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Giuzio F, Bonomo MG, Catalano A, Infantino V, Salzano G, Monné M, Geronikaki A, Petrou A, Aquaro S, Sinicropi MS, Saturnino C. Potential PDE4B inhibitors as promising candidates against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Biomol Concepts 2023; 14:bmc-2022-0033. [PMID: 37909122 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2022-0033] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an RNA virus belonging to the coronavirus family responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It primarily affects the pulmonary system, which is the target of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for which many new compounds have been developed. In this study, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors are being investigated. The inhibition of PDE4 enzyme produces anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects in the lung by inducing an increase in cAMP concentrations. Piclamilast and rolipram are known selective inhibitors of PDE4, which are unfortunately endowed with common side effects, such as nausea and emesis. The selective inhibition of the phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) subtype may represent an intriguing technique for combating this highly contagious disease with fewer side effects. In this article, molecular docking studies for the selective inhibition of the PDE4B enzyme have been carried out on 21 in-house compounds. The compounds were docked into the pocket of the PDE4B catalytic site, and in most cases, they were almost completely superimposed onto piclamilast. Then, in order to enlarge our study, drug-likeness prediction studies were performed on the compounds under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giuzio
- International PhD Programme 'Sciences', Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano n.10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70126 Bari, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Salzano
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Magnus Monné
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Athina Geronikaki
- School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anthi Petrou
- School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stefano Aquaro
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Carmela Saturnino
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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Non-Selective PDE4 Inhibition Induces a Rapid and Transient Decrease of Serum Potassium in Mice. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11111582. [PMID: 36358283 PMCID: PMC9687940 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), a group of isoenzymes that hydrolyze and inactivate the second messenger cAMP, produce promising therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory and memory-enhancing effects. Here, we report that, unexpectedly, PDE4 inhibitors also reduce serum potassium levels in mice. As both the total potassium content of the body, as well as the distribution of potassium between intra- and extracellular compartments, are critical for normal cellular functions, we further explored this observation. Several structurally distinct PDE4 inhibitors reduce serum potassium levels in mice, suggesting it is a class effect of these drugs. Serum potassium levels decrease within 15 min of drug injection, suggesting that PDE4 inhibition lowers serum potassium levels by promoting a transcellular shift of potassium from the blood into cells. This shift is a characteristically fast process, compared to a loss of total-body potassium via the kidneys or digestive tract (e.g., diarrhea). Indeed, stimulating cAMP synthesis with β-adrenoceptor agonists is known to rapidly shift potassium into cells, and PDE4 inhibitors appear to mimic this process by preventing PDE4-mediated cAMP degradation. Our findings reveal that the various acute physiologic effects of PDE4 inhibitors are paralleled and/or may be affected by reduced serum potassium levels. Abstract The analysis of blood samples from mice treated with the PDE4 inhibitor Roflumilast revealed an unexpected reduction in serum potassium levels, while sodium and chloride levels were unaffected. Treatment with several structurally distinct PAN-PDE4 inhibitors, including Roflumilast, Rolipram, RS25344, and YM976 dose-dependently reduced serum potassium levels, indicating the effect is a class-characteristic property. PDE4 inhibition also induces hypothermia and hypokinesia in mice. However, while general anesthesia abrogates these effects of PDE4 inhibitors, potassium levels decrease to similar extents in both awake as well as in fully anesthetized mice. This suggests that the hypokalemic effects of PDE4 inhibitors occur independently of hypothermia and hypokinesia. PDE4 inhibition reduces serum potassium within 15 min of treatment, consistent with a rapid transcellular shift of potassium. Catecholamines promote the uptake of potassium into the cell via increased cAMP signaling. PDE4 appears to modulate these adrenoceptor-mediated effects, as PDE4 inhibition has no additional effects on serum potassium in the presence of saturating doses of the β-adrenoceptor agonist Isoprenaline or the α2-blocker Yohimbine, and is partially blocked by pre-treatment with the β-blocker Propranolol. Together, these data suggest that PDE4 inhibitors reduce serum potassium levels by modulating the adrenergic regulation of cellular potassium uptake.
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Ghigo A, Murabito A, Sala V, Pisano AR, Bertolini S, Gianotti A, Caci E, Montresor A, Premchandar A, Pirozzi F, Ren K, Sala AD, Mergiotti M, Richter W, de Poel E, Matthey M, Caldrer S, Cardone RA, Civiletti F, Costamagna A, Quinney NL, Butnarasu C, Visentin S, Ruggiero MR, Baroni S, Crich SG, Ramel D, Laffargue M, Tocchetti CG, Levi R, Conti M, Lu XY, Melotti P, Sorio C, De Rose V, Facchinetti F, Fanelli V, Wenzel D, Fleischmann BK, Mall MA, Beekman J, Laudanna C, Gentzsch M, Lukacs GL, Pedemonte N, Hirsch E. A PI3Kγ mimetic peptide triggers CFTR gating, bronchodilation, and reduced inflammation in obstructive airway diseases. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabl6328. [PMID: 35353541 PMCID: PMC9869178 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl6328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents, such as β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonists and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, remain a mainstay in the treatment of obstructive respiratory diseases, conditions characterized by airway constriction, inflammation, and mucus hypersecretion. However, their clinical use is limited by unwanted side effects because of unrestricted cAMP elevation in the airways and in distant organs. Here, we identified the A-kinase anchoring protein phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) as a critical regulator of a discrete cAMP signaling microdomain activated by β2-ARs in airway structural and inflammatory cells. Displacement of the PI3Kγ-anchored pool of protein kinase A (PKA) by an inhaled, cell-permeable, PI3Kγ mimetic peptide (PI3Kγ MP) inhibited a pool of subcortical PDE4B and PDE4D and safely increased cAMP in the lungs, leading to airway smooth muscle relaxation and reduced neutrophil infiltration in a murine model of asthma. In human bronchial epithelial cells, PI3Kγ MP induced unexpected cAMP and PKA elevations restricted to the vicinity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the ion channel controlling mucus hydration that is mutated in cystic fibrosis (CF). PI3Kγ MP promoted the phosphorylation of wild-type CFTR on serine-737, triggering channel gating, and rescued the function of F508del-CFTR, the most prevalent CF mutant, by enhancing the effects of existing CFTR modulators. These results unveil PI3Kγ as the regulator of a β2-AR/cAMP microdomain central to smooth muscle contraction, immune cell activation, and epithelial fluid secretion in the airways, suggesting the use of a PI3Kγ MP for compartment-restricted, therapeutic cAMP elevation in chronic obstructive respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Ghigo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy,Kither Biotech S.r.l.; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Murabito
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Sala
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy,Kither Biotech S.r.l.; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Pisano
- Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Corporate Pre-Clinical R&D; 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Serena Bertolini
- Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Corporate Pre-Clinical R&D; 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Ambra Gianotti
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini; 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini; 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Alessio Montresor
- Division of General Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy,Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research Laboratory "Daniele Lissandrini," Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Flora Pirozzi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University; 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Kai Ren
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Angela Della Sala
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Mergiotti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Wito Richter
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine; AL 36688 Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Eyleen de Poel
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht; 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michaela Matthey
- Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum; 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Sara Caldrer
- Division of General Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy,Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research Laboratory "Daniele Lissandrini," Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Rosa A. Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari; 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Federica Civiletti
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Costamagna
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Nancy L. Quinney
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina; NC 27599 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cosmin Butnarasu
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Sonja Visentin
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ruggiero
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Baroni
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Simonetta Geninatti Crich
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Damien Ramel
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, Paul Sabatier University; 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Muriel Laffargue
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, Paul Sabatier University; 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Carlo G. Tocchetti
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University; 80131 Naples, Italy,Interdepartmental Center of Clinical and Translational Research (CIRCET), Federico II University; 80131 Naples, Italy,Interdepartmental Hypertension Research Center (CIRIAPA), Federico II University; 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Renzo Levi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Conti
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco; CA 94143 San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xiao-Yun Lu
- School of life Science & Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University; 710049 Xi'an Shaanxi, P.R.China
| | - Paola Melotti
- Cystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona; 37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Sorio
- Division of General Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy,Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research Laboratory "Daniele Lissandrini," Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Virginia De Rose
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | | | - Vito Fanelli
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Wenzel
- Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum; 44801 Bochum, Germany,Institute of Physiology I, Life & Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn; 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bernd K. Fleischmann
- Institute of Physiology I, Life & Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn; 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcus A. Mall
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin; 10117 Berlin, Germany,German Center for Lung Research (DZL), associated partner; 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Beekman
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht; 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carlo Laudanna
- Division of General Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy,Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research Laboratory "Daniele Lissandrini," Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine; 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Martina Gentzsch
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina; NC 27599 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA,Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of North Carolina; NC 27599 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gergely L. Lukacs
- Department of Physiology, McGill University; H3G 1Y6 Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino; 10126 Torino, Italy,Kither Biotech S.r.l.; 10126 Torino, Italy
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Assessment of PDE4 Inhibitor-Induced Hypothermia as a Correlate of Nausea in Mice. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10121355. [PMID: 34943270 PMCID: PMC8698290 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Type 4 cAMP-phosphodiesterases (PDE4s) comprise a family of four isoenzymes, PDE4A to D, that hydrolyze and inactivate the second messenger cAMP. Non/PAN-selective PDE4 inhibitors, which inhibit all four PDE4 subtypes simultaneously, produce many promising therapeutic benefits, such as anti-inflammatory or cognition- and memory-enhancing effects. However, unwanted side effects, principally, nausea, diarrhea, and emesis, have long hampered their clinical and commercial success. Targeting individual PDE4 subtypes has been proposed for developing drugs with an improved safety profile, but which PDE4 subtype(s) is/are actually responsible for nausea and emesis remains ill-defined. Based on the observation that nausea is often accompanied by hypothermia in humans and other mammals, we used the measurement of core body temperatures of mice as a potential correlate of nausea induced by PDE4 inhibitors in humans. We find that selective inactivation of any of the four PDE4 subtypes did not change the body temperature of mice, suggesting that PAN-PDE4 inhibitor-induced hypothermia (and hence nausea in humans) requires the simultaneous inhibition of multiple PDE4 subtypes. This finding contrasts with prior reports that proposed PDE4D as the subtype mediating these side effects of PDE4 inhibitors and suggests that subtype-selective inhibitors that target any individual PDE4 subtype, including PDE4D, may not cause nausea. Abstract Treatment with PAN-PDE4 inhibitors has been shown to produce hypothermia in multiple species. Given the growing body of evidence that links nausea and emesis to disturbances in thermoregulation in mammals, we explored PDE4 inhibitor-induced hypothermia as a novel correlate of nausea in mice. Using knockout mice for each of the four PDE4 subtypes, we show that selective inactivation of individual PDE4 subtypes per se does not produce hypothermia, which must instead require the concurrent inactivation of multiple (at least two) PDE4 subtypes. These findings contrast with the role of PDE4s in shortening the duration of α2-adrenoceptor-dependent anesthesia, a behavioral surrogate previously used to assess the emetic potential of PDE4 inhibitors, which is exclusively affected by inactivation of PDE4D. These different outcomes are rooted in the distinct molecular mechanisms that drive these two paradigms; acting as a physiologic α2-adrenoceptor antagonist produces the effect of PDE4/PDE4D inactivation on the duration of α2-adrenoceptor-dependent anesthesia, but does not mediate the effect of PDE4 inhibitors on body temperature in mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that selective inhibition of any individual PDE4 subtype, including inhibition of PDE4D, may be free of nausea and emesis.
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