1
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Bennett JM, Narwal SK, Kabeche S, Abegg D, Thathy V, Hackett F, Yeo T, Li VL, Muir R, Faucher F, Lovell S, Blackman MJ, Adibekian A, Yeh E, Fidock DA, Bogyo M. Mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates identify metabolic serine hydrolases as antimalarial targets. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1714-1728.e10. [PMID: 39137783 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.07.006] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a significant health burden. One major barrier for developing antimalarial drugs is the ability of the parasite to rapidly generate resistance. We previously demonstrated that salinipostin A (SalA), a natural product, potently kills parasites by inhibiting multiple lipid metabolizing serine hydrolases, a mechanism that results in a low propensity for resistance. Given the difficulty of employing natural products as therapeutic agents, we synthesized a small library of lipidic mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates as bioisosteres of SalA. Two constitutional isomers exhibited divergent antiparasitic potencies that enabled the identification of therapeutically relevant targets. The active compound kills parasites through a mechanism that is distinct from both SalA and the pan-lipase inhibitor orlistat and shows synergistic killing with orlistat. Our compound induces only weak resistance, attributable to mutations in a single protein involved in multidrug resistance. These data suggest that mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates are promising, synthetically tractable antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Bennett
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sunil K Narwal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Kabeche
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Abegg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vandana Thathy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fiona Hackett
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Veronica L Li
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Muir
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Franco Faucher
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Scott Lovell
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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2
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Quadros HC, Herrmann L, Manaranche J, Paloque L, Borges-Silva MC, Dziwornu GA, D'Alessandro S, Chibale K, Basilico N, Benoit-Vical F, Tsogoeva SB, Moreira DRM. Characterization of antimalarial activity of artemisinin-based hybrid drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0014324. [PMID: 38899927 PMCID: PMC11232401 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00143-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to the spread of artemisinin (ART) resistance, ART-based hybrid drugs were developed, and their activity profile was characterized against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Two hybrids were found to display parasite growth reduction, stage-specificity, speed of activity, additivity of activity in drug combinations, and stability in hepatic microsomes of similar levels to those displayed by dihydroartemisinin (DHA). Conversely, the rate of chemical homolysis of the peroxide bonds is slower in hybrids than in DHA. From a mechanistic perspective, heme plays a central role in the chemical homolysis of peroxide, inhibiting heme detoxification and disrupting parasite heme redox homeostasis. The hybrid exhibiting slow homolysis of peroxide bonds was more potent in reducing the viability of ART-resistant parasites in a ring-stage survival assay than the hybrid exhibiting fast homolysis. However, both hybrids showed limited activity against ART-induced quiescent parasites in the quiescent-stage survival assay. Our findings are consistent with previous results showing that slow homolysis of peroxide-containing drugs may retain activity against proliferating ART-resistant parasites. However, our data suggest that this property does not overcome the limited activity of peroxides in killing non-proliferating parasites in a quiescent state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars Herrmann
- Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jeanne Manaranche
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Paloque
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | | | - Godwin Akpeko Dziwornu
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Sarah D'Alessandro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Svetlana B. Tsogoeva
- Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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3
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Kiss E, Kins S, Gorgas K, Venczel Szakács KH, Kirsch J, Kuhse J. Another Use for a Proven Drug: Experimental Evidence for the Potential of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives to Treat Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4165. [PMID: 38673751 PMCID: PMC11049906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived multitarget compounds may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for multifactorial diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Artemisinin and its derivatives were indicated to beneficially modulate various aspects of AD pathology in different AD animal models through the regulation of a wide range of different cellular processes, such as energy homeostasis, apoptosis, proliferation and inflammatory pathways. In this review, we aimed to provide an up-to-date overview of the experimental evidence documenting the neuroprotective activities of artemi-sinins to underscore the potential of these already-approved drugs for treating AD also in humans and propose their consideration for carefully designed clinical trials. In particular, the benefits to the main pathological hallmarks and events in the pathological cascade throughout AD development in different animal models of AD are summarized. Moreover, dose- and context-dependent effects of artemisinins are noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Kiss
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.K.)
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania;
| | - Stefan Kins
- Department of Human Biology and Human Genetics, University of Kaiserslautern, 69120 Kaiserslautern, Germany;
| | - Karin Gorgas
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Kinga Hajnal Venczel Szakács
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania;
| | - Joachim Kirsch
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Jochen Kuhse
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.G.); (J.K.)
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Bennett JM, Narwal SK, Kabeche S, Abegg D, Hackett F, Yeo T, Li VL, Muir RK, Faucher FF, Lovell S, Blackman MJ, Adibekian A, Yeh E, Fidock DA, Bogyo M. Mixed Alkyl/Aryl Phosphonates Identify Metabolic Serine Hydrolases as Antimalarial Targets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575224. [PMID: 38260474 PMCID: PMC10802587 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a significant health burden. A barrier for developing anti-malarial drugs is the ability of the parasite to rapidly generate resistance. We demonstrated that Salinipostin A (SalA), a natural product, kills parasites by inhibiting multiple lipid metabolizing serine hydrolases, a mechanism with a low propensity for resistance. Given the difficulty of employing natural products as therapeutic agents, we synthesized a library of lipidic mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates as bioisosteres of SalA. Two constitutional isomers exhibited divergent anti-parasitic potencies which enabled identification of therapeutically relevant targets. We also confirm that this compound kills parasites through a mechanism that is distinct from both SalA and the pan-lipase inhibitor, Orlistat. Like SalA, our compound induces only weak resistance, attributable to mutations in a single protein involved in multidrug resistance. These data suggest that mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates are a promising, synthetically tractable anti-malarials with a low-propensity to induce resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Bennett
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sunil K Narwal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Kabeche
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Abegg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fiona Hackett
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Veronica L Li
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ryan K Muir
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Scott Lovell
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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5
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Colina-Vegas L, da Cruz B Silva M, de Souza Pereira C, Isis Barros A, Araújo Nobrega J, Navarro M, Rottmann M, D'Alessandro S, Basilico N, Azevedo Batista A, Moreira DRM. Antimalarial Agents Derived from Metal-Amodiaquine Complexes with Activity in Multiple Stages of the Plasmodium Life Cycle. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301642. [PMID: 37427863 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is the one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. Chemically, quinolines are excellent ligands for metal coordination and are deployed as drugs for malaria treatment. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that metal complexes can be conjugated with antimalarial quinolines to be used as chemical tools to overcome the disadvantages of quinolines, improving their bioactive speciation, cellular distribution, and subsequently broadening the spectrum of activity to multiple stages of the complex Plasmodium life cycle. In this study, four novel complexes of ruthenium(II)- and gold(I)-containing amodiaquine (AQ) were synthesized, and a careful chemical characterization revealed the precise coordination site of AQ to the metals. Their speciation in solution was investigated, demonstrating the stability of the quinoline-metal bond. RuII - and AuI -AQ complexes were demonstrated to be potent and efficacious in inhibiting parasite growth in multiple stages of the Plasmodium life cycle as assayed in vitro and in vivo. These properties could be attributed to the ability of the metal-AQ complexes to reproduce the suppression of heme detoxification induced by AQ, while also inhibiting other processes in the parasite life cycle; this can be attributed to the action of the metallic species. Altogether, these findings indicate that metal coordination with antimalarial quinolines is a potential chemical tool for drug design and discovery in malaria and other infectious diseases susceptible to quinoline treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Legna Colina-Vegas
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, CP 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Caroline de Souza Pereira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CP 36036-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Ariane Isis Barros
- Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Rural, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, CEP 78060-900, MT, Brazil
| | - Joaquim Araújo Nobrega
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, CP 13565-90, SP, Brazil
| | - Maribel Navarro
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CP 36036-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Matthias Rottmann
- Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sarah D'Alessandro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Alzir Azevedo Batista
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, CP 13565-90, SP, Brazil
| | - Diogo R M Moreira
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, CEP 40296-710, BA, Brazil
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Owumi SE, Umez AO, Arunsi U, Irozuru CE. Dietary aflatoxin B1 and antimalarial-a lumefantrine/artesunate-therapy perturbs male rat reproductive function via pro-inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12172. [PMID: 37500724 PMCID: PMC10374580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39455-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the impact of Coartem™ (COA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on rats' hypothalamus, epididymis, and testis. Male rats were randomly grouped (n = 5 rats) and treated: control group (corn oil), AFB1 (70 µg/kg), COA (5 mg/kg), COA + AFB1 (5 + 0.035 mg/kg) and COA + AFB1 (5 + 0.07 mg/kg) for 28 days. Blood samples were collected for serum prolactin, testosterone, follicle-stimulating and luteinising hormones (FSH and LH) assay upon sacrifice. The semen, hypothalamus, epididymis, and testes were harvested for morphological, biochemical, and histopathology determination of oxidative, inflammation stress, genomic integrity, and pathological alterations. Exposure to the COA and AFB1 caused the cauda epididymal spermatozoa to display low motility, viability, and volume, with increased abnormalities. Hormonal disruption ensued in animals exposed to COA and AFB1 alone or together, exemplified by increased prolactin, and decreased testosterone, FSH and LH levels. Treatment-related reduction in biomarkers of testicular metabolism-acid and alkaline phosphatases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase-were observed. Also, COA and AFB1 treatment caused reductions in antioxidant (Glutathione and total thiols) levels and antioxidant enzyme (Catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase) activities in the examined organs. At the same time, treatment-related increases in DNA damage (p53), oxidative stress (xanthine oxidase, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and lipid peroxidation), inflammation (nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor-alpha), and apoptosis (caspase-9, and -3) were observed. Chronic exposure to COA and AFB1 led to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage in male rats' hypothalamic-reproductive axis, which might potentiate infertility if not contained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon E Owumi
- Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200004, Nigeria.
- ChangeLab-changing Lives, Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Rm NB 302, Ibadan, 200005, Oyo State, Nigeria.
| | - Angel O Umez
- Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200004, Nigeria
| | - Uche Arunsi
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0400, USA
| | - Chioma E Irozuru
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
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Ward KE, Fidock DA, Bridgford JL. Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 69:102193. [PMID: 36007459 PMCID: PMC9847095 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites are a major threat to public health in intertropical regions. Understanding the mechanistic basis, origins, and spread of resistance can inform strategies to mitigate its impact and reduce the global burden of malaria. The recent emergence in Africa of partial resistance to artemisinins, the core component of first-line combination therapies, is particularly concerning. Here, we review recent advances in elucidating the mechanistic basis of artemisinin resistance, driven primarily by point mutations in P. falciparum Kelch13, a key regulator of hemoglobin endocytosis and parasite response to artemisinin-induced stress. We also review resistance to partner drugs, including piperaquine and mefloquine, highlighting a key role for plasmepsins 2/3 and the drug and solute transporters P. falciparum chloroquine-resistance transporter and P. falciparum multidrug-resistance protein-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt E Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Jessica L Bridgford
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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A Hybrid of Amodiaquine and Primaquine Linked by Gold(I) Is a Multistage Antimalarial Agent Targeting Heme Detoxification and Thiol Redox Homeostasis. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061251. [PMID: 35745823 PMCID: PMC9229949 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybrid-based drugs linked through a transition metal constitute an emerging concept for Plasmodium intervention. To advance the drug design concept and enhance the therapeutic potential of this class of drugs, we developed a novel hybrid composed of quinolinic ligands amodiaquine (AQ) and primaquine (PQ) linked by gold(I), named [AuAQPQ]PF6. This compound demonstrated potent and efficacious antiplasmodial activity against multiple stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. The source of this activity was thoroughly investigated by comparing parasite susceptibility to the hybrid's components, the annotation of structure-activity relationships and studies of the mechanism of action. The activity of [AuAQPQ]PF6 for the parasite's asexual blood stages was influenced by the presence of AQ, while its activity against gametocytes and pre-erythrocytic parasites was influenced by both quinolinic components. Moreover, the coordination of ligands to gold(I) was found to be essential for the enhancement of potency, as suggested by the observation that a combination of quinolinic ligands does not reproduce the antimalarial potency and efficacy as observed for the metallic hybrid. Our results indicate that this gold(I) hybrid compound presents a dual mechanism of action by inhibiting the beta-hematin formation and enzymatic activity of thioredoxin reductases. Overall, our findings support the potential of transition metals as a dual chemical linker and an antiplasmodial payload for the development of hybrid-based drugs.
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9
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Duke SO, Dayan FE. The search for new herbicide mechanisms of action: Is there a 'holy grail'? PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:1303-1313. [PMID: 34796620 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
New herbicide modes of action (MOAs) are in great demand because of the burgeoning evolution of resistance of weeds to existing commercial herbicides. This need has been exacerbated by the almost complete lack of introduction of herbicides with new MOAs for almost 40 years. There are many highly phytotoxic compounds with MOAs not represented by commercial herbicides, but neither these compounds nor structural analogues have been developed as herbicides for a variety of reasons. Natural products provide knowledge of many MOAs that are not being utilized by commercial herbicides. Other means of identifying new herbicide targets are discussed, including pharmaceutical target sites and metabolomic and proteomic information, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict herbicidal compounds with new MOAs. Information about several newly discovered herbicidal compounds with new MOAs is summarized. The currently increased efforts of both established companies and start-up companies are likely to result in herbicides with new MOAs that can be used in herbicide resistance management within the next decade. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen O Duke
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Oxford, MS, USA
| | - Franck E Dayan
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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10
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The Role of the Iron Protoporphyrins Heme and Hematin in the Antimalarial Activity of Endoperoxide Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15010060. [PMID: 35056117 PMCID: PMC8779033 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium has evolved to regulate the levels and oxidative states of iron protoporphyrin IX (Fe-PPIX). Antimalarial endoperoxides such as 1,2,4-trioxane artemisinin and 1,2,4-trioxolane arterolane undergo a bioreductive activation step mediated by heme (FeII-PPIX) but not by hematin (FeIII-PPIX), leading to the generation of a radical species. This can alkylate proteins vital for parasite survival and alkylate heme into hematin–drug adducts. Heme alkylation is abundant and accompanied by interconversion from the ferrous to the ferric state, which may induce an imbalance in the iron redox homeostasis. In addition to this, hematin–artemisinin adducts antagonize the spontaneous biomineralization of hematin into hemozoin crystals, differing strikingly from artemisinins, which do not directly suppress hematin biomineralization. These hematin–drug adducts, despite being devoid of the peroxide bond required for radical-induced alkylation, are powerful antiplasmodial agents. This review addresses our current understanding of Fe-PPIX as a bioreductive activator and molecular target. A compelling pharmacological model is that by alkylating heme, endoperoxide drugs can cause an imbalance in the iron homeostasis and that the hematin–drug adducts formed have strong cytocidal effects by possibly reproducing some of the toxifying effects of free Fe-PPIX. The antiplasmodial phenotype and the mode of action of hematin–drug adducts open new possibilities for reconciliating the mechanism of endoperoxide drugs and for malaria intervention.
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Studies of Potency and Efficacy of an Optimized Artemisinin-Quinoline Hybrid against Multiple Stages of the Plasmodium Life Cycle. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111129. [PMID: 34832911 PMCID: PMC8620906 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A recently developed artemisinin-quinoline hybrid, named 163A, has been shown to display potent activity against the asexual blood stage of Plasmodium, the malaria parasite. In this study, we determined its in vitro cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, its potency to suppress P. berghei hepatic infection and to decrease the viability of P. falciparum gametocytes, in addition to determining whether the drug exhibits efficacy of a P. berghei infection in mice. This hybrid compound has a low level of cytotoxicity to mammalian cells and, conversely, a high level of selectivity. It is potent in the prevention of hepatic stage development as well as in killing gametocytes, denoting a potential blockage of malaria transmission. The hybrid presents a potent inhibitory activity for beta-hematin crystal formation, in which subsequent assays revealed that its endoperoxide component undergoes bioactivation by reductive reaction with ferrous heme towards the formation of heme-drug adducts; in parallel, the 7-chloroquinoline component has binding affinity for ferric hemin. Both structural components of the hybrid co-operate to enhance the inhibition of beta-hematin, and this bitopic ligand property is essential for arresting the growth of asexual blood parasites. We demonstrated the in vivo efficacy of the hybrid as an erythrocytic schizonticide agent in comparison to a chloroquine/artemisinin combination therapy. Collectively, the findings suggest that the bitopic property of the hybrid is highly operative on heme detoxification suppression, and this provides compelling evidence for explaining the action of the hybrid on the asexual blood stage. For sporozoite and gametocyte stages, the hybrid conserves the potency typically observed for endoperoxide drugs, and this is possibly achieved due to the redox chemistry of endoperoxide components with ferrous heme.
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Abate G, Zhang L, Pucci M, Morbini G, Mac Sweeney E, Maccarinelli G, Ribaudo G, Gianoncelli A, Uberti D, Memo M, Lucini L, Mastinu A. Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Different Ethanolic Phyto-Extracts of Artemisia annua L. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11070975. [PMID: 34356599 PMCID: PMC8301839 DOI: 10.3390/biom11070975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Artemisia annua L. (AA) has shown for many centuries important therapeutic virtues associated with the presence of artemisinin (ART). The aim of this study was to identify and quantify ART and other secondary metabolites in ethanolic extracts of AA and evaluate the biological activity in the presence of an inflammatory stimulus. In this work, after the extraction of the aerial parts of AA with different concentrations of ethanol, ART was quantified by HPLC and HPLC-MS. In addition, anthocyanins, flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, lignans, low-molecular-weight phenolics, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and terpenes were identified and semi-quantitatively determined by UHPLC-QTOF-MS untargeted metabolomics. Finally, the viability of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) was evaluated in the presence of the different ethanolic extracts and in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results show that ART is more concentrated in AA samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Regarding the other metabolites, only the anthocyanins are more concentrated in the samples extracted with 90% ethanol. Finally, ART and all AA samples showed a protective action towards the pro-inflammatory stimulus of LPS. In particular, the anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf extract of AA with 90% ethanol was also confirmed at the molecular level since a reduction in TNF-α mRNA gene expression was observed in SH-SY5Y treated with LPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Abate
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Leilei Zhang
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Mariachiara Pucci
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Giulia Morbini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Eileen Mac Sweeney
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Giuseppina Maccarinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Giovanni Ribaudo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Alessandra Gianoncelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Daniela Uberti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
| | - Luigi Lucini
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (A.M.)
| | - Andrea Mastinu
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (G.A.); (M.P.); (G.M.); (E.M.S.); (G.M.); (G.R.); (A.G.); (D.U.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (A.M.)
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