Bellver-Sanchis A, Griñán-Ferré C, Banerjee DR. Repurposing of Raltitrexed as an Effective G9a/EHMT2 Inhibitor and Promising Anti-Alzheimer's Agent. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1531-1536. [PMID: 37974951 PMCID: PMC10641905 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report for the first time the G9a/EHMT2 inhibition and anti-Alzheimer's activities of the drug raltitrexed. G9a is a lysine methyltransferase that mainly dimethylates the H3K9 of chromatin, which triggers the repression of genes epigenetically, leading to various diseased conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). First, we demonstrate that raltitrexed inhibits G9a at 120 nM. Moreover, raltitrexed lowers the total H3K9me2/H3K9 levels in AD transgenic C. elegans CL2006 worms, indicating that raltitrexed targets G9a directly. As toxicity is the bottleneck in G9a drug discovery, we conducted detailed in silico toxicity (TOPKAT) analyses of raltitrexed and measured the food consumption by C. elegans, demonstrating that raltitrexed's toxicity/function range is safe for the worm's growth. Moreover, we demonstrate that raltitrexed enhances the locomotive function of worms dose-dependently. Finally, we show that raltitrexed reduced the Aβ aggregates in worms up to 47%, highlighting the potential of raltitrexed in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhisek Jana
- Department
of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology
Durgapur, M G Avenue, Durgapur-713209 , West Bengal, India
| | - Aina Bellver-Sanchis
- Pharmacology
Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry,
Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat de Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27−31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology
Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry,
Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat de Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av. Joan XXIII 27−31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Deb Ranjan Banerjee
- Department
of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology
Durgapur, M G Avenue, Durgapur-713209 , West Bengal, India
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Jana A, Naga R, Saha S, Banerjee DR. 3D QSAR pharmacophore based lead identification of G9a lysine methyltransferase towards epigenetic therapeutics. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:8635-8653. [PMID: 36264111 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2135600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The G9a, Lysine Methyltransferase that methylates the histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) of the nucleosome, is an excellent epigenetic target having no clinically passed inhibitor currently owing to adverse in vivo ADMET toxicities. In this work, we have carried out detailed computational investigations to find novel and safer lead against the target using advanced 3 D QSAR pharmacophore screening of databases containing more than 400000 entrees of natural compounds. The screening was conducted at different levels at increasing stringencies by employing pharmacophore mapping, druglikenesses and interaction profiles of the selected to identify potential hit compounds. The potential hits were further screened by advanced flexible docking, ADME and toxicity analysis to eight hit compounds. Based on the comparative analysis of the hits with the reference inhibitor, we identified one lead inhibitor against the G9a, having better binding efficacy and a safer ADMET profile than the reference inhibitor. Finally, the results were further verified using robust molecular dynamics simulation and MM-GBSA binding energy calculation. The natural compounds are generally considered benign due to their long human uses and this is the first attempt of in silico screening of a large natural compound library against G9a to our best knowledge. Therefore, the finding of this study may add value towards the development of epigenetic therapeutics against the G9a.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhisek Jana
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
| | - Rahul Naga
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
| | - Sougata Saha
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
| | - Deb Ranjan Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
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Cedillo-González R, Medina-Franco JL. Diversity and Chemical Space Characterization of Inhibitors of the Epigenetic Target G9a: A Chemoinformatics Approach. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:30694-30704. [PMID: 37636945 PMCID: PMC10448660 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
G9a is a histone-lysine methyltransferase that performs the mono- and dimethylation of lysine 9 at histone 3 of the nucleosome. It belongs to the SET PKMT family, and its methylations are related to promoter repression and activation. G9a is a promising epigenetic target. Despite the fact that there are several G9a inhibitors under development, there are no compounds in clinical use due to adverse in vivo ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) issues. The goal of this study is to discuss the exploration, characterization, and analysis of the chemical space of 409 G9a inhibitors reported in a large public database. Exploring the chemical space of the inhibitors led to the quantification of their structural diversity based on molecular scaffolds and structural fingerprints of different designs. As part of the analysis, the G9a inhibitors were compared with commercial libraries focused on epigenetic targets. The findings of this work will help in the development of, in a follow-up study, predictive models to identify G9a inhibitors. This study also points out the relevance of screening commercial libraries to expand the epigenetic relevant chemical space, in particular, G9a inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raziel Cedillo-González
- DIFACQUIM Research Group Department
of Pharmacy School of Chemistry, Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - José L. Medina-Franco
- DIFACQUIM Research Group Department
of Pharmacy School of Chemistry, Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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