1
|
Suckling CJ. The allure of targets for novel drugs. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:472-484. [PMID: 38389887 PMCID: PMC10880906 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00621b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The challenges of bringing new medicines to patients have been extensively discussed and debated, including consideration of the contribution that academic laboratories can make. At the University of Strathclyde, drug discovery has been a continuing focal activity since the 1960s, and in the past 30 years, the author has led or contributed to many projects of different character and for diverse diseases. A feature common to these projects is the extension of concepts of molecular and biological targets in drug discovery research. In mechanistic terms, these have included compounds that are activators and not inhibitors, and in particular multitargeted compounds. With respect to relevance to disease, schizophrenia, pulmonary disfunction, autoimmune, and infectious disease are most relevant. These projects are discussed in the context of classical medicinal chemistry and more recent concepts in and approaches to drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Suckling
- Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde 295 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 1Xl Scotland UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bunte MJM, Schots A, Kammenga JE, Wilbers RHP. Helminth Glycans at the Host-Parasite Interface and Their Potential for Developing Novel Therapeutics. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:807821. [PMID: 35083280 PMCID: PMC8784694 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.807821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths are parasitic worms that have successfully co-evolved with their host immune system to sustain long-term infections. Their successful parasitism is mainly facilitated by modulation of the host immune system via the release of excretory-secretory (ES) products covered with glycan motifs such as Lewis X, fucosylated LDN, phosphorylcholine and tyvelose. Evidence is accumulating that these glycans play key roles in different aspects of helminth infection including interactions with immune cells for recognition and evasion of host defences. Moreover, antigenic properties of glycans can be exploited for improving the efficacy of anti-helminthic vaccines. Here, we illustrate that glycans have the potential to open new avenues for the development of novel biopharmaceuticals and effective vaccines based on helminth glycoproteins.
Collapse
|
3
|
Doonan J, Thomas D, Wong MH, Ramage HJ, Al-Riyami L, Lumb FE, Bell KS, Fairlie-Clarke KJ, Suckling CJ, Michelsen KS, Jiang HR, Cooke A, Harnett MM, Harnett W. Failure of the Anti-Inflammatory Parasitic Worm Product ES-62 to Provide Protection in Mouse Models of Type I Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Molecules 2018; 23:E2669. [PMID: 30336585 PMCID: PMC6222842 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic helminths and their isolated secreted products show promise as novel treatments for allergic and autoimmune conditions in humans. Foremost amongst the secreted products is ES-62, a glycoprotein derived from Acanthocheilonema viteae, a filarial nematode parasite of gerbils, which is anti-inflammatory by virtue of covalently-attached phosphorylcholine (PC) moieties. ES-62 has been found to protect against disease in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and airway hyper-responsiveness. Furthermore, novel PC-based synthetic small molecule analogues (SMAs) of ES-62 have recently been demonstrated to show similar anti-inflammatory properties to the parent molecule. In spite of these successes, we now show that ES-62 and its SMAs are unable to provide protection in mouse models of certain autoimmune conditions where other helminth species or their secreted products can prevent disease development, namely type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. We speculate on the reasons underlying ES-62's failures in these conditions and how the negative data generated may help us to further understand ES-62's mechanism of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Doonan
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - David Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
| | - Michelle H Wong
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Hazel J Ramage
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Lamyaa Al-Riyami
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Felicity E Lumb
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Kara S Bell
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Karen J Fairlie-Clarke
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Colin J Suckling
- Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK.
| | - Kathrin S Michelsen
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Hui-Rong Jiang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Anne Cooke
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
| | - Margaret M Harnett
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
| | - William Harnett
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tanaka A, Allam VSRR, Simpson J, Tiberti N, Shiels J, To J, Lund M, Combes V, Weldon S, Taggart C, Dalton JP, Phipps S, Sukkar MB, Donnelly S. The parasitic 68-mer peptide FhHDM-1 inhibits mixed granulocytic inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in experimental asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018. [PMID: 29522851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akane Tanaka
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | | | | | - Natalia Tiberti
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Jenna Shiels
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; Airway Innate Immunity Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Joyce To
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Maria Lund
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Valery Combes
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Sinead Weldon
- Airway Innate Immunity Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Cliff Taggart
- Airway Innate Immunity Group, Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - John P Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Phipps
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia
| | - Maria B Sukkar
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Sheila Donnelly
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Suckling CJ, Alam S, Olson MA, Saikh KU, Harnett MM, Harnett W. Small Molecule Analogues of the parasitic worm product ES-62 interact with the TIR domain of MyD88 to inhibit pro-inflammatory signalling. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2123. [PMID: 29391452 PMCID: PMC5794923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20388-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
ES-62 is a protein secreted by the parasitic worm Acanthocheilonema viteae that is anti-inflammatory by virtue of covalently attached phosphorylcholine. Previously we have reported that drug-like Small Molecule Analogues (SMAs) of its phosphorylcholine moiety can mimic ES-62 in protecting against disease development in certain mouse models of autoimmune and allergic conditions, due to them causing partial degradation of the TLR/IL-1R adaptor MyD88. We have now taken a molecular modelling approach to investigating the mechanism underlying this effect and this predicts that the SMAs interact directly with the MyD88 TIR domain. Further support for this is provided by assay of LPS-induced MyD88/NF-κB-driven secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter activity in commercially-available stably transfected (TLR4-MD2-NF-κB-SEAP) HEK293 cells, as SMA12b-mediated inhibition of such SEAP activity is blocked by its pre-incubation with recombinant MyD88-TIR domain. Direct binding of SMA12b to the TIR domain is also shown to inhibit homo-dimerization of the adaptor, an event that can explain the observed degradation of the adaptor and inhibition of subsequent downstream signalling. Thus, these new data identify initial events by which drug-like ES-62 SMAs, which we also demonstrate are able to inhibit cytokine production by human cells, homeostatically maintain "safe" levels of MyD88 signalling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Suckling
- WestCHEM Research School, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shahabuddin Alam
- Department of Immunology, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Mark A Olson
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Kamal U Saikh
- Department of Immunology, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Margaret M Harnett
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK.
| | - William Harnett
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu Z, Wang L, Tang Y, Sun X. Parasite-Derived Proteins for the Treatment of Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2164. [PMID: 29163443 PMCID: PMC5682104 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The morbidity associated with atopic diseases and immune dysregulation disorders such as asthma, food allergies, multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory bowel disease has been increasing all around the world over the past few decades. Although the roles of non-biological environmental factors and genetic factors in the etiopathology have been particularly emphasized, they do not fully explain the increase; for example, genetic factors in a population change very gradually. Epidemiological investigation has revealed that the increase also parallels a decrease in infectious diseases, especially parasitic infections. Thus, the reduced prevalence of parasitic infections may be another important reason for immune dysregulation. Parasites have co-evolved with the human immune system for a long time. Some parasite-derived immune-evasion molecules have been verified to reduce the incidence and harmfulness of atopic diseases in humans by modulating the immune response. More importantly, some parasite-derived products have been shown to inhibit the progression of inflammatory diseases and consequently alleviate their symptoms. Thus, parasites, and especially their products, may have potential applications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In this review, the potential of parasite-derived products and their analogs for use in the treatment of atopic diseases and immune dysregulation is summarized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (SYSU), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lifu Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (SYSU), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanlai Tang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (SYSU), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.,Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Harnett MM, Harnett W. Can Parasitic Worms Cure the Modern World's Ills? Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:694-705. [PMID: 28606411 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing recognition that the alarming surge in allergy and autoimmunity in the industrialised and developing worlds shadows the rapid eradication of pathogens, such as parasitic helminths. Appreciation of this has fuelled an explosion in research investigating the therapeutic potential of these worms. This review considers the current state-of-play with a particular focus on exciting recent advances in the identification of potential novel targets for immunomodulation that can be exploited therapeutically. Furthermore, we contemplate the prospects for designing worm-derived immunotherapies for an ever-widening range of inflammatory diseases, including, for example, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and ageing as well as neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M Harnett
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - William Harnett
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
| |
Collapse
|