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Pont C, Sampietro A, Pérez-Areales FJ, Cristiano N, Albalat A, Pérez B, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Andrisano V, Barenys M, Teixidó E, Sabaté R, Loza MI, Brea J, Muñoz-Torrero D. Stepwise Structural Simplification of the Dihydroxyanthraquinone Moiety of a Multitarget Rhein-Based Anti-Alzheimer Lead to Improve Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic Properties. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:982. [PMID: 39204327 PMCID: PMC11359831 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16080982] [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: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Multitarget compounds have emerged as promising drug candidates to cope with complex multifactorial diseases, like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most multitarget compounds are designed by linking two pharmacophores through a tether chain (linked hybrids), which results in rather large molecules that are particularly useful to hit targets with large binding cavities, but at the expense of suffering from suboptimal physicochemical/pharmacokinetic properties. Molecular size reduction by removal of superfluous structural elements while retaining the key pharmacophoric motifs may represent a compromise solution to achieve both multitargeting and favorable physicochemical/PK properties. Here, we report the stepwise structural simplification of the dihydroxyanthraquinone moiety of a rhein-huprine hybrid lead by hydroxy group removal-ring contraction-ring opening-ring removal, which has led to new analogs that retain or surpass the potency of the lead on its multiple AD targets while exhibiting more favorable drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties and safety profile. In particular, the most simplified acetophenone analog displays dual nanomolar inhibition of human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 6 nM and 13 nM, respectively), moderately potent inhibition of human BACE-1 (48% inhibition at 15 µM) and Aβ42 and tau aggregation (73% and 68% inhibition, respectively, at 10 µM), favorable in vitro brain permeation, higher aqueous solubility (18 µM) and plasma stability (100/96/86% remaining in human/mouse/rat plasma after 6 h incubation), and lower acute toxicity in a model organism (zebrafish embryos; LC50 >> 100 µM) than the initial lead, thereby confirming the successful lead optimization by structural simplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Sampietro
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nunzia Cristiano
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agustí Albalat
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro, 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, I-47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Marta Barenys
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisabet Teixidó
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety of the University of Barcelona (INSA-UB), E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Isabel Loza
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Brea
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Román-Álamo L, Avalos-Padilla Y, Bouzón-Arnáiz I, Iglesias V, Fernández-Lajo J, Monteiro JM, Rivas L, Fisa R, Riera C, Andreu D, Pintado-Grima C, Ventura S, Arce EM, Muñoz-Torrero D, Fernàndez-Busquets X. Effect of the aggregated protein dye YAT2150 on Leishmania parasite viability. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0112723. [PMID: 38349159 PMCID: PMC10916400 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01127-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The problems associated with the drugs currently used to treat leishmaniasis, including resistance, toxicity, and the high cost of some formulations, call for the urgent identification of new therapeutic agents with novel modes of action. The aggregated protein dye YAT2150 has been found to be a potent antileishmanial compound, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of approximately 0.5 µM against promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum. The encapsulation in liposomes of YAT2150 significantly improved its in vitro IC50 to 0.37 and 0.19 µM in promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, and increased the half-maximal cytotoxic concentration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells to >50 µM. YAT2150 became strongly fluorescent when binding intracellular protein deposits in Leishmania cells. This fluorescence pattern aligns with the proposed mode of action of this drug in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the inhibition of protein aggregation. In Leishmania major, YAT2150 rapidly reduced ATP levels, suggesting an alternative antileishmanial mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, this first-in-class compound is the only one described so far having significant activity against both Plasmodium and Leishmania, thus being a potential drug for the treatment of co-infections of both parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Román-Álamo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Doctoral School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yunuen Avalos-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Bouzón-Arnáiz
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentín Iglesias
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB) and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Jorge Fernández-Lajo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M. Monteiro
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roser Fisa
- Section of Parasitology Department of Biology, Health and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Riera
- Section of Parasitology Department of Biology, Health and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Pintado-Grima
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB) and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB) and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Elsa M. Arce
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Luque FJ, Muñoz-Torrero D. Acetylcholinesterase: A Versatile Template to Coin Potent Modulators of Multiple Therapeutic Targets. Acc Chem Res 2024. [PMID: 38333993 PMCID: PMC10882973 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusThe enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) at cholinergic synapses of the peripheral and central nervous system. Thus, it is a prime therapeutic target for diseases that occur with a cholinergic deficit, prominently Alzheimer's disease (AD). Working at a rate near the diffusion limit, it is considered one of nature's most efficient enzymes. This is particularly meritorious considering that its catalytic site is buried at the bottom of a 20-Å-deep cavity, which is preceded by a bottleneck with a diameter shorter than that of the trimethylammonium group of ACh, which has to transit through it. Not only the particular architecture and amino acid composition of its active site gorge enable AChE to largely overcome this potential drawback, but it also offers plenty of possibilities for the design of novel inhibitor drug candidates.In this Account, we summarize our different approaches to colonize the vast territory of the AChE gorge in the pursuit of increased occupancy and hence of inhibitors with increased affinity. We pioneered the use of molecular hybridization to design inhibitors with extended binding at the CAS, reaching affinities among the highest reported so far. Further application of molecular hybridization to grow CAS extended binders by attaching a PAS-binding moiety through suitable linkers led to multisite inhibitors that span the whole length of the gorge, reaching the PAS and even interacting with midgorge residues. We show that multisite AChE inhibitors can also be successfully designed the other way around, by starting with an optimized PAS binder and then colonizing the gorge and CAS. Molecular hybridization from a multicomponent reaction-derived PAS binder afforded a single-digit picomolar multisite AChE inhibitor with more than 1.5 million-fold increased potency relative to the initial hit. This illustrates the powerful alliance between molecular hybridization and gorge occupancy for designing potent AChE inhibitors.Beyond AChE, we show that the stereoelectronic requirements imposed by the AChE gorge for multisite binding have a templating effect that leads to compounds that are active in other key biological targets in AD and other neurological and non-neurological diseases, such as BACE-1 and the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins (β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein, prion protein, transthyretin, and human islet amyloid polypeptide). The use of known pharmacophores for other targets as the PAS-binding motif enables the rational design of multitarget agents with multisite binding within AChE and activity against a variety of targets or pathological events, such as oxidative stress and the neuroinflammation-modulating enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase, among others.We hope that our results can contribute to the development of drug candidates that can modify the course of neurodegeneration and may inspire future works that exploit the power of molecular hybridization in other proteins featuring large cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Czarnecka K, Girek M, Kręcisz P, Skibiński R, Łątka K, Jończyk J, Bajda M, Szymczyk P, Galita G, Kabziński J, Majsterek I, Espargaró A, Sabate R, Szymański P. New cyclopentaquinoline and 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid hybrids with neuroprotection against oxidative stress for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2158822. [PMID: 36629422 PMCID: PMC9848259 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2158822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease. Thus, drugs including donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are not entirely effective in the treatment of this multifactorial disease. The present study evaluates eight derivatives (3a-3h) as candidates with stronger anti-AD potential but with less side effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were used to assess oxidative stress which involve in the neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective properties of 3e against oxidative stress were done in three experiments using MTT test. The anti-AD potential was determined based on their anticholinesterase inhibition ability, determined using Ellman's method, Aβ aggregation potential according to thioflavin (Th) fluorescence assay, and their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Compound 3e exhibited moderate cholinesterase inhibition activity (AChE, IC50 = 0.131 µM; BuChE, IC50 = 0.116 µM; SI = 1.13), significant inhibition of Aβ(1-42) aggregation (55.7%, at 5 µM) and acceptable neuroprotective activity. Extensive analysis of in vitro and in vivo assays indicates that new cyclopentaquinoline derivatives offer promise as candidates for new anti-AD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Czarnecka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland,CONTACT Kamila Czarnecka
| | - Małgorzata Girek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paweł Kręcisz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Robert Skibiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kamil Łątka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Jończyk
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczyk
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany,Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Galita
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Kabziński
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paweł Szymański
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland,Department of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland,Paweł Szymański Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, Lodz90-151, Poland
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Controlling amyloid formation of intrinsically disordered proteins and peptides: slowing down or speeding up? Essays Biochem 2022; 66:959-975. [PMID: 35975807 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The pathological assembly of intrinsically disordered proteins/peptides (IDPs) into amyloid fibrils is associated with a range of human pathologies, including neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases and systemic amyloidosis. These debilitating disorders affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the number of people affected is increasing sharply. However, the discovery of therapeutic agents has been immensely challenging largely because of (i) the diverse number of aggregation pathways and the multi-conformational and transient nature of the related proteins or peptides and (ii) the under-development of experimental pipelines for the identification of disease-modifying molecules and their mode-of-action. Here, we describe current approaches used in the search for small-molecule modulators able to control or arrest amyloid formation commencing from IDPs and review recently reported accelerators and inhibitors of amyloid formation for this class of proteins. We compare their targets, mode-of-action and effects on amyloid-associated cytotoxicity. Recent successes in the control of IDP-associated amyloid formation using small molecules highlight exciting possibilities for future intervention in protein-misfolding diseases, despite the challenges of targeting these highly dynamic precursors of amyloid assembly.
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Álvarez-Berbel I, Espargaró A, Viayna A, Caballero AB, Busquets MA, Gámez P, Luque FJ, Sabaté R. Three to Tango: Inhibitory Effect of Quercetin and Apigenin on Acetylcholinesterase, Amyloid-β Aggregation and Acetylcholinesterase-Amyloid Interaction. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2342. [PMID: 36365159 PMCID: PMC9699245 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the formation of amyloid-β plaques. Since acetylcholinesterase (AChE) promotes the formation of such plaques, the inhibition of this enzyme could slow down the progression of amyloid-β aggregation, hence being complementary to the palliative treatment of cholinergic decline. Antiaggregation assays performed for apigenin and quercetin, which are polyphenolic compounds that exhibit inhibitory properties against the formation of amyloid plaques, reveal distinct inhibitory effects of these compounds on Aβ40 aggregation in the presence and absence of AChE. Furthermore, the analysis of the amyloid fibers formed in the presence of these flavonoids suggests that the Aβ40 aggregates present different quaternary structures, viz., smaller molecular assemblies are generated. In agreement with a noncompetitive inhibition of AChE, molecular modeling studies indicate that these effects may be due to the binding of apigenin and quercetin at the peripheral binding site of AChE. Since apigenin and quercetin can also reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species, the data achieved suggest that multitarget catechol-type compounds may be used for the simultaneous treatment of various biological hallmarks of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Álvarez-Berbel
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Viayna
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona, Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Caballero
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB) and NanoBIC, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Antònia Busquets
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrick Gámez
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB) and NanoBIC, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona, Prat de la Riba 171, 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Bouzón-Arnáiz I, Avalos-Padilla Y, Biosca A, Caño-Prades O, Román-Álamo L, Valle J, Andreu D, Moita D, Prudêncio M, Arce EM, Muñoz-Torrero D, Fernàndez-Busquets X. The protein aggregation inhibitor YAT2150 has potent antimalarial activity in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro cultures. BMC Biol 2022; 20:197. [PMID: 36271358 PMCID: PMC9587658 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01374-4] [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: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background By 2016, signs of emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin and partner drugs were detected in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Recently, the independent evolution of artemisinin resistance has also been reported in Africa and South America. This alarming scenario calls for the urgent development of new antimalarials with novel modes of action. We investigated the interference with protein aggregation, which is potentially toxic for the cell and occurs abundantly in all Plasmodium stages, as a hitherto unexplored drug target in the pathogen. Results Attempts to exacerbate the P. falciparum proteome’s propensity to aggregation by delivering endogenous aggregative peptides to in vitro cultures of this parasite did not significantly affect their growth. In contrast, protein aggregation inhibitors clearly reduced the pathogen’s viability. One such compound, the bis(styrylpyridinium) salt YAT2150, exhibited potent antiplasmodial activity with an in vitro IC50 of 90 nM for chloroquine- and artemisinin-resistant lines, arresting asexual blood parasites at the trophozoite stage, as well as interfering with the development of both sexual and hepatic forms of Plasmodium. At its IC50, this compound is a powerful inhibitor of the aggregation of the model amyloid β peptide fragment 1-40, and it reduces the amount of aggregated proteins in P. falciparum cultures, suggesting that the underlying antimalarial mechanism consists in a generalized impairment of proteostasis in the pathogen. YAT2150 has an easy, rapid, and inexpensive synthesis, and because it fluoresces when it accumulates in its main localization in the Plasmodium cytosol, it is a theranostic agent. Conclusions Inhibiting protein aggregation in Plasmodium significantly reduces the parasite’s viability in vitro. Since YAT2150 belongs to a novel structural class of antiplasmodials with a mode of action that potentially targets multiple gene products, rapid evolution of resistance to this drug is unlikely to occur, making it a promising compound for the post-artemisinin era. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01374-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Bouzón-Arnáiz
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yunuen Avalos-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Biosca
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Omar Caño-Prades
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Román-Álamo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Valle
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Moita
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Fac. Medicina Univ. Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Fac. Medicina Univ. Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elsa M Arce
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. .,Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. .,Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Coumarin derivatives against amyloid-beta 40 – 42 peptide and tau protein. CURRENT ISSUES IN PHARMACY AND MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/cipms-2022-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In preclinical studies, simple coumarins (scoparone, limettin) and furanocoumarins (imperatorin, xanthotoxin, bergapten) have already found to demonstrate procognitive abilities. This suggests that they hold antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and inhibitory action towards acetylcholinesterase activities. However, little is known about their influence on the amyloidal structure formation, the leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In vitro and in cellulo assays were applied to evaluate the effect of selected coumarins on the different stages of Aβ40/42 and tau protein aggregation. Kinetic analyses were performed to evaluate their inhibiting abilities in time. Limettin revealed the most potent inhibiting profile towards Aβ40 aggregation, however, all tested compounds presented low influence on Aβ42 and tau protein aggregation inhibition. Despite the preliminary stage of the project, the promising effects of coumarins on Aβ40 aggregation were shown. This suggests the coumarin scaffold can serve as a potential multitarget agent in AD treatment, but further studies are required to confirm this.
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9
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From virtual screening hits targeting a cryptic pocket in BACE-1 to a nontoxic brain permeable multitarget anti-Alzheimer lead with disease-modifying and cognition-enhancing effects. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113779. [PMID: 34418785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Starting from six potential hits identified in a virtual screening campaign directed to a cryptic pocket of BACE-1, at the edge of the catalytic cleft, we have synthesized and evaluated six hybrid compounds, designed to simultaneously reach BACE-1 secondary and catalytic sites and to exert additional activities of interest for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have identified a lead compound with potent in vitro activity towards human BACE-1 and cholinesterases, moderate Aβ42 and tau antiaggregating activity, and brain permeability, which is nontoxic in neuronal cells and zebrafish embryos at concentrations above those required for the in vitro activities. This compound completely restored short- and long-term memory in a mouse model of AD (SAMP8) relative to healthy control strain SAMR1, shifted APP processing towards the non-amyloidogenic pathway, reduced tau phosphorylation, and increased the levels of synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin, thereby emerging as a promising disease-modifying, cognition-enhancing anti-AD lead.
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10
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Bortolami M, Pandolfi F, Tudino V, Messore A, Madia VN, De Vita D, Di Santo R, Costi R, Romeo I, Alcaro S, Colone M, Stringaro A, Espargaró A, Sabatè R, Scipione L. New Pyrimidine and Pyridine Derivatives as Multitarget Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro and In Cellulo Evaluation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4090-4112. [PMID: 34652128 PMCID: PMC8569681 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
A new series of pyrimidine
and pyridine diamines was designed as
dual binding site inhibitors of cholinesterases (ChEs), characterized
by two small aromatic moieties separated by a diaminoalkyl flexible
linker. Many compounds are mixed or uncompetitive acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) and/or butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) nanomolar inhibitors, with
compound 9 being the most active on Electrophorus
electricus AChE (EeAChE) (Ki = 0.312 μM) and compound 22 on equine BChE (eqBChE) (Ki = 0.099 μM). Molecular docking and molecular dynamic
studies confirmed the interaction mode of our compounds with the enzymatic
active site. UV–vis spectroscopic studies showed that these
compounds can form complexes with Cu2+ and Fe3+ and that compounds 18, 20, and 30 have antioxidant properties. Interestingly, some compounds were
also able to reduce Aβ42 and tau aggregation, with
compound 28 being the most potent (22.3 and 17.0% inhibition
at 100 μM on Aβ42 and tau, respectively). Moreover,
the most active compounds showed low cytotoxicity on a human brain
cell line and they were predicted as BBB-permeable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Bortolami
- Department of Scienze di Base e Applicate per l’Ingegneria, Sapienza University of Rome, via Castro Laurenziano 7, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Pandolfi
- Department of Scienze di Base e Applicate per l’Ingegneria, Sapienza University of Rome, via Castro Laurenziano 7, I-00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Tudino
- Department of Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Messore
- Department of Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Noemi Madia
- Department of Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela De Vita
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Romeo
- Net4Science s.r.l., Campus universitario ″S. Venuta″, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università ″Magna Græcia″ di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Net4Science s.r.l., Campus universitario ″S. Venuta″, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università ″Magna Græcia″ di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marisa Colone
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annarita Stringaro
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII, 27-31 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabatè
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII, 27-31 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Luigi Scipione
- Department of Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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11
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Rampa A, Gobbi S, Belluti F, Bisi A. Tackling Alzheimer's Disease with Existing Drugs: A Promising Strategy for Bypassing Obstacles. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:2305-2327. [PMID: 32867634 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200831140745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The unmet need for the development of effective drugs to treat Alzheimer 's disease has been steadily growing, representing a major challenge in drug discovery. In this context, drug repurposing, namely the identification of novel therapeutic indications for approved or investigational compounds, can be seen as an attractive attempt to obtain new medications reducing both the time and the economic burden usually required for research and development programs. In the last years, several classes of drugs have evidenced promising beneficial effects in neurodegenerative diseases, and for some of them, preliminary clinical trials have been started. This review aims to illustrate some of the most recent examples of drugs reprofiled for Alzheimer's disease, considering not only the finding of new uses for existing drugs but also the new hypotheses on disease pathogenesis that could promote previously unconsidered therapeutic regimens. Moreover, some examples of structural modifications performed on existing drugs in order to obtain multifunctional compounds will also be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Rampa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Gobbi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Belluti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
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12
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Purgatorio R, Gambacorta N, Catto M, de Candia M, Pisani L, Espargaró A, Sabaté R, Cellamare S, Nicolotti O, Altomare CD. Pharmacophore Modeling and 3D-QSAR Study of Indole and Isatin Derivatives as Antiamyloidogenic Agents Targeting Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2020; 25:E5773. [PMID: 33297547 PMCID: PMC7731220 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-six novel indole-containing compounds, mainly 3-(2-phenylhydrazono) isatins and structurally related 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde derivatives, were synthesized and assayed as inhibitors of beta amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, a hallmark of pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. The newly synthesized molecules spanned their IC50 values from sub- to two-digit micromolar range, bearing further information into structure-activity relationships. Some of the new compounds showed interesting multitarget activity, by inhibiting monoamine oxidases A and B. A cell-based assay in tau overexpressing bacterial cells disclosed a promising additional activity of some derivatives against tau aggregation. The accumulated data of either about ninety published and thirty-six newly synthesized molecules were used to generate a pharmacophore hypothesis of antiamyloidogenic activity exerted in a wide range of potencies, satisfactorily discriminating the 'active' compounds from the 'inactive' (poorly active) ones. An atom-based 3D-QSAR model was also derived for about 80% of 'active' compounds, i.e., those achieving finite IC50 values lower than 100 μM. The 3D-QSAR model (encompassing 4 PLS factors), featuring acceptable predictive statistics either in the training set (n = 45, q2 = 0.596) and in the external test set (n = 14, r2ext = 0.695), usefully complemented the pharmacophore model by identifying the physicochemical features mainly correlated with the Aβ anti-aggregating potency of the indole and isatin derivatives studied herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Purgatorio
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Nicola Gambacorta
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Leonardo Pisani
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.E.); (R.S.)
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.E.); (R.S.)
| | - Saverio Cellamare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Cosimo D. Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
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13
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Tang X, Gao G, Zhang T, Li J, Yu M, He M, Sun T. Charge effects at nano-bio interfaces: a model of charged gold nanoclusters on amylin fibrillation. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18834-18843. [PMID: 32895690 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr03877f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The misfolding and abnormal amyloid fibrillation of proteins/peptides are associated with more than 20 human diseases. Although dozens of nanoparticles have been investigated for the inhibition effect on the misfolding and fibrillation of pathogenesis-related proteins/peptides, there are few reports on charge effects of nano inhibitors on amyloid fibrillation. Herein, same-sized gold nanoclusters modified with 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride (CSH-AuNCs, positively charged in pH 7.4) or 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA-AuNCs, negatively charged in pH 7.4) were synthesized and adopted as models to explore the charge effect of nano inhibitors on amylin fibrillation at the nano-bio interface. ThT fluorescence kinetics analysis, AFM images and circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that electropositive CSH-AuNCs inhibited the misfolding and fibrillation of amylin in a dosage-dependent manner, but electronegative MPA-AuNCs accelerated the misfolding and fibrillation of amylin in a dosage-dependent manner. Moreover, the theoretical and experimental results revealed the interaction mechanism between amylin and ligands of AuNCs at the nano-bio interfaces. Electropositive CSH-AuNCs could be bound to the main nucleating region of amylin via hydrogen bonding and endowed the nanocomplex with more positive net charges (amylin monomer with a positive +26.23 ± 0.80 mV zeta potential), which would inhibit the misfolding and aggregation of amylin via electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance. In contrast, electronegative MPA-AuNCs could absorb electropositive amylin via strong electrostatic attractions, which accelerated the fibrillation process of amylin via enhancing local concentrations. Moreover, cell experiments showed that both the charged AuNCs had good biocompatibility and electronegetive MPA-AuNCs showed a better protective effect in the amylin-induced cell model than electropositive CSH-AuNCs. These results provide an insight into structure-based nanodrug design for protein conformational diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China.
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14
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Pérez-Areales FJ, Garrido M, Aso E, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Espargaró A, Ginex T, Sabate R, Pérez B, Andrisano V, Puigoriol-Illamola D, Pallàs M, Luque FJ, Loza MI, Brea J, Ferrer I, Ciruela F, Messeguer A, Muñoz-Torrero D. Centrally Active Multitarget Anti-Alzheimer Agents Derived from the Antioxidant Lead CR-6. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9360-9390. [PMID: 32706255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor in Alzheimer's disease, but it should not be tackled alone rather together with other key targets to derive effective treatments. The combination of the scaffold of the polar antioxidant lead 7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-ol (CR-6) with that of the lipophilic cholinesterase inhibitor 6-chlorotacrine results in compounds with favorable brain permeability and multiple activities in vitro (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1), and Aβ42 and tau aggregation inhibition). In in vivo studies on wild-type and APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice, two selected compounds were well tolerated and led to positive trends, albeit statistically nonsignificant in some cases, on memory performance, amyloid pathology (reduced amyloid burden and potentiated non-amyloidogenic APP processing), and oxidative stress (reduced cortical oxidized proteins and increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), and heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) and transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)). These compounds emerge as interesting brain-permeable multitarget compounds, with a potential as anti-Alzheimer agents beyond that of the original lead CR-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Garrido
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Aso
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, IBUB, and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, I-47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Dolors Puigoriol-Illamola
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, IBUB, and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - María Isabel Loza
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Brea
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED, E-28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Angel Messeguer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Pérez-Areales FJ, Turcu AL, Barniol-Xicota M, Pont C, Pivetta D, Espargaró A, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Andrisano V, Pérez B, Sabate R, Sureda FX, Vázquez S, Muñoz-Torrero D. A novel class of multitarget anti-Alzheimer benzohomoadamantane‒chlorotacrine hybrids modulating cholinesterases and glutamate NMDA receptors. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:613-626. [PMID: 31351393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of multitarget compounds against multifactorial diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, is an area of very intensive research, due to the expected superior therapeutic efficacy that should arise from the simultaneous modulation of several key targets of the complex pathological network. Here we describe the synthesis and multitarget biological profiling of a new class of compounds designed by molecular hybridization of an NMDA receptor antagonist fluorobenzohomoadamantanamine with the potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor 6-chlorotacrine, using two different linker lengths and linkage positions, to preserve or not the memantine-like polycyclic unsubstituted primary amine. The best hybrids exhibit greater potencies than parent compounds against AChE (IC50 0.33 nM in the best case, 44-fold increased potency over 6-chlorotacrine), butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 21 nM in the best case, 24-fold increased potency over 6-chlorotacrine), and NMDA receptors (IC50 0.89 μM in the best case, 2-fold increased potency over the parent benzohomoadamantanamine and memantine), which suggests an additive effect of both pharmacophoric moieties in the interaction with the primary targets. Moreover, most of these compounds have been predicted to be brain permeable. This set of biological properties makes them promising leads for further anti-Alzheimer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreea L Turcu
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Barniol-Xicota
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Deborah Pivetta
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, I-47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, I-47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc X Sureda
- Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/St. Llorenç 21, E-43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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