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In Vitro Safety, Off-Target and Bioavailability Profile of the Antiviral Compound Silvestrol. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15091086. [PMID: 36145307 PMCID: PMC9502993 DOI: 10.3390/ph15091086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We characterized the in vitro safety and bioavailability profile of silvestrol, a compound effective against various viruses, such as corona- and Ebolaviruses, with an EC50 value of about 5 nM. The cytotoxic profile of silvestrol was assessed in various cancer cell lines, as well as the mutagenic and genotoxic potential with Ames and micronuclei tests, respectively. To identify off-target effects, we investigated whether silvestrol modulates G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways. To predict the bioavailability of silvestrol, its stability, permeability and cellular uptake were determined. Silvestrol reduced viability in a cell-type-dependent manner, mediated no off-target effects via GPCRs, had no mutagenic potential and minor genotoxic effects at 50 nM. Silvestrol did not disturb cell barrier integrity, showed low membrane permeability, was stable in liver microsomes and exhibited good cellular uptake. Efficient cellular uptake and increased cytotoxicity were observed in cell lines with a low expression level of the transport protein P-glycoprotein, the known efflux transporter of silvestrol. In conclusion, silvestrol showed low permeability but good cellular uptake and high stability. Cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity seems to be caused by the accumulation of silvestrol in cells lacking the ability to expel silvestrol due to low P-glycoprotein levels.
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Blum L, Ulshöfer T, Henke M, Krieg R, Berneburg I, Geisslinger G, Becker K, Parnham MJ, Schiffmann S. The immunomodulatory potential of the arylmethylaminosteroid sc1o. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 99:261-272. [PMID: 33330947 PMCID: PMC7819914 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-02024-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Developing resistance mechanisms of pathogens against established and frequently used drugs are a growing global health problem. Besides the development of novel drug candidates per se, new approaches to counteract resistance mechanisms are needed. Drug candidates that not only target the pathogens directly but also modify the host immune system might boost anti-parasitic defence and facilitate clearance of pathogens. In this study, we investigated whether the novel anti-parasitic steroid compound 1o (sc1o), effective against the parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni, might exhibit immunomodulatory properties. Our results reveal that 50 μM sc1o amplified the inflammatory potential of M1 macrophages and shifted M2 macrophages in a pro-inflammatory direction. Since M1 macrophages used predominantly glycolysis as an energy source, it is noteworthy that sc1o increased glycolysis and decreased oxidative phosphorylation in M2 macrophages. The effect of sc1o on the differentiation and activation of dendritic cells was ambiguous, since both pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were regulated. In conclusion, sc1o has several immunomodulatory effects that could possibly assist the immune system by counteracting the anti-inflammatory immune escape strategy of the parasite P. falciparum or by increasing pro-inflammatory mechanisms against pathogens, albeit at a higher concentration than that required for the anti-parasitic effect. KEY MESSAGES: • The anti-parasitic steroid compound 1o (sc1o) can modulate human immune cells. • Sc1o amplified the potential of M1 macrophages. • Sc1o shifts M2 macrophages to a M1 phenotype. • Dendritic cell differentiation and activation was ambiguously modulated. • Administration of sc1o could possibly assist the anti-parasitic defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Blum
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Ulshöfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marina Henke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Reimar Krieg
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Teichgraben 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Isabell Berneburg
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Teichgraben 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Katja Becker
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael J Parnham
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Schiffmann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Branch for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (TMP), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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