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Hec-Gałązka A, Tyrcha U, Barczyński J, Bielski P, Mikitiuk M, Gudz GP, Kitel R, Musielak B, Plewka J, Sitar T, Holak TA. Nonsymmetrically Substituted 1,1'-Biphenyl-Based Small Molecule Inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:828-836. [PMID: 38894909 PMCID: PMC11181486 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies directed against either programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of various cancers. In contrast with antibodies, small molecules have the potential for increased tissue penetration; better pharmacology; and therefore, improved antitumor activity. A series of nonsymmetric C2 inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated for PD-1/PD-L1 interaction inhibition. These compounds induced PD-L1 dimerization and effectively blocked PD-L1/PD-1 interaction in a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay with most inhibitors exhibiting IC50 values in the single-digit nM range and below. Their high inhibitory potency was also demonstrated in a cell-based coculture PD-1 signaling assay where 2 exhibited an EC50 inhibitory activity of 21.8 nM, which approached that of the PD-L1 antibody durvalumab (EC50 = 0.3-1.8 nM). Structural insight into how these inhibitors interact with PD-L1 was gained by using NMR and X-ray cocrystal structure studies. These data support further preclinical evaluation of these compounds as antibody alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Hec-Gałązka
- Jagiellonian
University, Doctoral School
of Exact and Natural Sciences, prof. S. Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Urszula Tyrcha
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jan Barczyński
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Bielski
- Jagiellonian
University, Doctoral School
of Exact and Natural Sciences, prof. S. Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Ganna P. Gudz
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Radosław Kitel
- 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
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sitar
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Tad A. Holak
- Recepton
Sp. z o.o., ul. Trzy
Lipy 3, 80-172 Gdansk, Poland
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2
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Klimek J, Kruc O, Ceklarz J, Kamińska B, Musielak B, van der Straat R, Dӧmling A, Holak TA, Muszak D, Kalinowska-Tłuścik J, Skalniak Ł, Surmiak E. C2-Symmetrical Terphenyl Derivatives as Small Molecule Inhibitors of Programmed Cell Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 Protein-Protein Interaction. Molecules 2024; 29:2646. [PMID: 38893521 PMCID: PMC11173618 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112646] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The PD-1/PD-L1 complex is an immune checkpoint responsible for regulating the natural immune response, but also allows tumors to escape immune surveillance. Inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis positively contributes to the efficacy of cancer treatment. The only available therapeutics targeting PD-1/PD-L1 are monoclonal antibody-based drugs, which have several limitations. Therefore, small molecule compounds are emerging as an attractive alternative that can potentially overcome the drawbacks of mAb-based therapy. In this article, we present a novel class of small molecule compounds based on the terphenyl scaffold that bind to PD-L1. The general architecture of the presented structures is characterized by axial symmetry and consists of three elements: an m-terphenyl core, an additional aromatic ring, and a solubilizing agent. Using molecular docking, we designed a series of final compounds, which were subsequently synthesized and tested in HTRF assay and NMR binding assay to evaluate their activity. In addition, we performed an in-depth analysis of the mutual arrangement of the phenyl rings of the terphenyl core within the binding pocket of PD-L1 and found several correlations between the plane angle values and the affinity of the compounds towards the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Klimek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicza St. 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Oskar Kruc
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicza St. 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Joanna Ceklarz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Beata Kamińska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. St. Łojasiewicza St. 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Robin van der Straat
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Alexander Dӧmling
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palackӯ University in Olomouc, Křížkovského 511/8, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Tad A. Holak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Damian Muszak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Justyna Kalinowska-Tłuścik
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Łukasz Skalniak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
| | - Ewa Surmiak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa St. 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; (J.K.); (O.K.); (B.K.); (B.M.); (T.A.H.); (D.M.); (J.K.-T.)
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3
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Klebansky B, Backer M, Gorbatyuk V, Vinogradova O, Backer J. In Search of Better Peptide-(Derived from PD-L2)-Based Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Biomolecules 2024; 14:597. [PMID: 38786004 PMCID: PMC11118832 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050597] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Current anti-cancer immune checkpoint therapy relies on antibodies that primarily target the PD-1/PD-L1(-L2) negative regulatory pathway. Although very successful in some cases for certain cancers, these antibodies do not help most patients who, presumably, should benefit from this type of therapy. Therefore, an unmet clinical need for novel, more effective drugs targeting immune checkpoints remains. We have developed a series of high-potency peptide inhibitors interfering with PD-1/PD-L1(-L2) protein-protein interaction. Our best peptide inhibitors are 12 and 14 amino acids long and show sub-micromolar IC50 inhibitory activity in the in vitro assay. The positioning of the peptides within the PD-1 binding site is explored by extensive modeling. It is further supported by 2D NMR studies of PD-1/peptide complexes. These results reflect substantial progress in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors using peptidomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Backer
- SibTech Inc., 115A Commerce Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804, USA
| | - Vitaliy Gorbatyuk
- Center for Open Research Resources & Equipment, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA
| | - Olga Vinogradova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
| | - Joseph Backer
- SibTech Inc., 115A Commerce Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804, USA
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4
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Wozniak-Knopp G, Natale V. Sharks give a handle to potent anti-tumor multiparatopic antibodies inducing membrane depletion of PD-L1. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:833-834. [PMID: 38759616 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Despite the immense clinical success of the antibody therapeutics that neutralize programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) and thus resurrect T cell antitumor activity, the patient response rates remain low. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Ludwig et al.1 reveal novel topologies of multiparatopic antibodies that mediate potent PD-L1 downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria; acib GmbH (Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology), Graz, Austria.
| | - Veronica Natale
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria; acib GmbH (Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology), Graz, Austria
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5
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Ludwig SD, Meksiriporn B, Tan J, Kureshi R, Mishra A, Kaeo KJ, Zhu A, Stavrakis G, Lee SJ, Schodt DJ, Wester MJ, Kumar D, Lidke KA, Cox AL, Dooley HM, Nimmagadda S, Spangler JB. Multiparatopic antibodies induce targeted downregulation of programmed death-ligand 1. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:904-919.e11. [PMID: 38547863 PMCID: PMC11102303 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.02.014] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) drives inhibition of antigen-specific T cell responses through engagement of its receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) on activated T cells. Overexpression of these immune checkpoint proteins in the tumor microenvironment has motivated the design of targeted antibodies that disrupt this interaction. Despite clinical success of these antibodies, response rates remain low, necessitating novel approaches to enhance performance. Here, we report the development of antibody fusion proteins that block immune checkpoint pathways through a distinct mechanism targeting molecular trafficking. By engaging multiple receptor epitopes on PD-L1, our engineered multiparatopic antibodies induce rapid clustering, internalization, and degradation in an epitope- and topology-dependent manner. The complementary mechanisms of ligand blockade and receptor downregulation led to more durable immune cell activation and dramatically reduced PD-L1 availability in mouse tumors. Collectively, these multiparatopic antibodies offer mechanistic insight into immune checkpoint protein trafficking and how it may be manipulated to reprogram immune outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth D Ludwig
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Bunyarit Meksiriporn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
| | - Jiacheng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rakeeb Kureshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Akhilesh Mishra
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Kyle J Kaeo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Angela Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Georgia Stavrakis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Stephen J Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - David J Schodt
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Michael J Wester
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Dhiraj Kumar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Keith A Lidke
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Andrea L Cox
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Helen M Dooley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Sridhar Nimmagadda
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
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6
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Chen L, Zhao X, Liu X, Ouyang Y, Xu C, Shi Y. Development of small molecule drugs targeting immune checkpoints. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0034. [PMID: 38727005 PMCID: PMC11131045 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0034] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used to relieve and refuel anti-tumor immunity by blocking the interaction, transcription, and translation of co-inhibitory immune checkpoints or degrading co-inhibitory immune checkpoints. Thousands of small molecule drugs or biological materials, especially antibody-based ICIs, are actively being studied and antibodies are currently widely used. Limitations, such as anti-tumor efficacy, poor membrane permeability, and unneglected tolerance issues of antibody-based ICIs, remain evident but are thought to be overcome by small molecule drugs. Recent structural studies have broadened the scope of candidate immune checkpoint molecules, as well as innovative chemical inhibitors. By way of comparison, small molecule drug-based ICIs represent superior oral bioavailability and favorable pharmacokinetic features. Several ongoing clinical trials are exploring the synergetic effect of ICIs and other therapeutic strategies based on multiple ICI functions, including immune regulation, anti-angiogenesis, and cell cycle regulation. In this review we summarized the current progression of small molecule ICIs and the mechanism underlying immune checkpoint proteins, which will lay the foundation for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoyi Chen
- Department of Oncology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Xinchen Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Institute for Breast Health Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yujie Ouyang
- Acupuncture and Massage College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Chuan Xu
- Department of Oncology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Department of Oncology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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7
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Wang Z, Yuan L, Liao X, Guo X, Chen J. Reducing PD-L1 Expression by Degraders and Downregulators as a Novel Strategy to Target the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6027-6043. [PMID: 38598179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway has evolved into one of the most promising strategies for tumor immunotherapy. Thus far, multiple monoclonal antibody drugs have been approved for treating a variety of tumors, while the development of small-molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has lagged far behind, with only a few small-molecule inhibitors entering clinical trials. In addition to antibody drugs and small-molecule inhibitors, reducing the expression levels of PD-L1 has attracted extensive research interest as another promising strategy to target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Herein, we analyze the structures and mechanisms of molecules that reduce PD-L1 expression and classify them as degraders and downregulators according to whether they directly bind to PD-L1. Moreover, we discuss the potential prospects for developing PD-L1-targeting drugs based on these molecules. It is hoped that this perspective will provide profound insights into the discovery of potent antitumor immunity drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen 518100, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaotong Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xia Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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8
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Guo J, Yu F, Zhang K, Jiang S, Zhang X, Wang T. Beyond inhibition against the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: development of PD-L1 inhibitors targeting internalization and degradation of PD-L1. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1096-1108. [PMID: 38665824 PMCID: PMC11042118 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00636k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells hijack the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) pathway to suppress the immune response through overexpressing PD-L1 to interact with PD-1 of T cells. With in-depth ongoing research, tumor-intrinsic PD-L1 is found to play important roles in tumor progression without interaction with PD-1 expressed on T cells, which provides an additional important target and therapeutic approach for development of PD-L1 inhibitors. Existing monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs against the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway generally behave by conformationally blocking the interactions of PD-1 with PD-L1 on the cell surface. Beyond general inhibition of the protein-protein interaction (PPI), inhibitors targeting PD-L1 currently focus on the functional inhibition of the interaction between PD-1/PD-L1 and degradation of tumor-intrinsic PD-L1. This perspective will clarify the evolution of PD-L1 inhibitors and provide insights into the current development of PD-L1 inhibitors, especially targeting internalization and degradation of PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazheng Guo
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
| | - Fengyi Yu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
| | - Kuojun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 China
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9
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Xu J, Kong Y, Zhu P, Du M, Liang X, Tong Y, Li X, Dong C. Progress in small-molecule inhibitors targeting PD-L1. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1161-1175. [PMID: 38665838 PMCID: PMC11042164 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00655g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
PD-L1 is a transmembrane protein overexpressed by tumor cells. It binds to PD-1 on the surface of T-cells, suppresses T-cell activity and hinders the immune response against cancer. Clinically, several monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have achieved significant success in cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, their disadvantages, such as unchecked immune responses, high cost and long half-life, stimulated pharmacologists to develop small-molecule inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1. After a batch of excellent inhibitors with a biphenyl core structure were firstly reported by BMS, more and more researchers focused on small-molecule inhibitors targeting PD-L1 rather than PD-1. Numerous small-molecule inhibitors were extensively designed and synthesized in the past few years. In this paper, the structural characteristics of PD-L1 and complexes of PD-L1 with its inhibitors are elaborated and small molecule inhibitors developed in the last decade are summarized as well. This paper aims to provide insights into further designing and synthesis of small molecule inhibitors targeting PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindan Xu
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Polysaccharide Research Center Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Polysaccharides and Drugs Research Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Yuanfang Kong
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Pengbo Zhu
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Polysaccharide Research Center Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Polysaccharides and Drugs Research Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Mingyan Du
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Polysaccharide Research Center Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Polysaccharides and Drugs Research Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Xuan Liang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Yan Tong
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Polysaccharide Research Center Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Polysaccharides and Drugs Research Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
| | - Chunhong Dong
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Polysaccharide Research Center Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Polysaccharides and Drugs Research Zhengzhou 450046 Henan China
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10
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Javed SA, Najmi A, Ahsan W, Zoghebi K. Targeting PD-1/PD-L-1 immune checkpoint inhibition for cancer immunotherapy: success and challenges. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383456. [PMID: 38660299 PMCID: PMC11039846 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1) acts as a T-cell brake, and its interaction with ligand-1 (PD-L-1) interferes with signal transduction of the T-cell receptor. This leads to suppression of T-cell survival, proliferation, and activity in the tumor microenvironment resulting in compromised anticancer immunity. PD-1/PD-L-1 interaction blockade shown remarkable clinical success in various cancer immunotherapies. To date, most PD-1/PD-L-1 blockers approved for clinical use are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs); however, their therapeutic use are limited owing to poor clinical responses in a proportion of patients. mAbs also displayed low tumor penetration, steep production costs, and incidences of immune-related side effects. This strongly indicates the importance of developing novel inhibitors as cancer immunotherapeutic agents. Recently, advancements in the small molecule-based inhibitors (SMIs) that directly block the PD-1/PD-L-1 axis gained attention from the scientific community involved in cancer research. SMIs demonstrated certain advantages over mAbs, including longer half-lives, low cost, greater cell penetration, and possibility of oral administration. Currently, several SMIs are in development pipeline as potential therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy. To develop new SMIs, a wide range of structural scaffolds have been explored with excellent outcomes; biphenyl-based scaffolds are most studied. In this review, we analyzed the development of mAbs and SMIs targeting PD-1/PD-L-1 axis for cancer treatment. Altogether, the present review delves into the problems related to mAbs use and a detailed discussion on the development and current status of SMIs. This article may provide a comprehensive guide to medicinal chemists regarding the potential structural scaffolds required for PD-1/PD-L-1 interaction inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asim Najmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Domingo-Contreras E, Tormo JR, Gonzalez-Menendez V, Mackenzie TA, Martín-Serrano J, Magiera-Mularz K, Kitel R, Reyes F, Genilloud O, Fernández-Godino R, Ramos MC, Castillo F. Discovery of bioactive natural products of microbial origin as inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130458. [PMID: 38423421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130458] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) controls an adaptive immune resistance mechanism exerted by tumor cells to evade immune responses. The large-molecule nature of current commercial monoclonal antibodies against this PPI hampers their effectiveness by limiting tumor penetration and inducing severe immune-related side effects. Synthetic small-molecule inhibitors may overcome such limitations and have demonstrated promising clinical translation, but their design is challenging. Microbial natural products (NPs) are a source of small molecules with vast chemical diversity that have proved anti-tumoral activities, but which immunotherapeutic properties as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors had remained uncharacterized so far. Here, we have developed the first cell-based PD-1/PD-L1 blockade reporter assay to screen NPs libraries. In this study, 6000 microbial extracts of maximum biosynthetic diversity were screened. A secondary metabolite called alpha-cyclopiazonic acid (α-CPA) of a bioactive fungal extract was confirmed as a new PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor with low micromolar range in the cellular assay and in an additional cell-free competitive assay. Thermal denaturation experiments with PD-1 confirmed that the mechanism of inhibition is based on its stabilization upon binding to α-CPA. The identification of α-CPA as a novel PD-1 stabilizer proves the unprecedented resolution of this methodology at capturing specific PD-1/PD-L1 PPI inhibitors from chemically diverse NP libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Domingo-Contreras
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - José R Tormo
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Victor Gonzalez-Menendez
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Thomas A Mackenzie
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Martín-Serrano
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Katarzyna Magiera-Mularz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa Str 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Radoslaw Kitel
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa Str 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Fernando Reyes
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Olga Genilloud
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Rosario Fernández-Godino
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Maria C Ramos
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain.
| | - Francisco Castillo
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento 34, 18016 Granada, Spain.
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12
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Zhang J, Joshua AM, Li Y, O'Meara CH, Morris MJ, Khachigian LM. Targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and small molecules and peptidomimetics as emerging immunoregulatory agents for melanoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 586:216633. [PMID: 38281663 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216633] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Primary cutaneous melanoma is the most lethal of all skin neoplasms and its incidence is increasing. Clinical management of advanced melanoma in the last decade has been revolutionised by the availability of immunotherapies and targeted therapies, used alone and in combination. This article summarizes advances in the treatment of late-stage melanoma including use of protein kinase inhibitors, antibody-based immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive immunotherapy, vaccines and more recently, small molecules and peptidomimetics as emerging immunoregulatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhang
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anthony M Joshua
- Kinghorn Cancer Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yue Li
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Connor H O'Meara
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, ANU Medical School and Canberra Health Services, Australian National University, Acton, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Margaret J Morris
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Levon M Khachigian
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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13
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Awadasseid A, Wang R, Sun S, Zhang F, Wu Y, Zhang W. Small molecule and PROTAC molecule experiments in vitro and in vivo, focusing on mouse PD-L1 and human PD-L1 differences as targets. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116257. [PMID: 38350367 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116257] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting PD-L1 have been licensed by the FDA for use in the treatment of cancer, demonstrating the effectiveness of blocking immune checkpoints, particularly the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Although mAb-based therapies have made great strides, they still have their limitations, and new small-molecule or PROTAC-molecule inhibitors that can block the PD-1/PD-L1 axis are desperately needed. Therefore, it is crucial to translate initial in vitro discoveries into appropriate in vivo animal models when creating PD-L1-blocking therapies. Due to their widespread availability and low experimental expenses, classical immunocompetent mice are appealing for research purposes. However, it is yet unclear whether the mouse (m) PD-L1 interaction with human (h) PD-1 in vivo would produce a functional immunological checkpoint. In this review, we summarize the in vitro and in vivo experimental studies of small molecules and PROTAC molecules, particularly the distinctions between mPD-L1 as a target and hPD-L1 as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annoor Awadasseid
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Moganshan Institute ZJUT, Deqing 313202, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Department of Biochemistry & Food Sciences, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid 51111, Sudan
| | - Rui Wang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Shishi Sun
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yanling Wu
- Lab of Molecular Immunology, Virus Inspection Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
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14
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Donati G, Viviano M, D'Amore VM, Cipriano A, Diakogiannaki I, Amato J, Tomassi S, Brancaccio D, Russomanno P, Di Leva FS, Arosio D, Seneci P, Taliani S, Magiera-Mularz K, Musielak B, Skalniak L, Holak TA, Castellano S, La Pietra V, Marinelli L. A combined approach of structure-based virtual screening and NMR to interrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 axis: Biphenyl-benzimidazole containing compounds as novel PD-L1 inhibitors. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300583. [PMID: 38110703 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300583] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a game-changing approach for cancer treatment. Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death protein 1 ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis have entered the market revolutionizing the treatment landscape of many cancer types, small molecules, although presenting several advantages including the possibility of oral administration and/or reduced costs, struggled to enter in clinical trials, suffering of water insolubility and/or inadequate potency compared with mAbs. Thus, the search for novel scaffolds for both the design of effective small molecules and possible synergistic strategies is an ongoing field of interest. In an attempt to find novel chemotypes, a virtual screening approach was employed, resulting in the identification of new chemical entities with a certain binding capability, the most versatile of which was the benzimidazole-containing compound 10. Through rational design, a small library of its derivatives was synthesized and evaluated. The homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay revealed that compound 17 shows the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 ) in the submicromolar range and notably, differently from the major part of PD-L1 inhibitors, exhibits satisfactory water solubility properties. These findings highlight the potential of benzimidazole-based compounds as novel promising candidates for PD-L1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Donati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Viviano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Tomassi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniela Arosio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Bogdan Musielak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | - Tad A Holak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
| | | | - Valeria La Pietra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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15
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Albu DI, Wolf BJ, Qin Y, Wang X, Daniel Ulumben A, Su M, Li V, Ding E, Angel Gonzalo J, Kong J, Jadhav R, Kuklin N, Visintin A, Gong B, Schuetz TJ. A bispecific anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 antibody induces PD-1 cleavage and provides enhanced anti-tumor activity. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2316945. [PMID: 38379869 PMCID: PMC10877993 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2316945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Combinatorial strategies, such as targeting different immune checkpoint receptors, hold promise to increase the breadth and duration of the response to cancer therapy. Here we describe the preclinical evaluation of CTX-8371, a protein construct which combines PD-1 and PD-L1 targeting in one bispecific, tetravalent antibody. CTX-8371 matched or surpassed the activity of anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 benchmark antibodies in several in vitro T cell activation assays and outperformed clinically approved benchmarks in the subcutaneous MC38 colon and the B16F10 lung metastasis mouse tumor models. Investigation into the mechanism of action revealed that CTX-8371 co-engagement of PD-1 and PD-L1 induced the proteolytic cleavage and loss of cell surface PD-1, which is a novel and non-redundant mechanism that adds to the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling axis blockade. The combination of CTX-8371 and an agonistic anti-CD137 antibody further increased the anti-tumor efficacy with long-lasting curative therapeutic effect. In summary, CTX-8371 is a novel checkpoint inhibitor that might provide greater clinical benefit compared to current anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies, especially when combined with agents with orthogonal mechanisms of action, such as agonistic anti-CD137 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yan Qin
- Compass Therapeutics Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Mei Su
- Compass Therapeutics Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vivian Li
- Compass Therapeutics Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Jason Kong
- Compass Therapeutics Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Bing Gong
- Compass Therapeutics Inc, Boston, MA, USA
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16
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Abramenko N, Vellieux F, Veselá K, Kejík Z, Hajduch J, Masařík M, Babula P, Hoskovec D, Pacák K, Martásek P, Smetana K, Jakubek M. Investigation of the potential effects of estrogen receptor modulators on immune checkpoint molecules. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3043. [PMID: 38321096 PMCID: PMC10847107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51804-2] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints regulate the immune system response. Recent studies suggest that flavonoids, known as phytoestrogens, may inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. We explored the potential of estrogens and 17 Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) as inhibiting ligands for immune checkpoint proteins (CTLA-4, PD-L1, PD-1, and CD80). Our docking studies revealed strong binding energy values for quinestrol, quercetin, and bazedoxifene, indicating their potential to inhibit PD-1 and CTLA-4. Quercetin and bazedoxifene, known to modulate EGFR and IL-6R alongside estrogen receptors, can influence the immune checkpoint functionality. We discuss the impact of SERMs on PD-1 and CTLA-4, suggesting that these SERMs could have therapeutic effects through immune checkpoint inhibition. This study highlights the potential of SERMs as inhibitory ligands for immune checkpoint proteins, emphasizing the importance of considering PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibition when evaluating SERMs as therapeutic agents. Our findings open new avenues for cancer immunotherapy by exploring the interaction between various SERMs and immune checkpoint pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Abramenko
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fréderic Vellieux
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Veselá
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Kejík
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Hajduch
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Masařík
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Babula
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Hoskovec
- 1st Department of Surgery-Department of Abdominal, Thoracic Surgery and Traumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, U Nemocnice 2, 121 08, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Pacák
- Section on Medical Neuroendocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 1-3140, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pavel Martásek
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Smetana
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Jakubek
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
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17
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Cheng B, Pan W, Xiao Y, Ding Z, Zhou Y, Fei X, Liu J, Su Z, Peng X, Chen J. HDAC-targeting epigenetic modulators for cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116129. [PMID: 38211468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116129] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
HDAC inhibitors, which can inhibit the activity of HDAC enzymes, have been extensively studied in tumor immunotherapy and have shown potential therapeutic effects in cancer immunotherapy. To date, numerous small molecule HDAC inhibitors have been identified, but many of them suffer from limited clinical efficacy and serious toxicity. Hence, HDAC inhibitor-based combination therapies, and other HDAC modulators (e.g. PROTAC degraders, dual-acting agents) have attracted great attention with significant advancements achieved in the past few years due to their superior efficacy compared to single-target HDAC inhibitors. In this review, we overviewed the recent progress on HDAC-based drug discovery with a focus on HDAC inhibitor-based drug combination therapy and other HDAC-targeting strategies (e.g. selective HDAC inhibitors, HDAC-based dual-target inhibitors, and PROTAC HDAC degraders) for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, we also summarized the reported co-crystal structures of HDAC inhibitors in complex with their target proteins and the binding interactions. Finally, the challenges and future directions for HDAC-based drug discovery in cancer immunotherapy are also discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Cheng
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Joint Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Cancer of Lishui, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, PR China; Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, PR China
| | - Wei Pan
- CardioIogy Department, Geriatric Department, Foshan Women and Children Hospital, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, PR China
| | - Yao Xiao
- Wuchang Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, Wuchang, 430063, PR China
| | - Zongbao Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, PR China
| | - Yingxing Zhou
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Xiaoting Fei
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Jin Liu
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China
| | - Zhenhong Su
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435003, PR China.
| | - Xiaopeng Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 314000, PR China.
| | - Jianjun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China.
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18
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Jiang H, Zhang Q. Gut microbiota influences the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors by modulating the immune system (Review). Oncol Lett 2024; 27:87. [PMID: 38249807 PMCID: PMC10797324 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14221] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are commonly utilized in tumor treatment. However, they still have limitations, including insufficient effectiveness and unavoidable adverse events. It has been demonstrated that gut microbiota can influence the effectiveness of ICIs, although the precise mechanism remains unclear. Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the formation and development of the immune system. Gut microbiota and their associated metabolites play a regulatory role in immune balance. Tumor occurrence and development are linked to their ability to evade recognition and destruction by the immune system. The purpose of ICIs treatment is to reinitiate the immune system's elimination of tumor cells. Thus, the immune system acts as a communication bridge between gut microbiota and ICIs. Varied composition and characteristics of gut microbiota result in diverse outcomes in ICIs treatment. Certain gut microbiota-related metabolites also influence the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs to some extent. The administration of antibiotics before or during ICIs treatment can diminish treatment effectiveness. The utilization of probiotics and fecal transplantation can partially alter the outcome of ICIs treatment. The present review synthesized previous studies to examine the association between gut microbiota and ICIs, elucidated the role of gut microbiota and its associated factors in ICIs treatment, and offered direction for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475001, P.R. China
| | - Qinlu Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475001, P.R. China
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19
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Surmiak E, Ząber J, Plewka J, Wojtanowicz G, Kocik-Krol J, Kruc O, Muszak D, Rodríguez I, Musielak B, Viviano M, Castellano S, Skalniak L, Magiera-Mularz K, Holak TA, Kalinowska-Tłuścik J. Solubilizer Tag Effect on PD-L1/Inhibitor Binding Properties for m-Terphenyl Derivatives. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:36-44. [PMID: 38229762 PMCID: PMC10788941 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Although heavily studied, the subject of anti-PD-L1 small-molecule inhibitors is still elusive. Here we present a systematic overview of the principles behind successful anti-PD-L1 small-molecule inhibitor design on the example of the m-terphenyl scaffold, with a particular focus on the neglected influence of the solubilizer tag on the overall affinity toward PD-L1. The inhibitor developed according to the proposed guidelines was characterized through its potency in blocking PD-1/PD-L1 complex formation in homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence and cell-based assays. The affinity is also explained based on the crystal structure of the inhibitor itself and its costructure with PD-L1 as well as a molecular modeling study. Our results structuralize the knowledge related to the strong pharmacophore feature of the m-terphenyl scaffold preferential geometry and the more complex role of the solubilizer tag in PD-L1 homodimer stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Surmiak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Julia Ząber
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
- Doctoral
School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian
University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Wojtanowicz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik-Krol
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
- Doctoral
School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian
University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Oskar Kruc
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
- Doctoral
School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian
University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Damian Muszak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Ismael Rodríguez
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
- Doctoral
School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian
University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Monica Viviano
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84085 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84085 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | | | - Tad A. Holak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
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20
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Fuchs N, Zhang L, Calvo-Barreiro L, Kuncewicz K, Gabr M. Inhibitors of Immune Checkpoints: Small Molecule- and Peptide-Based Approaches. J Pers Med 2024; 14:68. [PMID: 38248769 PMCID: PMC10817355 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14010068] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The revolutionary progress in cancer immunotherapy, particularly the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, marks a significant milestone in the fight against malignancies. However, the majority of clinically employed immune checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with several limitations, such as poor oral bioavailability and immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Another major limitation is the restriction of the efficacy of mAbs to a subset of cancer patients, which triggered extensive research efforts to identify alternative approaches in targeting immune checkpoints aiming to overcome the restricted efficacy of mAbs. This comprehensive review aims to explore the cutting-edge developments in targeting immune checkpoints, focusing on both small molecule- and peptide-based approaches. By delving into drug discovery platforms, we provide insights into the diverse strategies employed to identify and optimize small molecules and peptides as inhibitors of immune checkpoints. In addition, we discuss recent advances in nanomaterials as drug carriers, providing a basis for the development of small molecule- and peptide-based platforms for cancer immunotherapy. Ongoing research focused on the discovery of small molecules and peptide-inspired agents targeting immune checkpoints paves the way for developing orally bioavailable agents as the next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Fuchs
- Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; (N.F.); (L.Z.); (L.C.-B.); (K.K.)
| | - Longfei Zhang
- Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; (N.F.); (L.Z.); (L.C.-B.); (K.K.)
| | - Laura Calvo-Barreiro
- Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; (N.F.); (L.Z.); (L.C.-B.); (K.K.)
| | - Katarzyna Kuncewicz
- Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; (N.F.); (L.Z.); (L.C.-B.); (K.K.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Moustafa Gabr
- Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; (N.F.); (L.Z.); (L.C.-B.); (K.K.)
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21
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Zou W, Luo X, Gao M, Yu C, Wan X, Yu S, Wu Y, Wang A, Fenical W, Wei Z, Zhao Y, Lu Y. Optimization of cancer immunotherapy on the basis of programmed death ligand-1 distribution and function. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:257-272. [PMID: 36775813 PMCID: PMC11080663 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint blockade as a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy has shown unprecedented positive outcomes in the clinic. However, the overall effectiveness of PD-L1 antibody is less than expected. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that PD-L1 is widely distributed and expressed not only on the cell membrane but also on the inside of the cells as well as on the extracellular vesicles secreted by tumour cells. Both endogenous and exogenous PD-L1 play significant roles in influencing the therapeutic effect of anti-tumour immunity. Herein, we mainly focused on the distribution and function of PD-L1 and further summarized the potential targeted therapeutic strategies. More importantly, in addition to taking the overall expression abundance of PD-L1 as a predictive indicator for selecting corresponding PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), we also proposed that personalized combination therapies based on the different distribution of PD-L1 are worth attention to achieve more efficient and effective therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Cancer Microenvironment and Pharmacological Interventions. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.2/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengyuan Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Chang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xueting Wan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Suyun Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Aiyun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - William Fenical
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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22
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Wang K, Zhang X, Cheng Y, Qi Z, Ye K, Zhang K, Jiang S, Liu Y, Xiao Y, Wang T. Discovery of Novel PD-L1 Inhibitors That Induce the Dimerization, Internalization, and Degradation of PD-L1 Based on the Fragment Coupling Strategy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16807-16827. [PMID: 38109261 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cells can evade immune surveillance through overexpressing programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) to interact with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). Besides, tumor-intrinsic PD-L1 is involved in tumor progression without interaction with PD-1, which provides more challenges for the discovery of PD-L1 inhibitors. Herein, we report the discovery of novel PD-L1 inhibitors using the fragment coupling strategy. Among them, B9 was found to inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with the best IC50 value of 1.8 ± 0.7 nM. Beyond the blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, B9 promotes the dimerization, internalization, and degradation of PD-L1. Furthermore, B9 displayed high in vivo antitumor efficacy in the CT26 mouse model and activated the immune microenvironment and induced PD-L1 degradation of PD-L1 in the tumor. These results show that B9 is a promising lead PD-L1 inhibitor through the blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction and functional inhibition of the PD-L1 signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaizhen Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhihao Qi
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ke Ye
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Kuojun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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23
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Krutzek F, Donat CK, Ullrich M, Stadlbauer S. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Small-Molecule-Based Radioligands with Improved Pharmacokinetic Properties for Imaging of Programmed Death Ligand 1. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15894-15915. [PMID: 38038981 PMCID: PMC10726354 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Small molecules offer some advantages for developing positron emission tomography (PET) tracers and are therefore a promising approach for imaging and therapy monitoring of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive tumors. Here, we report six biphenyl PD-L1 radioligands using the NODA-GA-chelator for efficient copper-64 complexation. These radioligands contain varying numbers of sulfonic and/or phosphonic acid groups, serving as hydrophilizing units to lower the log D7.4 value down to -4.28. The binding affinities of compounds were evaluated using saturation binding and a real-time binding assay, with a highest binding affinity of 21 nM. Small-animal PET imaging revealed vastly different pharmacokinetic profiles depending on the quantity and type of hydrophilizing units. Of the investigated radioligands, [64Cu]Cu-3 showed the most favorable kinetics in vitro. This was also found in vivo, with a predominantly renal clearance and a specific uptake in the PD-L1-overexpressing tumor. With further modifications, this compound could be a promising candidate for the imaging of PD-L1 in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Krutzek
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical
Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Cornelius K. Donat
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical
Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Ullrich
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical
Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sven Stadlbauer
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical
Cancer Research, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 4, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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24
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Krutzek F, Donat CK, Stadlbauer S. Exploring Hydrophilic PD-L1 Radiotracers Utilizing Phosphonic Acids: Insights into Unforeseen Pharmacokinetics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15088. [PMID: 37894769 PMCID: PMC10606431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015088] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in cancer patients, is a promising oncological treatment. However, the number of non-responders remains high, causing a burden for the patient and the healthcare system. Consequently, a diagnostic tool to predict treatment outcomes would help with patient stratification. Molecular imaging provides said diagnostic tool by offering a whole-body quantitative assessment of PD-L1 expression, hence supporting therapy decisions. Four PD-L1 radioligand candidates containing a linker-chelator system for radiometalation, along with three hydrophilizing units-one sulfonic and two phosphonic acids-were synthesized. After labeling with 64Cu, log D7.4 values of less than -3.03 were determined and proteolytic stability confirmed over 94% intact compound after 48 h. Binding affinity was determined using two different assays, revealing high affinities up to 13 nM. µPET/CT imaging was performed in tumor-bearing mice to investigate PD-L1-specific tumor uptake and the pharmacokinetic profile of radioligands. These results yielded an unexpected in vivo distribution, such as low tumor uptake in PD-L1 positive tumors, high liver uptake, and accumulation in bone/bone marrow and potentially synovial spaces. These effects are likely caused by Ca2+-affinity and/or binding to macrophages. Despite phosphonic acids providing high water solubility, their incorporation must be carefully considered to avoid compromising the pharmacokinetic behavior of radioligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Krutzek
- Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Radiochemistry, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; (F.K.); (C.K.D.)
| | - Cornelius K. Donat
- Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Radiochemistry, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; (F.K.); (C.K.D.)
| | - Sven Stadlbauer
- Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Radiochemistry, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; (F.K.); (C.K.D.)
- School of Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technical University Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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25
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Naing S, Sandech N, Maiuthed A, Chongruchiroj S, Pratuangdejkul J, Lomarat P. Garcinia mangostana L. Pericarp Extract and Its Active Compound α-Mangostin as Potential Inhibitors of Immune Checkpoint Programmed Death Ligand-1. Molecules 2023; 28:6991. [PMID: 37836835 PMCID: PMC10574194 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28196991] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Mangostin, a major xanthone found in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L., Family Clusiaceae) pericarp, has been shown to exhibit anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms of action. However, its effects on immune checkpoint programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have not been studied. This study investigated the effects of mangosteen pericarp extract and its active compound α-mangostin on PD-L1 by in vitro and in silico analyses. HPLC analysis showed that α-mangostin contained about 30% w/w of crude ethanol extract of mangosteen pericarp. In vitro experiments in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells showed that α-mangostin and the ethanol extract significantly inhibit PD-L1 expression when treated for 72 h with 10 µM or 10 µg/mL, respectively, and partially inhibit glycosylation of PD-L1 when compared to untreated controls. In silico analysis revealed that α-mangostin effectively binds inside PD-L1 dimer pockets and that the complex was stable throughout the 100 ns simulation, suggesting that α-mangostin stabilized the dimer form that could potentially lead to degradation of PD-L1. The ADMET prediction showed that α-mangostin is lipophilic and has high plasma protein binding, suggesting its greater distribution to tissues and its ability to penetrate adipose tissue such as breast cancer. These findings suggest that α-mangostin-rich mangosteen pericarp extract could potentially be applied as a functional ingredient for cancer chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandar Naing
- Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Nichawadee Sandech
- Centre of Biopharmaceutical Science for Healthy Ageing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (N.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Arnatchai Maiuthed
- Centre of Biopharmaceutical Science for Healthy Ageing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (N.S.); (A.M.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sumet Chongruchiroj
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Jaturong Pratuangdejkul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (J.P.)
| | - Pattamapan Lomarat
- Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
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26
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Rodriguez I, Kocik-Krol J, Skalniak L, Musielak B, Wisniewska A, Ciesiołkiewicz A, Berlicki Ł, Plewka J, Grudnik P, Stec M, Siedlar M, Holak TA, Magiera-Mularz K. Structural and biological characterization of pAC65, a macrocyclic peptide that blocks PD-L1 with equivalent potency to the FDA-approved antibodies. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:150. [PMID: 37679783 PMCID: PMC10483858 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01853-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in immuno-oncology have opened up new and impressive treatment options for cancer. Notwithstanding, overcoming the limitations of the current FDA-approved therapies with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway continues to lead to the testing of multiple approaches and optimizations. Recently, a series of macrocyclic peptides have been developed that exhibit binding strengths to PD-L1 ranging from sub-micromolar to micromolar. In this study, we present the most potent non-antibody-based PD-1/PD-L1 interaction inhibitor reported to date. The structural and biological characterization of this macrocyclic PD-L1 targeting peptide provides the rationale for inhibition of both PD-1/PD-L1 and CD80/PD-L1 complexes. The IC50 and EC50 values obtained in PD-L1 binding assays indicate that the pAC65 peptide has potency equivalent to the current FDA-approved mAbs and may have similar activity to the BMS986189 peptide, which entered the clinical trial and has favorable safety and pharmacokinetic data. The data presented here delineate the generation of similar peptides with improved biological activities and applications not only in the field of cancer immunotherapy but also in other disorders related to the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Rodriguez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Justyna Kocik-Krol
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Lukasz Skalniak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Aneta Wisniewska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ciesiołkiewicz
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland
| | - Łukasz Berlicki
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Grudnik
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 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
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Magiera-Mularz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, Krakow, 30-387, Poland.
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27
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Ding Z, Wang S, Shi Y, Fei X, Cheng B, Lu Y, Chen J. Discovery of Novel d-(+)-Biotin-Conjugated Resorcinol Dibenzyl Ether-Based PD-L1 Inhibitors for Targeted Cancer Immunotherapy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10364-10380. [PMID: 37480153 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we rationally designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of novel d-(+)-biotin-conjugated PD-L1 inhibitors for targeted cancer therapy. Among them, SWS1 exhibited the highest anti-PD-1/PD-L1 activity with an IC50 of 1.8 nM. In addition, SWS1 dose-dependently promoted tumor cell death in a HepG2/Jurkat cell co-culture model. Importantly, SWS1 displayed high antitumor efficacy in a B16-F10 mouse model with tumor growth inhibition of 66.1%, which was better than that of P18 (44.3%). Furthermore, SWS1 exerted antitumor effects by increasing the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and reducing the expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues. Moreover, tissue distribution studies revealed a substantial accumulation of SWS1 in tumors (404.1 ng/mL). Lastly, the safety profiles of SWS1 were better (e.g., less immune-mediated colitis) than those of P18, indicating the advantages of biotin-enabled tumor targeting capability. Taken together, our results suggest that these novel tumor-targeted PD-L1 inhibitors are worthy of further investigation as potential anticancer agents for targeted cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongbao Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai 519041, P. R. China
| | - Shuanghu Wang
- The Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, The People's Hospital of Lishui, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Yaru Shi
- The Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, The People's Hospital of Lishui, Lishui, Zhejiang 323000, China
| | - Xiaoting Fei
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Hubei Key Laboratory for Kidney Disease Pathogenesis and Intervention, Huangshi 435003, China
| | - Binbin Cheng
- School of Medicine, Hubei Polytechnic University, Hubei Key Laboratory for Kidney Disease Pathogenesis and Intervention, Huangshi 435003, China
| | - Yiyu Lu
- Oncology Department, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan 528200, 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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28
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Donati G, D’Amore VM, Russomanno P, Cerofolini L, Amato J, Marzano S, Salobehaj M, Rizzo D, Assoni G, Carotenuto A, La Pietra V, Arosio D, Seneci P, Fragai M, Brancaccio D, Di Leva FS, Marinelli L. Theoretical and experimental studies on the interaction of biphenyl ligands with human and murine PD-L1: Up-to-date clues for drug design. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3355-3368. [PMID: 37384351 PMCID: PMC10293680 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Today it is widely recognized that the PD-1/PD-L1 axis plays a fundamental role in escaping the immune system in cancers, so that anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies have been evaluated for their antitumor properties in more than 1000 clinical trials. As a result, some of them have entered the market revolutionizing the treatment landscape of specific cancer types. Nonetheless, a new era based on the development of small molecules as anti PD-L1 drugs has begun. There are, however, some limitations to advancing these compounds into clinical stages including the possible difficulty in counteracting the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in vivo, the discrepancy between the in vitro IC50 (HTFR assay) and cellular EC50 (immune checkpoint blockade co-culture assay), and the differences in ligands' affinity between human and murine PD-L1, which can affect their preclinical evaluation. Here, an extensive theoretical study, assisted by MicroScale Thermophoresis binding assays and NMR experiments, was performed to provide an atomistic picture of the binding event of three representative biphenyl-based compounds in both human and murine PD-L1. Structural determinants of the species' specificity were unraveled, providing unprecedented details useful for the design of next generation anti-PD-L1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Donati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Maria D’Amore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Russomanno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Linda Cerofolini
- Magnetic Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Marzano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Salobehaj
- Magnetic Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Domenico Rizzo
- Magnetic Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giulia Assoni
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, Povo I-38123, Trento, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria La Pietra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Arosio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta" (SCITEC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via C. Golgi 19, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Pierfausto Seneci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Fragai
- Magnetic Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Sullivan KMC, Vilalta M, Ertl LS, Wang Y, Dunlap C, Ebsworth K, Zhao BN, Li S, Zeng Y, Miao Z, Fan P, Mali V, Lange C, McMurtrie D, Yang J, Lui R, Scamp R, Chhina V, Kumamoto A, Yau S, Dang T, Easterday A, Liu S, Miao S, Charo I, Schall TJ, Zhang P. CCX559 is a potent, orally-administered small molecule PD-L1 inhibitor that induces anti-tumor immunity. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286724. [PMID: 37285333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 is a major immune checkpoint that limits effector T cell function against cancer cells; monoclonal antibodies that block this pathway have been approved in multiple tumor indications. As a next generation therapy, small molecule inhibitors of PD-L1 have inherent drug properties that may be advantageous for certain patient populations compared to antibody therapies. In this report we present the pharmacology of the orally-available, small molecule PD-L1 inhibitor CCX559 for cancer immunotherapy. CCX559 potently and selectively inhibited PD-L1 binding to PD-1 and CD80 in vitro, and increased activation of primary human T cells in a T cell receptor-dependent fashion. Oral administration of CCX559 demonstrated anti-tumor activity similar to an anti-human PD-L1 antibody in two murine tumor models. Treatment of cells with CCX559 induced PD-L1 dimer formation and internalization, which prevented interaction with PD-1. Cell surface PD-L1 expression recovered in MC38 tumors upon CCX559 clearance post dosing. In a cynomolgus monkey pharmacodynamic study, CCX559 increased plasma levels of soluble PD-L1. These results support the clinical development of CCX559 for solid tumors; CCX559 is currently in a Phase 1, first in patient, multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study (ACTRN12621001342808).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Vilalta
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Linda S Ertl
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Yu Wang
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Dunlap
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Karen Ebsworth
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Bin N Zhao
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Shijie Li
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Yibin Zeng
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Zhenhua Miao
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Pingchen Fan
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Venkat Mali
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Lange
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Darren McMurtrie
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Ju Yang
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Lui
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Ryan Scamp
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Vicky Chhina
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Alice Kumamoto
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Simon Yau
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Ton Dang
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Ashton Easterday
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Shirley Liu
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Shichang Miao
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Israel Charo
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas J Schall
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
| | - Penglie Zhang
- ChemoCentryx, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States of America
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30
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Liu Z, Zhang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Kang X. In-situ formed thermosensitive hydrogel amplifies statin-mediated immune checkpoint blockade for coordinated tumor chemo-immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1154392. [PMID: 37229252 PMCID: PMC10204804 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1154392] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Small molecule drugs are the next-generation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but their in vivo therapeutic outcomes remain unsatisfactory for a long time. Herein, we proposed a combinatory regimen that delivered a small molecule ICI and an immunogenic cell death inducer in an in-situ formed hydrogel scaffold based on thermosensitive materials (Pluronic F127). This platform increased the tumor retention of administrated small molecules, creating more opportunities for the interaction between drugs and tumor cells. We found that atorvastatin (ATO) effectively downregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and reversed compensative PD-L1 upregulation after cyclophosphamide (CTX) chemotherapy on CT26 colon tumors. CTX not only killed tumor cells to reduce the tumor burden, but also release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to stimulate T cell immunity, therefore amplifying statin-mediated immunotherapy. The platform reported in this study might be promising to overcome the limitation of small molecule ICIs with short retention time and potentiate tumor chemo-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefan Liu
- *Correspondence: Zefan Liu, ; Xin Kang,
| | | | | | | | - Xin Kang
- *Correspondence: Zefan Liu, ; Xin Kang,
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31
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Thompson HJ, Lutsiv T, McGinley JN, Hussan H, Playdon MC. Dietary Oncopharmacognosy as a Crosswalk between Precision Oncology and Precision Nutrition. Nutrients 2023; 15:2219. [PMID: 37432381 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092219] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
While diet and nutrition are modifiable risk factors for many chronic and infectious diseases, their role in cancer prevention and control remains under investigation. The lack of clarity of some diet-cancer relationships reflects the ongoing debate about the relative contribution of genetic factors, environmental exposures, and replicative errors in stem cell division as determinate drivers of cancer risk. In addition, dietary guidance has often been based upon research assuming that the effects of diet and nutrition on carcinogenesis would be uniform across populations and for various tumor types arising in a specific organ, i.e., that one size fits all. Herein, we present a paradigm for investigating precision dietary patterns that leverages the approaches that led to successful small-molecule inhibitors in cancer treatment, namely understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of small molecules for targeting carcinogenic mechanisms. We challenge the scientific community to refine the paradigm presented and to conduct proof-in-concept experiments that integrate existing knowledge (drug development, natural products, and the food metabolome) with developments in artificial intelligence to design and then test dietary patterns predicted to elicit drug-like effects on target tissues for cancer prevention and control. We refer to this precision approach as dietary oncopharmacognosy and envision it as the crosswalk between the currently defined fields of precision oncology and precision nutrition with the goal of reducing cancer deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry J Thompson
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Tymofiy Lutsiv
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - John N McGinley
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Hisham Hussan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Mary C Playdon
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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32
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Boisgerault N, Bertrand P. Inside PD-1/PD-L1,2 with their inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 256:115465. [PMID: 37196547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes current knowledge in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including antibodies and small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Boisgerault
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Université D'Angers, CRCI2NA, LabEx IGO, F-44000, Nantes, France
| | - Philippe Bertrand
- University of Poitiers, IC2MP UMR 7285 CNRS, 4 Rue Michel Brunet B27, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France.
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33
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Dumolard L, Aspord C, Marche PN, Macek Jilkova Z. Immune checkpoints on T and NK cells in the context of HBV infection: Landscape, pathophysiology and therapeutic exploitation. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1148111. [PMID: 37056774 PMCID: PMC10086248 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1148111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the interplay between the virus and the host immune system is crucial in determining the pathogenesis of the disease. Patients who fail to mount a sufficient and sustained anti-viral immune response develop chronic hepatitis B (CHB). T cells and natural killer (NK) cells play decisive role in viral clearance, but they are defective in chronic HBV infection. The activation of immune cells is tightly controlled by a combination of activating and inhibitory receptors, called immune checkpoints (ICs), allowing the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Chronic exposure to viral antigens and the subsequent dysregulation of ICs actively contribute to the exhaustion of effector cells and viral persistence. The present review aims to summarize the function of various ICs and their expression in T lymphocytes and NK cells in the course of HBV infection as well as the use of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting ICs in chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Dumolard
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team Epigenetics, Immunity, Metabolism, Cell Signaling & Cancer, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Caroline Aspord
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team Epigenetics, Immunity, Metabolism, Cell Signaling & Cancer, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
- R&D Laboratory, Etablissement Français du Sang Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Patrice N. Marche
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team Epigenetics, Immunity, Metabolism, Cell Signaling & Cancer, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Zuzana Macek Jilkova
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team Epigenetics, Immunity, Metabolism, Cell Signaling & Cancer, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- *Correspondence: Zuzana Macek Jilkova,
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Su W, Tan M, Wang Z, Zhang J, Huang W, Song H, Wang X, Ran H, Gao Y, Nie G, Wang H. Targeted Degradation of PD-L1 and Activation of the STING Pathway by Carbon-Dot-Based PROTACs for Cancer Immunotherapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218128. [PMID: 36647763 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology is an emerging approach to degrade disease-associated proteins. Here, we report carbon-dot (CD)-based PROTACs (CDTACs) that degrade membrane proteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. CDTACs can bind to programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), recruit cereblon (CRBN) to induce PD-L1 ubiquitination, and degrade them with proteasomes. Fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) is also used to enhance the cellular uptake and proteasome activity. More than 99 % or 90 % of PD-L1 in CT26 or B16-F10 tumor cells can be degraded by CDTACs, respectively. Furthermore, CDTACs can activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway to trigger immune responses. Thus, CDTACs with FMD treatment effectively inhibit the growth of CT26 and B16-F10 tumors. Compared with small-molecule-based PROTACs, CDTACs offer several advantages, such as efficient membrane protein degradation, targeted tumor accumulation, immune system activation, and in vivo detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Su
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Mixiao Tan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Zhihang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Wenping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Haohao Song
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xinye Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Haitao Ran
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yanfeng Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hai Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
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35
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Thompson HJ, Lutsiv T. Natural Products in Precision Oncology: Plant-Based Small Molecule Inhibitors of Protein Kinases for Cancer Chemoprevention. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15051192. [PMID: 36904191 PMCID: PMC10005680 DOI: 10.3390/nu15051192] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Striking progress is being made in cancer treatment by using small molecule inhibitors of specific protein kinases that are products of genes recognized as drivers for a specific type of cancer. However, the cost of newly developed drugs is high, and these pharmaceuticals are neither affordable nor accessible in most parts of the world. Accordingly, this narrative review aims to probe how these recent successes in cancer treatment can be reverse-engineered into affordable and accessible approaches for the global community. This challenge is addressed through the lens of cancer chemoprevention, defined as using pharmacological agents of natural or synthetic origin to impede, arrest, or reverse carcinogenesis at any stage in the disease process. In this regard, prevention refers to reducing cancer-related deaths. Recognizing the clinical successes and limitations of protein kinase inhibitor treatment strategies, the disciplines of pharmacognosy and chemotaxonomy are juxtaposed with current efforts to exploit the cancer kinome to describe a conceptual framework for developing a natural product-based approach for precision oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry J. Thompson
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-970-491-7748
| | - Tymofiy Lutsiv
- Cancer Prevention Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
- Graduate Program in Cell & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Sun C, Yin M, Cheng Y, Kuang Z, Liu X, Wang G, Wang X, Yuan K, Min W, Dong J, Hou Y, Hu L, Zhang G, Pei W, Wang L, Sun Y, Yu X, Xiao Y, Deng H, Yang P. Novel Small-Molecule PD-L1 Inhibitor Induces PD-L1 Internalization and Optimizes the Immune Microenvironment. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2064-2083. [PMID: 36579489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction has become an important strategy for tumor therapy, which has shown outstanding therapeutic effects in clinical settings. However, unsatisfactory response rates and immune-related adverse effects limit the use of anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies. Here, we report the discovery and identification of S4-1, an innovative small-molecule inhibitor of PD-L1. In vitro, S4-1 effectively altered the PD-L1/PD-1 interaction, induced PD-L1 dimerization and internalization, improved its localization to endoplasmic reticulum, and thus enhanced the cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells toward tumor cells. In vivo, S4-1 significantly inhibited tumor growth in both lung and colorectal cancer models, particularly in colorectal cancer, where it led to complete clearance of a portion of the tumor cells. Furthermore, S4-1 induced T-cell activation and inversed the inhibitory tumor microenvironment, consistent with the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway blockade. These data support the continued evaluation of S4-1 as an alternative ICB therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengliang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Mingxiao Yin
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zean Kuang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaojia Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Gefei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Wenjian Min
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jingwen Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Lingrong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Guoyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Wenli Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Liping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yanze Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xinmiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hongbin Deng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Peng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
- Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
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37
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PD-1/PD-L1 and DNA Damage Response in Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040530. [PMID: 36831197 PMCID: PMC9954559 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of immunotherapy for cancer treatment is rapidly becoming more widespread. Immunotherapeutic agents are frequently combined with various types of treatments to obtain a more durable antitumor clinical response in patients who have developed resistance to monotherapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage and trigger DNA damage response (DDR) frequently induce an increase in the expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) that can be employed by cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. PD-L1 exposed on cancer cells can in turn be targeted to re-establish the immune-reactive tumor microenvironment, which ultimately increases the tumor's susceptibility to combined therapies. Here we review the recent advances in how the DDR regulates PD-L1 expression and point out the effect of etoposide, irinotecan, and platinum compounds on the anti-tumor immune response.
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38
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Dimitrova YN, Gutierrez JA, Huard K. It's ok to be outnumbered - sub-stoichiometric modulation of homomeric protein complexes. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:22-46. [PMID: 36760737 PMCID: PMC9890894 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00212d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
An arsenal of molecular tools with increasingly diversified mechanisms of action is being developed by the scientific community to enable biological interrogation and pharmaceutical modulation of targets and pathways of ever increasing complexity. While most small molecules interact with the target of interest in a 1 : 1 relationship, a noteworthy number of recent examples were reported to bind in a sub-stoichiometric manner to a homomeric protein complex. This approach requires molecular understanding of the physiologically relevant protein assemblies and in-depth characterization of the compound's mechanism of action. The recent literature examples summarized here were selected to illustrate methods used to identify and characterize molecules with such mechanisms. The concept of one small molecule targeting a homomeric protein assembly is not new but the subject deserves renewed inspection in light of emerging technologies and increasingly diverse target biology, to ensure relevant in vitro systems are used and valuable compounds with potentially novel sub-stoichiometric mechanisms of action aren't overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kim Huard
- Genentech 1 DNA Way South San Francisco CA 94080 USA
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39
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Effects of small molecule-induced dimerization on the programmed death ligand 1 protein life cycle. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21286. [PMID: 36494467 PMCID: PMC9734112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25417-6] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint blockade is central to Immuno-Oncology based therapies, and alternatives to antibody blockers of this interaction are an active area of research due to antibody related toxicities. Recently, small molecule compounds that induce PD-L1 dimerization and occlusion of PD-1 binding site have been identified and developed for clinical trials. This mechanism invokes an oligomeric state of PD-L1 not observed in cells previously, as PD-L1 is generally believed to function as a monomer. Therefore, understanding the cellular lifecycle of the induced PD-L1 dimer is of keen interest. Our report describes a moderate but consistent increase in the PD-L1 rate of degradation observed upon protein dimerization as compared to the monomer counterpart. This subtle change, while not resolved by measuring total PD-L1 cellular levels by western blotting, triggered investigations of the overall protein distribution across various cellular compartments. We show that PD-L1 dimerization does not lead to rapid internalization of neither transfected nor endogenously expressed protein forms. Instead, evidence is presented that dimerization results in retention of PD-L1 intracellularly, which concomitantly correlates with its reduction on the cell surface. Therefore, the obtained data for the first time points to the ability of small molecules to induce dimerization of the newly synthesized PD-L1 in addition to the protein already present on the plasma membrane. Overall, this work serves to improve our understanding of this important target on a molecular level in order to guide advances in drug development.
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40
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Sun C, Cheng Y, Liu X, Wang G, Min W, Wang X, Yuan K, Hou Y, Li J, Zhang H, Dong H, Wang L, Lou C, Sun Y, Yu X, Deng H, Xiao Y, Yang P. Novel phthalimides regulating PD-1/PD-L1 interaction as potential immunotherapy agents. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4446-4457. [PMID: 36561991 PMCID: PMC9764071 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death 1(PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1) have emerged as one of the most promising immune checkpoint targets for cancer immunotherapy. Despite the inherent advantages of small-molecule inhibitors over antibodies, the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors has fallen behind that of antibody drugs. Based on docking studies between small molecule inhibitor and PD-L1 protein, changing the chemical linker of inhibitor from a flexible chain to an aromatic ring may improve its binding capacity to PD-L1 protein, which was not reported before. A series of novel phthalimide derivatives from structure-based rational design was synthesized. P39 was identified as the best inhibitor with promising activity, which not only inhibited PD-1/PD-L1 interaction (IC50 = 8.9 nmol/L), but also enhanced killing efficacy of immune cells on cancer cells. Co-crystal data demonstrated that P39 induced the dimerization of PD-L1 proteins, thereby blocking the binding of PD-1/PD-L1. Moreover, P39 exhibited a favorable safety profile with a LD50 > 5000 mg/kg and showed significant in vivo antitumor activity through promoting CD8+ T cell activation. All these data suggest that P39 acts as a promising small chemical inhibitor against the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and has the potential to improve the immunotherapy efficacy of T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengliang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaojia Liu
- Beijing Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Gefei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Wenjian Min
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Kai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jiaxing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Haojie Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Liping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chenguang Lou
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Yanze Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xinmiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hongbin Deng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Yibei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Peng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China,Corresponding authors.
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41
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Burley SK, Bhikadiya C, Bi C, Bittrich S, Chao H, Chen L, Craig PA, Crichlow GV, Dalenberg K, Duarte JM, Dutta S, Fayazi M, Feng Z, Flatt JW, Ganesan SJ, Ghosh S, Goodsell DS, Green RK, Guranovic V, Henry J, Hudson BP, Khokhriakov I, Lawson CL, Liang Y, Lowe R, Peisach E, Persikova I, Piehl DW, Rose Y, Sali A, Segura J, Sekharan M, Shao C, Vallat B, Voigt M, Webb B, Westbrook JD, Whetstone S, Young JY, Zalevsky A, Zardecki C. RCSB Protein Data bank: Tools for visualizing and understanding biological macromolecules in 3D. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4482. [PMID: 36281733 PMCID: PMC9667899 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Now in its 52nd year of continuous operations, the Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the premiere open-access global archive housing three-dimensional (3D) biomolecular structure data. It is jointly managed by the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) partnership. The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB) is funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and US Department of Energy and serves as the US data center for the wwPDB. RCSB PDB is also responsible for the security of PDB data in its role as wwPDB-designated Archive Keeper. Every year, RCSB PDB serves tens of thousands of depositors of 3D macromolecular structure data (coming from macromolecular crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and micro-electron diffraction). The RCSB PDB research-focused web portal (RCSB.org) makes PDB data available at no charge and without usage restrictions to many millions of PDB data consumers around the world. The RCSB PDB training, outreach, and education web portal (PDB101.RCSB.org) serves nearly 700 K educators, students, and members of the public worldwide. This invited Tools Issue contribution describes how RCSB PDB (i) is organized; (ii) works with wwPDB partners to process new depositions; (iii) serves as the wwPDB-designated Archive Keeper; (iv) enables exploration and 3D visualization of PDB data via RCSB.org; and (v) supports training, outreach, and education via PDB101.RCSB.org. New tools and features at RCSB.org are presented using examples drawn from high-resolution structural studies of proteins relevant to treatment of human cancers by targeting immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen K. Burley
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Charmi Bhikadiya
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Chunxiao Bi
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sebastian Bittrich
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Henry Chao
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Li Chen
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Paul A. Craig
- School of Chemistry and Materials ScienceRochester Institute of TechnologyRochesterNew YorkUSA
| | - Gregg V. Crichlow
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Kenneth Dalenberg
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Jose M. Duarte
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Shuchismita Dutta
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Maryam Fayazi
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Zukang Feng
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Justin W. Flatt
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Sai J. Ganesan
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic SciencesQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sutapa Ghosh
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - David S. Goodsell
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational BiologyThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rachel Kramer Green
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Vladimir Guranovic
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Jeremy Henry
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brian P. Hudson
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Igor Khokhriakov
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Catherine L. Lawson
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Yuhe Liang
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Robert Lowe
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Ezra Peisach
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Irina Persikova
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Dennis W. Piehl
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Yana Rose
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Andrej Sali
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic SciencesQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joan Segura
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data BankSan Diego Supercomputer Center, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Monica Sekharan
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Chenghua Shao
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Brinda Vallat
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Maria Voigt
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Benjamin Webb
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic SciencesQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - John D. Westbrook
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Shamara Whetstone
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Jasmine Y. Young
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Arthur Zalevsky
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic SciencesQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryQuantitative Biosciences Institute, University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Christine Zardecki
- Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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42
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Liu C, Yang M, Zhang D, Chen M, Zhu D. Clinical cancer immunotherapy: Current progress and prospects. Front Immunol 2022; 13:961805. [PMID: 36304470 PMCID: PMC9592930 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.961805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy via PD-1 antibodies has shown exciting clinical value and robust therapeutic potential in clinical practice. It can significantly improve progression-free survival and overall survival. Following surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, cancer treatment has now entered the age of immunotherapy. Although cancer immunotherapy has shown remarkable efficacy, it also suffers from limitations such as irAEs, cytokine storm, low response rate, etc. In this review, we discuss the basic classification, research progress, and limitations of cancer immunotherapy. Besides, by combining cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanism with analysis of combination therapy, we give our insights into the development of new anticancer immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Liu
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxuan Yang
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daizhou Zhang
- New Drug Evaluation Center, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Taixing Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Taizhou, China
| | - Di Zhu
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- New Drug Evaluation Center, Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science, Jinan, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of ImmunoTherapeutics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Di Zhu,
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43
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Kitel R, Rodríguez I, del Corte X, Atmaj J, Żarnik M, Surmiak E, Muszak D, Magiera-Mularz K, Popowicz GM, Holak TA, Musielak B. Exploring the Surface of the Ectodomain of the PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint with Small-Molecule Fragments. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2655-2663. [PMID: 36073782 PMCID: PMC9486809 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Development of small molecules targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 interface is advancing both in industry and academia, but only a few have reached early-stage clinical trials. Here, we take a closer look at the general druggability of PD-L1 using in silico hot spot mapping and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based characterization. We found that the conformational elasticity of the PD-L1 surface strongly influences the formation of hot spots. We deconstructed several generations of known inhibitors into fragments and examined their binding properties using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) and protein-based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These biophysical analyses showed that not all fragments bind to the PD-L1 ectodomain despite having the biphenyl scaffold. Although most of the binding fragments induced PD-L1 oligomerization, two compounds, TAH35 and TAH36, retain the monomeric state of proteins upon binding. Additionally, the presence of the entire ectodomain did not affect the binding of the hit compounds and dimerization of PD-L1. The data demonstrated here provide important information on the PD-L1 druggability and the structure-activity relationship of the biphenyl core moiety and therefore may aid in the design of novel inhibitors and focused fragment libraries for PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radoslaw Kitel
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ismael Rodríguez
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Xabier del Corte
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica I, Centro de Investigación
y Estudios Avanzados “Lucio Lascaray” − Facultad
de Farmacia, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU Paseo de la Universidad
7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Jack Atmaj
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Żarnik
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewa Surmiak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Damian Muszak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Magiera-Mularz
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Grzegorz M. Popowicz
- Institute
of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum
München, Ingolstädter
Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tad A. Holak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Bogdan Musielak
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland,
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44
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Offringa R, Kötzner L, Huck B, Urbahns K. The expanding role for small molecules in immuno-oncology. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:821-840. [PMID: 35982333 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00538-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The advent of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) using antibodies against PD1 and its ligand PDL1 has prompted substantial efforts to develop complementary drugs. Although many of these are antibodies directed against additional checkpoint proteins, there is an increasing interest in small-molecule immuno-oncology drugs that address intracellular pathways, some of which have recently entered clinical trials. In parallel, small molecules that target pro-tumorigenic pathways in cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment have been found to have immunostimulatory effects that synergize with the action of ICI antibodies, leading to the approval of an increasing number of regimens that combine such drugs. Combinations with small molecules targeting cancer metabolism, cytokine/chemokine and innate immune pathways, and T cell checkpoints are now under investigation. This Review discusses the recent milestones and hurdles encountered in this area of drug development, as well as our views on the best path forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rienk Offringa
- Department of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. .,DKFZ-Bayer Immunotherapeutics Laboratory, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Department of Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Lisa Kötzner
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Healthcare R&D, Discovery and Development Technologies, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bayard Huck
- EMD Serono, Healthcare R&D, Discovery and Development Technologies, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Klaus Urbahns
- EMD Serono, Healthcare R&D, Discovery and Development Technologies, Billerica, MA, USA.
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45
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Jutel M, Torres MJ, Palomares O, Akdis CA, Eiwegger T, Untersmayr E, Barber D, Zemelka-Wiacek M, Kosowska A, Palmer E, Vieths S, Mahler V, Canonica WG, Nadeau K, Shamji MH, Agache I. COVID-19 vaccination in patients receiving allergen immunotherapy (AIT) or biologicals-EAACI recommendations. Allergy 2022; 77:2313-2336. [PMID: 35147230 PMCID: PMC9111382 DOI: 10.1111/all.15252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immune modulation is a key therapeutic approach for allergic diseases, asthma and autoimmunity. It can be achieved in an antigen-specific manner via allergen immunotherapy (AIT) or in an endotype-driven approach using biologicals that target the major pathways of the type 2 (T2) immune response: immunoglobulin (Ig)E, interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-4/IL-13 or non-type 2 response: anti-cytokine antibodies and B-cell depletion via anti-CD20. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination provides an excellent opportunity to tackle the global pandemics and is currently being applied in an accelerated rhythm worldwide. The vaccine exerts its effects through immune modulation, induces and amplifies the response against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Thus, as there may be a discernible interference between these treatment modalities, recommendations on how they should be applied in sequence are expected. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) assembled an expert panel under its Research and Outreach Committee (ROC). This expert panel evaluated the evidence and have formulated recommendations on the administration of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with allergic diseases and asthma receiving AIT or biologicals. The panel also formulated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine in association with biologicals targeting the type 1 or type 3 immune response. In formulating recommendations, the panel evaluated the mechanisms of COVID-19 infection, of COVID-19 vaccine, of AIT and of biologicals and considered the data published for other anti-infectious vaccines administered concurrently with AIT or biologicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Jutel
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- ALL-MED Medical Research Institute, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Maria J Torres
- Allergy Unit, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, IBIMA-UMA-ARADyAL-BIONAND, Malaga, Spain
| | - Oscar Palomares
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cezmi A Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Eiwegger
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, The Department of 13 Pediatrics, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Medicine Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Untersmayr
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Domingo Barber
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Instituto de Medicina Molecular Aplicada (IMMA), Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Anna Kosowska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- ALL-MED Medical Research Institute, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Elizabeth Palmer
- Immunomodulation and Tolerance Group, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Inflammation, Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, London, UK
| | - Stefan Vieths
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Langen, Germany
| | | | - Walter G Canonica
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Personalized Medicine Asthma, & Allergy Center-IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Mohamed H Shamji
- Immunomodulation and Tolerance Group, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Inflammation, Repair and Development, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, London, UK
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46
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Chow S, Unciti-Broceta A. Targeted Molecular Construct for Bioorthogonal Theranostics of PD-L1-Expressing Cancer Cells. JACS AU 2022; 2:1747-1756. [PMID: 35911461 PMCID: PMC9326819 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Molecular targeting of tumor-overexpressed oncoproteins can improve the selectivity and tolerability of anticancer therapies. The immunoinhibitory membrane protein programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is highly expressed on certain tumor types, which masks malignant cells from T cell recognition and creates an optimal environment for the cancer to thrive and spread. We report here a ligand-tetrazine conjugate (LTzC) armed with a PD-L1 small molecule inhibitor to selectively target PD-L1-expressing cancer cells and inhibit PD-L1 function and conjugated to a tetrazine module and a lipoyl group to incorporate bioorthogonal reactivities and an oxidative stress enhancer into the construct. By pairing LTzC with an imaging probe, we have established a "track-&-tag" system for selective labeling of PD-L1 both on and in living cells using click chemistry. We have further shown the specificity and versatility of LTzC by click-to-release activation of prodrugs and selective killing of PD-L1-expressing breast cancer cells, offering a new multimodal approach to "track-&-treat" malignant cells that are capable of evading the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiao
Y. Chow
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre,
Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University
of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, U.K.
| | - Asier Unciti-Broceta
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre,
Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University
of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, U.K.
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47
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Yang J, Basu S, Hu L. Design, synthesis, and structure–activity relationships of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as inhibitors of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint pathway. Med Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-022-02926-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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48
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Microscale Thermophoresis as a Tool to Study Protein Interactions and Their Implication in Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147672. [PMID: 35887019 PMCID: PMC9315744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The review highlights how protein–protein interactions (PPIs) have determining roles in most life processes and how interactions between protein partners are involved in various human diseases. The study of PPIs and binding interactions as well as their understanding, quantification and pharmacological regulation are crucial for therapeutic purposes. Diverse computational and analytical methods, combined with high-throughput screening (HTS), have been extensively used to characterize multiple types of PPIs, but these procedures are generally laborious, long and expensive. Rapid, robust and efficient alternative methods are proposed, including the use of Microscale Thermophoresis (MST), which has emerged as the technology of choice in drug discovery programs in recent years. This review summarizes selected case studies pertaining to the use of MST to detect therapeutically pertinent proteins and highlights the biological importance of binding interactions, implicated in various human diseases. The benefits and limitations of MST to study PPIs and to identify regulators are discussed.
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49
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Fung S, Choi HSJ, Gehring A, Janssen HLA. Getting to HBV cure: The promising paths forward. Hepatology 2022; 76:233-250. [PMID: 34990029 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic HBV infection is a global public health burden estimated to impact nearly 300 million persons worldwide. Despite the advent of potent antiviral agents that effectively suppress viral replication, HBV cure remains difficult to achieve because of the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), HBV-DNA integration into the host genome, and impaired immune response. Indefinite treatment is necessary for most patients to maintain level of viral suppression. The success of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C treatment has rejuvenated the search for a cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), though an HBV cure likely requires an additional layer: immunomodulators for restoration of robust immune responses. DAAs such as entry inhibitors, capsid assembly modulators, inhibitors of subviral particle release, cccDNA silencers, and RNA interference molecules have reached clinical development. Immunomodulators, namely innate immunomodulators (Toll-like receptor agonists), therapeutic vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies, are also progressing toward clinical development. The future of the HBV cure possibly lies in triple combination therapies with concerted action on replication inhibition, antigen reduction, and immune stimulation. Many obstacles remain, such as overcoming translational failures, choosing the right endpoint using the right biomarkers, and leveraging current treatments in combination regimens to enhance response rates. This review gives an overview of the current therapies for CHB, HBV biomarkers used to evaluate treatment response, and development of DAAs and immune-targeting drugs and discusses the limitations and unanswered questions on the journey to an HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Fung
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hannah S J Choi
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Gehring
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Harry L A Janssen
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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50
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Ahmed M, Ganesan A, Barakat K. Leveraging structural and 2D-QSAR to investigate the role of functional group substitutions, conserved surface residues and desolvation in triggering the small molecule-induced dimerization of hPD-L1. BMC Chem 2022; 16:49. [PMID: 35761353 PMCID: PMC9238240 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-022-00842-w] [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: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Small molecules are rising as a new generation of immune checkpoints’ inhibitors, with compounds targeting the human Programmed death-ligand 1 (hPD-L1) protein are pioneering this area of research. Promising examples include the recently disclosed compounds from Bristol-Myers-Squibb (BMS). These molecules bind specifically to hPD-L1 through a unique mode of action. They induce dimerization between two hPD-L1 monomers through the hPD-1 binding interface in each monomer, thereby inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. While the recently reported crystal structures of such small molecules bound to hPD-L1 reveal valuable insights regarding their molecular interactions, there is still limited information about the dynamics driving this unusual complex formation. The current study provides an in-depth computational structural analysis to study the interactions of five small molecule compounds in complex with hPD-L1. By employing a combination of molecular dynamic simulations, binding energy calculations and computational solvent mapping techniques, our analyses quantified the dynamic roles of different hydrophilic and lipophilic residues at the surface of hPD-L1 in mediating these interactions. Furthermore, ligand-based analyses, including Free-Wilson 2D-QSAR was conducted to quantify the impact of R-group substitutions at different sites of the phenoxy-methyl biphenyl core. Our results emphasize the importance of a terminal phenyl ring that must be present in any hPD-L1 small molecule inhibitor. This phenyl moiety overlaps with a very unfavorable hydration site, which can explain the ability of such small molecules to trigger hPD-L1 dimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marawan Ahmed
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Aravindhan Ganesan
- ArGan's Lab, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON, Canada
| | - Khaled Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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