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Biala G, Kedzierska E, Kruk-Slomka M, Orzelska-Gorka J, Hmaidan S, Skrok A, Kaminski J, Havrankova E, Nadaska D, Malik I. Research in the Field of Drug Design and Development. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1283. [PMID: 37765091 PMCID: PMC10536713 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091283] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The processes used by academic and industrial scientists to discover new drugs have recently experienced a true renaissance, with many new and exciting techniques being developed over the past 5-10 years alone. Drug design and discovery, and the search for new safe and well-tolerated compounds, as well as the ineffectiveness of existing therapies, and society's insufficient knowledge concerning the prophylactics and pharmacotherapy of the most common diseases today, comprise a serious challenge. This can influence not only the quality of human life, but also the health of whole societies, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the process of drug development consists of three main stages: drug discovery, preclinical development using cell-based and animal models/tests, clinical trials on humans and, finally, forward moving toward the step of obtaining regulatory approval, in order to market the potential drug. In this review, we will attempt to outline the first three most important consecutive phases in drug design and development, based on the experience of three cooperating and complementary academic centers of the Visegrád group; i.e., Medical University of Lublin, Poland, Masaryk University of Brno, Czech Republic, and Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazyna Biala
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Ewa Kedzierska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Marta Kruk-Slomka
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Jolanta Orzelska-Gorka
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Sara Hmaidan
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Aleksandra Skrok
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Jakub Kaminski
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology with Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (E.K.); (M.K.-S.); (J.O.-G.)
| | - Eva Havrankova
- Department of Chemical Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University of Brno, 601 77 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Dominika Nadaska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia (I.M.)
| | - Ivan Malik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, 832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia (I.M.)
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Colini Baldeschi A, Zattoni M, Vanni S, Nikolic L, Ferracin C, La Sala G, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Bertozzi SM, Giachin G, Carloni P, Bolognesi ML, De Vivo M, Legname G. Innovative Non-PrP-Targeted Drug Strategy Designed to Enhance Prion Clearance. J Med Chem 2022; 65:8998-9010. [PMID: 35771181 PMCID: PMC9289883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00205] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded prion protein (called PrPSc). Although conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to PrPSc is still not completely understood, most of the therapies developed until now are based on blocking this process. Here, we propose a new drug strategy aimed at clearing prions without any direct interaction with neither PrPC nor PrPSc. Starting from the recent discovery of SERPINA3/SerpinA3n upregulation during prion diseases, we have identified a small molecule, named compound 5 (ARN1468), inhibiting the function of these serpins and effectively reducing prion load in chronically infected cells. Although the low bioavailability of this compound does not allow in vivo studies in prion-infected mice, our strategy emerges as a novel and effective approach to the treatment of prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lea Nikolic
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Ferracin
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Sala
- Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Summa
- Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosalia Bertorelli
- Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University of Padua, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS)-5/Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM)-9, "Computational Medicine", Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM)-11, "Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging", Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Department of Physics, RWTH-Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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Carnosic Acid and Carnosol Display Antioxidant and Anti-Prion Properties in In Vitro and Cell-Free Models of Prion Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040726. [PMID: 35453411 PMCID: PMC9027925 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible encephalopathies associated with the conversion of the physiological form of the prion protein (PrPC) to the disease-associated (PrPSc). Despite intense research, no therapeutic or prophylactic agent is available. The catechol-type diterpene Carnosic acid (CA) and its metabolite Carnosol (CS) from Rosmarinus officinalis have well-documented anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects. Since oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases, we investigated the potential beneficial role of CA and CS in a cellular model of prion diseases (N2a22L cells) and in a cell-free prion amplification assay (RT-QuIC). The antioxidant effects of the compounds were confirmed when N2a22L were incubated with CA or CS. Furthermore, CA and CS reduced the accumulation of the disease-associated form of PrP, detected by Western Blotting, in N2a22L cells. This effect was validated in RT-QuIC assays, indicating that it is not associated with the antioxidant effects of CA and CS. Importantly, cell-free assays revealed that these natural products not only prevent the formation of PrP aggregates but can also disrupt already formed aggregates. Our results indicate that CA and CS have pleiotropic effects against prion diseases and could evolve into useful prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents against prion and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Uliassi E, Nikolic L, Bolognesi ML, Legname G. Therapeutic strategies for identifying small molecules against prion diseases. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 392:337-347. [PMID: 34989851 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders, for which there are no effective therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The main pathological hallmark has been identified as conformational changes of the cellular isoform prion protein (PrPC) to a misfolded isoform of the prion protein (PrPSc). Targeting PrPC and its conversion to PrPSc is still the central dogma in prion drug discovery, particularly in in silico and in vitro screening endeavors, leading to the identification of many small molecules with therapeutic potential. Nonetheless, multiple pathological targets are critically involved in the intricate pathogenesis of prion diseases. In this context, multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) emerge as valuable therapeutic approach for their potential to effectively counteract the complex etiopathogenesis by simultaneously modulating multiple targets. In addition, diagnosis occurs late in the disease process, and consequently a successful therapeutic intervention cannot be provided. In this respect, small molecule theranostics, which combine imaging and therapeutic properties, showed tremendous potential to cure and diagnose in vivo prion diseases. Herein, we review the major advances in prion drug discovery, from anti-prion small molecules identified by means of in silico and in vitro screening approaches to two rational strategies, namely MTDLs and theranostics, that have led to the identification of novel compounds with an expanded anti-prion profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Uliassi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lea Nikolic
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
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Bartz JC. Environmental and host factors that contribute to prion strain evolution. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:5-16. [PMID: 33899132 PMCID: PMC8932343 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02310-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Prions are novel pathogens that are composed entirely of PrPSc, the self-templating conformation of the host prion protein, PrPC. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease that are encoded by strain-specific conformations of PrPSc. The factors that influence the relative distribution of strains in a population are only beginning to be understood. For prions with an infectious etiology, environmental factors, such as strain-specific binding to surfaces and resistance to weathering, can influence which strains are available for transmission to a naïve host. Strain-specific differences in efficiency of infection by natural routes of infection can also select for prion strains. The host amino acid sequence of PrPC has the greatest effect on dictating the repertoire of prion strains. The relative abundance of PrPC, post-translational modifications of PrPC and cellular co-factors involved in prion conversion can also provide conditions that favor the prevalence of a subset of prion strains. Additionally, prion strains can interfere with each other, influencing the emergence of a dominant strain. Overall, both environmental and host factors may influence the repertoire and distribution of strains within a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
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Pineau H, Sim VL. From Cell Culture to Organoids-Model Systems for Investigating Prion Strain Characteristics. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010106. [PMID: 33466947 PMCID: PMC7830147 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are the hallmark protein folding neurodegenerative disease. Their transmissible nature has allowed for the development of many different cellular models of disease where prion propagation and sometimes pathology can be induced. This review examines the range of simple cell cultures to more complex neurospheres, organoid, and organotypic slice cultures that have been used to study prion disease pathogenesis and to test therapeutics. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each system, giving special consideration to the importance of strains when choosing a model and when interpreting results, as not all systems propagate all strains, and in some cases, the technique used, or treatment applied, can alter the very strain properties being studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Pineau
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada;
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Valerie L. Sim
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada;
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Correspondence:
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