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Zhang N, Shan W, Gao L, Kou SH, Lu C, Yang H, Peng B, Tam KY, Lee LTO, Zheng J. Repurposing the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, BMS-833923, as a phosphatidylglycerol-selective membrane-disruptive colistin adjuvant against ESKAPE pathogens. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2023; 62:106888. [PMID: 37328075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106888] [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: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The rapid emergence and spread of multi-drug- or pan-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, such as ESKAPE, pose a serious threat to global health. However, the development of novel antibiotics is hindered by difficulties in identifying new antibiotic targets and the rapid development of drug resistance. Drug repurposing is an effective alternative strategy for combating antibiotic resistance that both saves resources and extends the life of existing antibiotics in combination treatment regimens. Screening of a chemical compound library identified BMS-833923 (BMS), a smoothened antagonist that kills Gram-positive bacteria directly, and potentiates colistin to destroy various Gram-negative bacteria. BMS did not induce detectable antibiotic resistance in vitro, and showed effective activity against drug-resistant bacteria in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that BMS caused membrane disruption by targeting the membrane phospholipids phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin, promoting membrane dysfunction, metabolic disturbance, leakage of cellular components, and, ultimately, cell death. This study describes a potential strategy to enhance the efficacy of colistin and combat multi-drug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Zhang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Wenying Shan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Liangliang Gao
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Si Hoi Kou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Chang Lu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huilin Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bo Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Kin Yip Tam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Leo Tsz On Lee
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Centre for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.
| | - Jun Zheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.
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Ishikawa H, Menju T, Toyazaki T, Miyamoto H, Chiba N, Noguchi M, Tamari S, Miyata R, Yutaka Y, Tanaka S, Yamada Y, Nakajima D, Ohsumi A, Hamaji M, Okuno Y, Date H. A novel cell-based assay for the high-throughput screening of epithelial-mesenchymal transition inhibitors: Identification of approved and investigational drugs that inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Lung Cancer 2023; 175:36-46. [PMID: 36450215 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lung cancer with distant metastases is associated with a very poor prognosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to cancer metastasis. Therefore, elucidation and inhibition of EMT signaling in lung cancer may be a new therapeutic strategy for improving the prognosis of patients. We constructed a high-throughput screening system for EMT inhibitors. Using this system, we aimed to identify compounds that indeed inhibit EMT. MATERIALS AND METHODS We generated a luciferase reporter cell line using A549 human lung cancer cells and E-cadherin or vimentin as EMT markers. EMT was induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and candidate EMT inhibitors were screened from a library of 2,350 compounds. The selected compounds were further tested using secondary assays to verify the inhibition of EMT and invasive capacity of cells. RESULTS Values obtained by the assay were adjusted for the number of viable cells and scored by determining the difference between mean values of the positive and negative control groups. Four compounds were identified as novel candidate drugs. Among those, one (avagacestat) and two compounds (GDC-0879 and levothyroxine) improved the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin, respectively, in epithelial cells. GDC-0879 and levothyroxine also significantly inhibited the invasive capacity of cells. CONCLUSION We systematically screened approved, investigational, and druggable compounds with inhibitory effects using a reporter assay, and identified candidate drugs for EMT inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Ishikawa
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Toshi Menju
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Toshiya Toyazaki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hideaki Miyamoto
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Naohisa Chiba
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Misa Noguchi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Tamari
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Ryo Miyata
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yojiro Yutaka
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Satona Tanaka
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yoshito Yamada
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nakajima
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ohsumi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masatsugu Hamaji
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yukiko Okuno
- The Drug Discovery Center, Medical Research Support, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Date
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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Heyman E, Meeremans M, Devriendt B, Olenic M, Chiers K, De Schauwer C. Validation of a color deconvolution method to quantify MSC tri-lineage differentiation across species. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:987045. [PMID: 36311666 PMCID: PMC9608146 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.987045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising candidate for both human and veterinary regenerative medicine applications because of their abundance and ability to differentiate into several lineages. Mesenchymal stem cells are however a heterogeneous cell population and as such, it is imperative that they are unequivocally characterized to acquire reproducible results in clinical trials. Although the tri-lineage differentiation potential of MSCs is reported in most veterinary studies, a qualitative evaluation of representative histological images does not always unambiguously confirm tri-lineage differentiation. Moreover, potential differences in differentiation capacity are not identified. Therefore, quantification of tri-lineage differentiation would greatly enhance proper characterization of MSCs. In this study, a method to quantify the tri-lineage differentiation potential of MSCs is described using digital image analysis, based on the color deconvolution plug-in (ImageJ). Mesenchymal stem cells from three species, i.e., bovine, equine, and porcine, were differentiated toward adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. Subsequently, differentiated MSCs were stained with Oil Red O, Alcian Blue, and Alizarin Red S, respectively. Next, a differentiation ratio (DR) was obtained by dividing the area % of the differentiation signal by the area % of the nuclear signal. Although MSCs isolated from all donors in all species were capable of tri-lineage differentiation, differences were demonstrated between donors using this quantitative DR. Our straightforward, simple but robust method represents an elegant approach to determine the degree of MSC tri-lineage differentiation across species. As such, differences in differentiation potential within the heterogeneous MSC population and between different MSC sources can easily be identified, which will support further optimization of regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Heyman
- Veterinary Stem Cell Research Unit, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium,*Correspondence: Emma Heyman
| | - Marguerite Meeremans
- Veterinary Stem Cell Research Unit, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bert Devriendt
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Maria Olenic
- Veterinary Stem Cell Research Unit, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium,Tissue Engineering Lab, Muscles and Movement Group, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Koen Chiers
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Catharina De Schauwer
- Veterinary Stem Cell Research Unit, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Boock JT, Taw M, King BC, Conrado RJ, Gibson DM, DeLisa MP. Two-Tiered Selection and Screening Strategy to Increase Functional Enzyme Production in E. coli. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2406:169-187. [PMID: 35089557 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1859-2_10] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Development of recombinant enzymes as industrial biocatalysts or metabolic pathway elements requires soluble expression of active protein. Here we present a two-step strategy, combining a directed evolution selection with an enzyme activity screen, to increase the soluble production of enzymes in the cytoplasm of E. coli. The directed evolution component relies on the innate quality control of the twin-arginine translocation pathway coupled with antibiotic selection to isolate point mutations that promote intracellular solubility. A secondary screen is applied to ensure the solubility enhancement has not compromised enzyme activity. This strategy has been successfully applied to increase the soluble production of a fungal endocellulase by 30-fold in E. coli without change in enzyme specific activity through two rounds of directed evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Boock
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University (OH), Oxford, OH, USA.
| | - May Taw
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Brian C King
- Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Robert J Conrado
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Donna M Gibson
- Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Beloglazova Y, Nikitiuk A, Voronina A, Gagarskikh O, Bayandin Y, Naimark O, Grishko V. Label-Free Single Cell Viability Assay Using Laser Interference Microscopy. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:590. [PMID: 34206974 PMCID: PMC8301067 DOI: 10.3390/biology10070590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Laser interference microscopy (LIM) is a promising label-free method for single-cell research applicable to cell viability assessment in the studies of mammalian cells. This paper describes the development of a sensitive and reproducible method for assessing cell viability using LIM. The method, based on associated signal processing techniques, has been developed as a result of real-time investigation in phase thickness fluctuations of viable and non-viable MCF-7 cells, reflecting the presence and absence of their metabolic activity. As evinced by the values of the variable vc, this variable determines the viability of a cell only in the attached state (vc exceeds 20 nm2 for viable attached cells). The critical value of the power spectrum slope βc of the phase thickness fluctuations equals 1.00 for attached MCF-7 cells and 0.71 for suspended cells. The slope of the phase fluctuations' power spectrum for MCF-7 cells was determined to exceed the threshold value of βc for a living cell, otherwise the cell is dead. The results evince the power spectrum slope as the most appropriate indicator of cell viability, while the integrated evaluation criterion (vc and βc values) can be used to assay the viability of attached cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Beloglazova
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Technical Chemistry UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 3, 614013 Perm, Russia; (Y.B.); (A.V.); (O.G.)
| | - Aleksandr Nikitiuk
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 1, 614013 Perm, Russia; (A.N.); (Y.B.); (O.N.)
| | - Anna Voronina
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Technical Chemistry UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 3, 614013 Perm, Russia; (Y.B.); (A.V.); (O.G.)
| | - Olga Gagarskikh
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Technical Chemistry UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 3, 614013 Perm, Russia; (Y.B.); (A.V.); (O.G.)
| | - Yuriy Bayandin
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 1, 614013 Perm, Russia; (A.N.); (Y.B.); (O.N.)
| | - Oleg Naimark
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 1, 614013 Perm, Russia; (A.N.); (Y.B.); (O.N.)
| | - Victoria Grishko
- Perm Federal Scientific Centre, Institute of Technical Chemistry UB RAS, Academician Korolev St. 3, 614013 Perm, Russia; (Y.B.); (A.V.); (O.G.)
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6
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Aldewachi H, Al-Zidan RN, Conner MT, Salman MM. High-Throughput Screening Platforms in the Discovery of Novel Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:30. [PMID: 33672148 PMCID: PMC7926814 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration and/or death of nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Identification of viable therapeutic targets and new treatments for CNS disorders and in particular, for NDDs is a major challenge in the field of drug discovery. These difficulties can be attributed to the diversity of cells involved, extreme complexity of the neural circuits, the limited capacity for tissue regeneration, and our incomplete understanding of the underlying pathological processes. Drug discovery is a complex and multidisciplinary process. The screening attrition rate in current drug discovery protocols mean that only one viable drug may arise from millions of screened compounds resulting in the need to improve discovery technologies and protocols to address the multiple causes of attrition. This has identified the need to screen larger libraries where the use of efficient high-throughput screening (HTS) becomes key in the discovery process. HTS can investigate hundreds of thousands of compounds per day. However, if fewer compounds could be screened without compromising the probability of success, the cost and time would be largely reduced. To that end, recent advances in computer-aided design, in silico libraries, and molecular docking software combined with the upscaling of cell-based platforms have evolved to improve screening efficiency with higher predictability and clinical applicability. We review, here, the increasing role of HTS in contemporary drug discovery processes, in particular for NDDs, and evaluate the criteria underlying its successful application. We also discuss the requirement of HTS for novel NDD therapies and examine the major current challenges in validating new drug targets and developing new treatments for NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Aldewachi
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK;
- College of Pharmacy, Nineveh University, Mosul 41002, Iraq
| | - Radhwan N. Al-Zidan
- College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq;
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Matthew T. Conner
- School of Sciences, Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK;
| | - Mootaz M. Salman
- College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq;
- Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
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7
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Abreu TR, Biscaia M, Gonçalves N, Fonseca NA, Moreira JN. In Vitro and In Vivo Tumor Models for the Evaluation of Anticancer Nanoparticles. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1295:271-299. [PMID: 33543464 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-58174-9_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiple studies about tumor biology have revealed the determinant role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression, resulting from the dynamic interactions between tumor cells and surrounding stromal cells within the extracellular matrix. This malignant microenvironment highly impacts the efficacy of anticancer nanoparticles by displaying drug resistance mechanisms, as well as intrinsic physical and biochemical barriers, which hamper their intratumoral accumulation and biological activity.Currently, two-dimensional cell cultures are used as the initial screening method in vitro for testing cytotoxic nanocarriers. However, this fails to mimic the tumor heterogeneity, as well as the three-dimensional tumor architecture and pathophysiological barriers, leading to an inaccurate pharmacological evaluation.Biomimetic 3D in vitro tumor models, on the other hand, are emerging as promising tools for more accurately assessing nanoparticle activity, owing to their ability to recapitulate certain features of the tumor microenvironment and thus provide mechanistic insights into nanocarrier intratumoral penetration and diffusion rates.Notwithstanding, in vivo validation of nanomedicines remains irreplaceable at the preclinical stage, and a vast variety of more advanced in vivo tumor models is currently available. Such complex animal models (e.g., genetically engineered mice and patient-derived xenografts) are capable of better predicting nanocarrier clinical efficiency, as they closely resemble the heterogeneity of the human tumor microenvironment.Herein, the development of physiologically more relevant in vitro and in vivo tumor models for the preclinical evaluation of anticancer nanoparticles will be discussed, as well as the current limitations and future challenges in clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa R Abreu
- CNC - Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal.,UC - University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mariana Biscaia
- CNC - Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nélio Gonçalves
- CNC - Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nuno A Fonseca
- CNC - Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal.,TREAT U, SA, Parque Industrial de Taveiro, Lote 44, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Nuno Moreira
- CNC - Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, Coimbra, Portugal. .,UC - University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Halim AB. Do We have a Satisfactory Cell Viability Assay? Review of the Currently Commercially-Available Assays. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2020; 17:2-22. [PMID: 30251606 DOI: 10.2174/1570163815666180925095433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based assays are an important part of the drug discovery process and clinical research. One of the main hurdles is to design sufficiently robust assays with adequate signal to noise parameters while maintaining the inherent physiology of the cells and not interfering with the pharmacology of target being investigated. A plethora of assays that assess cell viability (or cell heath in general) are commercially available and can be classified under different categories according to their concepts and principle of reactions. The assays are valuable tools, however, suffer from a large number of limitations. Some of these limitations can be procedural or operational, but others can be critical as those related to a poor concept or the lack of proof of concept of an assay, e.g. those relying on differential permeability of dyes in-and-out of viable versus compromised cell membranes. While the assays can differentiate between dead and live cells, most, if not all, of them can just assess the relative performance of cells rather than providing a clear distinction between healthy and dying cells. The possible impact of relatively high molecular weight dyes, used in most of the assay, on cell viability has not been addressed. More innovative assays are needed, and until better alternatives are developed, setup of current cell-based studies and data interpretation should be made with the limitations in mind. Negative and positive control should be considered whenever feasible. Also, researchers should use more than one orthogonal method for better assessment of cell health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdel-Baset Halim
- VP Translational Medicine, Biomarkers & Diagnostics, Celldex Therapeutics, 53 Frontage Road, Suite 220, Hampton, NJ 08827-4032, United States
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9
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Zhang N, Bailus BJ, Ring KL, Ellerby LM. iPSC-based drug screening for Huntington's disease. Brain Res 2015; 1638:42-56. [PMID: 26428226 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. The disease generally manifests in middle age with both physical and mental symptoms. There are no effective treatments or cures and death usually occurs 10-20 years after initial symptoms. Since the original identification of the Huntington disease associated gene, in 1993, a variety of models have been created and used to advance our understanding of HD. The most recent advances have utilized stem cell models derived from HD-patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offering a variety of screening and model options that were not previously available. The discovery and advancement of technology to make human iPSCs has allowed for a more thorough characterization of human HD on a cellular and developmental level. The interaction between the genome editing and the stem cell fields promises to further expand the variety of HD cellular models available for researchers. In this review, we will discuss the history of Huntington's disease models, common screening assays, currently available models and future directions for modeling HD using iPSCs-derived from HD patients. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: PSC and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningzhe Zhang
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945, United States
| | - Barbara J Bailus
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945, United States
| | - Karen L Ring
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945, United States
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945, United States.
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10
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Vedel L, Bräuner-Osborne H, Mathiesen JM. A cAMP Biosensor-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay for Identification of Gs-Coupled GPCR Ligands and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 20:849-57. [PMID: 25851033 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115580019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) is an important second messenger, and quantification of intracellular cAMP levels is essential in studies of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The intracellular cAMP levels are regulated by the adenylate cyclase (AC) upon activation of either Gs- or Gi-coupled GPCRs, which leads to increased or decreased cAMP levels, respectively. Here we describe a real-time Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cAMP high-throughput screening (HTS) assay for identification and characterization of Gs-coupled GPCR ligands and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors in living cells. We used the β2-adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR) as a representative Gs-coupled receptor and characterized two cell lines with different expression levels. Low receptor expression allowed detection of desensitization kinetics and delineation of partial agonism, whereas high receptor expression resulted in prolonged signaling and enabled detection of weak partial agonists and/or ligands with low potency, which is highly advantageous in large HTS settings and hit identification. In addition, the assay enabled detection of β(2)AR inverse agonists and PDE inhibitors. High signal-to-noise ratios were also observed for the other representative Gs-coupled GPCRs tested, GLP-1R and GlucagonR. The FRET-based cAMP biosensor assay is robust, reproducible, and inexpensive with good Z factors and is highly applicable for HTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Vedel
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Bräuner-Osborne
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper Mosolff Mathiesen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Quantitative high throughput screening using a primary human three-dimensional organotypic culture predicts in vivo efficacy. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6220. [PMID: 25653139 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment contributes to cancer metastasis and drug resistance. However, most high throughput screening (HTS) assays for drug discovery use cancer cells grown in monolayers. Here we show that a multilayered culture containing primary human fibroblasts, mesothelial cells and extracellular matrix can be adapted into a reliable 384- and 1,536-multi-well HTS assay that reproduces the human ovarian cancer (OvCa) metastatic microenvironment. We validate the identified inhibitors in secondary in vitro and in vivo biological assays using three OvCa cell lines: HeyA8, SKOV3ip1 and Tyk-nu. The active compounds directly inhibit at least two of the three OvCa functions: adhesion, invasion and growth. In vivo, these compounds prevent OvCa adhesion, invasion and metastasis, and improve survival in mouse models. Collectively, these data indicate that a complex three-dimensional culture of the tumour microenvironment can be adapted for quantitative HTS and may improve the disease relevance of assays used for drug screening.
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12
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Perrier A, Peschanski M. How can human pluripotent stem cells help decipher and cure Huntington's disease? Cell Stem Cell 2013; 11:153-61. [PMID: 22862942 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) technologies are becoming a key asset for deciphering pathological cascades and for developing new treatments against many neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). This perspective discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the use of PSCs for treating HD, focusing on four major applications: namely, the use of PSCs as a substitute source of human striatal cells for current HD cell therapy, as a cellular model of HD for the validation of human-specific gene therapies, for deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying HD, and in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anselme Perrier
- INSERM U861, I-Stem/AFM, 5 rue Henri Desbruères Evry, 91030 Cedex, France
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13
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Xia X, Wong ST. Concise review: a high-content screening approach to stem cell research and drug discovery. Stem Cells 2013; 30:1800-7. [PMID: 22821636 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput screening (HTS) is a technology widely used for early stages of drug discovery in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Recent hardware and software improvements have enabled HTS to be used in combination with subcellular resolution microscopy, resulting in cell image-based HTS, called high-content screening (HCS). HCS allows the acquisition of deeper knowledge at a single-cell level such that more complex biological systems can be studied in a high-throughput manner. The technique is particularly well-suited for stem cell research and drug discovery, which almost inevitably require single-cell resolutions for the detection of rare phenotypes in heterogeneous cultures. With growing availability of facilities, instruments, and reagent libraries, small-to-moderate scale HCS can now be carried out in regular academic labs. We envision that the HCS technique will play an increasing role in both basic mechanism study and early-stage drug discovery on stem cells. Here, we review the development of HCS technique and its past application on stem cells and discuss possible future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Xia
- Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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14
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LaBarbera DV, Reid BG, Yoo BH. The multicellular tumor spheroid model for high-throughput cancer drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2012; 7:819-30. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2012.708334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Abstract
The functional annotation of genomes, construction of molecular networks and novel drug target identification, are important challenges that need to be addressed as a matter of great urgency1-4. Multiple complementary 'omics' approaches have provided clues as to the genetic risk factors and pathogenic mechanisms underlying numerous neurodegenerative diseases, but most findings still require functional validation5. For example, a recent genome wide association study for Parkinson's Disease (PD), identified many new loci as risk factors for the disease, but the underlying causative variant(s) or pathogenic mechanism is not known6, 7. As each associated region can contain several genes, the functional evaluation of each of the genes on phenotypes associated with the disease, using traditional cell biology techniques would take too long. There is also a need to understand the molecular networks that link genetic mutations to the phenotypes they cause. It is expected that disease phenotypes are the result of multiple interactions that have been disrupted. Reconstruction of these networks using traditional molecular methods would be time consuming. Moreover, network predictions from independent studies of individual components, the reductionism approach, will probably underestimate the network complexity8. This underestimation could, in part, explain the low success rate of drug approval due to undesirable or toxic side effects. Gaining a network perspective of disease related pathways using HT/HC cellular screening approaches, and identifying key nodes within these pathways, could lead to the identification of targets that are more suited for therapeutic intervention. High-throughput screening (HTS) is an ideal methodology to address these issues9-12. but traditional methods were one dimensional whole-well cell assays, that used simplistic readouts for complex biological processes. They were unable to simultaneously quantify the many phenotypes observed in neurodegenerative diseases such as axonal transport deficits or alterations in morphology properties13, 14. This approach could not be used to investigate the dynamic nature of cellular processes or pathogenic events that occur in a subset of cells. To quantify such features one has to move to multi-dimensional phenotypes termed high-content screening (HCS)4, 15-17. HCS is the cell-based quantification of several processes simultaneously, which provides a more detailed representation of the cellular response to various perturbations compared to HTS. HCS has many advantages over HTS18, 19, but conducting a high-throughput (HT)-high-content (HC) screen in neuronal models is problematic due to high cost, environmental variation and human error. In order to detect cellular responses on a 'phenomics' scale using HC imaging one has to reduce variation and error, while increasing sensitivity and reproducibility. Herein we describe a method to accurately and reliably conduct shRNA screens using automated cell culturing20 and HC imaging in neuronal cellular models. We describe how we have used this methodology to identify modulators for one particular protein, DJ1, which when mutated causes autosomal recessive parkinsonism21. Combining the versatility of HC imaging with HT methods, it is possible to accurately quantify a plethora of phenotypes. This could subsequently be utilized to advance our understanding of the genome, the pathways involved in disease pathogenesis as well as identify potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushant Jain
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center.
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16
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Haggerty TJ, Dunn IS, Rose LB, Newton EE, Kurnick JT. A screening assay to identify agents that enhance T-cell recognition of human melanomas. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2011; 10:187-201. [PMID: 22085019 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2011.0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Although a series of melanoma differentiation antigens for immunotherapeutic targeting has been described, heterogeneous expression of antigens such as Melan-A/MART-1 and gp100 results from a loss of antigenic expression in many late stage tumors. Antigen loss can represent a means for tumor escape from immune recognition, and a barrier to immunotherapy. However, since antigen-negative tumor phenotypes frequently result from reversible gene regulatory events, antigen enhancement represents a potential therapeutic opportunity. Accordingly, we have developed a cell-based assay to screen for compounds with the ability to enhance T-cell recognition of melanoma cells. This assay is dependent on augmentation of MelanA/MART-1 antigen presentation by a melanoma cell line (MU89). T-cell recognition is detected as interleukin-2 production by a Jurkat T cell transduced to express a T-cell receptor specific for an HLA-A2 restricted epitope of the Melan-A/MART-1 protein. This cellular assay was used to perform a pilot screen by using 480 compounds of known biological activity. From the initial proof-of-principle primary screen, eight compounds were identified as positive hits. A panel of secondary screens, including orthogonal assays, was used to validate the primary hits and eliminate false positives, and also to measure the comparative efficacy of the identified compounds. This cell-based assay, thus, yields consistent results applicable to the screening of larger libraries of compounds that can potentially reveal novel molecules which allow better recognition of treated tumors by T cells.
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17
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Szoleczky P, Módis K, Nagy N, Dóri Tóth Z, DeWitt D, Szabó C, Gero D. Identification of agents that reduce renal hypoxia-reoxygenation injury using cell-based screening: purine nucleosides are alternative energy sources in LLC-PK1 cells during hypoxia. Arch Biochem Biophys 2011; 517:53-70. [PMID: 22100704 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute tubular necrosis is a clinical problem that lacks specific therapy and is characterized by high mortality rate. The ischemic renal injury affects the proximal tubule cells causing dysfunction and cell death after severe hypoperfusion. We utilized a cell-based screening approach in a hypoxia-reoxygenation model of tubular injury to search for cytoprotective action using a library of pharmacologically active compounds. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced ATP depletion, suppressed aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, increased the permeability of the monolayer, caused poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and caspase-dependent cell death. The only compound that proved cytoprotective either applied prior to the hypoxia induction or during the reoxygenation was adenosine. The protective effect of adenosine required the coordinated actions of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase, but did not requisite the purine receptors. Adenosine and inosine better preserved the cellular ATP content during ischemia than equimolar amount of glucose, and accelerated the restoration of the cellular ATP pool following the OGD. Our results suggest that radical changes occur in the cellular metabolism to respond to the energy demand during and following hypoxia, which include the use of nucleosides as an essential energy source. Thus purine nucleoside supplementation holds promise in the treatment of acute renal failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Szoleczky
- CellScreen Applied Research Center, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1102, USA
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18
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Quantitative cell-based reporter gene assays using droplet-based microfluidics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 17:528-36. [PMID: 20534350 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2009] [Revised: 04/13/2010] [Accepted: 04/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We used a droplet-based microfluidic system to perform a quantitative cell-based reporter gene assay for a nuclear receptor ligand. Single Bombyx mori cells are compartmentalized in nanoliter droplets which function as microreactors with a >1000-fold smaller volume than a microtiter-plate well, together with eight or ten discrete concentrations of 20-hydroxyecdysone, generated by on-chip dilution over 3 decades and encoded by a fluorescent label. The simultaneous measurement of the expression of green fluorescent protein by the reporter gene and of the fluorescent label allows construction of the dose-response profile of the hormone at the single-cell level. Screening approximately 7500 cells per concentration provides statistically relevant data that allow precise measurement of the EC(50) (70 nM +/- 12%, alpha = 0.05), in agreement with standard methods as well as with literature data.
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20
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Abstract
Most kidney diseases that ultimately lead to end-stage renal failure originate within the glomerulus and are associated with proteinuria. Treatment options are unspecific and offer partial cures at best because available therapies do not primarily treat glomerular cells but rather act systemically and thus cause many side effects. Most glomerulopathies directly stem from injury to podocytes, cells that have a key role in the maintenance of the glomerular filter. Thus, these cells constitute an obvious and promising target for the development of novel kidney-protective drugs. During the last decade, enormous advances have been made in the understanding of podocyte structure and function. A number of pathways that are altered during glomerular diseases may be targeted by novel small- and large-molecule drugs as well as biologicals that have been identified in nephrology and other areas of drug development. Cultured podocytes provide a valuable model for high-throughput drug screening assays. Furthermore, podocytes have been shown to possess many features that make them particularly good target cells for renal protection. This mini-review discusses some of the most recent promising data related to potential drug therapy for proteinuria and kidney disease through direct podocyte targeting.
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21
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Pillai AD, Pain M, Solomon T, Bokhari AAB, Desai SA. A cell-based high-throughput screen validates the plasmodial surface anion channel as an antimalarial target. Mol Pharmacol 2010; 77:724-33. [PMID: 20101003 DOI: 10.1124/mol.109.062711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) is an unusual small-conductance ion channel induced on erythrocytes infected with plasmodia, including parasites responsible for human malaria. Although broadly available inhibitors produce microscopic clearance of parasite cultures at high concentrations and suggest that PSAC is an antimalarial target, they have low affinity for the channel and may interfere with other parasite activities. To address these concerns, we developed a miniaturized assay for PSAC activity and carried out a high-throughput inhibitor screen. Approximately 70,000 compounds from synthetic and natural product libraries were screened, revealing inhibitors from multiple structural classes including two novel and potent heterocyclic scaffolds. Single-channel patch-clamp studies indicated that these compounds act directly on PSAC, further implicating a proposed role in transport of diverse solutes. A statistically significant correlation between channel inhibition and in vitro parasite killing by a family of compounds provided chemical validation of PSAC as a drug target. These new inhibitors should be important research tools and may be starting points for much-needed antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay D Pillai
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852-8132, USA
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22
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Soleilhac E, Nadon R, Lafanechere L. High-content screening for the discovery of pharmacological compounds: advantages, challenges and potential benefits of recent technological developments. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2010; 5:135-44. [DOI: 10.1517/17460440903544456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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23
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Frearson JA, Collie IT. HTS and hit finding in academia--from chemical genomics to drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2009; 14:1150-8. [PMID: 19793546 PMCID: PMC2814004 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2009.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Revised: 09/09/2009] [Accepted: 09/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The liaison between academia and the pharmaceutical industry was originally served primarily through the scientific literature and limited, specific industry-academia partnerships. Some of these partnerships have resulted in drugs on the market, such as Vorinostat (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre and Merck) and Tenofovir (University of Leuven; Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Republic; and GlaxoSmithKline), but the timescales from concept to clinic have, in most cases, taken many decades. We now find ourselves in a world in which the edges between these sectors are more blurred and the establishment and acceptance of high-throughput screening alongside the wider concept of 'hit discovery' in academia provides one of the key platforms required to enable this sector to contribute directly to addressing unmet medical need.
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24
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Leuchowius KJ, Jarvius M, Wickström M, Rickardson L, Landegren U, Larsson R, Söderberg O, Fryknäs M, Jarvius J. High content screening for inhibitors of protein interactions and post-translational modifications in primary cells by proximity ligation. Mol Cell Proteomics 2009; 9:178-83. [PMID: 19864249 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m900331-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cost of developing new drugs is a major obstacle for pharmaceutical companies and academia with many drugs identified in the drug discovery process failing approval for clinical use due to lack of intended effect or because of severe side effects. Since the early 1990 s, high throughput screening of drug compounds has increased enormously in capacity but has not resulted in a higher success rate of the identified drugs. Thus, there is a need for methods that can identify biologically relevant compounds and more accurately predict in vivo effects early in the drug discovery process. To address this, we developed a proximity ligation-based assay for high content screening of drug effects on signaling pathways. As a proof of concept, we used the assay to screen through a library of previously identified kinase inhibitors, including six clinically used tyrosine kinase inhibitors, to identify compounds that inhibited the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor beta signaling pathway in stimulated primary human fibroblasts. Thirteen of the 80 compounds were identified as hits, and the dose responses of these compounds were measured. The assay exhibited a very high Z' factor (0.71) and signal to noise ratio (11.7), demonstrating excellent ability to identify compounds interfering with the specific signaling event. A comparison with regular immunofluorescence detection of phosphorylated PDGF receptor demonstrated a far superior ability by the in situ proximity ligation assay to reveal inhibition of receptor phosphorylation. In addition, inhibitor-induced perturbation of protein-protein interactions of the PDGF signaling pathway could be quantified, further demonstrating the usefulness of the assay in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl-Johan Leuchowius
- Molecular Medicine, Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 20, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Connecting synthetic chemistry decisions to cell and genome biology using small-molecule phenotypic profiling. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2009; 13:539-48. [PMID: 19825513 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2009] [Revised: 09/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Discovering small-molecule modulators for thousands of gene products requires multiple stages of biological testing, specificity evaluation, and chemical optimization. Many cellular profiling methods, including cellular sensitivity, gene expression, and cellular imaging, have emerged as methods to assess the functional consequences of biological perturbations. Cellular profiling methods applied to small-molecule science provide opportunities to use complex phenotypic information to prioritize and optimize small-molecule structures simultaneously against multiple biological endpoints. As throughput increases and cost decreases for such technologies, we see an emerging paradigm of using more information earlier in probe-discovery and drug-discovery efforts. Moreover, increasing access to public datasets makes possible the construction of 'virtual' profiles of small-molecule performance, even when multiplexed measurements were not performed or when multidimensional profiling was not the original intent. We review some key conceptual advances in small-molecule phenotypic profiling, emphasizing connections to other information, such as protein-binding measurements, genetic perturbations, and cell states. We argue that to maximally leverage these measurements in probe-discovery and drug-discovery requires a fundamental connection to synthetic chemistry, allowing the consequences of synthetic decisions to be described in terms of changes in small-molecule profiles. Mining such data in the context of chemical structure and synthesis strategies can inform decisions about chemistry procurement and library development, leading to optimal small-molecule screening collections.
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