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Rabinowitz ZM, Somers J, Wang Z, Cui L. Chemical toolbox to interrogate Heparanase-1 activity. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2024; 80:102452. [PMID: 38555836 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The development of a robust chemical toolbox to interrogate the activity of heparanase-1 (HPSE-1), an endo-β-d-glucuronidase and the only known enzyme that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS), has become critically important. The primary function of HPSE-1, cleaving HS side chains from heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), regulates the integrity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the bioavailability of active, heparan sulfate-binding partners such as enzymes, growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines. HPSE-1 enzymatic activity is strictly regulated and has been found to play fundamental roles in pathophysiological processes. HPSE-1 is significantly overexpressed under various conditions including cancer, metastasis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, making HPSE-1 a promising therapeutic and diagnostic target. Chemical tools that can detect and image HPSE-1 activity in vitro and/or in vivo can help drive the discovery of novel and efficacious anti-HPSE-1 drugs, investigate the basic biology of HPSE-1, and help serve as a diagnostic tool in clinical applications. Here, we will give an overview of the common chemical tools to detect HPSE-1 activity and highlight the novel heparanase probes recently developed in our lab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Rabinowitz
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Johnathan Somers
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Zhishen Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lina Cui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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2
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Zhang Y, Cui L. Discovery and development of small-molecule heparanase inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 90:117335. [PMID: 37257254 PMCID: PMC10884955 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117335] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Heparanase-1 (HPSE) is a promising yet challenging therapeutic target. It is the only known enzyme that is responsible for cleavage of heparan sulfate (HS) side chains from heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), and is the key enzyme involved in the remodeling and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Overexpression of HPSE is found in various types of diseases, including cancers, inflammations, diabetes, and viral infections. Inhibiting HPSE can restore ECM functions and integrity, making the development of HPSE inhibitors a highly sought-after topic. So far, all HPSE inhibitors that have entered clinical trials belong to the category of HS mimetics, and no small-molecule or drug-like HPSE inhibitors have made similar progress. None of the HS mimetics have been approved as drugs, with some clinical trials discontinued due to poor bioavailability, side effects, and unfavorable pharmacokinetics characteristics. Small-molecule HPSE inhibitors are, therefore, particularly appealing due to their drug-like characteristics. Advances in the chemical spaces and drug design technologies, including the increasing use of in vitro and in silico screening methods, have provided new opportunities in drug discovery. This article aims to review the discovery and development of small-molecule HPSE inhibitors via screening strategies to shed light on the future endeavors in the development of novel HPSE inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhao Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, UF Health Science Center, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lina Cui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, UF Health Science Center, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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3
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Gu Y, Peng L, Ding W, Wang Y, Zeng X. An ultrasensitive FRET-based fluorescent low molecular weight heparin nanoprobe for quantifying heparanase activity. Talanta 2023; 254:124207. [PMID: 36549136 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124207] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Heparanase (HPA) is a multifaceted endo-β-glucuronidase, and its dysregulation facilitates cancer metastasis. Developing techniques for fast and sensitively monitoring HPA enzymatic activity is crucial for searching for molecular therapies targeting HPA. Herein, we developed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based nanoprobe AuNCs-LMWH-AuNRs, with AuNCs@GSH-cys and AuNRs/end-NH2/side-SiO2 attached to the non-reducing terminus and reducing terminus of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), respectively. AuNCs@GSH-cys exhibited an absolute quantum yield of 1.1%. The absorption spectra of AuNRs/end-NH2/side-SiO2 (825 nm for maximum longitudinal absorption) and the emission spectra of AuNCs@GSH-cys (824 nm for maximum emission) were precisely overlapping, further enhancing the efficiency of FRET. In the presence of HPA, the LMWH nanoprobe exhibited an ultrasensitive response with excitation/emission wavelength (lambda (ex) = 560 nm, lambda (em) = 824 nm). The probe presented a wide linear dynamic detection range (LDR) of 0.125 ng/μL - 0.01 μg/μL in vitro with a limit of detection (LODs) of 82.15 pM (0.43 pg/μL). The excellent selectivity and good fluorescence turn-on efficiency of the probe made it possible for one-step detection of cellular heparanase activity. High throughput screening of HPA inhibitors also can be accomplished using the highly efficient LMWH nanoprobe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayun Gu
- Medical School, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China.
| | - Lizhong Peng
- Medical School, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Weihua Ding
- Medical School, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001 Longxiang Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518172, China
| | - Xuhui Zeng
- Medical School, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China.
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Sistla JC, Desai UR. A Robust, One-step FRET Assay for Human Heparanase. Bio Protoc 2019; 9:e3356. [PMID: 33654855 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparanase, an endo-β-D-glucuronidase, cleaves cell surface and extracellular matrix heparan sulfate (HS) chains at distinct sites and plays important biological roles including modulation of cell growth and metastasis. Although a number of different types of heparanase assays have been reported to date, most are labor intensive, complex and/or expensive to carry out. We reasoned that a simpler heparanase assay could be developed using heparin labeled with Dabcyl and EDANS as donor and acceptor fluorophores so as to generate a FRET signal. Our results show that a more robust heparanase assay could be developed based on the principle studied herein and more homogeneous preparation of heparin. Yet, the assay in its current form could be used for routine screening of potential inhibitors in a high-throughput manner as well as for studying heparanase activity expressed in tumors as well as biological fluids like plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyothi C Sistla
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - Umesh R Desai
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
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The Development of Assays for Heparanase Enzymatic Activity: Towards a Gold Standard. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23112971. [PMID: 30441818 PMCID: PMC6278452 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzyme heparanase, an endo-β-glucuronidase, degrades heparan sulfate (HS) chains on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. Heparanase regulates numerous biological processes that drive tumour growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. In addition to its key role in cancer progression, it has also been implicated in an ever-growing number of other diseases, particularly those associated with inflammation. The importance of heparanase in biology has led to numerous efforts over the years to develop assays to monitor its activity and to screen for new inhibitors as potential drug candidates. Despite these efforts and the commercialization of a few kits, most heparanase assays are still complex, labour intensive, costly or have limited application. Herein we review the various methods for assaying heparanase enzymatic activity, focusing on recent developments towards new assays that hold the promise of accelerating research into this important enzyme.
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Madia VN, Messore A, Pescatori L, Saccoliti F, Tudino V, De Leo A, Bortolami M, Scipione L, Costi R, Rivara S, Scalvini L, Mor M, Ferrara FF, Pavoni E, Roscilli G, Cassinelli G, Milazzo FM, Battistuzzi G, Di Santo R, Giannini G. Novel Benzazole Derivatives Endowed with Potent Antiheparanase Activity. J Med Chem 2018; 61:6918-6936. [PMID: 30010344 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Heparanase is the sole mammalian enzyme capable of cleaving glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Its altered activity is intimately associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Thus, its implication in cancer progression makes it an attractive target in anticancer therapy. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new benzazoles as heparanase inhibitors. Most of the designed derivatives were active at micromolar or submicromolar concentration, and the most promising compounds are fluorinated and/or amino acids derivatives 13a, 14d, and 15 that showed IC50 0.16-0.82 μM. Molecular docking studies were performed to rationalize their interaction with the enzyme catalytic site. Importantly, invasion assay confirmed the antimetastatic potential of compounds 14d and 15. Consistently with its ability to inhibit heparanase, compound 15 proved to decrease expression of genes encoding for proangiogenic factors such as MMP-9, VEGF, and FGFs in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Noemi Madia
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Antonella Messore
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Luca Pescatori
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Francesco Saccoliti
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Valeria Tudino
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Alessandro De Leo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Martina Bortolami
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Luigi Scipione
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giuliana Cassinelli
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Applicata e Sviluppo Tecnologico, Unità di Farmacologia Molecolare , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , via Amadeo 42 , I-20133 Milano , Italy
| | | | | | - Roberto Di Santo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco , Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p.le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Roma , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- R&D Alfasigma S.p.A. , Via Pontina Km 30,400, Pomezia , I-00071 Roma , Italy
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Heparanase: a rainbow pharmacological target associated to multiple pathologies including rare diseases. Future Med Chem 2016; 8:647-80. [PMID: 27057774 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2016-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, heparanase has attracted considerable attention as a promising target for innovative pharmacological applications. Heparanase is a multifaceted protein endowed with enzymatic activity, as an endo-β-D-glucuronidase, and nonenzymatic functions. It is responsible for the cleavage of heparan sulfate side chains of proteoglycans, resulting in structural alterations of the extracellular matrix. Heparanase appears to be involved in major human diseases, from the most studied tumors to chronic inflammation, diabetic nephropathy, bone osteolysis, thrombosis and atherosclerosis, in addition to more recent investigation in various rare diseases. The present review provides an overview on heparanase, its biological role, inhibitors and possible clinical applications, covering the latest findings in these areas.
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Lühn S, Grimm JC, Alban S. Simple and rapid quality control of sulfated glycans by a fluorescence sensor assay--exemplarily developed for the sulfated polysaccharides from red algae Delesseria sanguinea. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:2205-27. [PMID: 24727392 PMCID: PMC4012468 DOI: 10.3390/md12042205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) from algae are of great interest due to their manifold biological activities. Obstacles to commercial (especially medical) application include considerable variability and complex chemical composition making the analysis and the quality control challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate a simple microplate assay for screening the quality of SP. It is based on the fluorescence intensity (FI) increase of the sensor molecule Polymer-H by SP and was originally developed for direct quantification of SP. Exemplarily, 65 SP batches isolated from the red alga Delesseria sanguinea (D.s.-SP) and several other algae polysaccharides were investigated. Their FI increase in the Polymer-H assay was compared with other analytical parameters. By testing just one concentration of a D.s.-SP sample, quality deviations from the reference D.s.-SP and thus both batch-to-batch variability and stability can be detected. Further, structurally distinct SP showed to differ in their concentration-dependent FI profiles. By using corresponding reference compounds, the Polymer-H assay is therefore applicable as identification assay with high negative predictability. In conclusion, the Polymer-H assay showed to represent not only a simple method for quantification, but also for characterization identification and differentiation of SP of marine origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Lühn
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Juliane C Grimm
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Susanne Alban
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Gutenbergstr. 76, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
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Testing of potential glycan-based heparanase inhibitors in a fluorescence activity assay using either bacterial heparinase II or human heparanase. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2014; 95:130-8. [PMID: 24667567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Heparanase, an endo-β-glucuronidase cleaving heparan sulfate (HS) chains at cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix (ECM), is involved in angiogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis as well as in inflammation and kidney dysfunction. Therefore, heparanase is considered a promising therapeutic target and diagnostic marker. Recently, we have developed a simple, rapid, fully automatable fluorimetric activity assay using the synthetic sulfated pentasaccharide fondaparinux as substrate and bacterial heparinase II (HEP-II) instead of human heparanase (hHEP). The aim of this study was to evaluate this assay for inhibitor testing as well as to check whether the assay principle is applicable to measure the activity and inhibition, respectively, of the actual target enzyme hHEP. Besides the known hHEP inhibitor suramin and the antiinflammatory and antimetastatic PS3, two series of β-1,3-glucan sulfates differing in their chain length and degree of sulfation, further semisynthetic sulfated glycans, and two sulfated polysaccharides isolated from algae were included to examine structure-activity relationships. The inhibitory activity of sulfated glycans showed to be greatly dependent on both their degree of sulfation and their basic glycan structure, but independent of their molecular size. The β-1,3-glucan sulfates were superior to suramin as well as to the other glycans with similar degree of sulfations. The most active inhibitor was found to be the β-1,3-glucan sulfate PS3 (IC₅₀=0.017 μM). By using hHEP instead of HEP-II comparable results were obtained. With an IC₅₀ being about 160 times lower than that of suramin, PS3 exhibited again the strongest inhibitory effects. Inhibition of hHEP may therefore contribute to the potent antiinflammatory and antimetastatic activities of PS3 in vivo. In conclusion, the fluorimetric hHEP activity assay proved to be a simple, fully automatable tool for testing potential inhibitors. In case of HS mimetic inhibitors, the assay variant with HEP-II may provide a fast and inexpensive option for initial screening purposes.
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