1
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Karalis T, Poulogiannis G. The Emerging Role of LPA as an Oncometabolite. Cells 2024; 13:629. [PMID: 38607068 PMCID: PMC11011573 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid that displays potent signalling activities that are regulated in both an autocrine and paracrine manner. It can be found both extra- and intracellularly, where it interacts with different receptors to activate signalling pathways that regulate a plethora of cellular processes, including mitosis, proliferation and migration. LPA metabolism is complex, and its biosynthesis and catabolism are under tight control to ensure proper LPA levels in the body. In cancer patient specimens, LPA levels are frequently higher compared to those of healthy individuals and often correlate with poor responses and more aggressive disease. Accordingly, LPA, through promoting cancer cell migration and invasion, enhances the metastasis and dissemination of tumour cells. In this review, we summarise the role of LPA in the regulation of critical aspects of tumour biology and further discuss the available pre-clinical and clinical evidence regarding the feasibility and efficacy of targeting LPA metabolism for effective anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George Poulogiannis
- Signalling and Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK;
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2
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Semeno VV, Vasylchenko VO, Fesun IM, Ruzhylo LY, Kipriianov MO, Melnykov KP, Skreminskyi A, Iminov R, Mykhailiuk P, Vashchenko BV, Grygorenko OO. Bicyclo[m.n.k]alkane Building Blocks as Promising Benzene and Cycloalkane Isosteres: Multigram Synthesis, Physicochemical and Structural Characterization. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303859. [PMID: 38149408 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303859] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Electrophilic double bond functionalization - intramolecular enolate alkylation sequence was used to obtain a series of bridged and fused bicyclo[m.n.k]alkane derivatives (i. e., bicyclo[4.1.1]octanes, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes, bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes, bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes, and bicyclo[4.2.0]heptanes). The scope and limitations of the method were established, and applicability to the multigram synthesis of target bicyclic compounds was illustrated. Using the developed protocols, over 50 mono- and bifunctional building blocks relevant to medicinal chemistry were prepared. The synthesized compounds are promising isosteres of benzene and cycloalkane rings, which is confirmed by their physicochemical and structural characterization (pKa , LogP, and exit vector parameters (EVP)). "Rules of thumb" for the upcoming isosteric replacement studies were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr V Semeno
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Street 60, Kyїv, 01601, Ukraine
| | | | - Ihor M Fesun
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
| | - Liudmyla Yu Ruzhylo
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- National Technical University of Ukraine " Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", Beresteiskyi Ave. 37, Kyїv, 03056, Ukraine
| | - Mykhailo O Kipriianov
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- National Technical University of Ukraine " Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", Beresteiskyi Ave. 37, Kyїv, 03056, Ukraine
| | - Kostiantyn P Melnykov
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Street 60, Kyїv, 01601, Ukraine
| | | | - Rustam Iminov
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
| | | | - Bohdan V Vashchenko
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Street 60, Kyїv, 01601, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr O Grygorenko
- Enamine Ltd., Chervonotkatska Street 78, Kyїv, 02094, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Street 60, Kyїv, 01601, Ukraine
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3
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Benesch MG, Tang X, Brindley DN, Takabe K. Autotaxin and Lysophosphatidate Signaling: Prime Targets for Mitigating Therapy Resistance in Breast Cancer. World J Oncol 2024; 15:1-13. [PMID: 38274724 PMCID: PMC10807915 DOI: 10.14740/wjon1762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Overcoming and preventing cancer therapy resistance is the most pressing challenge in modern breast cancer management. Consequently, most modern breast cancer research is aimed at understanding and blocking these therapy resistance mechanisms. One increasingly promising therapeutic target is the autotaxin (ATX)-lysophosphatidate (LPA)-lipid phosphate phosphatase (LPP) axis. Extracellular LPA, produced from albumin-bound lysophosphatidylcholine by ATX and degraded by the ecto-activity of the LPPs, is a potent cell-signaling mediator of tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and resistance to cancer treatment modalities. LPA signaling in the post-natal organism has central roles in physiological wound healing, but these mechanisms are subverted to fuel pathogenesis in diseases that arise from chronic inflammatory processes, including cancer. Over the last 10 years, our understanding of the role of LPA signaling in the breast tumor microenvironment has begun to mature. Tumor-promoting inflammation in breast cancer leads to increased ATX production within the tumor microenvironment. This results in increased local concentrations of LPA that are maintained in part by decreased overall cancer cell LPP expression that would otherwise more rapidly break it down. LPA signaling through six G-protein-coupled LPA receptors expressed by cancer cells can then activate virtually every known tumorigenic pathway. Consequently, to target therapy resistance and tumor growth mediated by LPA signaling, multiple inhibitors against the LPA signaling axis are entering clinical trials. In this review, we summarize recent developments in LPA breast cancer biology, and illustrate how these novel therapeutics against the LPA signaling pathway may be excellent adjuncts to extend the efficacy of evolving breast cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G.K. Benesch
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Tang
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - David N. Brindley
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Kazuaki Takabe
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8520, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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4
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Shareef U, Altaf A, Ahmed M, Akhtar N, Almuhayawi MS, Al Jaouni SK, Selim S, Abdelgawad MA, Nagshabandi MK. A comprehensive review of discovery and development of drugs discovered from 2020-2022. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:101913. [PMID: 38204591 PMCID: PMC10777120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101913] [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: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
To fully evaluate and define the new drug molecule for its pharmacological characteristics and toxicity profile, pre-clinical and clinical studies are conducted as part of the drug research and development process. The average time required for all drug development processes to finish various regulatory evaluations ranges from 11.4 to 13.5 years, and the expense of drug development is rising quickly. The development in the discovery of newer novel treatments is, however, largely due to the growing need for new medications. Methods to identify Hits and discovery of lead compounds along with pre-clinical studies have advanced, and one example is the introduction of computer-aided drug design (CADD), which has greatly shortened the time needed for the drug to go through the drug discovery phases. The pharmaceutical industry will hopefully be able to address the present and future issues and will continue to produce novel molecular entities (NMEs) to satisfy the expanding unmet medical requirements of the patients as the success rate of the drug development processes is increasing. Several heterocyclic moieties have been developed and tested against many targets and proved to be very effective. In-depth discussion of the drug design approaches of newly found drugs from 2020 to 2022, including their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and in-vitro and in-vivo assessments, is the main goal of this review. Considering the many stages these drugs are going through in their clinical trials, this investigation is especially pertinent. It should be noted that synthetic strategies are not discussed in this review; instead, they will be in a future publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Shareef
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Aisha Altaf
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Madiha Ahmed
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Nosheen Akhtar
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi 43600, Pakistan
| | - Mohammed S. Almuhayawi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad K. Al Jaouni
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Yousef Abdulatif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy Selim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A. Abdelgawad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed K. Nagshabandi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
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5
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Toyohara T, Yoshida M, Miyabe K, Hayashi K, Naitoh I, Kondo H, Hori Y, Kato A, Kachi K, Asano G, Sahashi H, Adachi A, Kuno K, Kito Y, Matsuo Y, Kataoka H. Dual role of autotaxin as novel biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:4571-4582. [PMID: 37770812 PMCID: PMC10728022 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15980] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNENs) are rare pancreatic neoplasms, and descriptions of treatment remain limited. Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted autocrine motility factor involved in the production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid mediator that promotes the progression of various cancers. The aim of this study was to clarify the importance of the ATX-LPA axis in panNENs and to confirm its contribution to panNEN progression using clinical data, cell lines, and a mouse model. Serum ATX level was higher in patients with panNEN than in patients with other pancreatic diseases (chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [PDAC], intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, autoimmune pancreatitis) and healthy controls, and 61% of clinical specimens stained strongly for ATX. In a case we encountered, serum ATX level fluctuated with disease progression. An in vitro study showed higher ATX mRNA expression in panNEN cell lines than in PDAC cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration in panNEN cell lines were stimulated via the ATX-LPA axis and suppressed by RNA interference or inhibitors. An in vivo study showed that intraperitoneal injection of GLPG1690, an ATX inhibitor, suppressed tumor progression in a xenograft model. These findings revealed that ATX expression is significantly elevated in panNEN and is related to the progression of panNEN. We showed the potential of ATX as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Toyohara
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Michihiro Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Katsuyuki Miyabe
- Department of GastroenterologyJapanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daini HospitalNagoyaJapan
| | - Kazuki Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Itaru Naitoh
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Hiromu Kondo
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Yasuki Hori
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Akihisa Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Kenta Kachi
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Go Asano
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Hidenori Sahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Akihisa Adachi
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Kayoko Kuno
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Yusuke Kito
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Yoichi Matsuo
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
| | - Hiromi Kataoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and MetabolismNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical SciencesNagoyaJapan
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6
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Benesch MGK, Wu R, Tang X, Brindley DN, Ishikawa T, Takabe K. Autotaxin production in the human breast cancer tumor microenvironment mitigates tumor progression in early breast cancers. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:2790-2813. [PMID: 37559999 PMCID: PMC10408472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted enzyme that produces extracellular lysophosphatidate in physiological wound healing. ATX is overexpressed in many cancers to promote growth, metastasis, and treatment resistance. However, ATX expression is very low in breast cancer cells, and is instead secreted by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Paracrine ATX expression, and its effects on tumor progression, has not been robustly studied in human breast tumors. In this study, ATX expression was analyzed in over 5000 non-metastatic breast cancers from databases TCGA, METABRIC and GSE96058, dichotomized by the median. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and the xCell algorithm investigated biological functions of ATX and correlation to TME cell populations. TME ATX production was verified by single cell RNA sequencing. The highest ATX expression occurred in endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (P<0.0001). High tumor ATX expression correlated to increased adipocyte, fibroblast, and endothelial cell fractions (P<0.01), and GSEA demonstrated enriched immune system, tumor suppressor, pro-survival, stemness, and pro-inflammatory signaling in multiple gene sets. Tumor mutational burden was decreased, Ki67 scores were decreased, tumor infiltrating immune cell populations increased, and immune cytolytic activity scores increased (all P<0.01) for ATX-high tumors. Overall survival trends favored ATX-high tumors (hazard ratios 0.75-0.80). In summary, in human breast cancers, ATX is produced by the TME, and in non-metastatic tumors, high levels correlate with an anti-tumor phenotype. Because pre-clinical models use aggressive pro-metastatic cell lines where ATX-mediated signaling promotes tumorigenesis, further research is required to verify an anti-to-pro-tumor phenotype switch with breast cancer progression and/or treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew GK Benesch
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffalo, New York 14263, USA
| | - Rongrong Wu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffalo, New York 14263, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical UniversityTokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Xiaoyun Tang
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Biochemistry, University of AlbertaEdmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - David N Brindley
- Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, Department of Biochemistry, University of AlbertaEdmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical UniversityTokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Takabe
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffalo, New York 14263, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical UniversityTokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental SciencesNiigata 951-8520, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of MedicineFukushima 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New YorkBuffalo, New York 14263, USA
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Ebrahimi E, Wuest M, Kaur J, Bhardwaj A, Reddy Gade N, Wuest F. [ 18F]ONO-8430506: A novel radioligand for PET imaging of autotaxin (ATX). Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 90:129345. [PMID: 37217023 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129345] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We have prepared and tested radioligand [18F]ONO-8430506 ([18F]8) as a novel ATX PET imaging agent derived from highly potent ATX inhibitor ONO-8430506. Radioligand [18F]8 could be prepared in good and reproducible radiochemical yields of 35±5% (n=6) using late-stage radiofluorination chemistry. ATX binding analysis showed that 9-benzyl tetrahydro-b-carboline 8 has about five times better inhibitory potency than clinical candidate GLPG1690 and somewhat less inhibitory potency than ATX inhibitor PRIMATX. The binding mode for compound 8 inside the catalytic pocket of ATX using computational modelling and docking protocols revealed that compound 8 resembled a comparable binding mode to that of ATX inhibitor GLPG1690. However, PET imaging studies with radioligand [18F]8 showed only relatively low tumour uptake and retention (SUV60min 0.21±0.03) in the tested 8305C human thyroid tumour model reaching a tumour-to-muscle ratio of ∼2.2 after 60 min.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melinda Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Jatinder Kaur
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Atul Bhardwaj
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Frank Wuest
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Canada.
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8
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Tsuchida Y, Shoda H, Sawada T, Fujio K. Role of autotaxin in systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1166343. [PMID: 37122329 PMCID: PMC10130763 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1166343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of various autoantibodies and deposition of immune complexes. SLE is a heterogenous disease, and the pattern of organ involvement and response to treatment differs significantly among patients. Novel biological markers are necessary to assess the extent of organ involvement and predict treatment response in SLE. Lysophosphatidic acid is a lysophospholipid involved in various biological processes, and autotaxin (ATX), which catalyzes the production of lysophosphatidic acid in the extracellular space, has gained attention in various diseases as a potential biomarker. The concentration of ATX is increased in the serum and urine of patients with SLE and lupus nephritis. Recent evidence suggests that ATX produced by plasmacytoid dendritic cells may play an important role in the immune system and pathogenesis of SLE. Furthermore, the production of ATX is associated with type I interferons, a key cytokine in SLE pathogenesis, and ATX may be a potential biomarker and key molecule in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Tsuchida
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Yumi Tsuchida,
| | - Hirofumi Shoda
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Sawada
- Department of Rheumatology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keishi Fujio
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Advances in nonclassical phenyl bioisosteres for drug structural optimization. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:1681-1692. [PMID: 36317661 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenyl group is the most prevalent ring system and plays an essential role as a pharmacophore or scaffold in marketed drugs. However, the indiscriminate employment of phenyl is also a major cause of poor physicochemical properties of active molecules. Nonclassical phenyl bioisosteres (NPBs) have emerged as effective replacements for phenyl in structural optimization due to their unique steric structures and physicochemical properties. Herein, the effects of widely reported NPBs on physicochemical properties and biological activities, including bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP), bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes (BCH), bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (BCO), cubane (CUB) and closo-carboborane, are reviewed. Issues that require consideration while using NPBs and practical solutions to problems frequently encountered in structural optimization using NPBs are also discussed.
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10
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Banerjee S, Lee S, Norman DD, Tigyi GJ. Designing Dual Inhibitors of Autotaxin-LPAR GPCR Axis. Molecules 2022; 27:5487. [PMID: 36080255 PMCID: PMC9458164 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ATX-LPA-LPAR1 signaling pathway plays a universal role in stimulating diverse cellular responses, including cell proliferation, migration, survival, and invasion in almost every cell type. The ATX-LPAR1 axis is linked to several metabolic and inflammatory diseases including cancer, fibrosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous selective ATX or LPAR1 inhibitors have been developed and so far, their clinical efficacy has only been evaluated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. None of the ATX and LPAR1 inhibitors have advanced to clinical trials for cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Nonetheless, several research groups, including ours, have shown considerable benefit of simultaneous ATX and LPAR1 inhibition through combination therapy. Recent research suggests that dual-targeting therapies are superior to combination therapies that use two selective inhibitors. However, limited reports are available on ATX-LPAR1 dual inhibitors, potentially due to co-expression of multiple different LPARs with close structural similarities at the same target. In this review, we discuss rational design and future directions of dual ATX-LPAR1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
- Molecular Biosciences Program, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
| | - Suechin Lee
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, 3 N. Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Derek D. Norman
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, 3 N. Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Gabor J. Tigyi
- Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, 3 N. Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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11
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She S, Zhang Q, Shi J, Yang F, Dai K. Roles of Autotaxin/Autotaxin-Lysophosphatidic Acid Axis in the Initiation and Progression of Liver Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:922945. [PMID: 35769713 PMCID: PMC9236130 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.922945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted glycoprotein and catalyzes the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a growth factor-like signaling phospholipid. ATX has been abundantly detected in the culture medium of various cancer cells, tumor tissues, and serum or plasma of cancer patients. Biological actions of ATX are mediated by LPA. The ATX-LPA axis mediates a plethora of activities, such as cell proliferation, survival, migration, angiogenesis, and inflammation, and participates in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we have summarized the physiological function of ATX and the ATX-LPA axis in liver cancer, analyzed the role of the ATX-LPA axis in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and discussed the therapeutic strategies targeting the ATX-LPA axis, paving the way for new therapeutic developments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fan Yang
- *Correspondence: Fan Yang, ; Kai Dai,
| | - Kai Dai
- *Correspondence: Fan Yang, ; Kai Dai,
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12
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Roy A, Sarkar T, Datta S, Maiti A, Chakrabarti M, Mondal T, Mondal C, Banerjee A, Roy S, Mukherjee S, Muley P, Chakraborty S, Banerjee M, Kundu M, Roy KK. Structure-based discovery of (S)-2-amino-6-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5,6,11,11a-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[1',5':1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,3(2H)-dione as low nanomolar, orally bioavailable autotaxin inhibitor. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 99:496-503. [PMID: 34951520 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of extracellular secreted enzyme autotaxin (ATX) represents an attractive strategy for the development of new therapeutics to treat various diseases and a few inhibitors entered in clinical trials. We herein describe structure-based design, synthesis, and biological investigations revealing a potent and orally bioavailable ATX inhibitor 1. During the molecular docking and scoring studies within the ATX enzyme (PDB-ID: 4ZGA), the S-enantiomer (Gscore = -13.168 kcal/mol) of the bound ligand PAT-494 scored better than its R-enantiomer (Gscore = -9.562 kcal/mol) which corroborated with the reported observation and analysis of the results suggested the scope of manipulation of the hydantoin substructure in PAT-494. Accordingly, the docking-based screening of a focused library of 10 compounds resulted in compound 1 as a better candidate for pharmacological studies. Compound 1 was synthesized from L-tryptophan and evaluated against ATX enzymatic activities with an IC50 of 7.6 and 24.6 nM in biochemical and functional assays, respectively. Further, ADME-PK studies divulged compound 1 as non-cytotoxic (19.02% cell growth inhibition at 20 μM in human embryonic kidney cells), metabolically stable against human liver microsomes (CLint = 15.6 μl/min/mg; T1/2 = 113.2 min) with solubility of 4.82 μM and orally bioavailable, demonstrating its potential to be used for in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashis Roy
- TCG Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, India
| | | | | | - Arup Maiti
- TCG Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kuldeep K Roy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, UPES, Dehradun, India
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13
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Jia Y, Li Y, Xu XD, Tian Y, Shang H. Design and Development of Autotaxin Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111203. [PMID: 34832985 PMCID: PMC8622848 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autotaxin (ATX) is the only enzyme of the ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (ENPP2) family with lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity, which is mainly responsible for the hydrolysis of extracellular lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). LPA can induce various responses, such as cell proliferation, migration, and cytokine production, through six G protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-6). This signaling pathway is associated with metabolic and inflammatory disorder, and inhibiting this pathway has a positive effect on the treatment of related diseases, while ATX, as an important role in the production of LPA, has been shown to be associated with the occurrence and metastasis of tumors, fibrosis and cardiovascular diseases. From mimics of ATX natural lipid substrates to the rational design of small molecule inhibitors, ATX inhibitors have made rapid progress in structural diversity and design over the past 20 years, and three drugs, GLPG1690, BBT-877, and BLD-0409, have entered clinical trials. In this paper, we will review the structure of ATX inhibitors from the perspective of the transformation of design ideas, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each inhibitor type, and put forward prospects for the development of ATX inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yu Tian
- Correspondence: (Y.T.); (H.S.)
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14
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Okasato R, Kano K, Kise R, Inoue A, Fukuhara S, Aoki J. An ATX-LPA 6-Gα 13-ROCK axis shapes and maintains caudal vein plexus in zebrafish. iScience 2021; 24:103254. [PMID: 34755093 PMCID: PMC8564058 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potential regulator of vascular formation derived from blood. In this study, we utilized zebrafish as a model organism to monitor the blood vessel formation in detail. Zebrafish mutant of ATX, an LPA-producing enzyme, had a defect in the caudal vein plexus (CVP). Pharmacological inhibition of ATX resulted in a fusion of the delicate vessels in the CVP to form large sac-like vessels. Mutant embryos of LPA6 receptor and downstream Gα13 showed the same phenotype. Administration of OMPT, a stable LPA-analog, induced rapid CVP constriction, which was attenuated significantly in the LPA6 mutant. We also found that blood flow-induced CVP formation was dependent on ATX. The present study demonstrated that the ATX-LPA6 axis acts cooperatively with blood flow and contributes to the formation and maintenance of the CVP by generating contractive force in endothelial cells. Blocking an ATX-LPA6-Gα13-ROCK axis causes malformation of the caudal vein plexus The axis also contributes to maintaining the fine structure of the caudal vein plexus Activation of LPA6 induces vasoconstriction Caudal vein plexus formation evoked by blood flow is dependent on an ATX-LPA6 axis
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Okasato
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.,AMED-LEAP, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Kuniyuki Kano
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.,AMED-LEAP, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Ryoji Kise
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.,AMED-LEAP, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Shigetomo Fukuhara
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan
| | - Junken Aoki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.,AMED-LEAP, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
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15
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Subbaiah MAM, Meanwell NA. Bioisosteres of the Phenyl Ring: Recent Strategic Applications in Lead Optimization and Drug Design. J Med Chem 2021; 64:14046-14128. [PMID: 34591488 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The benzene moiety is the most prevalent ring system in marketed drugs, underscoring its historic popularity in drug design either as a pharmacophore or as a scaffold that projects pharmacophoric elements. However, introspective analyses of medicinal chemistry practices at the beginning of the 21st century highlighted the indiscriminate deployment of phenyl rings as an important contributor to the poor physicochemical properties of advanced molecules, which limited their prospects of being developed into effective drugs. This Perspective deliberates on the design and applications of bioisosteric replacements for a phenyl ring that have provided practical solutions to a range of developability problems frequently encountered in lead optimization campaigns. While the effect of phenyl ring replacements on compound properties is contextual in nature, bioisosteric substitution can lead to enhanced potency, solubility, and metabolic stability while reducing lipophilicity, plasma protein binding, phospholipidosis potential, and inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes and the hERG channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murugaiah A M Subbaiah
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biocon-Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Centre, Biocon Park, Bommasandra IV Phase, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560099, India
| | - Nicholas A Meanwell
- Department of Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-4000, United States
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16
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Ma B, Zhang L, Sun L, Xin Z, Kumaravel G, Marcotte D, Chodaparambil JV, Wang Q, Wehr A, Jing J, Hong VS, Wang T, Huang C, Shao Z, Mi S. Discovery of Potent Selective Nonzinc Binding Autotaxin Inhibitor BIO-32546. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1124-1129. [PMID: 34267882 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autotaxin (ATX) is a lysophospholipase D that is the main enzyme responsible for generating LPA in body fluids. Although ATX was isolated from a conditioned medium of melanoma cells, later it was discovered to play a critical role in vascular and neuronal development. ATX has also been implicated in primary brain tumor, fibrosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and neuropathic pain. As ATX and LPA levels are increased upon neuronal injury, a selective ATX inhibitor could provide a new approach to treat neuropathic pain. Herein we describe the discovery of a novel series of nonzinc binding reversible ATX inhibitors, particularly a potent, selective, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrable tool compound BIO-32546, as well as its synthesis, X-ray cocrystal structure, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo efficacy.
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17
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Uranbileg B, Ito N, Kurano M, Kano K, Uchida K, Sumitani M, Aoki J, Yatomi Y. Inhibition of autotaxin activity ameliorates neuropathic pain derived from lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3984. [PMID: 33597645 PMCID: PMC7889906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) or mechanical compression of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is one of the causes of low back pain and neuropathic pain (NP). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent bioactive lipid mediator that is produced mainly from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) via autotaxin (ATX) and is known to induce NP via LPA1 receptor signaling in mice. Recently, we demonstrated that LPC and LPA were higher in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with LSS. Based on the possible potential efficacy of the ATX inhibitor for NP treatment, we used an NP model with compression of DRG (CD model) and investigated LPA dynamics and whether ATX inhibition could ameliorate NP symptoms, using an orally available ATX inhibitor (ONO-8430506) at a dose of 30 mg/kg. In CD model, we observed increased LPC and LPA levels in CSF, and decreased threshold of the pain which were ameliorated by oral administration of the ATX inhibitor with decreased microglia and astrocyte populations at the site of the spinal dorsal horn projecting from injured DRG. These results suggested possible efficacy of ATX inhibitor for the treatment of NP caused by spinal nerve root compression and involvement of the ATX-LPA axis in the mechanism of NP induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baasanjav Uranbileg
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuko Ito
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Makoto Kurano
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kuniyuki Kano
- Department of Health Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kanji Uchida
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sumitani
- Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junken Aoki
- Department of Health Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Yatomi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Geraldo LHM, Spohr TCLDS, Amaral RFD, Fonseca ACCD, Garcia C, Mendes FDA, Freitas C, dosSantos MF, Lima FRS. Role of lysophosphatidic acid and its receptors in health and disease: novel therapeutic strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:45. [PMID: 33526777 PMCID: PMC7851145 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00367-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an abundant bioactive phospholipid, with multiple functions both in development and in pathological conditions. Here, we review the literature about the differential signaling of LPA through its specific receptors, which makes this lipid a versatile signaling molecule. This differential signaling is important for understanding how this molecule can have such diverse effects during central nervous system development and angiogenesis; and also, how it can act as a powerful mediator of pathological conditions, such as neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer progression. Ultimately, we review the preclinical and clinical uses of Autotaxin, LPA, and its receptors as therapeutic targets, approaching the most recent data of promising molecules modulating both LPA production and signaling. This review aims to summarize the most update knowledge about the mechanisms of LPA production and signaling in order to understand its biological functions in the central nervous system both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Henrique Medeiros Geraldo
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM, F-75015, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Celina Garcia
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio de Almeida Mendes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Catarina Freitas
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fabio dosSantos
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flavia Regina Souza Lima
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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19
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Structure-Based Discovery of Novel Chemical Classes of Autotaxin Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197002. [PMID: 32977539 PMCID: PMC7582705 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted glycoprotein, widely present in biological fluids, largely responsible for extracellular lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) production. LPA is a bioactive growth-factor-like lysophospholipid that exerts pleiotropic effects in almost all cell types, exerted through at least six G-protein-coupled receptors (LPAR1-6). Increased ATX expression has been detected in different chronic inflammatory diseases, while genetic or pharmacological studies have established ATX as a promising therapeutic target, exemplified by the ongoing phase III clinical trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In this report, we employed an in silico drug discovery workflow, aiming at the identification of structurally novel series of ATX inhibitors that would be amenable to further optimization. Towards this end, a virtual screening protocol was applied involving the search into molecular databases for new small molecules potentially binding to ATX. The crystal structure of ATX in complex with a known inhibitor (HA-155) was used as a molecular model docking reference, yielding a priority list of 30 small molecule ATX inhibitors, validated by a well-established enzymatic assay of ATX activity. The two most potent, novel and structurally different compounds were further structurally optimized by deploying further in silico tools, resulting to the overall identification of six new ATX inhibitors that belong to distinct chemical classes than existing inhibitors, expanding the arsenal of chemical scaffolds and allowing further rational design.
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