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Chattopadhyay S, Hazra R, Mallick A, Gayen S, Roy S. Small-molecule in cancer immunotherapy: Revolutionizing cancer treatment with transformative, game-changing breakthroughs. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189170. [PMID: 39127244 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189170] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer management, with antibody-based treatments leading the charge due to their superior pharmacodynamics, including enhanced effectiveness and specificity. However, these therapies are hampered by limitations such as prolonged half-lives, poor tissue and tumor penetration, and minimal oral bioavailability. Additionally, their immunogenic nature can cause adverse effects. Consequently, the focus is shifting towards small-molecule-based immunotherapies, which potentially overcome these drawbacks. Emerging as a promising alternative, small molecules offer the benefits of therapeutic antibodies and immunomodulators, often yielding synergistic effects when combined. Recent advancements in small-molecule cancer immunotherapy are notable, featuring inhibitors, agonists, and degraders that act as immunomodulators. This article delves into the current landscape of small-molecule immunotherapy in cancer treatment, highlighting novel agents targeting key pathways such as Toll-like receptors (TLR), PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, and stimulators of interferon genes (STING). The review emphasizes newly discovered molecular entities and their modulatory roles in tumorigenesis, many of which have progressed to clinical trials, that aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the evolving frontier in cancer treatment, driven by small-molecule immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyadeep Chattopadhyay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Rudradeep Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Arijit Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Sakuntala Gayen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India
| | - Souvik Roy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata-Group of Institutions, Kolkata, West Bengal 700053, India.
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Jia H, Luo Z, Jing R, Yao B, Lv T, Zheng H, Wang X. The Development of a Highly Potent and Selective Human Toll-like Receptor 2 Agonist: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of CaLGL-1 and Its Derivatives. J Med Chem 2024; 67:12932-12944. [PMID: 38996365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays a crucial role in detecting microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns, offering potential applications as an adjuvant for vaccines and antitumor therapies. Here, we present the gram-scale synthesis of CaLGL-1 and its derivatives, natural products known for activating mouse TLR2 (EC50 = 3.2 μM). This synthesis involves a streamlined six-step reaction sequence utilizing oxidant-promoted acetalization, effectively preserving the acid-sensitive glycosidic bond for maintaining the compounds' functional integrity. Our structure-activity relationship studies identified R-7d as a potent human TLR2 activator. It demonstrated subnanomolar activity (EC50 = 116 pM) in human THP-1 cells, comparable to that of diprovocim (EC50 = 110 pM). Experiments revealed that R-7d enhances NF-kB promoter activation through TLR2/TLR1 heterodimers rather than TLR2/TLR6. The discovery of R-7d as a robust human TLR2 agonist opens up new possibilities for combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Zhikuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Ruijun Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Bowen Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Tinghong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Haixue Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
- Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Biology, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China
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Wang H, Pang J, Zhou Y, Qi Q, Tang Y, Gul S, Sheng M, Dan J, Tang W. Identification of potential drug targets for allergic diseases from a genetic perspective: A mendelian randomization study. Clin Transl Allergy 2024; 14:e12350. [PMID: 38573314 PMCID: PMC10994001 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12350] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic diseases typically refer to a heterogeneous group of conditions primarily caused by the activation of mast cells or eosinophils, including atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR), and asthma. Asthma, AR, and AD collectively affect approximately one-fifth of the global population, imposing a significant economic burden on society. Despite the availability of drugs to treat allergic diseases, they have been shown to be insufficient in controlling relapses and halting disease progression. Therefore, new drug targets are needed to prevent the onset of allergic diseases. METHOD We employed a Mendelian randomization approach to identify potential drug targets for the treatment of allergic diseases. Leveraging 1798 genetic instruments for 1537 plasma proteins from the latest reported Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), we analyzed the GWAS summary statistics of Ferreira MA et al. (nCase = 180,129, nControl = 180,709) using the Mendelian randomization method. Furthermore, we validated our findings in the GWAS data from the FinnGen and UK Biobank cohorts. Subsequently, we conducted sensitivity tests through reverse causal analysis, Bayesian colocalization analysis, and phenotype scanning. Additionally, we performed protein-protein interaction analysis to determine the interaction between causal proteins. Finally, based on the potential protein targets, we conducted molecular docking to identify potential drugs for the treatment of allergic diseases. RESULTS At Bonferroni significance (p < 3.25 × 10-5), the Mendelian randomization analysis revealed 11 significantly associated protein-allergic disease pairs. Among these, the increased levels of TNFAIP3, ERBB3, TLR1, and IL1RL2 proteins were associated with a reduced risk of allergic diseases, with corresponding odds ratios of 0.82 (0.76-0.88), 0.74 (0.66-0.82), 0.49 (0.45-0.55), and 0.81 (0.75-0.87), respectively. Conversely, increased levels of IL6R, IL1R1, ITPKA, IL1RL1, KYNU, LAYN, and LRP11 proteins were linked to an elevated risk of allergic diseases, with corresponding odds ratios of 1.04 (1.03-1.05), 1.25 (1.18-1.34), 1.48 (1.25-1.75), 1.14 (1.11-1.18), 1.09 (1.05-1.12), 1.96 (1.56-2.47), and 1.05 (1.03-1.07), respectively. Bayesian colocalization analysis suggested that LAYN (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.819) and TNFAIP3 (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.930) share the same variant associated with allergic diseases. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates a causal association between the expression levels of TNFAIP3 and LAYN and the risk of allergic diseases, suggesting them as potential drug targets for these conditions, warranting further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Jianyu Pang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Yuguan Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Qi Qi
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Yuheng Tang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Samina Gul
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Miaomiao Sheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Juhua Dan
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Wenru Tang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging & TumorMedicine SchoolKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingYunnanChina
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Wang Y, Cheng X, Liu X, Xu J, Wang L, Zhang S, Liu S, Peng T. Design and Synthesis of 3-(2 H-Chromen-3-yl)-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazole Derivatives as Novel Toll-like Receptor 2/1 Agonists That Inhibit Lung Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38498304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 is a transmembrane receptor that participates in the innate immune response by forming a heterodimer with TLR1 or TLR6. TLR2 agonists play an important role in tumor therapy. Herein, we synthesized a series of 3-(2H-chromen-3-yl)-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives and identified WYJ-2 as a potent small and selective molecule agonist of TLR2/1, with an EC50 of 18.57 ± 0.98 nM in human TLR2 and TLR1 transient-cotransfected HEK 293T cells. WYJ-2 promoted the formation of TLR2/1 heterodimers and activated the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Moreover, our study indicated that WYJ-2 could induce pyroptosis in cancer cells, mediated by activating the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. WYJ-2 exhibited effective anti-non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) activity in vitro and in vivo. The discovery that activating TLR2/1 induces pyroptosis in cancer cells may highlight the prospects of TLR2/1 agonists in cancer treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Xu Cheng
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Xinru Liu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Lin Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Shouguo Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Shuchen Liu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
| | - Tao Peng
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, P. R. China
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Ou J, Zheng L, Chen Y, Fu Q, Tan L, Liang E, Huang L, Pan Y, Ke J, Chen Z, Cheng K. Heterocyclic-Modified Imidazoquinoline Derivatives: Selective TLR7 Agonist Regulates Tumor Microenvironment against Melanoma. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3321-3338. [PMID: 38363069 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeting the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of a series of imidazoquinoline-based TLR7 agonists and assess NF-κB pathway activation using HEK-Blue hTLR7 cells to identify the most potent small-molecule TLR7 agonist, SMU-L11 (EC50 = 0.024 ± 0.002 μM). In vitro experiments demonstrated that SMU-L11 specifically activated TLR7, resulting in recruitment of the MyD88 adaptor protein and activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, SMU-L11 was found to exert immune-enhancing effects by significantly inducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in murine dendritic cells, macrophages, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells while promoting M1 macrophage polarization. In vivo studies using a B16-F10 mouse tumor model showed that SMU-L11 significantly enhanced immune cell activation and augmented CD4+ T and CD8+ T-cell proliferation, directly killing tumor cells and inhibiting tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanlin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qiuyue Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Liyi Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - En Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiahua Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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6
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Malik JA, Kaur G, Agrewala JN. Revolutionizing medicine with toll-like receptors: A path to strengthening cellular immunity. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127252. [PMID: 37802429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors play a vital role in cell-mediated immunity, which is crucial for the immune system's defense against pathogens and maintenance of homeostasis. The interaction between toll-like-receptor response and cell-mediated immunity is complex and essential for effectively eliminating pathogens and maintaining immune surveillance. In addition to pathogen recognition, toll-like receptors serve as adjuvants in vaccines, as molecular sensors, and recognize specific patterns associated with pathogens and danger signals. Incorporating toll-like receptor ligands into vaccines can enhance the immune response to antigens, making them potent adjuvants. Furthermore, they bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems and improve antigen-presenting cells' capacity to process and present antigens to T cells. The intricate signaling pathways and cross-talk between toll-like-receptor and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling emphasize their pivotal role in orchestrating effective immune responses against pathogens, thus facilitating the development of innovative vaccine strategies. This article provides an overview of the current understanding of toll-like receptor response and explores their potential clinical applications. By unraveling the complex mechanisms of toll-like-receptor signaling, we can gain novel insights into immune responses and potentially develop innovative therapeutic approaches. Ongoing investigations into the toll-like-receptor response hold promise in the future in enhancing our ability to combat infections, design effective vaccines, and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonaid Ahmad Malik
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India
| | - Gurpreet Kaur
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India; Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, Mohali, Punjab 140055, India
| | - Javed N Agrewala
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Punjab 140001, India.
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7
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Tsukidate T, Hespen CW, Hang HC. Small molecule modulators of immune pattern recognition receptors. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:1014-1036. [PMID: 38033733 PMCID: PMC10685800 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00096f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) represent a re-emerging class of therapeutic targets for vaccine adjuvants, inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this review article, we summarize exciting developments in discovery and characterization of small molecule PRR modulators, focusing on Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and the cGAS-STING pathway. We also highlight PRRs that are currently lacking small molecule modulators and opportunities for chemical biology and therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Tsukidate
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Rockefeller University, New York New York 10065 USA
| | - Charles W Hespen
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Rockefeller University, New York New York 10065 USA
| | - Howard C Hang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Microbial Pathogenesis, The Rockefeller University, New York New York 10065 USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology and Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, La Jolla California 92037 USA
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8
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Liao J, Yang J, Li X, Hu C, Zhu W, Zhou Y, Zou Y, Guo M, Chen Z, Li X, Dai J, Xu Y, Zheng Z, Chen P, Cho WJ, Liang G, Tang Q. Discovery of the Diphenyl 6-Oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazine-3-carboxylate/carboxamide Analogue J27 for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis by Targeting JNK2 and Inhibiting the JNK2-NF-κB/MAPK Pathway. J Med Chem 2023; 66:12304-12323. [PMID: 37643372 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) and sepsis are both serious and complex conditions associated with high mortality, yet there are no effective treatments. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of diphenyl 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazine-3-carboxylate/carboxamide analogues exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity. The optimal compound J27 decreased the release of TNF-α and IL-6 in mouse and human cells J774A.1 and THP-1 (IL-6 IC50 = 0.22 μM) through the NF-κB/MAPK pathway. J27 demonstrated remarkable protection against ALI and sepsis in vivo and exhibited good safety in subacute toxicity experiments. Pharmacokinetic study indicated that J27 had good bioavailability (30.74%). To our surprise, J27 could target JNK2 with a totally new molecular skeleton compared with the only few JNK2 inhibitors reported. Moreover, there is no report that JNK2 inhibitors could apply for ALI and sepsis. Therefore, this work provides a new lead structure for the study of JNK2 inhibitors and a new target of JNK2 to treat ALI and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 311399, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325024, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Chenghong Hu
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Weiwei Zhu
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yu Zou
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Mi Guo
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhichao Chen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jintian Dai
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325024, China
| | - Yuye Xu
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325024, China
| | - Zhiwei Zheng
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Pan Chen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Won-Jea Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Guang Liang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 311399, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325024, China
| | - Qidong Tang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325024, China
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9
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Chen Y, Zhi S, Ou J, Gao J, Zheng L, Huang M, Du S, Shi L, Tu Y, Cheng K. Cancer Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticle Co-loaded with Photosensitizer and Toll-like Receptor 7 Agonist for the Enhancement of Combined Tumor Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:16620-16632. [PMID: 37606341 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c02724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has shown considerable therapeutic potential in the past few years, but the clinical response rate of immunotherapy is less than 20%. Encountering the high heterogeneity of tumors, it will be a general trend to apply combined therapy for cancer treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) transiently kills tumor cells by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), while residual tumor cells are prone to metastasis, leading to tumor recurrence. In combination with tumor immunotherapy, it is hoped to awaken the host immune system and eradicate residual tumor cells. Herein, cancer cell membrane-coated nanoparticles as a platform to combine PDT, TLR7 agonist, and tumor antigen for the enhancement of tumor therapeutic efficacy are designed. The final biomimetic nanoparticles (CCMV/LTNPs) can specifically kill tumor cells through PDT, while strong host antitumor immune responses are elicited to eliminate residue tumor cells under the help of immune adjuvant and tumor antigen from the cancer cell membrane. In summary, a photoimmunotherapy strategy is designed that synergistically enhances the tumor therapeutic effects by killing tumor cells through PDT and activating host antitumor immune responses through the co-delivery of adjuvant and tumor antigen, which may offer a promising strategy for clinical immunotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Siying Zhi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxin Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Junbin Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Meixin Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaohua Du
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Liu Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingfeng Tu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, People's Republic of China
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Center for Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
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10
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Yang J, Pan Y, Zeng X, Liu S, Chen Z, Cheng K. Discovery of novel aporphine alkaloid derivative as potent TLR2 antagonist reversing macrophage polarization and neutrophil infiltration against acute inflammation. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:3782-3801. [PMID: 37719381 PMCID: PMC10501872 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mediated macrophages regulate the protective immune response to infectious microorganisms, but the aberrant activation of macrophages often leads to pathological inflammation, including tissue damage. In this study, we identified antagonists of TLR2 by screening 2100 natural products and subsequently identified Taspine, an aporphine alkaloid, as an excellent candidate. Furthermore, analysis of the 10 steps chemical synthesis route and structural optimization yielded the Taspine derivative SMU-Y6, which has higher activity, better solubility, and improved drug-feasible property. Mechanistic studies and seq-RNA analysis revealed that SMU-Y6 inhibited TLR2 over other TLRs, hindered the formation of TLR2/MyD88 complex, and blocked the downstream NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway, thus suppressing the release of inflammatory cytokines. SMU-Y6 could stabilize TLR2 and bind to TLR2 protein with a Kd of 0.18 μmol/L. Additionally, SMU-Y6 could efficiently reverse the M1 phenotype macrophage polarization, reduce the production of cytokines as well as infiltration of neutrophiles and alleviate the local inflammation in mice with acute paw edema and colitis. Collectively, we reported the first aporphine alkaloid derivative that selectively inhibits TLR2 with high binding affinity and superior drug-feasible property, thus providing an urgently-needed molecular probe and potential drug candidate for inflammatory and autoimmune disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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11
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Wang J, Zhang J, Wang J, Hu X, Ouyang L, Wang Y. Small-Molecule Modulators Targeting Toll-like Receptors for Potential Anticancer Therapeutics. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6437-6462. [PMID: 37163340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key components of the innate immune system and serve as a crucial link between innate and acquired immunity. In addition to immune function, TLRs are involved in other important pathological processes, including tumorigenesis. TLRs have dual regulatory effects on tumor immunity by activating nuclear factor κ-B signaling pathways, which induce tumor immune evasion or enhance the antitumor immune response. Therefore, TLRs have become a popular target for cancer prevention and treatment, and TLR agonists and antagonists offer considerable potential for drug development. The TLR7 agonist imiquimod (1) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for malignant skin cancer. Herein, the structure, signaling pathways, and function of the TLR family are summarized, and the structure-activity relationships associated with TLR selective and multitarget modulators and their potential application in tumor therapy are systematically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Wang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Xinyue Hu
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China
| | - Liang Ouyang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Joint Research Institution of Altitude Health, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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12
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Liang Y, Zheng Y, Yang J, Ke J, Cheng K. Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of a series of quinazolinone derivatives as potent PI3Kγ antagonist. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 84:117261. [PMID: 37011446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117261] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Targeting PI3Kγ would be a useful strategy for treating inflammatory and cancer diseases. However, the development of selective inhibitors of PI3Kγ is very challenging due to the high structural and sequence homology with other PI3K isoforms. A series of quinazolinone derivatives were designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated as PI3Kγ-selective inhibitors. Among all the 28 compounds, compound 9b was found to be the most potent selective inhibitor with IC50 values of 13.11 nM against PI3Kγ kinase. Additionally, compound 9b could generate toxicity on leukemia cells in a panel of 12 different of cancer cell lines with the IC50 value of 2.41 ± 0.11 μM on Jurkat cell. Preliminary mechanism studies indicated that compound 9b through inhibit the activity of PI3K-AKT in human and murine leukemia cells, and activated phosphorylated p38 and phosphorylated ERK presented potent antiproliferative activity, which provided a potent small molecule for further cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Drug Research for Emerging Virus Prevention and Treatment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanjun Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Drug Research for Emerging Virus Prevention and Treatment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Junjie Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Drug Research for Emerging Virus Prevention and Treatment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiahua Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Drug Research for Emerging Virus Prevention and Treatment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Drug Research for Emerging Virus Prevention and Treatment, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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13
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Li X, Yin L, Liao J, Yang J, Cai B, Yu Y, Su S, Du Z, Li X, Zhou Y, Chen P, Cho WJ, Chattipakorn N, Samorodov AV, Pavlov VN, Zhang F, Liang G, Tang Q. Novel O-benzylcinnamic acid derivative L26 treats acute lung injury in mice by MD-2. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 252:115289. [PMID: 36963290 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115289] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammation-mediated respiratory disease that is associated with a high mortality rate. In this study, a series of novel O-benzylcinnamic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized using cinnamic acid as the lead compound. We tested the preliminary anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds by evaluating their effect on inhibiting the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in Hek-Blue-TLR4 cells, in which compound L26 showed the best activity and 7-fold more active than CIN. ELISA, immunoprecipitation, and molecular docking indicated that L26 targeted MD-2 protein and competed with LPS to bind to MD-2, which resulted in the inhibition of inflammation. In the LPS-induced mouse model of ALI, L26 was found to decrease ALP activity and inflammatory cytokine TNF-α release to reduce lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Acute toxicity experiments showed that high doses of L26 did not cause adverse reactions in mice, and it was safe in vivo. Also, the preliminary pharmacokinetic parameters of L26 were investigated in SD rats (T1/2 = 4.246 h). In summary, L26 exhibited optimal pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics, which suggested that L26 could serve as a potential agent for the development of ALI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lina Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311399, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Liao
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binhao Cai
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiming Yu
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sijia Su
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiteng Du
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pan Chen
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China; College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Won-Jea Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Aleksandr V Samorodov
- Department of Pharmacology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa City, 450005, Russia
| | - Valentin N Pavlov
- Department of Pharmacology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa City, 450005, Russia
| | - Fengzhi Zhang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Guang Liang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325024, Zhejiang, China; School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311399, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Qidong Tang
- Chemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325024, Zhejiang, China.
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14
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Ma J, Wang S, Zhao C, Yan X, Ren Q, Dong Z, Qiu J, Liu Y, Shan Q, Xu M, Yan B, Liu S. Computer-Aided Discovery of Potent Broad-Spectrum Vaccine Adjuvants. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202301059. [PMID: 36815280 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202301059] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Adjuvants stimulate the immune system to vigorously respond to a vaccine. While current adjuvants such as aluminum salts and oil-in-water emulsions have been used for decades, they do not generate broad and long-lasting responses in many vaccines. Consequently, more potent adjuvants are needed. Here, using computer-aided molecule design and machine learning, we discovered 2 new, broad-spectrum adjuvants that can boost vaccine responses. Our library containing 46 toll-like receptor (TLR)-targeting agonist ligands were assembled on Au nanoparticles. Comprehensive in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies showed both leads promoted dendritic cell activation via multiple TLRs and enhanced antigen presentation to T cells. When used together with tumor-specific antigens to immunize mice against B16-OVA melanoma and 4T1-PD1 breast cancer, both adjuvants unleashed strong immune responses that suppressed tumor growth and lung metastases. Our results show computer-aided design and screening can rapidly uncover potent adjuvants for tackling waning immunity in current vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Shenqing Wang
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bays, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Chuanfang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xiliang Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bays, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Quanzhong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- Department of toxicology and sanitary chemistry, School of public health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jiahuang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yin Liu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 330106, P. R. China
| | - Qing'e Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250117, P. R. China
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bays, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250117, P. R. China
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15
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Hafsa, Shah HUR, Ahmad K, Ashfaq M, Oku H. Free radical scavenging, antibacterial potentials and spectroscopic characterizations of benzoyl thiourea derivatives and their metal complexes. J Mol Struct 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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16
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Wu Y, Yang Z, Cheng K, Bi H, Chen J. Small molecule-based immunomodulators for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4287-4308. [PMID: 36562003 PMCID: PMC9764074 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Current cancer immunotherapies are mostly antibody-based, thus possessing advantages in regard to pharmacodynamics (e.g., specificity and efficacy). However, they have limitations in terms of pharmacokinetics including long half-lives, poor tissue/tumor penetration, and little/no oral bioavailability. In addition, therapeutic antibodies are immunogenic, thus may cause unwanted adverse effects. Therefore, researchers have shifted their efforts towards the development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy, as small molecules may overcome the above disadvantages associated with antibodies. Further, small molecule-based immunomodulators and therapeutic antibodies are complementary modalities for cancer treatment, and may be combined to elicit synergistic effects. Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the current progress in small molecule-based immunomodulators (inhibitors/agonists/degraders) for cancer therapy, including those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, stimulator of interferon genes (STING), Toll-like receptor (TLR), etc. The tumorigenesis mechanism of various targets and their respective modulators that have entered clinical trials are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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17
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Identification and immunological evaluation of novel TLR2 agonists through structural optimization of Diprovocim. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114771. [PMID: 36174413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114771] [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: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As an important family member of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), TLR2 can recognize various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacteria and viral components. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that TLR2 agonists play a critical role in cancer immunotherapy and infectious diseases. Diprovocim is the most potent small molecule TLR2 agonist known, showing remarkably immune adjuvant activity in mice. However, the further clinical research and development of Diprovocim was hampered because of its structural complexity as well as high molecular weight. Here, we designed and synthesized 21 structurally simplified derivatives of Diprovocim, performed their TLR2 agonistic activities by HEK-Blue hTLR2 SEAP assay, and evaluated the toxicity in two human normal cell lines. Compounds B3-B4 and B9-B12 with excellent TLR2 agonistic activity were found through the structure-activity relationship study. Among them, diastereomer B10 and B12 substituted (S)-2-phenylcyclopropylamide side chain of Diprovocim with simple (R)- and (S)-n-butyl groups exhibited comparable TLR2 agonistic activities with EC50 values of 35 nM and 39 nM, respectively. ELISA and western blot experiments on THP-1 cells showed that B10 and B12 displayed remarkable immunostimulatory activity in the release of various inflammatory cytokines through activating MyD88-dependent NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Importantly, B10 and B12 have less structural complexity and better safety compared to Diprovocim, and the chiral center of right pyrrolidine ring has negligible influence on TLR2 activition. Our study provides simplified Diprovocim derivatives with high agonistic activity, providing a clue to further optimize Diprovocim.
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18
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Novel urea-thiourea hybrids bearing 1,4-naphthoquinone moiety: Anti-inflammatory activity on mammalian macrophages by regulating intracellular PI3K pathway, and molecular docking study. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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19
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Yang MH, Russell JL, Mifune Y, Wang Y, Shi H, Moresco EMY, Siegwart DJ, Beutler B, Boger DL. Next-Generation Diprovocims with Potent Human and Murine TLR1/TLR2 Agonist Activity That Activate the Innate and Adaptive Immune Response. J Med Chem 2022; 65:9230-9252. [PMID: 35767437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The diprovocims, a new class of toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, bear no similarity to prior TLR agonists, act through a well-defined mechanism (TLR1/TLR2 agonist), exhibit exquisite structure-activity relationships, and display in vivo adjuvant activity. They possess potent and efficacious agonist activity toward human TLR1/TLR2 but modest agonism toward the murine receptor. A manner by which diprovocims can be functionalized without impacting hTLR1/TLR2 activity is detailed, permitting future linkage to antigenic, targeting, or delivery moieties. Improvements in both potency and its low efficacy in the murine system were also achieved, permitting more effective use in animal models while maintaining the hTLR1/TLR2 activity. The prototypical member diprovocim-X exhibits the excellent potency/efficacy of diprovocim-1 in human cells, displays substantially improved potency/efficacy in mouse macrophages, and serves as an adjuvant in mice when coadministered with a nonimmunogenic antigen, indicating stimulation of the adaptive as well as innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsiu Yang
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Jamie L Russell
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Yuto Mifune
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Hexin Shi
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Eva Marie Y Moresco
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Dale L Boger
- Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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20
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Zhan Z, Dai F, Zhang T, Chen Y, She J, Jiang H, Liu S, Gu T, Tang L. Oridonin alleviates hyperbilirubinemia through activating LXRα-UGT1A1 axis. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106188. [PMID: 35338002 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Hyperbilirubinemia is a serious hazard to human health due to its neurotoxicity and lethality. So far, successful therapy for hyperbilirubinemia with fewer side effects is still lacking. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of oridonin (Ori), an active diterpenoid extracted from Rabdosia rubescens, on hyperbilirubinemia and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Here, we showed that liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) deletion eliminated the protective effect of Ori on phenylhydrazine hydrochloride-induced hyperbilirubinemia mice, indicating that LXRα acted as a key target for Ori treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. Ori significantly increased the expression of LXRα and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) in the liver of wild-type (WT) mice, which were lost in LXRα-/- mice. Ori or LXR agonist GW3965 also reduced lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced hyperbilirubinemia via activating LXRα/UGT1A1 in WT mice. Liver UGT1A1 enzyme activity was elevated by Ori or GW3965 in WT mice. Further, Ori up-regulated LXRα gene expression, increased its nuclear translocation and stimulated UGT1A1 promoter activity in HepG2 cells. After silencing LXRα by siRNA, Ori-induced UGT1A1 expression was markedly reduced in HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes. Taken together, Ori stimulated the transcriptional activity of LXRα, resulting in the up-regulation of UGT1A1. Therefore, Ori or its analogs might have the potential to treat hyperbilirubinemia-related diseases through modulating LXRα-UGT1A1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikun Zhan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fahong Dai
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, China
| | - Yulian Chen
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianglian She
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bioresources and Ecology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Marine Materia Medica, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Huanguo Jiang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Tanwei Gu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lan Tang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Built-in adjuvants for use in vaccines. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113917. [PMID: 34688011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Vaccine refers to biological products that are produced using various pathogenic microorganisms for inoculation. The goal of vaccination is to induce a robust immune response against a specific antigen, thus preventing the organism from getting infected. In vaccines, adjuvants have been widely employed to enhance immunity against specific antigens. An ideal adjuvant should be stable, biodegradable, and low cost, not induce system rejection and promote an immune response. Various adjuvant components have been investigated across diverse applications. Typically, adjuvants are employed to meet the following objectives: (1) to improve the effectiveness of immunization with vaccines for specific populations, such as newborns and the elderly; (2) enhance the immunogenicity of highly purified or recombinant antigens; (3) allow immunization with a smaller dose of the vaccine, reducing drug dosage. In the present review, we primarily focus on chemically synthesized compounds that can be used as built-in adjuvants. We elaborate the classification of these compounds based on the induced immune activation mechanism and summarize their application in various vaccine types.
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