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Sfogliarini C, Hong LT, Candida Cesta M, Allegretti M, Locati M, Vegeto E. AEBS inhibition in macrophages: Augmenting reality for SERMs repurposing against infections. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116544. [PMID: 39293500 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116544] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Beyond their clinical use as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), raloxifene and tamoxifen have attracted recent attention for their favorable activity against a broad range of dangerous human pathogens. While consistently demonstrated to occur independently on classic estrogen receptors, the mechanisms underlying SERMs antimicrobial efficacy remain still poorly elucidated, but fundamental to benefit from repurposing strategies of these drugs. Macrophages are innate immune cells that protect from infections by rapidly reprogramming their metabolic state, particularly cholesterol disposal, which is at the center of an appropriate macrophage immune response as well as of the anabolic requirements of both the pathogen and the host cells. The microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) comprises enzymes involved in the last stages of cholesterol biosynthesis and is a high affinity off-target site for SERMs. We review here recent findings from our laboratory and other research groups in support of the hypothesis that AEBS multiprotein complex represents the candidate pre-genomic target of SERMs immunomodulatory activity. The cholesterol restriction resulting from SERMs-mediated AEBS inhibition may be responsible for boosting inflammatory and antimicrobial pathways that include inflammasome activation, modulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) responses, induction of interferon regulatory factor (IRF3) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated transcriptional programs and, noteworthy, the mitigation of excessive inflammatory and proliferative responses, leading to the overall potentiation of the macrophage response to infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sfogliarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lien Tran Hong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Locati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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Agostino VS, Buerdsell ML, Uliana SRB, Denny PW, Coelho AC, Steel PG. Clemastine/tamoxifen hybrids as easily accessible antileishmanial drug leads. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:1812-1820. [PMID: 38328995 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob02091f] [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: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
A library of hybrid molecules is developed based on the common chemical features shared by clemastine and tamoxifen both of which are well known for their antileishmanial activities. In the initial screening against Leishmania major and L. amazonensis promastigotes, as well as cytotoxicity assays using HepG2 cells, several hybrids showed submicromolar activity against the parasite and no toxicity against human cells. The compounds with an EC50 < 2 μM against promastigotes of both species and a selectivity index >10 were further characterized against intracellular amastigotes as well as promastigotes of species that cause both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, such as L. infantum and L. braziliensis, respectively. These sequential screenings revealed the high pan-activity of this class of molecules against these species, with several compounds displaying an EC50 ≤ 2 μM against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Two of them were identified as the potential templates for lead optimization of this series having shown the highest activities against all species in both stages of parasite. The present findings can serve as a good starting point in the search for novel antileishmanial compounds that are easy to access and highly active.
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Affiliation(s)
- V S Agostino
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, UK.
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - S R B Uliana
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - P W Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, UK
| | - A C Coelho
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil
| | - P G Steel
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, UK.
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de Sousa NF, de Sousa GR, de Lima NTR, de Assis EB, Aragão MC, de Moura ÉP, Gopalsamy RG, Scotti MT, Scotti L. Multitarget Compounds for Neglected Diseases: A Review. Curr Drug Targets 2024; 25:577-601. [PMID: 38967077 DOI: 10.2174/0113894501298864240627060247] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Neglected diseases are a group of infectious diseases, many of them parasitic, that mainly affect the poorest populations with limited access to health services, especially those living in remote rural areas and slums. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), neglected diseases put the lives of more than 200 million people at risk, and treatment is made difficult by the occurrence of resistance to existing medications, as well as the high level of toxicity. In this way, the potential of multitarget compounds is highlighted, defined as compounds designed to modulate multiple targets of relevance to disease, with the overall goal of enhancing efficacy and/or improving safety. Thus, the objective of our study is to evaluate existing multitarget compound approaches for neglected diseases, with an emphasis on Leishmaniasis, Chagas Disease, and Arboviruses. A literature review was performed by searching the database "Web of Sciences". In relation to the diseases covered in this work, Leishmaniasis, individually, was the one that presented the largest number of articles (11) that dealt with the topic, which can be justified by the high prevalence of this disease in the world, the second most common disease was Dengue, followed by Chagas disease, Chikungunya virus, and Zika virus. Furthermore, the multitarget potential of phenolic compounds was observed in all diseases under study, with the mechanisms related to the nucleus and transcription being the most reported mechanisms. From this perspective, it is worth highlighting the effectiveness of approaches related to multitarget drugs in discovering new therapeutic agents for neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Ferreira de Sousa
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Ribeiro de Sousa
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Natanael Teles Ramos de Lima
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Edileuza Bezerra de Assis
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Mariana Costa Aragão
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Érika Paiva de Moura
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Natural and Bioactive Synthetic Products, Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Rajiv Gandhi Gopalsamy
- Division of Phytochemistry and Drug Design, Department of Biosciences, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kalamassery, Kochi, India
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
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Pennini SN, de Oliveira Guerra JA, Rebello PFB, Abtibol-Bernardino MR, de Castro LL, da Silva Balieiro AA, de Oliveira Ferreira C, Noronha AB, Dos Santos da Silva CG, Leturiondo AL, Vital de Jesus D, de Araújo Santos FJ, Chrusciak-Talhari A, Guerra MDGVB, Talhari S. Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with a sequential scheme of pentamidine and tamoxifen in an area with a predominance of Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis: A randomised, non-inferiority clinical trial. Trop Med Int Health 2023; 28:871-880. [PMID: 37936525 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13943] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether a combination of a single intramuscular (IM) dose of pentamidine (7 mg/kg) followed by oral tamoxifen 40 mg/day for 20 days is non-inferior to three IM doses of pentamidine 7 mg/kg in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with a margin of 15%. METHODS Phase II, randomised, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial. Primary outcome was the complete healing of the lesions 6 months after starting treatment. Secondary outcomes were healing 3 months after starting treatment and determining the presence and severity of adverse effects (AE). RESULTS The research was concluded with 49 patients; Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis was the most frequent species isolated. In the primary outcome, 18 (72%) (95% CI: 52.4%-85.7%) of the 25 patients allocated to the intervention group and 24 (100%) (95% CI: 86.2%-100%) of the control group (p = 0.015) met the established criteria of cure. There was no AE with tamoxifen. CONCLUSION Although a 72% cure rate presented by the combination of tamoxifen and pentamidine was lower than in the control group that achieved a 100% cure, it is still a safe and is a clinically relevant result. It indicates that the therapeutic scheme evaluated may be a promising option for populations in remote areas, however it should be further studied, in order to include a larger number of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silmara Navarro Pennini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Jorge Augusto de Oliveira Guerra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Marília Rosa Abtibol-Bernardino
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | | | - Cynthia de Oliveira Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Ariani Batista Noronha
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ-Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - André Luiz Leturiondo
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Denison Vital de Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Anette Chrusciak-Talhari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Maria Das Graças Vale Barbosa Guerra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Sinésio Talhari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas / Fundação de Medicina Topical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação Hospitalar de Dermatologia Tropical e Venereologia Alfredo da Matta, Manaus, Brazil
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Sfogliarini C, Pepe G, Cesta CM, Allegretti M, Locati M, Vegeto E. The immune activity of selective estrogen receptor modulators is gene and macrophage subtype-specific yet converges on Il1b downregulation. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115008. [PMID: 37442065 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Raloxifene belongs to the family of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), which are drugs widely prescribed for Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα)-related pathologies. Recently, SERMs are being tested in repurposing strategies for ERα-independent clinical indications, including a wide range of microbial infections. Macrophages are central in the fight against pathogen invasion. Despite estrogens have been shown to regulate macrophage phenotype, SERMs activity in these cells is still poorly defined. We investigated the activity of Raloxifene in comparison with another widely used SERM, Tamoxifen, on immune gene expression in macrophages obtained from mouse and human tissues, including mouse peritoneal macrophages, bone marrow-derived macrophages, microglia or human blood-derived macrophages, assaying for the involvement of the ERα, PI3K and NRF2 pathways also under inflammatory conditions. Our data demonstrate that Raloxifene acts by a dual mechanism, which entails ERα antagonism and off-target mediators. Moreover, micromolar concentrations of Raloxifene increase the expression of immune metabolic genes, such as Vegfa and Hmox1, through PI3K and NRF2 activation selectively in peritoneal macrophages. Conversely, Il1b mRNA down-regulation by SERMs is consistently observed in all macrophage subtypes and unrelated to the PI3K/NRF2 system. Importantly, the production of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα induced by the bacterial endotoxin, LPS, is potentiated by SERMs and paralleled by the cell subtype-specific increase in IL1β secretion. This work extends our knowledge on the biological and molecular mechanisms of SERMs immune activity and indicate macrophages as a pharmacological target for the exploitation of the antimicrobial potential of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sfogliarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Massimo Locati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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de Oliveira ADSS, Conrado GG, Grazzia N, Miguel DC, Franchi Júnior GC, Garcia VL. In Vitro Cytotoxic and Leishmanicidal Activity of Isolated and Semisynthetic ent-Pimaranes from Aldama arenaria. PLANTA MEDICA 2022; 88:1163-1174. [PMID: 34839466 DOI: 10.1055/a-1708-2081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Two pimaranes ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (1: ) and ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol (2: ), isolated from Aldama arenaria, and six semi-synthetic derivatives methyl ester of the ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (3: ), ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (4: ), acetate of ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (5: ), ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol succinic acid (6: ), acetate of ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol (7: ), ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol succinic acid (8: ) were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activities to childhood leukemia cell lines and leishmanicidal activity against the parasite Leishmania amazonensis. Among these compounds, 1: to 6: presented moderate cytotoxic activity, with compound 4: being the most active (GI50 of 2.6 µM for the HL60 line) and the derivatives 7: and 8: being inactive. Against the parasite Leishmania amazonensis, the most promising derivative was the acetate of ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-ol (5: ), with EC50 of 20.1 µM, selectivity index of 14.5, and significant reduction in the parasite load. Pimarane analogues 1: , ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid, and 2: , ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol, presented different activities, corroborating the application of such molecules as prototypes for the design of other derivatives that have greater cytotoxic or leishmanicidal potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana da Silva Santos de Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas/SP, Brazil
- Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Pluridisciplinary Research Center for Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Research (CPQBA) of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia/SP, Brazil
| | - Gabrielly Galdino Conrado
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas/SP, Brazil
- Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Pluridisciplinary Research Center for Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Research (CPQBA) of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia/SP, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Grazzia
- Department of Animal Biology - Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas/SP, Brazil
| | - Danilo Ciccone Miguel
- Department of Animal Biology - Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas/SP, Brazil
| | | | - Vera Lúcia Garcia
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas/SP, Brazil
- Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Pluridisciplinary Research Center for Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Research (CPQBA) of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia/SP, Brazil
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Sfogliarini C, Pepe G, Dolce A, Della Torre S, Cesta MC, Allegretti M, Locati M, Vegeto E. Tamoxifen Twists Again: On and Off-Targets in Macrophages and Infections. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:879020. [PMID: 35431927 PMCID: PMC9006819 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.879020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Beyond the wide use of tamoxifen in breast cancer chemotherapy due to its estrogen receptor antagonist activity, this drug is being assayed in repurposing strategies against a number of microbial infections. We conducted a literature search on the evidence related with tamoxifen activity in macrophages, since these immune cells participate as a first line-defense against pathogen invasion. Consistent data indicate the existence of estrogen receptor-independent targets of tamoxifen in macrophages that include lipid mediators and signaling pathways, such as NRF2 and caspase-1, which allow these cells to undergo phenotypic adaptation and potentiate the inflammatory response, without the induction of cell death. Thus, these lines of evidence suggest that the widespread antimicrobial activity of this drug can be ascribed, at least in part, to the potentiation of the host innate immunity. This widens our understanding of the pharmacological activity of tamoxifen with relevant therapeutic implications for infections and other clinical indications that may benefit from the immunomodulatory effects of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sfogliarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Dolce
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Della Torre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Locati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy.,Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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8
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Zewdie KA, Hailu HG, Ayza MA, Tesfaye BA. Antileishmanial Activity of Tamoxifen by Targeting Sphingolipid Metabolism: A Review. Clin Pharmacol 2022; 14:11-17. [PMID: 35221731 PMCID: PMC8880078 DOI: 10.2147/cpaa.s344268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kaleab Alemayehu Zewdie
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Kaleab Alemayehu Zewdie, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, PO Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia, Tel +251 921546562, Email
| | - Haftom Gebregergs Hailu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Muluken Altaye Ayza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Amare Tesfaye
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
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Network-Based Approaches Reveal Potential Therapeutic Targets for Host-Directed Antileishmanial Therapy Driving Drug Repurposing. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0101821. [PMID: 34668739 PMCID: PMC8528132 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01018-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites are the causal agent of leishmaniasis, an endemic disease in more than 90 countries worldwide. Over the years, traditional approaches focused on the parasite when developing treatments against leishmaniasis. Despite numerous attempts, there is not yet a universal treatment, and those available have allowed for the appearance of resistance. Here, we propose and follow a host-directed approach that aims to overcome the current lack of treatment. Our approach identifies potential therapeutic targets in the host cell and proposes known drug interactions aiming to improve the immune response and to block the host machinery necessary for the survival of the parasite. We started analyzing transcription factor regulatory networks of macrophages infected with Leishmania major. Next, based on the regulatory dynamics of the infection and available gene expression profiles, we selected potential therapeutic target proteins. The function of these proteins was then analyzed following a multilayered network scheme in which we combined information on metabolic pathways with known drugs that have a direct connection with the activity carried out by these proteins. Using our approach, we were able to identify five host protein-coding gene products that are potential therapeutic targets for treating leishmaniasis. Moreover, from the 11 drugs known to interact with the function performed by these proteins, 3 have already been tested against this parasite, verifying in this way our novel methodology. More importantly, the remaining eight drugs previously employed to treat other diseases, remain as promising yet-untested antileishmanial therapies. IMPORTANCE This work opens a new path to fight parasites by targeting host molecular functions by repurposing available and approved drugs. We created a novel approach to identify key proteins involved in any biological process by combining gene regulatory networks and expression profiles. Once proteins have been selected, our approach employs a multilayered network methodology that relates proteins to functions to drugs that alter these functions. By applying our novel approach to macrophages during the Leishmania infection process, we both validated our work and found eight drugs already approved for use in humans that to the best of our knowledge were never employed to treat leishmaniasis, rendering our work as a new tool in the box available to the scientific community fighting parasites.
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10
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Garg A, Singh A, Kumar A. Selective estrogen receptor modulators against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria: an experimental study. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:987-1001. [PMID: 34406075 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study was conducted to explore the antibacterial potential of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Materials & methods: The percentage growth retardation, bacterial growth kinetics, biofilm, checkerboard and bacterial burden assays were conducted to check antibacterial potential of SERMs. Finally, docking study was also conducted to predict possible antibacterial mechanism of SERMs. Results: In vitro and in vivo studies have shown the antibacterial activity of SERMs against different tested strains of bacteria. The synergistic activity of SERMs in combination with standard antibacterial agents was also observed and tested further under in vivo conditions. In vivo results have shown decreased bacterial bioburden. Docking studies have predicted the multimodal antibacterial mechanism of SERMs. Conclusion: SERMs can be considered as promising broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakriti Garg
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Arti Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142001, India.,Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Research, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (DIPSAR), Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research University (DPSRU), New Delhi, 110017, India
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11
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Mendes B, Proaño-Bolaños C, Gadelha FR, Almeida JR, Miguel DC. Cruzioseptins, antibacterial peptides from Cruziohyla calcarifer skin, as promising leishmanicidal agents. Pathog Dis 2021; 78:5905406. [PMID: 32926094 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Screenings of natural products have significantly contributed to the discovery of novel leishmanicidal agents. In this study, three known cruzioseptins-antibacterial peptides from Cruziohyla calcarifer skin-were synthesized and evaluated against promastigotes and amastigotes stages of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) braziliensis. EC50 ranged from 9.17 to 74.82 μM, being cruzioseptin-1 the most active and selective compound, with selectivity index > 10 for both promastigotes and amastigotes of L. (V.) braziliensis. In vitro infections incubated with cruzioseptins at 50 μM showed up to ∼86% reduction in the amastigote number. Cruzioseptins were able to destabilize the parasite's cell membrane, allowing the incorporation of a DNA-fluorescent dye. Our data also demonstrated that hydrophobicity and charge appear to be advantageous features for enhancing parasiticidal activity. Antimicrobial cruzioseptins are suitable candidates and alternative molecules that deserve further in vivo investigation focusing on the development of novel antileishmanial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mendes
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. CEP 13083-862
| | - Carolina Proaño-Bolaños
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Fernanda R Gadelha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. CEP 13083-862
| | - José R Almeida
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. CEP 13083-862
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Pomel S, Cojean S, Pons V, Cintrat JC, Nguyen L, Vacus J, Pruvost A, Barbier J, Gillet D, Loiseau PM. An adamantamine derivative as a drug candidate for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:2640-2650. [PMID: 34212184 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate compounds acting on the host cell machinery to impair parasite installation with the possible advantage of limiting drug resistance. The strategy therefore consisted of selecting compounds that are poorly active on the axenic parasite, but very active on the intramacrophage form of Leishmania. OBJECTIVES To identify a drug candidate from focused screening of adamantamine derivatives that can inhibit the development of Leishmania infantum in macrophages. METHODS In vitro screening was performed on a library of 142 adamantamine derivatives with axenic and intramacrophage forms of L. infantum, as well as cytotoxicity assays, allowing selection of the most promising compound. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) experiments, including pharmacokinetics and microsomal stability, were performed and finally the physicochemical stability of the compound was investigated to assess its suitability for further drug development. RESULTS VP343 was identified first in vitro, with a CC50 value of 63.7 μM and an IC50 value of 0.32 μM for L. infantum intramacrophage amastigotes and then in vivo, with a 59% reduction of the liver parasite burden after oral administration at 10 mg/kg/day for 5 days. In addition, the ADME data were compatible with moving this compound further through the antileishmanial drug candidate pipeline. CONCLUSIONS VP343 has the properties of a good drug candidate and merits further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Pomel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, 92290, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Sandrine Cojean
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, 92290, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Valérie Pons
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SCBM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Cintrat
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SCBM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Laetitia Nguyen
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Joël Vacus
- Drugabilis, 7, Allée de Londres, 91140, Villejust, France
| | - Alain Pruvost
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Julien Barbier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Daniel Gillet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SIMoS, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Cervantes-Candelas LA, Aguilar-Castro J, Buendía-González FO, Fernández-Rivera O, Cervantes-Sandoval A, Morales-Montor J, Legorreta-Herrera M. Tamoxifen Suppresses the Immune Response to Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Exacerbates Symptomatology. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060743. [PMID: 34204678 PMCID: PMC8231265 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease in the world. Mortality and severity in symptoms are higher in men than women, suggesting that oestrogens, which are in higher concentration in females than in males, may regulate the immune response against malaria. Tamoxifen, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator used in breast cancer treatment due to its antagonistic effect on oestrogen receptors α and β, is also studied because of its potential therapeutic use for several parasitic diseases. However, most studies, including one in malaria, have not addressed the immunomodulatory role of tamoxifen. In this work, we evaluated the effect of tamoxifen on the immune response of CBA/Ca mice against Plasmodium berghei ANKA. This study showed for the first time that tamoxifen increased parasite load, aggravated symptoms by decreasing body temperature and body weight, and worsened anaemia. Additionally, tamoxifen significantly increased the splenic index and the percentages of CD4+ and NK+ cells on day eight post-infection. By contrast, tamoxifen decreased both CD8+ and B220+ populations in the spleen and decreased the serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-17. Our findings support the notion that tamoxifen is a potent immunomodulator in malaria-infected mice and suggest caution when administering it to malaria-infected women with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (F.O.B.-G.); (O.F.-R.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (F.O.B.-G.); (O.F.-R.)
| | - Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (F.O.B.-G.); (O.F.-R.)
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (F.O.B.-G.); (O.F.-R.)
| | - Armando Cervantes-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Aplicaciones Computacionales, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico;
| | - Jorge Morales-Montor
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, AP 70228, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (F.O.B.-G.); (O.F.-R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-5556230700 (ext. 83207)
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Abstract
The association of leishmaniasis and malignancies in human and animal models has been highlighted in recent years. The misdiagnosis of coexistence of leishmaniasis and cancer and the use of common drugs in the treatment of such diseases prompt us to further survey the molecular biology of Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The information regarding common expressed proteins, as possible therapeutic targets, in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells is scarce. Therefore, the current study reviews proteins, and investigates the regulation and functions of several key proteins in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The up- and down-regulations of such proteins were mostly related to survival, development, pathogenicity, metabolic pathways and vital signalling in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The presence of common expressed proteins in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells reveals valuable information regarding the possible shared mechanisms of pathogenicity and opportunities for therapeutic targeting in leishmaniasis and cancers in the future.
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15
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Singh A, Sharma S, Yadagiri G, Parvez S, Gupta R, Singhal NK, Koratkar N, Singh OP, Sundar S, Shanmugam V, Mudavath SL. Sensible graphene oxide differentiates macrophages and Leishmania: a bio-nano interplay in attenuating intracellular parasite. RSC Adv 2020; 10:27502-27511. [PMID: 35516949 PMCID: PMC9055620 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra04266h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which resides in human macrophage vacuoles that are referred to as parasitophorus vacuoles. Amphotericin B (AmB) is the first-line drug with 99% cure rates; however, overdose-induced toxic side effects are a major limitation. To improve the efficacy at lower dose and subsequently to avoid toxicity and to further investigate the role of charge dynamics on the efficacy, a graphene oxide (GO)-based composite of AmB was developed with native negatively charged GO and amine-conjugated positively charged AGO. The AGO composite resulted in enhanced uptake as confirmed by confocal and FACS analysis. Thus, AGO caused a strong inhibition of amastigotes, with IC50 values 5-fold lower than free AmB. The parasitophorus vacuoles harbour a hydrolytic and acidic environment, which is favourable for the parasites, as they don't attenuate this condition. AGO-AmB was able to modify the intracellular pH of the Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages, generating unfavourable conditions for the amastigote, and thus improving its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakriti Singh
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64 Mohali Punjab 160062 India
| | - Sandeep Sharma
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64, Mohali Punjab 160062 India
| | - Ganesh Yadagiri
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64 Mohali Punjab 160062 India
| | - Shabi Parvez
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64 Mohali Punjab 160062 India
| | - Ritika Gupta
- Food and Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute Mohali Punjab India
| | - Nitin Kumar Singhal
- Food and Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute Mohali Punjab India
| | - Nikhil Koratkar
- Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110, 8th Street Troy New York 12180 USA
| | - Om Prakash Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh 221005 India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh 221005 India
| | - Vijayakumar Shanmugam
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64, Mohali Punjab 160062 India
| | - Shyam Lal Mudavath
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Habitat Centre Phase-10, Sector-64 Mohali Punjab 160062 India
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Kaushik AC, Mehmood A, Dai X, Wei DQ. A comparative chemogenic analysis for predicting Drug-Target Pair via Machine Learning Approaches. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6870. [PMID: 32322011 PMCID: PMC7176722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63842-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A computational technique for predicting the DTIs has now turned out to be an indispensable job during the process of drug finding. It tapers the exploration room for interactions by propounding possible interaction contenders for authentication through experiments of wet-lab which are known for their expensiveness and time consumption. Chemogenomics, an emerging research area focused on the systematic examination of the biological impact of a broad series of minute molecular-weighting ligands on a broad raiment of macromolecular target spots. Additionally, with the advancement in time, the complexity of the algorithms is increasing which may result in the entry of big data technologies like Spark in this field soon. In the presented work, we intend to offer an inclusive idea and realistic evaluation of the computational Drug Target Interaction projection approaches, to perform as a guide and reference for researchers who are carrying out work in a similar direction. Precisely, we first explain the data utilized in computational Drug Target Interaction prediction attempts like this. We then sort and explain the best and most modern techniques for the prediction of DTIs. Then, a realistic assessment is executed to show the projection performance of several illustrative approaches in various situations. Ultimately, we underline possible opportunities for additional improvement of Drug Target Interaction projection enactment and also linked study objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Chandra Kaushik
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Aamir Mehmood
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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Activity of Chitosan and Its Derivatives against Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana In Vitro. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.01772-19. [PMID: 31871082 PMCID: PMC7038302 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01772-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for safe, efficacious, affordable, and field-adapted drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, which newly affects around 1.5 million people worldwide annually. Chitosan, a biodegradable cationic polysaccharide, has previously been reported to have antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and immunostimulatory activities. There is an urgent need for safe, efficacious, affordable, and field-adapted drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, which newly affects around 1.5 million people worldwide annually. Chitosan, a biodegradable cationic polysaccharide, has previously been reported to have antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and immunostimulatory activities. We investigated the in vitro activity of chitosan and several of its derivatives and showed that the pH of the culture medium plays a critical role in antileishmanial activity of chitosan against both extracellular promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana. Chitosan and its derivatives were approximately 7 to 20 times more active at pH 6.5 than at pH 7.5, with high-molecular-weight chitosan being the most potent. High-molecular-weight chitosan stimulated the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species by uninfected and Leishmania-infected macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner at pH 6.5. Despite the in vitro activation of bone marrow macrophages by chitosan to produce nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, we showed that the antileishmanial activity of chitosan was not mediated by these metabolites. Finally, we showed that rhodamine-labeled chitosan is taken up by pinocytosis and accumulates in the parasitophorous vacuole of Leishmania-infected macrophages.
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18
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Cloots K, Burza S, Malaviya P, Hasker E, Kansal S, Mollett G, Chakravarty J, Roy N, Lal BK, Rijal S, Sundar S, Boelaert M. Male predominance in reported Visceral Leishmaniasis cases: Nature or nurture? A comparison of population-based with health facility-reported data. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007995. [PMID: 31995564 PMCID: PMC7010295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bangladesh, India, and Nepal aim for the elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a systemic parasitic infectious disease, as a public health problem by 2020. For decades, male patients have comprised the majority of reported VL cases in this region. By comparing this reported VL sex ratio to the one observed in population-based studies conducted in the Indian subcontinent, we tested the working hypothesis that mainly socio-cultural gender differences in healthcare-seeking behavior explain this gender imbalance. Methodology/Principal findings We compared the observed sex ratio of male versus female among all VL cases reported by the health system in Nepal and in the two most endemic states in India with that observed in population-based cohort studies in India and Nepal. Also, we assessed male sex as a potential risk factor for seroprevalence at baseline, seroconversion, and VL incidence in the same population-based data. The male/female ratio among VL cases reported by the health systems was 1.40 (95% CI 1.37–1.43). In the population cohort data, the age- and study site-adjusted male to female risk ratio was 1.27 (95% CI 1.08–1.51). Also, males had a 19% higher chance of being seropositive at baseline in the population surveys (RR 1.19; 95% CI 1.11–1.27), while we observed no significant difference in seroconversion rate between both sexes at the DAT cut-off titer defined as the primary endpoint. Conclusions/Significance Our population-based data show that male sex is a risk factor for VL, and not only as a socio-cultural determinant. Biological sex-related differences likely play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease that is lethal if not treated timely and mainly affects impoverished populations. Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have targeted the elimination of this disease as a public health problem by 2020. The majority of VL patients attending the health services are male, and this is usually attributed to unequal access to health care for men and women in this sociocultural context. We analyzed two large datasets obtained in population surveillance projects, including regular door-to-door screening for VL, in India and Nepal. Thereby we minimized any potential differences in access to health care between both sexes, as every suspect VL case occurring in the community received a full diagnostic work-up, and the research project facilitated transport to treatment centers if needed. By comparing the observed sex ratio in the health services records with those of the population surveillance records, we aimed to reach meaningful conclusions about the pathway through which male gender exerts its leverage for increasing VL risk: socio-cultural determinants blocking women from accessing care (nurture) or biological factors (nature) making men more vulnerable to VL. Because in the population-based age adjusted-data, male VL cases were significantly more frequent than female, our findings strongly suggest that in the Indian subcontinent, biological differences between men and women play a more critical role in the pathogenesis of VL than previously assumed, and the observed male predominance in VL cases in health services cannot be explained by socio-cultural factors only. Moreover, data show that above the age of 14 years, males are seropositive more often than females and are at higher risk to develop VL disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristien Cloots
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Epco Hasker
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sangeeta Kansal
- Department of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Guy Mollett
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaya Chakravarty
- Department of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Nurpur Roy
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Program, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
| | - Bibek Kumar Lal
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Suman Rijal
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Marleen Boelaert
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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Weinstock A, Gallego-Delgado J, Gomes C, Sherman J, Nikain C, Gonzalez S, Fisher E, Rodriguez A. Tamoxifen activity against Plasmodium in vitro and in mice. Malar J 2019; 18:378. [PMID: 31775753 PMCID: PMC6882195 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3012-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tamoxifen is an oestrogen receptor modulator that is widely used for the treatment of early stage breast cancer and reduction of recurrences. Tamoxifen is also used as a powerful research tool for controlling gene expression in the context of the Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system in conditional mutant mice. METHODS To determine whether the administration of tamoxifen affects Plasmodium growth and/or disease outcome in malaria, in vitro studies assessing the effect of tamoxifen and its active metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen on Plasmodium falciparum blood stages were performed. Tamoxifen effects were also evaluated in vivo treating C57/B6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain), which is the standard animal model for the study of cerebral malaria. RESULTS Tamoxifen and its active metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, show activity in vitro against P. falciparum (16.7 to 5.8 µM IC50, respectively). This activity was also confirmed in tamoxifen-treated mice infected with P. berghei, which show lower levels of parasitaemia and do not develop signs of cerebral malaria, compared to control mice. Mice treated with tamoxifen for 1 week and left untreated for an additional week before infection showed similar parasitaemia levels and signs of cerebral malaria as control untreated mice. CONCLUSIONS Tamoxifen and its active metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, have significant activity against the human parasite P. falciparum in vitro and the rodent parasite P. berghei in vivo. This activity may be useful for prevention of malaria in patients taking this drug chronically, but also represents a major problem for scientists using the conditional mutagenic Cre/LoxP system in the setting of rodent malaria. Allowing mice to clear tamoxifen before starting a Plasmodium infection allows the use the Cre/LoxP conditional mutagenic system to investigate gene function in specific tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Weinstock
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Cell Biology, and the Marc and Ruti Bell Program in Vascular Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Julio Gallego-Delgado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, New York, NY, 10468, USA.
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Cláudia Gomes
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Julian Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Cyrus Nikain
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Cell Biology, and the Marc and Ruti Bell Program in Vascular Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Sandra Gonzalez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Edward Fisher
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Cell Biology, and the Marc and Ruti Bell Program in Vascular Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Braga SS. Multi-target drugs active against leishmaniasis: A paradigm of drug repurposing. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 183:111660. [PMID: 31514064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This mini-review focuses on leishmanicidal drugs that were sourced from small molecules previously approved for other diseases. The mechanisms of action of these molecules are herein explored, to probe the origins of their inter-species growth inhibitory activities. It is shown how the transversal action of the azoles - fluconazole, posaconazole and itraconazole - in both fungi and Leishmania is due to the occurrence of the same target, lanosterol 14-α-demethylase, in these two groups of species. In turn, the drugs miltefosine and amphotericin B are presented as truly multi-target agents, acting on small molecules, proteins, genes and even organelles. Steps towards future leishmanicidal drug candidates based on the multi-target strategy and on drug repurposing are also briefly presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Santos Braga
- QOPNA & LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
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Study of Ethinyl Estradiol Activity Against Promastigotes, Axenic and Macrophage-Dwelling Amastigotes of Leishmania infantum by Using Atomic Force Microscopy and Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium Methods. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2019. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.90857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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22
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Catalani E, Buonanno F, Lupidi G, Bongiorni S, Belardi R, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, Coazzoli M, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Clementi E, Prantera G, Marcantoni E, Ortenzi C, Fausto AM, Picchietti S, Cervia D. The Natural Compound Climacostol as a Prodrug Strategy Based on pH Activation for Efficient Delivery of Cytotoxic Small Agents. Front Chem 2019; 7:463. [PMID: 31316972 PMCID: PMC6609918 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We synthesized and characterized MOMO as a new small molecule analog of the cytotoxic natural product climacostol efficiently activated in mild extracellular acidosis. The synthesis of MOMO had a key step in the Wittig olefination for the construction of the carbon-carbon double bond in the alkenyl moiety of climacostol. The possibility of obtaining the target (Z)-alkenyl MOMO derivative in very good yield and without presence of the less active (E)-diastereomer was favored from the methoxymethyl ether (MOM)-protecting group of hydroxyl functions in aromatic ring of climacostol aldehyde intermediate. Of interest, the easy removal of MOM-protecting group in a weakly acidic environment allowed us to obtain a great quantity of climacostol in biologically active (Z)-configuration. Results obtained in free-living ciliates that share the same micro-environment of the climacostol natural producer Climacostomum virens demonstrated that MOMO is well-tolerated in a physiological environment, while its cytotoxicity is rapidly and efficiently triggered at pH 6.3. In addition, the cytostatic vs. cytotoxic effects of acidified-MOMO can be modulated in a dose-dependent manner. In mouse melanoma cells, MOMO displayed a marked pH-sensitivity since its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects become evident only in mild extracellular acidosis. Data also suggested MOMO being preferentially activated in the unique extra-acidic microenvironment that characterizes tumoural cells. Finally, the use of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster fed with an acidic diet supported the efficient activity and oral delivery of MOMO molecule in vivo. MOMO affected oviposition of mating adults and larvae eclosion. Reduced survival of flies was due to lethality during the larval stages while emerging larvae retained their ability to develop into adults. Interestingly, the gut of eclosed larvae exhibited an extended damage (cell death by apoptosis) and the brain tissue was also affected (reduced mitosis), demonstrating that orally activated MOMO efficiently targets different tissues of the developing fly. These results provided a proof-of-concept study on the pH-dependence of MOMO effects. In this respect, MOM-protection emerges as a potential prodrug strategy which deserves to be further investigated for the generation of efficient pH-sensitive small organic molecules as pharmacologically active cytotoxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federico Buonanno
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Gabriele Lupidi
- School of Sciences and Technologies, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Belardi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvia Zecchini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Giovarelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Coazzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara De Palma
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital “Luigi Sacco”-ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Perrotta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Clementi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Scientific Institute IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Giorgio Prantera
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Enrico Marcantoni
- School of Sciences and Technologies, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Claudio Ortenzi
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Fausto
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Simona Picchietti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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In vitro schistosomicidal activity of tamoxifen and its effectiveness in a murine model of schistosomiasis at a single dose. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1625-1631. [PMID: 30798369 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06259-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting 220 million people worldwide. Praziquantel has proven to be effective against this parasitic disease, though there are increasing concerns regarding tolerance/resistance that calls for new drugs. Repurposing already existing and well-known drugs has been a desirable approach since it reduces time, costs, and ethical concerns. The anti-cancer drug tamoxifen (TAM) has been used worldwide for several decades to treat and prevent breast cancer. Previous reports stated that TAM affects Schistosoma hormonal physiology; however, no controlled schistosomicidal in vivo assays have been conducted. In this work, we evaluated the effect of TAM on female and male Schistosoma mansoni morphology, motility, and egg production. We further assessed worm survival and egg production in S. mansoni-infected mice. TAM induced morphological alterations in male and female parasites, as well as in eggs in vitro. Furthermore, in our in vivo experiments, one single dose of intraperitoneal TAM citrate reduced the total worm burden by 73% and led to a decrease in the amount of eggs in feces and low percentages of immature eggs in the small intestine wall. Eggs obtained from TAM citrate-treated mice were reduced in size and presented hyper-vacuolated structures. Our results suggest that TAM may be repurposed as a therapeutic alternative against S. mansoni infections.
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Borba JV, Silva AC, Ramos PI, Grazzia N, Miguel DC, Muratov EN, Furnham N, Andrade CH. Unveiling the Kinomes of Leishmania infantum and L. braziliensis Empowers the Discovery of New Kinase Targets and Antileishmanial Compounds. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2019; 17:352-361. [PMID: 30949306 PMCID: PMC6429582 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania (NTD) endemic in 98 countries. Although some drugs are available, current treatments deal with issues such as toxicity, low efficacy, and emergence of resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new targets for the development of new antileishmanial drugs. Protein kinases (PKs), which play an essential role in many biological processes, have become potential drug targets for many parasitic diseases. A refined bioinformatics pipeline was applied in order to define and compare the kinomes of L. infantum and L. braziliensis, species that cause cutaneous and visceral manifestations of leishmaniasis in the Americas, the latter being potentially fatal if untreated. Respectively, 224 and 221 PKs were identified in L. infantum and L. braziliensis overall. Almost all unclassified eukaryotic PKs were assigned to six of nine major kinase groups and, consequently, most have been classified into family and subfamily. Furthermore, revealing the kinomes for both Leishmania species allowed for the prioritization of potential drug targets that could be explored for discovering new drugs against leishmaniasis. Finally, we used a drug repurposing approach and prioritized seven approved drugs and investigational compounds to be experimentally tested against Leishmania. Trametinib and NMS-1286937 inhibited the growth of L. infantum and L. braziliensis promastigotes and amastigotes and therefore might be good candidates for the drug repurposing pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce V.B. Borba
- Labmol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, GO, 74605-510, Brazil
| | - Arthur C. Silva
- Labmol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, GO, 74605-510, Brazil
| | - Pablo I.P. Ramos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz (IGM), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Grazzia
- LEBIL – Laboratory of Leishmania Biology Infection Studies, Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Danilo C. Miguel
- LEBIL – Laboratory of Leishmania Biology Infection Studies, Department of Animal Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eugene N. Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Chemical Technology, Odessa National Polytechnic University, Odessa, 65000, Ukraine
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carolina H. Andrade
- Labmol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG, Goiânia, GO, 74605-510, Brazil
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Abstract
The concept of repurposing previously approved medications to the treatment of new indications by taking advantage of off-target effects has gained traction in recent years, particularly in areas of medicine that do not offer large profits to pharmaceutical firms. As infectious disease discovery research has declined among large pharmaceutical companies, the potential payoff of repurposing has become attractive. The concept of repurposing previously approved medications to the treatment of new indications by taking advantage of off-target effects has gained traction in recent years, particularly in areas of medicine that do not offer large profits to pharmaceutical firms. As infectious disease discovery research has declined among large pharmaceutical companies, the potential payoff of repurposing has become attractive. From these efforts, the triphenylethylene class of selective estrogen receptor modulators related to tamoxifen has shown activity against a wide range of medically important human pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Because it has activity against many pathogens affecting people in resource-limited areas of the world, TAM and related drugs may be particularly useful. Here, we review the in vitro, in vivo, and mechanistic studies of the anti-infective activity of tamoxifen, toremifene, clomiphene, and their analogs. We also discuss the pharmacologic properties of this privileged scaffold and its potential utility in treating infectious diseases.
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26
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Trinconi CT, Miguel DC, Silber AM, Brown C, Mina JGM, Denny PW, Heise N, Uliana SRB. Tamoxifen inhibits the biosynthesis of inositolphosphorylceramide in Leishmania. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:475-487. [PMID: 30399513 PMCID: PMC6216108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Previous work from our group showed that tamoxifen, an oral drug that has been in use for the treatment of breast cancer for over 40 years, is active both in vitro and in vivo against several species of Leishmania, the etiological agent of leishmaniasis. Using a combination of metabolic labeling with [3H]-sphingosine and myo-[3H]-inositol, alkaline hydrolysis, HPTLC fractionations and mass spectrometry analyses, we observed a perturbation in the metabolism of inositolphosphorylceramides (IPCs) and phosphatidylinositols (PIs) after treatment of L. amazonensis promastigotes with tamoxifen, with a significant reduction in the biosynthesis of the major IPCs (composed of d16:1/18:0-IPC, t16:0/C18:0-IPC, d18:1/18:0-IPC and t16:0/20:0-IPC) and PIs (sn-1-O-(C18:0)alkyl -2-O-(C18:1)acylglycerol-3-HPO4-inositol and sn-1-O-(C18:0)acyl-2-O-(C18:1)acylglycerol-3-HPO4-inositol) species. Substrate saturation kinetics of myo-inositol uptake analyses indicated that inhibition of inositol transport or availability were not the main reasons for the reduced biosynthesis of IPC and PI observed in tamoxifen treated parasites. An in vitro enzymatic assay was used to show that tamoxifen was able to inhibit the Leishmania IPC synthase with an IC50 value of 8.48 μM (95% CI 7.68–9.37), suggesting that this enzyme is most likely one of the targets for this compound in the parasites. Tamoxifen alters the sphingolipid metabolism of L. amazonensis. Tamoxifen treated parasites show a significant reduction of IPC and PI species. Tamoxifen-treated parasites present a reduction of inositol transport. Tamoxifen is an inhibitor of L. major's IPC synthase in a micromolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana T Trinconi
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ariel M Silber
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Christopher Brown
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - John G M Mina
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Paul W Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Norton Heise
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Silvia R B Uliana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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27
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Machado PRL, Ribeiro CS, França-Costa J, Dourado MEF, Trinconi CT, Yokoyama-Yasunaka JKU, Malta-Santos H, Borges VM, Carvalho EM, Uliana SRB. Tamoxifen and meglumine antimoniate combined therapy in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients: a randomised trial. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 23:936-942. [PMID: 29924907 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is a clear need for new strategies of leishmaniasis treatment. This work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the co-administration of tamoxifen and meglumine antimoniate (SbV ) in a phase II pilot clinical trial in localised cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. METHODS A randomised controlled pilot clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral (40 mg/day for 20 days) or topical tamoxifen (0.1% tamoxifen citrate for 20 days) combined with meglumine antimoniate (20 mg SbV /kg/day for 20 days) vs. a standard SbV protocol (20 mg/kg/day for 20 days) for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Primary outcome was complete epithelisation of the lesion 6 months after the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes were lesion healing 2 months after the end of treatment and frequency and severity of adverse events. RESULTS A total of 38 subjects were included in the trial, 15 were treated with standard SbV and 23 with the combination of tamoxifen and SbV . Of the patients treated with the co-administration scheme, 12 received tamoxifen orally and 11 were treated with topical tamoxifen. Tamoxifen administered by the oral or topical routes was well tolerated. Cure rates 6 months after the end of treatment per intention to treat were 40% in the group treated with the standard SbV scheme, and 36.4% and 58%, respectively, for groups treated with SbV plus topical or oral tamoxifen. CONCLUSIONS In the doses and schemes used in this study, co-administration of oral tamoxifen and SbV resulted in higher cure rates in comparison with the standard scheme of treatment, although not to statistically significant levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R L Machado
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Camila S Ribeiro
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline França-Costa
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-BA, Salvador-BA, Brasil
| | - Mayra E F Dourado
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Hayna Malta-Santos
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-BA, Salvador-BA, Brasil
| | - Valéria M Borges
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-BA, Salvador-BA, Brasil
| | - Edgar M Carvalho
- Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-BA, Salvador-BA, Brasil
| | - Silvia R B Uliana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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28
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Bogush TA, Polezhaev BB, Mamichev IA, Bogush EA, Polotsky BE, Tjulandin SA, Ryabov AB. Tamoxifen Never Ceases to Amaze: New Findings on Non-Estrogen Receptor Molecular Targets and Mediated Effects. Cancer Invest 2018; 36:211-220. [PMID: 29727200 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2018.1453933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Tamoxifen is a first targeted drug that continues to be the gold standard in treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer for almost 50 years. The current review is an update of the paper published in 2012. We provide the new data on the tamoxifen targets that are the key points of signaling cascades activating cellular proliferation, which determines aggressiveness of disease and chemotherapy resistance or sensitivity. Some inspiring clinical cases dealing with tamoxifen efficiency in treatment of different tumors are discussed. Additionally, the review includes data on antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activity of tamoxifen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Anatolievna Bogush
- a N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
| | - Boris Borisovich Polezhaev
- b Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University , Department of General Medicine , Leninskie Gory, Moscow , Russian Federation
| | - Ivan Andreevich Mamichev
- a N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
| | - Elena Alexandrovna Bogush
- a N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
| | - Boris Evseevich Polotsky
- a N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
| | - Sergei Alexeevich Tjulandin
- a N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Experimental Diagnostics and Tumor Therapy , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
| | - Andrey Borisovich Ryabov
- c N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation , Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology , Kashirskoe shosse 24, Moscow , Russia
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29
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Effect of tamoxifen on the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway in the different intraerythrocytic stages of the apicomplexa Plasmodium falciparum. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 497:1082-1088. [PMID: 29496449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Plasmodium responsible for Malaria are obligate intracellular pathogens residing in mammalian red blood cells, hepatocytes, or mosquito midgut epithelial cells. Regarding that detailed knowledge on the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway of the apicomplexan protozoan parasites is scarce, different stages of Plasmodium falciparum were treated with tamoxifen in order to evaluate the effects of this drug on the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. Thin layer chromatography, High performance reverse phase chromatography and UV-MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were the tools used for the analysis. In the ring forms, the increase of NBD-phosphatidyl inositol biosynthesis was notorious but differences at NBD-GlcCer levels were undetectable. In trophozoite forms, an abrupt decrease of NBD-acylated GlcDHCer and NBD-GlcDHCer in addition to an increase of NBD-PC biosynthesis was observed. On the contrary, in schizonts, tamoxifen seems not to be producing substantial changes in lipid biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that in this parasite, tamoxifen is exerting an inhibitory action on Glucosylceramidesynthase and sphingomyelin synthase levels. Moreover, regarding that Plasmodium does not biosynthesize inositolphosphoceramides, the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol should indicate an inhibitory action on glycosylinositol phospholipid synthesis.
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30
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Charlton RL, Rossi-Bergmann B, Denny PW, Steel PG. Repurposing as a strategy for the discovery of new anti-leishmanials: the-state-of-the-art. Parasitology 2018; 145:219-236. [PMID: 28805165 PMCID: PMC5964475 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017000993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania for which there is a paucity of effective viable non-toxic drugs. There are 1·3 million new cases each year causing considerable socio-economic hardship, best measured in 2·4 million disability adjusted life years, with greatest impact on the poorest communities, which means that desperately needed new antileishmanial treatments have to be both affordable and accessible. Established medicines with cheaper and faster development times may hold the cure for this neglected tropical disease. This concept of using old drugs for new diseases may not be novel but, with the ambitious target of controlling or eradicating tropical diseases by 2020, this strategy is still an important one. In this review, we will explore the current state-of-the-art of drug repurposing strategies in the search for new treatments for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Charlton
- Department of Chemistry,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
| | - Bartira Rossi-Bergmann
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho,Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Ilha do Fundão,CEP 21·949-900 Rio de Janeiro,RJ,Brazil
| | - Paul W Denny
- Department of Biosciences,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
| | - Patrick G Steel
- Department of Chemistry,University Science Laboratories,South Road,Durham DH1 3LE,UK
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31
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Parra LLL, Bertonha AF, Severo IRM, Aguiar ACC, de Souza GE, Oliva G, Guido RVC, Grazzia N, Costa TR, Miguel DC, Gadelha FR, Ferreira AG, Hajdu E, Romo D, Berlinck RGS. Isolation, Derivative Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationships of Antiparasitic Bromopyrrole Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Tedania brasiliensis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:188-202. [PMID: 29297684 PMCID: PMC5989537 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The isolation and identification of a series of new pseudoceratidine (1) derivatives from the sponge Tedania brasiliensis enabled the evaluation of their antiparasitic activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of malaria, cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, respectively. The new 3-debromopseudoceratidine (4), 20-debromopseudoceratidine (5), 4-bromopseudoceratidine (6), 19-bromopseudoceratidine (7), and 4,19-dibromopseudoceratidine (8) are reported. New tedamides A-D (9-12), with an unprecedented 4-bromo-4-methoxy-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide moiety, are also described. Compounds 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 have been isolated as pairs of inseparable structural isomers differing in their sites of bromination or oxidation. Tedamides 9+10 and 11+12 were obtained as optically active pairs, indicating an enzymatic formation rather than an artifactual origin. N12-Acetylpseudoceratidine (2) and N12-formylpseudoceratidine (3) were obtained by derivatization of pseudoceratidine (1). The antiparasitic activity of pseudoceratidine (1) led us to synthesize 23 derivatives (16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27-29, 31, 33, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, and 51) with variations in the polyamine chain and aromatic moiety in sufficient amounts for biological evaluation in antiparasitic assays. The measured antimalarial activity of pseudoceratidine (1) and derivatives 4, 5, 16, 23, 25, 31, and 50 provided an initial SAR evaluation of these compounds as potential leads for antiparasitics against Leishmania amastigotes and against P. falciparum. The results obtained indicate that pseudoceratidine represents a promising scaffold for the development of new antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth L. L. Parra
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariane F. Bertonha
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Ivan R. M. Severo
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna C. C. Aguiar
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Guilherme E. de Souza
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael V. C. Guido
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Grazzia
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Tábata R. Costa
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Danilo C. Miguel
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda R. Gadelha
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio G. Ferreira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, km 235 - SP-310, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Hajdu
- Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, s/n, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniel Romo
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Roberto G. S. Berlinck
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Ezzat A, Wu M, Li XL, Kwoh CK. Computational prediction of drug–target interactions using chemogenomic approaches: an empirical survey. Brief Bioinform 2018; 20:1337-1357. [DOI: 10.1093/bib/bby002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Computational prediction of drug–target interactions (DTIs) has become an essential task in the drug discovery process. It narrows down the search space for interactions by suggesting potential interaction candidates for validation via wet-lab experiments that are well known to be expensive and time-consuming. In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview and empirical evaluation on the computational DTI prediction techniques, to act as a guide and reference for our fellow researchers. Specifically, we first describe the data used in such computational DTI prediction efforts. We then categorize and elaborate the state-of-the-art methods for predicting DTIs. Next, an empirical comparison is performed to demonstrate the prediction performance of some representative methods under different scenarios. We also present interesting findings from our evaluation study, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Finally, we highlight potential avenues for further enhancement of DTI prediction performance as well as related research directions.
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Abstract
Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are amongst the most devastating infectious diseases of our time, affecting millions of people worldwide. The treatment of these serious diseases rely on a few chemotherapeutic agents, most of which are of parenteral use and induce severe side-effects. Furthermore, rates of treatment failure are high and have been linked to drug resistance in some areas. Here, we reviewed data on current chemotherapy practice in leishmaniasis. Drug resistance and mechanisms of resistance are described as well as the prospects for applying drug combinations for leishmaniasis chemotherapy. It is clear that efforts for discovering new drugs applicable to leishmaniasis chemotherapy are essential. The main aspects on the various steps of drug discovery in the field are discussed.
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Preston S, Luo J, Zhang Y, Jabbar A, Crawford S, Baell J, Hofmann A, Hu M, Zhou HB, Gasser RB. Selenophene and thiophene-core estrogen receptor ligands that inhibit motility and development of parasitic stages of Haemonchus contortus. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:346. [PMID: 27306029 PMCID: PMC4910235 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1612-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasitic worms represent a substantial disease burden in animals and humans worldwide. The control of parasitic roundworms (nematodes) relies heavily on the use of anthelmintic drugs. However, widespread drug resistance in nematodes seriously compromises the effectiveness of many anthelmintics around the world. Thus, there is a need to discover new drugs, with unique modes of action, against parasites. Methods Here, we synthesised and tested 74 selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for in vitro-activity on parasitic larvae of Haemonchus contortus (barber’s pole worm), one of the most important nematode pathogens of small ruminants (including sheep and goats) and a key representative of one of the largest groups of parasitic nematodes (the Strongylida) of animals. We also studied the morphology of treated and untreated larvae using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and assessed the agonistic/antagonistic activity of SERMs in a human embryonic kidney cell line using a luciferase reporter assay system. Results We identified three SERMs (one selenophene and two thiophene-core compounds) with potent inhibitory activities (at 3–25 μM) on the motility and development of parasitic stages of H. contortus. An SEM examination of treated H. contortus revealed considerable damage to the cuticle of fourth- but not exsheathed, third-stage larvae; this damage appeared to be consistent with that observed upon treatment with monepantel but not moxidectin (control compounds). Conclusion The potency of the three SERMs compared favourably with commercially available anthelmintics, such that they warrant further assessment as nematocides. Future studies could focus on assessing the selectivity of these SERMs to parasites, characterising their target(s) and/or designing analogs that are parasite-specific. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1612-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Preston
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Junjie Luo
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yuezhou Zhang
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Medicinal Chemistry, Monash University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Simon Crawford
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jonathan Baell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Min Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. .,Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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In Vitro susceptibilities of wild and drug resistant Leishmania donovani amastigotes to piperolactam A loaded hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles. Acta Trop 2016; 158:97-106. [PMID: 26940000 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an epidemic in various countries, and the parasite Leishmania donovani is developing resistance against available drugs. In the present study the antileishmanial action of piperolactam A (PL), isolated after bioactivity guided fractionation from root extracts of Piper betle was accentuated in detail. Activity potentiation was achieved via cyclodextrin complexation. Crude hydro-ethanolic extract (PB) and three fractions obtained from PB and fabricated PL-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) nanoparticles were evaluated for antileishmanial activity. Tests were performed against L. donovani wild-type, sodium stibogluconate, paromomycin and field isolated (GE1) resistant strains in axenic amastigote and amastigote in macrophage models. PL-HPBCD complex was characterized and FITC loaded HPBCD nanoparticles were assessed for macrophage internalization in confocal microscopic studies. Isolated and purified PL from most potent, alkaloid rich ethyl acetate fraction of PB showed high level of antileishmanial activities in wild-type (IC50=36 μM), sodium stibogluconate resistant (IC50=103 μM), paromomycin resistant (IC50=91 μM) and field isolated resistant (IC50=72 μM) strains together with cytotoxicity (CC50=900 μM) in mouse peritoneal macrophage cells. Inclusion of PL in HPBCD nanoparticles resulted in 10-fold and 4-10-fold increase in selectivity indexes (CC50/IC50) for wild-type and drug resistant strains, respectively. Drug-carrier interactions were clearly visualized in FT-IR studies. Complete incorporation of PL in HPBCD cavity was ascertained in DSC and XRD analyses. 180nm size stable nanospheres showed macrophage internalization within 1h of incubation. Piperolactam A (PL), a representative of the inchoate skeleton of aristolactam chassis might be the source of safe and affordable antileishmanial agents for the cure of deadly Leishmania infections.
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In vitro studies of the antileishmanial activity of the newer 2-(substitutedphenoxy)-N-[(aryl)methylidene]acetohydrazide analogues. BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjbas.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Repurposing strategies for tropical disease drug discovery. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:2569-76. [PMID: 27080183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.03.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and other diseases of the developing world, such as malaria, attract research investments that are disproportionately low compared to their impact on human health worldwide. Therefore, pragmatic methods for launching new drug discovery programs have emerged that repurpose existing chemical matter as new drugs or new starting points for optimization. In this Digest we describe applications of different repurposing approaches for NTDs, and provide a means by which these approaches may be differentiated from each other. These include drug repurposing, target repurposing, target class repurposing, and lead repurposing.
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Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and their active metabolites are one of the significantly emerging environmental toxicants. The major routes of entry of pharmaceuticals into the environment are industries, hospitals, or direct disposal of unwanted or expired drugs made by the patient. The most important and distinct features of pharmaceuticals are that they are deliberately designed to have an explicit mode of action and designed to exert an effect on humans and other living systems. This distinctive feature makes pharmaceuticals and their metabolites different from other chemicals, and this necessitates the evaluation of the direct effects of pharmaceuticals in various environmental compartments as well as to living systems. In this background, the alarming situation of ecotoxicity of diverse pharmaceuticals have forced government and nongovernment regulatory authorities to recommend the application of in silico methods to provide quick information about the risk assessment and fate properties of pharmaceuticals as well as their ecological and indirect human health effects. This chapter aims to offer information regarding occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, their persistence, environmental fate, and toxicity as well as application of in silico methods to provide information about the basic risk management and fate prediction of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Brief ideas about toxicity endpoints, available ecotoxicity databases, and expert systems employed for rapid toxicity predictions of ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunal Roy
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Supratik Kar
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
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Coelho AC, Trinconi CT, Senra L, Yokoyama-Yasunaka JKU, Uliana SRB. Leishmania is not prone to develop resistance to tamoxifen. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2015; 5:77-83. [PMID: 26150922 PMCID: PMC4486464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Tamoxifen, an antineoplastic agent, is active in vitro and in vivo against the parasitic protozoa Leishmania. As part of our efforts to unravel this drug's mechanisms of action against the parasite and understand how resistance could arise, we tried to select tamoxifen-resistant Leishmania amazonensis. Three different strategies to generate tamoxifen resistant mutants were used: stepwise increase in drug concentration applied to promastigote cultures, chemical mutagenesis followed by drug selection and treatment of infected mice followed by selection of amastigotes. For amastigote selection, we employed a method with direct plating of parasites recovered from lesions into semi-solid media. Tamoxifen resistant parasites were not rescued by any of these methods. Miltefosine was used as a control in selection experiments and both stepwise selection and chemical mutagenesis allowed successful isolation of miltefosine resistant mutants. These findings are consistent with a multi-target mode of action to explain tamoxifen's leishmanicidal properties. Considering that drug resistance is a major concern in anti-parasitic chemotherapy, these findings support the proposition of using tamoxifen as a partner in drug combination schemes for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Tamoxifen is effective in the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Resistance to tamoxifen was not found in promastigotes upon mutagenesis/selection. Resistance to tamoxifen was not detected in amastigotes after in vivo selection. Tamoxifen may be a good partner in drug combination schemes for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano C Coelho
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Cristiana T Trinconi
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luisa Senra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Jenicer K U Yokoyama-Yasunaka
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia R B Uliana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, SP, Brazil
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Advances in Development of New Treatment for Leishmaniasis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:815023. [PMID: 26078965 PMCID: PMC4442256 DOI: 10.1155/2015/815023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected infectious disease caused by several different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Current strategies to control this disease are mainly based on chemotherapy. Despite being available for the last 70 years, leishmanial chemotherapy has lack of efficiency, since its route of administration is difficult and it can cause serious side effects, which results in the emergence of resistant cases. The medical-scientific community is facing difficulties to overcome these problems with new suitable and efficient drugs, as well as the identification of new drug targets. The availability of the complete genome sequence of Leishmania has given the scientific community the possibility of large-scale analysis, which may lead to better understanding of parasite biology and consequent identification of novel drug targets. In this review we focus on how high-throughput analysis is helping us and other groups to identify novel targets for chemotherapeutic interventions. We further discuss recent data produced by our group regarding the use of the high-throughput techniques and how this helped us to identify and assess the potential of new identified targets.
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Camargos HS, Moreira RA, Mendanha SA, Fernandes KS, Dorta ML, Alonso A. Terpenes increase the lipid dynamics in the Leishmania plasma membrane at concentrations similar to their IC50 values. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104429. [PMID: 25101672 PMCID: PMC4125203 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although many terpenes have shown antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activity, the mechanism of action is not well established. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of the spin-labeled 5-doxyl stearic acid revealed remarkable fluidity increases in the plasma membrane of terpene-treated Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. For an antiproliferative activity assay using 5×106 parasites/mL, the sesquiterpene nerolidol and the monoterpenes (+)-limonene, α-terpineol and 1,8-cineole inhibited the growth of the parasites with IC50 values of 0.008, 0.549, 0.678 and 4.697 mM, respectively. The IC50 values of these terpenes increased as the parasite concentration used in the cytotoxicity assay increased, and this behavior was examined using a theoretical treatment of the experimental data. Cytotoxicity tests with the same parasite concentration as in the EPR experiments revealed a correlation between the IC50 values of the terpenes and the concentrations at which they altered the membrane fluidity. In addition, the terpenes induced small amounts of cell lysis (4–9%) at their respective IC50 values. For assays with high cell concentrations (2×109 parasites/mL), the incorporation of terpene into the cell membrane was very fast, and the IC50 values observed for 24 h and 5 min-incubation periods were not significantly different. Taken together, these results suggest that terpene cytotoxicity is associated with the attack on the plasma membrane of the parasite. The in vitro cytotoxicity of nerolidol was similar to that of miltefosine, and nerolidol has high hydrophobicity; thus, nerolidol might be used in drug delivery systems, such as lipid nanoparticles to treat leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heverton Silva Camargos
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- Engenharia Elétrica, Fundação Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, TO, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Miriam Leandro Dorta
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Publica, Departamento de Imunologia e Patologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Antonio Alonso
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Abeje F, Bisrat D, Hailu A, Asres K. Phytochemistry and antileishmanial activity of the leaf latex of Aloe calidophila Reynolds. Phytother Res 2014; 28:1801-5. [PMID: 25066209 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a major protozoal disease threatening the lives of 350 million people throughout the world. However, the therapeutic options for the disease are limited. In the present study, the antiprotozoal activity of the latex obtained from the Ethiopian plant Aloe calidophila Reynolds was evaluated by in vitro testing against Leishmania aethiopica and Leishmania major. It was found that the latex possesses moderate activity against both parasites with IC50 values of 64.05 and 82.29 µg/mL, respectively. Phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of three anthrones identified as aloinoside, aloin, and microdontin on the basis of IR, MS, (1) H NMR, and (13) C NMR spectral data. The isolated compounds showed strong antileishmanial activity with IC50 values ranging from 1.76 to 6.32 µg/mL against L. aethiopica and from 2.09 to 8.85 µg/mL against L. major. Although these values were higher than those of amphotericin B (IC50 = 0.109 and 0.067 µg/mL), the selectivity indices (813.35 and 694.90, respectively, against L. aethiopica and L. major) of aloinoside were much better than those of the standard drug (423.49 and 688.96). The results indicate that the isolated compounds have the potential to be used as a scaffold for the development of safe and cost-effective antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fetene Abeje
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Njoroge M, Njuguna NM, Mutai P, Ongarora DSB, Smith PW, Chibale K. Recent approaches to chemical discovery and development against malaria and the neglected tropical diseases human African trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis. Chem Rev 2014; 114:11138-63. [PMID: 25014712 DOI: 10.1021/cr500098f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paul W Smith
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases , Singapore 138670, Singapore
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In vitro and in vivo effects of tamoxifen against larval stage Echinococcus granulosus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:5146-54. [PMID: 24936598 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02113-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. Chemotherapy currently employs benzimidazoles; however, 40% of cases do not respond favorably. With regard to these difficulties, novel therapeutic tools are needed to optimize treatment in humans. The aim of this work was to explore the in vitro and in vivo effects of tamoxifen (TAM) against E. granulosus. In addition, possible mechanisms for the susceptibility of TAM are discussed in relation to calcium homeostasis, P-glycoprotein inhibition, and antagonist effects on a putative steroid receptor. After 24 h of treatment, TAM, at a low micromolar concentration range (10 to 50 μM), inhibited the survival of E. granulosus protoscoleces and metacestodes. Moreover, we demonstrated the chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive pharmacological effects of the drug. At a dose rate of 20 mg/kg of body weight, TAM induced protection against the infection in mice. In the clinical efficacy studies, a reduction in cyst weight was observed after the administration of 20 mg/kg in mice with cysts developed during 3 or 6 months, compared to that of those collected from control mice. Since the collateral effects of high TAM doses have been largely documented in clinical trials, the use of low doses of this drug as a short-term therapy may be a novel alternative approach for human cystic echinococcosis treatment.
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Reimão JQ, Miguel DC, Taniwaki NN, Trinconi CT, Yokoyama-Yasunaka JKU, Uliana SRB. Antileishmanial activity of the estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2842. [PMID: 24810565 PMCID: PMC4014391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The treatment of leishmaniasis relies mostly on parenteral drugs with potentially serious adverse effects. Additionally, parasite resistance in the treatment of leishmaniasis has been demonstrated for the majority of drugs available, making the search for more effective and less toxic drugs and treatment regimens a priority for the control of leishmaniasis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of raloxifene in vitro and in vivo and to investigate its mechanism of action against Leishmania amazonensis. Methodology/Principal Findings Raloxifene was shown to possess antileishmanial activity in vitro against several species with EC50 values ranging from 30.2 to 38.0 µM against promastigotes and from 8.8 to 16.2 µM against intracellular amastigotes. Raloxifene's mechanism of action was investigated through transmission electron microscopy and labeling with propidium iodide, DiSBAC2(3), rhodamine 123 and monodansylcadaverine. Microscopic examinations showed that raloxifene treated parasites displayed autophagosomes and mitochondrial damage while the plasma membrane remained continuous. Nonetheless, plasma membrane potential was rapidly altered upon raloxifene treatment with initial hyperpolarization followed by depolarization. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was also verified. Treatment of L. amazonensis – infected BALB/c mice with raloxifene led to significant decrease in lesion size and parasite burden. Conclusions/Significance The results of this work extend the investigation of selective estrogen receptor modulators as potential candidates for leishmaniasis treatment. The antileishmanial activity of raloxifene was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Raloxifene produces functional disorder on the plasma membrane of L. amazonensis promastigotes and leads to functional and morphological disruption of mitochondria, which culminate in cell death. Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are part of the group we call neglected diseases. They are serious conditions that afflict millions in vast regions of the world. These diseases are very difficult to treat. This is due to the scanty choice of effective drugs together with their potentially severe side effects. One way of finding new treatments for these neglected conditions is to repurpose drugs that are already in use to treat other diseases. In this paper, we show that raloxifene, a drug that is used for the treatment of osteoporosis and also as an alternative in the treatment of breast cancer, is active against the causative agents of leishmaniasis and is effective in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an experimental model. We also show that the antileishmanial mechanism of action of raloxifene is related to damage to the cell membrane and to the mitochondrion of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Q. Reimão
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo C. Miguel
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Noemi N. Taniwaki
- Núcleo de Microscopia Eletrônica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiana T. Trinconi
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Silvia R. B. Uliana
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Figliuolo VR, Chaves SP, Santoro GF, Coutinho CMLM, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Rossi-Bergmann B, Coutinho-Silva R. Periodate-oxidized ATP modulates macrophage functions during infection with Leishmania amazonensis. Cytometry A 2014; 85:588-600. [PMID: 24804957 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Revised: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we showed that treating macrophages with ATP impairs the intracellular growth of Leishmania amazonensis, and that the P2X7 purinergic receptor is overexpressed during leishmaniasis. In the present study, we directly evaluated the effect of periodate-oxidized ATP (oATP) on parasite control in Leishmania-infected macrophages. We found that oATP impaired the attachment/entrance of L. amazonensis promastigotes to C57BL/6 mouse macrophages in a P2X7 receptor-independent manner, as macrophages from P2X7(-/-) mice were similarly affected. Although oATP directly inhibited the growth of axenic promastigotes in culture, promoted rapid ultrastructural alterations, and impaired Leishmania internalization by macrophages, it did not affect intracellular parasite multiplication. Upon infection, phagosomal acidification was diminished in oATP-treated macrophages, accompanied by reduced endosomal proteolysis. Likewise, MHC class II molecules expression and ectoATPase activity was decreased by oATP added to macrophages at the time of parasite infection. These inhibitory effects were not due to a cytotoxic effect, as no additional release of lactate dehydrogenase was detected in culture supernatants. Moreover, the capacity of macrophages to produce nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species was not affected by the presence of oATP during infection. We conclude that oATP directly affects extracellular parasite integrity and macrophage functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R Figliuolo
- Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho-IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional para Pesquisa Translacional em Saúde e Ambiente na Região Amazônica, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/MCT, Brasil
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47
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Miltefosine increases lipid and protein dynamics in Leishmania amazonensis membranes at concentrations similar to those needed for cytotoxicity activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:3021-8. [PMID: 24614380 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01332-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Miltefosine (MT) is a membrane-active alkylphospholipid licensed for the topical treatment of breast cancer skin metastases and the oral treatment of leishmaniasis, although its mechanism of action remains unclear. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of a spin-labeled lipid and a thiol-specific spin label in the plasma membrane of Leishmania promastigotes showed that MT causes dramatic increases in membrane dynamics. Although these alterations can be detected using a spin-labeled lipid, our experimental results indicated that MT interacts predominantly with the protein component of the membrane. Cell lysis was also detected by analyzing the supernatants of centrifuged samples for the presence of spin-labeled membrane fragments and cytoplasmic proteins. Using a method for the rapid incorporation of MT into the membrane, these effects were measured immediately after treatment under the same range of MT concentrations that cause cell growth inhibition. Cytotoxicity, estimated via microscopic counting of living and dead cells, indicated ∼70% cell death at the concentration of MT at which EPR spectroscopy detected a significant change in membrane dynamics. After this initial impact on the number of viable parasites, the processes of cell death and growth continued during the first 4 h of incubation. The EPR spectra of spin-labeled membrane-bound proteins were consistent with more expanded and solvent-exposed protein conformations, suggesting a detergent-like action. Thus, MT may form micelle-like structures around polypeptide chains, and proteins with a higher hydrophobicity may induce the penetration of hydrophilic groups of MT into the membrane, causing its rupture.
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48
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Estrogen receptor antagonists are anti-cryptococcal agents that directly bind EF hand proteins and synergize with fluconazole in vivo. mBio 2014; 5:e00765-13. [PMID: 24520056 PMCID: PMC3950514 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00765-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an infectious disease of global significance for which new therapies are needed. Repurposing previously developed drugs for new indications can expedite the translation of new therapies from bench to beside. Here, we characterized the anti-cryptococcal activity and antifungal mechanism of estrogen receptor antagonists related to the breast cancer drugs tamoxifen and toremifene. Tamoxifen and toremifene are fungicidal and synergize with fluconazole and amphotericin B in vitro. In a mouse model of disseminated cryptococcosis, tamoxifen at concentrations achievable in humans combines with fluconazole to decrease brain burden by ~1 log10. In addition, these drugs inhibit the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans within macrophages, a niche not accessible by current antifungal drugs. Toremifene and tamoxifen directly bind to the essential EF hand protein calmodulin, as determined by thermal shift assays with purified C. neoformans calmodulin (Cam1), prevent Cam1 from binding to its well-characterized substrate calcineurin (Cna1), and block Cna1 activation. In whole cells, toremifene and tamoxifen block the calcineurin-dependent nuclear localization of the transcription factor Crz1. A large-scale chemical genetic screen with a library of C. neoformans deletion mutants identified a second EF hand-containing protein, which we have named calmodulin-like protein 1 (CNAG_05655), as a potential target, and further analysis showed that toremifene directly binds Cml1 and modulates its ability to bind and activate Cna1. Importantly, tamoxifen analogs (idoxifene and methylene-idoxifene) with increased calmodulin antagonism display improved anti-cryptococcal activity, indicating that calmodulin inhibition can be used to guide a systematic optimization of the anti-cryptococcal activity of the triphenylethylene scaffold. Worldwide, cryptococcosis affects approximately 1 million people annually and kills more HIV/AIDS patients per year than tuberculosis. The gold standard therapy for cryptococcosis is amphotericin B plus 5-flucytosine, but this regimen is not readily available in regions where resources are limited and where the burden of disease is highest. Herein, we show that molecules related to the breast cancer drug tamoxifen are fungicidal for Cryptococcus and display a number of pharmacological properties desirable for an anti-cryptococcal drug, including synergistic fungicidal activity with fluconazole in vitro and in vivo, oral bioavailability, and activity within macrophages. We have also demonstrated that this class of molecules targets calmodulin as part of their mechanism of action and that tamoxifen analogs with increased calmodulin antagonism have improved anti-cryptococcal activity. Taken together, these results indicate that tamoxifen is a pharmacologically attractive scaffold for the development of new anti-cryptococcal drugs and provide a mechanistic basis for its further optimization.
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Bonano VI, Yokoyama-Yasunaka JKU, Miguel DC, Jones SA, Dodge JA, Uliana SRB. Discovery of SyntheticLeishmaniaInhibitors by Screening of a 2-Arylbenzothiophene Library. Chem Biol Drug Des 2013; 83:289-96. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vivian I. Bonano
- Departamento de Parasitologia; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo SP 05508-900 Brazil
| | | | - Danilo C. Miguel
- Departamento de Parasitologia; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo SP 05508-900 Brazil
| | - Scott A. Jones
- Lilly Research Laboratories; Eli Lilly and Company; Lilly Corporate Center; Indianapolis IN 46285 USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Dodge
- Lilly Research Laboratories; Eli Lilly and Company; Lilly Corporate Center; Indianapolis IN 46285 USA
| | - Silvia R. B. Uliana
- Departamento de Parasitologia; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas; Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo SP 05508-900 Brazil
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50
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Allarakhia M. Open-source approaches for the repurposing of existing or failed candidate drugs: learning from and applying the lessons across diseases. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2013; 7:753-66. [PMID: 23966771 PMCID: PMC3743608 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s46289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Repurposing has the objective of targeting existing drugs and failed, abandoned, or yet-to-be-pursued clinical candidates to new disease areas. The open-source model permits for the sharing of data, resources, compounds, clinical molecules, small libraries, and screening platforms to cost-effectively advance old drugs and/or candidates into clinical re-development. Clearly, at the core of drug-repurposing activities is collaboration, in many cases progressing beyond the open sharing of resources, technology, and intellectual property, to the sharing of facilities and joint program development to foster drug-repurposing human-capacity development. A variety of initiatives under way for drug repurposing, including those targeting rare and neglected diseases, are discussed in this review and provide insight into the stakeholders engaged in drug-repurposing discovery, the models of collaboration used, the intellectual property-management policies crafted, and human capacity developed. In the case of neglected tropical diseases, it is suggested that the development of human capital be a central aspect of drug-repurposing programs. Open-source models can support human-capital development through collaborative data generation, open compound access, open and collaborative screening, preclinical and possibly clinical studies. Given the urgency of drug development for neglected tropical diseases, the review suggests elements from current repurposing programs be extended to the neglected tropical diseases arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Allarakhia
- Department of Management Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
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