A MetAP2 inhibitor blocks adipogenesis, yet improves glucose uptake in cells

Pathological angiogenesis: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

In multicellular organisms, angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an essential process for growth and development. Different mechanisms such as vasculogenesis, sprouting, intussusceptive, and coalescent angiogenesis, as well as vessel co-option, vasculogenic mimicry and lymphangiogenesis, underlie the formation of new vasculature. In many pathological conditions, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, arthritis, psoriasis, endometriosis, obesity and SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19), developmental angiogenic processes are recapitulated, but are often done so without the normal feedback mechanisms that regulate the ordinary spatial and temporal patterns of blood vessel formation. Thus, pathological angiogenesis presents new challenges yet new opportunities for the design of vascular-directed therapies. Here, we provide an overview of recent insights into blood vessel development and highlight novel therapeutic strategies that promote or inhibit the process of angiogenesis to stabilize, reverse, or even halt disease progression. In our review, we will also explore several additional aspects (the angiogenic switch, hypoxia, angiocrine signals, endothelial plasticity, vessel normalization, and endothelial cell anergy) that operate in parallel to canonical angiogenesis mechanisms and speculate how these processes may also be targeted with anti-angiogenic or vascular-directed therapies.

Angiogenesis in adipose tissue and obesity

While most tissues exhibit their greatest growth during development, adipose tissue is capable of additional massive expansion in adults. Adipose tissue expandability is advantageous when temporarily storing fuel for use during fasting, but becomes pathological upon continuous food intake, leading to obesity and its many comorbidities. The dense vasculature of adipose tissue provides necessary oxygen and nutrients, and supports delivery of fuel to and from adipocytes under fed or fasting conditions. Moreover, the vasculature of adipose tissue comprises a major niche for multipotent progenitor cells, which give rise to new adipocytes and are necessary for tissue repair. Given the multiple, pivotal roles of the adipose tissue vasculature, impairments in angiogenic capacity may underlie obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes and cardiometabolic disease. Exciting new studies on the single-cell and single-nuclei composition of adipose tissues in mouse and humans are providing new insights into mechanisms of adipose tissue angiogenesis. Moreover, new modes of intercellular communication involving micro vesicle and exosome transfer of proteins, nucleic acids and organelles are also being recognized to play key roles. This review focuses on new insights on the cellular and signaling mechanisms underlying adipose tissue angiogenesis, and on their impact on obesity and its pathophysiological consequences.

Trends in Antidiabetic Drug Discovery: FDA Approved Drugs, New Drugs in Clinical Trials and Global Sales

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to be a substantial medical problem due to its increasing global prevalence and because chronic hyperglycemic states are closely linked with obesity, liver disease and several cardiovascular diseases. Since the early discovery of insulin, numerous antihyperglycemic drug therapies to treat diabetes have been approved, and also discontinued, by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To provide an up-to-date account of the current trends of antidiabetic pharmaceuticals, this review offers a comprehensive analysis of the main classes of antihyperglycemic compounds and their mechanisms: insulin types, biguanides, sulfonylureas, meglitinides (glinides), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs), thiazolidinediones (TZD), incretin-dependent therapies, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and combinations thereof. The number of therapeutic alternatives to treat T2DM are increasing and now there are nearly 60 drugs approved by the FDA. Beyond this there are nearly 100 additional antidiabetic agents being evaluated in clinical trials. In addition to the standard treatments of insulin therapy and metformin, there are new drug combinations, e.g., containing metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors, that have gained substantial use during the last decade. Furthermore, there are several interesting alternatives, such as lobeglitazone, efpeglenatide and tirzepatide, in ongoing clinical trials. Modern drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, DPP4 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors have gained popularity on the pharmaceutical market, while less expensive over the counter alternatives are increasing in developing economies. The large heterogeneity of T2DM is also creating a push towards more personalized and accessible treatments. We describe several interesting alternatives in ongoing clinical trials, which may help to achieve this in the near future.

A novel procedure for the synthesis of borylated quinolines and its application in the development of potential boron-based homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) inhibitors

Herein, we demonstrate a Pd catalyzed C-4 borylation of structurally complex chloroquinolines with bis(pinacolato)diboron under relatively simple and efficient conditions. Moreover, the borylated quinolines were converted into oxaborole, trifluoroborate salt and boronic acid and also rendered in the Suzuki reaction successfully. The method was also applied for the synthesis of potential boron-based homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) inhibitors. The strategy opens up new avenues for the functionalization of quinolines as potential probes and pharmacological agents for future biomedical research.

This report reveals a Pd catalyzed C-4 borylation of structurally complex chloroquinolines with B₂(pin)₂ without the use of any external ligand for the synthesis of potential boron-based homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 inhibitors.

Potential inhibitors of methionine aminopeptidase type II identified via structure-based pharmacophore modeling

Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP2) is a metal-containing enzyme that removes initiator methionine from the N-terminus of a newly synthesized protein. Inhibition of the enzyme is crucial in diminishing cancer growth and metastasis. Fumagillin-a natural irreversible inhibitor of MetAP2-and its derivatives are used as potent MetAP2 inhibitors. However, because of their adverse effects, none of them has progressed to clinical studies. In search for potential reversible inhibitors, we built structure-based pharmacophore models using the crystal structure of MetAP2 complexed with fumagillin (PDB ID: 1BOA). The pharmacophore models were validated using Gunner-Henry scoring method. The best pharmacophore consisting of 1 H-bond donor, 1 H-bond acceptor, and 3 hydrophobic features was used to conduct pharmacophore-based virtual screening of ZINC15 database against MetAP2. The top 10 compounds with pharmacophore fit values > 3.00 were selected for further analysis. These compounds were subjected to absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction and found to have druglike properties. Furthermore, molecular docking calculations was performed on these hits using AutoDock4 to predict their binding mode and binding energy. Three diverse compounds: ZINC000014903160, ZINC000040174591, and ZINC000409110720 with respective binding energy/docking scores of - 9.22, - 9.21, and -817 kcal/mol, were submitted to 100 ns (MD) simulations using Nanoscale MD (NAMD) software. The compounds showed stable binding mode over time. Therefore, they may serve as a scaffold for further computational and experimental optimization toward the design of more potent and safer MetAP2 inhibitors.

The methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitor ZGN-1061 improves glucose control and weight in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

The methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) inhibitor ZGN-1061 lowered weight and improved glucose in preclinical studies. We sought to determine its efficacy and safety by performing a multicentre, phase 2, randomized controlled trial involving overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c between 7% and 11% inclusive. Participants were randomized to receive subcutaneous treatment with placebo or 0.05, 0.3, 0.9 or 1.8 mg ZGN-1061 every third day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c at week 12. Relative to placebo, the 0.9 and 1.8 mg doses induced clinically meaningful reductions in HbA1c of 0.6% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.9%; P = 0.0006) and 1.0% (95% CI 0.6% to 1.4%; P < 0.0001), respectively. The 1.8 mg dose also induced weight loss of 2.2% (95% CI 1.1% to 3.3%; P = 0.0002). The incidence of adverse events was balanced across the treatment groups. We conclude that MetAP2 inhibition with ZGN-1061 for 12 weeks improved glucose control and aided weight loss in overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes. However, given safety issues, Zafgen has discontinued MetAP2 inhibitor development.

Lactoferrin-Loaded PEG/PLA Block Copolymer Targeted With Anti-Transferrin Receptor Antibodies for Alzheimer Disease

Last few years, struggles have been reported to develop the nanovesicles for drug delivery via the brain-blood barrier (BBB). Novel drugs, for instance, iAβ5, are efficient to inhibit the aggregates connected to the treatment of Alzheimer disease and are being evaluated, but most of the reports reflect some drawbacks of the drugs to reach the brain in preferred concentrations owing to the less BBB penetrability of the surface dimensions. In this report, we designed and developed a new approach to enhance the transport of drug via BBB, constructed with lactoferrin (Lf)-coated polyethylene glycol-polylactide nanoparticles (Lf-PPN) with superficial monoclonal antibody-functionalized antitransferrin receptor and anti-Aβ to deliver the iAβ5 hooked on the brain. The porcine brain capillary endothelial cells were utilized as BBB typically to examine the framework efficacy and toxicity. The cellular uptake of the immuno-nanoparticles with measured conveyance of the iAβ5 peptide was significantly enhanced and associated with Lf-PPN without monoclonal antibody functionalizations.

MetAP2 inhibition reduces food intake and body weight in a ciliopathy mouse model of obesity

The ciliopathies Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Alström syndrome are genetically inherited pleiotropic disorders with hyperphagia and obesity as primary clinical features. Methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitors (MetAP2i) have been shown in preclinical and clinical studies to reduce food intake, body weight, and adiposity. Here, we investigated the effects of MetAP2i administration in a mouse model of ciliopathy produced by conditional deletion of the Thm1 gene in adulthood. Thm1 conditional knockout (cko) mice showed decreased hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin expression as well as hyperphagia, obesity, metabolic disease, and hepatic steatosis. In obese Thm1-cko mice, 2-week administration of MetAP2i reduced daily food intake and reduced body weight 17.1% from baseline (vs. 5% reduction for vehicle). This was accompanied by decreased levels of blood glucose, insulin, and leptin. Further, MetAP2i reduced gonadal adipose depots and adipocyte size and improved liver morphology. This is the first report to our knowledge of MetAP2i reducing hyperphagia and body weight and ameliorating metabolic indices in a mouse model of ciliopathy. These results support further investigation of MetAP2 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for ciliary-mediated forms of obesity.