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Liu J, Cheng Y, Yuan L, Liu T, Ruan Y, Ren Y, Li L, Jiang S, Xiao Y, Chen J. Discovery and Crystallography Study of Novel Biphenyl Ether and Oxadiazole Thioether (Non-Arylmethylamine)-Based Small-Molecule PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors as Immunotherapeutic Agents. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13172-13188. [PMID: 37674362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Current small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are mainly based on the arylmethylamine/biphenyl core scaffold. Herein, we designed for the first time a series of non-arylmethylamine analogues (oxadiazole thioether derivatives) as small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Among them, compound LP23 exhibited the most potent PD-L1 inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 16.7 nM, 3.2-fold better than the lead BMS-202 (IC50 = 53.6 nM). The X-ray crystal structure of LP23 in complex with PD-L1 was solved at a resolution of 2.6 Å, which further confirmed the high binding affinity of LP23 to PD-L1. In the HepG2/Jurkat T cell co-culture model, LP23 effectively promoted HepG2 cell death by restoring the immune function of T cells. In addition, LP23 showed excellent in vivo antitumor efficacy (TGI = 88.6% at 30 mg/kg) and benign toxicity profiles in a B16-F10 tumor model by modulating PD-L1. In summary, LP23 represents the first non-arylmethylamine-based small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education and One Health Institute, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ting Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yong Ruan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yichang Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ling Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing 401135, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Ważyńska MA, Butera R, Requesens M, Plat A, Zarganes-Tzitzikas T, Neochoritis CG, Plewka J, Skalniak L, Kocik-Krol J, Musielak B, Magiera-Mularz K, Rodriguez I, Blok SN, de Bruyn M, Nijman HW, Elsinga PH, Holak TA, Dömling A. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 2-Hydroxy-4-phenylthiophene-3-carbonitrile as PD-L1 Antagonist and Its Comparison to Available Small Molecular PD-L1 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37450644 PMCID: PMC10388299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
In search of a potent small molecular PD-L1 inhibitor, we designed and synthesized a compound based on a 2-hydroxy-4-phenylthiophene-3-carbonitrile moiety. Ligand's performance was tested in vitro and compared side-by-side with a known PD-L1 antagonist with a proven bioactivity BMS1166. Subsequently, we modified both compounds to allow 18F labeling that could be used for PET imaging. Radiolabeling, which is used in drug development and diagnosis, was applied to investigate the properties of those ligands and test them against tissue sections with diverse expression levels of PD-L1. We confirmed biological activity toward hPD-L1 for this inhibitor, comparable with BMS1166, while holding enhanced pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A Ważyńska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Roberto Butera
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Requesens
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annechien Plat
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tryfon Zarganes-Tzitzikas
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, NDM Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7FZ Oxford, U.K
| | | | - Jacek Plewka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik-Krol
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicz St 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Magiera-Mularz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ismael Rodriguez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicz St 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Simon N Blok
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and MolecularImaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marco de Bruyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans W Nijman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip H Elsinga
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and MolecularImaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tad A Holak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Alexander Dömling
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc 77900, Czech Republic
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3
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Zheng S, Zhang K, Zhang X, Xiao Y, Wang T, Jiang S. Development of Inhibitors Targeting the V-Domain Ig Suppressor of T Cell Activation Signal Pathway. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11900-11912. [PMID: 36083840 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Blockade of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) has produced considerable therapeutic effect, but only in a fraction of patients, so more targets are being investigated. VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation) is a novel immune checkpoint that is broadly expressed within hematopoietic cells and multiple cancers (low expressing frequency on solid tumors), particularly those with a poor immunotherapy response rate. As a result, VISTA has been identified as an appealing target for immunotherapy, and several VISTA inhibitors are currently in clinical and preclinical trials. In this review, the structural features and binding partners of VISTA are summarized, and we describe the latest developments of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules targeting VISTA as well as possible future directions for development of therapies targeting VISTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Kuojun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Acúrcio RC, Pozzi S, Carreira B, Pojo M, Gómez-Cebrián N, Casimiro S, Fernandes A, Barateiro A, Farricha V, Brito J, Leandro AP, Salvador JAR, Graça L, Puchades-Carrasco L, Costa L, Satchi-Fainaro R, Guedes RC, Florindo HF. Therapeutic targeting of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade by novel small-molecule inhibitors recruits cytotoxic T cells into solid tumor microenvironment. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004695. [PMID: 35863821 PMCID: PMC9310269 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inhibiting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown exciting clinical outcomes in diverse human cancers. So far, only monoclonal antibodies are approved as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. While significant clinical outcomes are observed on patients who respond to these therapeutics, a large proportion of the patients do not benefit from the currently available immune checkpoint inhibitors, which strongly emphasize the importance of developing new immunotherapeutic agents. Methods In this study, we followed a transdisciplinary approach to discover novel small molecules that can modulate PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. To that end, we employed in silico analyses combined with in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental studies to assess the ability of novel compounds to modulate PD-1/PD-L1 interaction and enhance T-cell function. Results Accordingly, in this study we report the identification of novel small molecules, which like anti-PD-L1/PD-1 antibodies, can stimulate human adaptive immune responses. Unlike these biological compounds, our newly-identified small molecules enabled an extensive infiltration of T lymphocytes into three-dimensional solid tumor models, and the recruitment of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to the tumor microenvironment in vivo, unveiling a unique potential to transform cancer immunotherapy. Conclusions We identified a new promising family of small-molecule candidates that regulate the PD-L1/PD-1 signaling pathway, promoting an extensive infiltration of effector CD8 T cells to the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita C Acúrcio
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Barbara Carreira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Pojo
- Unidade de Investigação em Patobiologia Molecular (UIPM) do Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil EPE 1099-023, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Sandra Casimiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andreia Barateiro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vitor Farricha
- Serviço de Cirurgia do Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil EPE, 1099-023 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Brito
- Serviço de Ortopedia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Leandro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jorge A R Salvador
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra,Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Graça
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Luís Costa
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.,Serviço de Oncologia Médica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel .,Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Rita C Guedes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena F Florindo
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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Sasikumar PG, Ramachandra M. Small Molecule Agents Targeting PD-1 Checkpoint Pathway for Cancer Immunotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Other Considerations for Their Advanced Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:752065. [PMID: 35585982 PMCID: PMC9108255 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.752065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pioneering success of antibodies targeting immune checkpoints such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) has changed the outlook of cancer therapy. Although these antibodies show impressive durable clinical activity, low response rates and immune-related adverse events are becoming increasingly evident in antibody-based approaches. For further strides in cancer immunotherapy, novel treatment strategies including combination therapies and alternate therapeutic modalities are highly warranted. Towards this discovery and development of small molecule, checkpoint inhibitors are actively being pursued, and the efforts have culminated in the ongoing clinical testing of orally bioavailable checkpoint inhibitors. This review focuses on the small molecule agents targeting PD-1 checkpoint pathway for cancer immunotherapy and highlights various chemotypes/scaffolds and their characterization including binding and functionality along with reported mechanism of action. The learnings from the ongoing small molecule clinical trials and crucial points to be considered for their clinical development are also discussed.
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6
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Muneer I, Ahmad S, Naz A, Abbasi SW, Alblihy A, Aloliqi AA, Aba Alkhayl FF, Alrumaihi F, Ahmad S, El Bakri Y, Tahir Ul Qamar M. Discovery of Novel Inhibitors From Medicinal Plants for V-Domain Ig Suppressor of T-Cell Activation. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:716735. [PMID: 34765641 PMCID: PMC8576517 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.716735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is an immune checkpoint and is a type I transmembrane protein. VISTA is linked to immunotherapy resistance, and it is a potential immune therapeutic target, especially for triple-negative breast cancer. It expresses at a high concentration in regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and its functional blockade is found to delay tumor growth. A useful medicinal plant database for drug designing (MPD3), which is a collection of phytochemicals from diverse plant families, was employed in virtual screening against VISTA to prioritize natural inhibitors against VISTA. Three compounds, Paratocarpin K (PubChem ID: 14187087), 3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-(trimethylazaniumyl)propanoate (PubChem ID: 3861164), and 2-[(5-Benzyl-4-ethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)sulfanylmethyl]-5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PubChem ID: 6494266), having binding energies stronger than -6 kcal/mol were found to have two common hydrogen bond interactions with VISTA active site residues: Arg54 and Arg127. The dynamics of the compound-VISTA complexes were further explored to infer binding stability of the systems. Results revealed that the compound 14187087 and 6494266 systems are highly stable with an average RMSD of 1.31 Å. Further affirmation on the results was achieved by running MM-GBSA on the MD simulation trajectories, which re-ranked 14187087 as the top-binder with a net binding energy value of -33.33 kcal/mol. In conclusion, the present study successfully predicted natural compounds that have the potential to block the function of VISTA and therefore can be utilized further in experimental studies to validate their real anti-VISTA activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Muneer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Anam Naz
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sumra Wajid Abbasi
- NUMS Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Adel Alblihy
- Medical Center, King Fahad Security College (KFSC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A Aloliqi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris F Aba Alkhayl
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris Alrumaihi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarfraz Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Youness El Bakri
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
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Surmiak E, Magiera-Mularz K, Musielak B, Muszak D, Kocik-Krol J, Kitel R, Plewka J, Holak TA, Skalniak L. PD-L1 Inhibitors: Different Classes, Activities, and Mechanisms of Action. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111797. [PMID: 34769226 PMCID: PMC8583776 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) interaction has become an established strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Although hundreds of small-molecule, peptide, and peptidomimetic inhibitors have been proposed in recent years, only a limited number of drug candidates show good PD-1/PD-L1 blocking activity in cell-based assays. In this article, we compare representative molecules from different classes in terms of their PD-1/PD-L1 dissociation capacity measured by HTRF and in vitro bioactivity determined by the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) co-culture assay. We point to recent discoveries that underscore important differences in the mechanisms of action of these molecules and also indicate one principal feature that needs to be considered, which is the eventual human PD-L1 specificity.
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8
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Wu C, Cao X, Zhang X. VISTA inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy: a short perspective on recent progresses. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1672-1679. [PMID: 34778768 PMCID: PMC8528208 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00185j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
V-domain immunoglobulin (Ig) suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel negative checkpoint regulator that mediates T cell proliferation and cytokine production. The VISTA signaling pathway blockade has been proved as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Recent VISTA sequence analysis and crystal structure investigations have revealed its independent and unique function as compared with B7 family members, such as PD-1. This review will discuss VISTA binding partners and compare the structural differences between VISTA and other B7 family members, focusing on VISTA functions in immune activation and maintaining T cell quiescence. Recent progress and the therapeutic potential of biomacromolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecules targeting VISTA, are also discussed. Among these, a first-in-class small-molecule antagonist, CA-170, is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 211198 China
| | - Xin Cao
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Xiaojin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 211198 China
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Fang L, Tian J, Zhang K, Zhang X, Liu Y, Cheng Z, Zhou J, Zhang H. Discovery of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as potential antitumor agents inhibiting the programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 interaction. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 46:116370. [PMID: 34481337 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction by small-molecule inhibitors is emerging cancer immunotherapy. A series of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their activities in vitro and vivo to find potent inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Among them, compoundⅡ-14exhibited outstanding biochemical activity, with an IC50of 0.0380 μM. Importantly, compound II-14, with a TGI value of 35.74 %, had more potent efficacy in a mouse tumor model compared to that in the control group. Surprisingly, when compound II-14 combined with 5-FU in a mouse tumor model having a TGI value of 64.59 %, which showed potential anti-tumor synergistic effects. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated thatcompound II-14 activated the immune microenvironment by promoting the infiltration of CD4+ T cells into tumor tissues. These results indicate that compound II-14 is a promising lead compound for further development of small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lincheng Fang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Jiping Tian
- Center for Drug Discovery, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Kaixuan Zhang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Yingqiao Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Zhibo Cheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Jinpei Zhou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Huibin Zhang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
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10
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Li TT, Jiang JW, Qie CX, Xuan CX, Hu XL, Liu WM, Chen WT, Liu J. Identification of active small-molecule modulators targeting the novel immune checkpoint VISTA. BMC Immunol 2021; 22:55. [PMID: 34380434 PMCID: PMC8359099 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-021-00446-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer immunotherapy has gained increasing popularity as a novel approach to treat cancer. A member of the B7 family, V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) is a novel immune checkpoint that regulates a broad spectrum of immune responses. VISTA is an acidic pH-selective ligand for P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1(PSGL-1). CA-170, a first-in-class small-molecule dual antagonist of VISTA/PD-L1, was collaboratively developed by Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited and Curis, Inc. It is currently in Phase I clinical trial. Results In this study, we develop homology modeling for the VISTA 3D structure and subsequent virtual screening for VISTA small-molecule hit ligands. Visualization of the binding postures of docked ligands with the VISTA protein indicates that some small molecular compounds target VISTA. The ability of antagonist to disrupt immune checkpoint VISTA pathways was investigated though functional studies in vitro. Conclusions Affinity active molecule for VISTA was obtained through virtual screening, and the antagonist compound activity to VISTA was assayed in cellular level. We reported a small molecule with high VISTA affinity as antagonist, providing ideas for development VISTA-targeted small molecule compound in cancer immunotherapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12865-021-00446-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Li
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jing-Wei Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chen-Xin Qie
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Xuan
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xin-Lei Hu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wan-Mei Liu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wen-Ting Chen
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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11
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Muszak D, Surmiak E, Plewka J, Magiera-Mularz K, Kocik-Krol J, Musielak B, Sala D, Kitel R, Stec M, Weglarczyk K, Siedlar M, Dömling A, Skalniak L, Holak TA. Terphenyl-Based Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Protein-Protein Interaction. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11614-11636. [PMID: 34313116 PMCID: PMC8365601 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
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We describe a new
class of potent PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors based on
a terphenyl scaffold that is derived from the rigidified biphenyl-inspired
structure. Using in silico docking, we designed and
then experimentally demonstrated the effectiveness of the terphenyl-based
scaffolds in inhibiting PD-1/PD-L1 complex formation using various
biophysical and biochemical techniques. We also present a high-resolution
structure of the complex of PD-L1 with one of our most potent inhibitors
to identify key PD-L1/inhibitor interactions at the molecular level.
In addition, we show the efficacy of our most potent inhibitors in
activating the antitumor response using primary human immune cells
from healthy donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Muszak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewa Surmiak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Magiera-Mularz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik-Krol
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Dominik Sala
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Radoslaw Kitel
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Stec
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, 30-663 Krakow, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Weglarczyk
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, 30-663 Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, 30-663 Krakow, Poland
| | - Alexander Dömling
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Tad A Holak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
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12
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Fattakhova E, Hofer J, DiFlumeri J, Cobb M, Dando T, Romisher Z, Wellington J, Oravic M, Radnoff M, Patil SP. Identification of the FDA-Approved Drug Pyrvinium as a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of the PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2769-2774. [PMID: 34117723 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade involving inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction has provided unprecedented clinical benefits in treating a variety of tumors. To date, a total of six antibodies that bind to either PD-1 or PD-L1 protein and in turn inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction have received clinical approvals. Despite being highly effective, these expensive large biotherapeutics possess several inherent pharmacokinetic limitations that can be successfully overcome through the use of low-molecular-weight inhibitors. One such promising approach involves small-molecule induced dimerization and sequestration of PD-L1, leading to effective PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition. Herein, we present the discovery of such potential bioactive PD-L1 dimerizers through a structure- and ligand-based screening of a focused library of approved and investigational drugs worldwide. Pyrvinium, an FDA-approved anthelmintic drug, showed the highest activity in our study with IC50 value of ∼29.66 μM. It is noteworthy that Pyrvinium, being an approved drug, may prove especially suitable as a good starting point for further medicinal chemistry efforts, leading to design and development of even more potent structural analogs as selective PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Furthermore, the adopted integrated virtual screening protocol may prove useful in screening other larger databases of lead- and drug-like molecules for hit identification in the domain of small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fattakhova
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Jeremy Hofer
- Department of Computer Science, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Juliette DiFlumeri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Madison Cobb
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Timothy Dando
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Zachary Romisher
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Justin Wellington
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Michael Oravic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Madison Radnoff
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Sachin P Patil
- NanoBio Laboratory, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
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13
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Sasikumar PG, Sudarshan NS, Adurthi S, Ramachandra RK, Samiulla DS, Lakshminarasimhan A, Ramanathan A, Chandrasekhar T, Dhudashiya AA, Talapati SR, Gowda N, Palakolanu S, Mani J, Srinivasrao B, Joseph D, Kumar N, Nair R, Atreya HS, Gowda N, Ramachandra M. PD-1 derived CA-170 is an oral immune checkpoint inhibitor that exhibits preclinical anti-tumor efficacy. Commun Biol 2021; 4:699. [PMID: 34103659 PMCID: PMC8187357 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02191-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 and other pathways may offer advantages including ease of dosing, ability to manage immune-related adverse events (irAEs) due to their shorter pharmacokinetic exposure and opportunity to target more than one pathway for improving efficacy. Here we describe the identification and characterization of CA-170, an amino acid inspired small molecule inhibitor of PD-L1 and VISTA derived from the interface of PD-1 and PD-L1. CA-170 exhibited potent rescue of proliferation and effector functions of T cells inhibited by PD-L1/L2 and VISTA with selectivity over other immune checkpoint proteins as well as a broad panel of receptors and enzymes. Observed blocking of PD-L1 signaling and binding to PD-L1 in the cellular context without preventing the assembly of PD-1:PD-L1 complex support the formation of a defective ternary complex as the mechanism of action of CA-170. Oral administration of CA-170 resulted in increased proliferation and activation of T cells in the tumor, and significant anti-tumor efficacy in a number of immunocompetent mouse tumor models either as a single agent or in combination with approved therapeutics. These results prompted the advancement of CA-170 to human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Srinivas Adurthi
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amit A Dhudashiya
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Nagesh Gowda
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Jiju Mani
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Bandi Srinivasrao
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - David Joseph
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Nigam Kumar
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rashmi Nair
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Hanudatta S Atreya
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Nagaraj Gowda
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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14
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Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel resorcinol biphenyl ether analogs as small molecule inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 with benign toxicity profiles for cancer treatment. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 188:114522. [PMID: 33741334 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Programmed death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is one of the most actively pursued targets in cancer immunotherapy. In a continuation of our research interest in this pathway, we synthesized and evaluated the pharmacological activities of a series of resorcinol biphenyl ether analogs as small molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for cancer treatment. Among the 27 newly synthesized compounds, CH1 was found to have the highest inhibitory effect against PD-1/PDL-1 with an IC50 value of 56.58 nM in the HTRF (homogenous time-resolved fluorescence) assay. In addition, CH1 dose-dependently promoted HepG2 cell death in a co-culture model of HepG2/hPD-L1 and Jurkat T cells. Furthermore, molecular modeling study indicated that CH1 binds with high affinity to the binding interface of PD-L1. Moreover, CH1 effectively inhibited tumor growth (TGI of 76.4% at 90 mg/kg) in an immune checkpoint humanized mouse model with no obvious toxicity. Finally, CH1 did not cause in vivo cardiotoxicity and bone marrow suppression (myelosuppression) to BALB/c mice. Taken together, these results suggest that CH1 deserves further investigation as a potent and safe PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitor for cancer treatment.
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15
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Insights into non-peptide small-molecule inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction: Development and perspective. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 33:116038. [PMID: 33517226 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has become a research hotspot in cancer immunotherapy in recent years. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab have been approved for treating different types of cancer. Many peptides, peptidomimetics and non-peptide small-molecule inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis have been published so far. In comparison with mAbs, small-molecule inhibitors have the potential to overcome inherent shortcomings of mAbs, such as poor oral bioavailability, low tumor penetration, and high manufacturing costs. In this article, we mainly review non-peptide small-molecule inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, their cocrystal structures, docking studies, and biological activities are also included to guide future study. In addition, we propose several strategies for designing more effective small-molecule modulators of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.
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16
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Recent advance of peptide-based molecules and nonpeptidic small-molecules modulating PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction or targeting PD-L1 protein degradation. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 213:113170. [PMID: 33454550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has made great progress in recent years. In the tumor microenvironment, the binding of PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 can promote tumor immune escape and tumor survival. Clinical studies have indicated that antibodies blocking PD-1 and PD-L1 have reliable effects on many advanced malignant tumors. However, no small-molecule inhibitors have been approved so far, indicating that the development of marketable small-molecules PD-1/PD-L1 targeted therapy drugs is a challenging process. Small-molecule inhibitors can overcome the limitations of monoclonal antibodies, including poor oral bioavailability, high cost, poor tissue and tumor penetration and long half-life, which prompt researchers to turn their attention to the development of peptide molecules and small-molecule inhibitors modulating PD-1/PD-L1 to overcome some disadvantages of monoclonal antibodies or targeting PD-L1 protein degradation as potential alternatives or supplements. In this review, we will focus on the peptide-based and nonpeptidic molecules against PD-1/PD-L1 base on the structural classification. More importantly, we also focus on the latest research progress of small-molecules mediated PD-L1 degradation mechanism.
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17
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Chen FF, Li Z, Ma D, Yu Q. Small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor BMS1166 abrogates the function of PD-L1 by blocking its ER export. Oncoimmunology 2020; 9:1831153. [PMID: 33110706 PMCID: PMC7567511 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2020.1831153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against the PD-L1/PD-1 (programmed death ligand-1/programmed cell death protein-1) axis have achieved great successes in cancer treatments, but the development of small-molecule immunomodulators of the pathway has lagged far behind. We established a cellular coculture assay with two stable transfectant cell lines, a PD-L1-expressing tumor cell line PC9/PD-L1 and a PD-1-expressing T cell line Jurkat/PD-1. Western blotting analyses were used to monitor the PD-L1/PD-1 interaction and signaling. We analyzed PD-L1 glycosylation by lectin binding assay and glycosidase digestion, and examined subcellular localization of PD-L1 by immunocytochemical staining. Luciferase assay and real-time PCR were used to evaluate T cell activation in the coculture experiments. We found that coculturing of the PC9/PD-L1 cells with the Jurkat/PD-1 cells induced a lysosomal degradation of PD-1. A small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor BMS1166 developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb inhibited the coculture-induced PD-1 degradation through a unique mechanism. BMS1166 specifically affected PD-L1 glycosylation and prevented transporting of the under-glycosylated form of PD-L1 from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi, leading to accumulation of PD-L1 in ER. In doing so, BMS1166 blocked PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. Coculturing PD-L1-expressing cells with PD-1-expressing cells induced degradation of PD-1, which could be used as a readout to identify inhibitors of PD-L1/PD-1 signaling. The small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor BMS1166 abolished the glycosylation and maturation of PD-L1 by blocking its exporting from ER to Golgi. Our study discovered a new strategy to identify inhibitors of the PD-L1/PD-1 signaling pathway and to develop new drugs for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Fang Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic & Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dawei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic & Natural Products Chemistry, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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18
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Konieczny M, Musielak B, Kocik J, Skalniak L, Sala D, Czub M, Magiera-Mularz K, Rodriguez I, Myrcha M, Stec M, Siedlar M, Holak TA, Plewka J. Di-bromo-Based Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint. J Med Chem 2020; 63:11271-11285. [PMID: 32936638 PMCID: PMC7584369 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Immune checkpoint blockade is one
of the most promising strategies
of cancer immunotherapy. However, unlike classical targeted therapies,
it is currently solely based on expensive monoclonal antibodies, which
often inflict immune-related adverse events. Herein, we propose a
novel small-molecule inhibitor targeted at the most clinically relevant
immune checkpoint, PD-1/PD-L1. The compound is capable of disrupting
the PD-1/PD-L1 complex by antagonizing PD-L1 and, therefore, restores
activation of T cells similarly to the antibodies, while being cheap
in production and possibly nonimmunogenic. The final compound is significantly
smaller than others reported in the literature while being nontoxic
to cells even at high concentrations. The scaffold was designed using
a structure–activity relationship screening cascade based on
a new antagonist-induced dissociation NMR assay, called the weak-AIDA-NMR.
Weak-AIDA-NMR finds true inhibitors, as opposed to only binders to
the target protein, in early steps of lead compound development, and
this process makes it less time and cost consuming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Konieczny
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Dominik Sala
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Miroslawa Czub
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | | | - Ismael Rodriguez
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Maja Myrcha
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Stec
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow 30-663, Poland
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, Krakow 30-663, Poland
| | - Tad A Holak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow 30-387, Poland
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19
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Discovery of novel resorcinol diphenyl ether-based PROTAC-like molecules as dual inhibitors and degraders of PD-L1. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 199:112377. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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20
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Cheng B, Ren Y, Niu X, Wang W, Wang S, Tu Y, Liu S, Wang J, Yang D, Liao G, Chen J. Discovery of Novel Resorcinol Dibenzyl Ethers Targeting the Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Cell Death–Ligand 1 Interaction as Potential Anticancer Agents. J Med Chem 2020; 63:8338-8358. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Cheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yichang Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaoge Niu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuanghu Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yingfeng Tu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jin Wang
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Deying Yang
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guochao Liao
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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21
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Musielak B, Kocik J, Skalniak L, Magiera-Mularz K, Sala D, Czub M, Stec M, Siedlar M, Holak TA, Plewka J. CA-170 - A Potent Small-Molecule PD-L1 Inhibitor or Not? Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24152804. [PMID: 31374878 PMCID: PMC6695792 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CA-170 is currently the only small-molecule modulator in clinical trials targeting PD-L1 and VISTA proteins – important negative checkpoint regulators of immune activation. The reported therapeutic results to some extent mimic those of FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies overcoming the limitations of the high production costs and adverse effects of the latter. However, no conclusive biophysical evidence proving the binding to hPD-L1 has ever been presented. Using well-known in vitro methods: NMR binding assay, HTRF and cell-based activation assays, we clearly show that there is no direct binding between CA-170 and PD-L1. To strengthen our reasoning, we performed control experiments on AUNP-12 – a 29-mer peptide, which is a precursor of CA-170. Positive controls consisted of the well-documented small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitors: BMS-1166 and peptide-57.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Musielak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Dominik Sala
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Miroslawa Czub
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Stec
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, 30-663 Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wielicka 265, 30-663 Krakow, Poland
| | - Tad A Holak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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