1
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Ong HW, Adderley J, Tobin AB, Drewry DH, Doerig C. Parasite and host kinases as targets for antimalarials. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:151-169. [PMID: 36942408 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2185511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The deployment of Artemisinin-based combination therapies and transmission control measures led to a decrease in the global malaria burden over the recent decades. Unfortunately, this trend is now reversing, in part due to resistance against available treatments, calling for the development of new drugs against untapped targets to prevent cross-resistance. AREAS COVERED In view of their demonstrated druggability in noninfectious diseases, protein kinases represent attractive targets. Kinase-focussed antimalarial drug discovery is facilitated by the availability of kinase-targeting scaffolds and large libraries of inhibitors, as well as high-throughput phenotypic and biochemical assays. We present an overview of validated Plasmodium kinase targets and their inhibitors, and briefly discuss the potential of host cell kinases as targets for host-directed therapy. EXPERT OPINION We propose priority research areas, including (i) diversification of Plasmodium kinase targets (at present most efforts focus on a very small number of targets); (ii) polypharmacology as an avenue to limit resistance (kinase inhibitors are highly suitable in this respect); and (iii) preemptive limitation of resistance through host-directed therapy (targeting host cell kinases that are required for parasite survival) and transmission-blocking through targeting sexual stage-specific kinases as a strategy to protect curative drugs from the spread of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wee Ong
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Jack Adderley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Rmit University, Bundoora VIC Australia
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - David H Drewry
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Rmit University, Bundoora VIC Australia
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2
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Pseudokinase NRP1 facilitates endocytosis of transferrin in the African trypanosome. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18572. [PMID: 36329148 PMCID: PMC9633767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22054-x] [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: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and nagana in cattle. During infection of a vertebrate, endocytosis of host transferrin (Tf) is important for viability of the parasite. The majority of proteins involved in trypanosome endocytosis of Tf are unknown. Here we identify pseudokinase NRP1 (Tb427tmp.160.4770) as a regulator of Tf endocytosis. Genetic knockdown of NRP1 inhibited endocytosis of Tf without blocking uptake of bovine serum albumin. Binding of Tf to the flagellar pocket was not affected by knockdown of NRP1. However the quantity of Tf per endosome dropped significantly, consistent with NRP1 promoting robust capture and/or retention of Tf in vesicles. NRP1 is involved in motility of Tf-laden vesicles since distances between endosomes and the kinetoplast were reduced after knockdown of the gene. In search of possible mediators of NRP1 modulation of Tf endocytosis, the gene was knocked down and the phosphoproteome analyzed. Phosphorylation of protein kinases forkhead, NEK6, and MAPK10 was altered, in addition to EpsinR, synaptobrevin and other vesicle-associated proteins predicted to be involved in endocytosis. These candidate proteins may link NRP1 functionally either to protein kinases or to vesicle-associated proteins.
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3
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Sharma A, Cipriano M, Ferrins L, Hajduk SL, Mensa-Wilmot K. Hypothesis-generating proteome perturbation to identify NEU-4438 and acoziborole modes of action in the African Trypanosome. iScience 2022; 25:105302. [PMID: 36304107 PMCID: PMC9593816 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105302] [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: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NEU-4438 is a lead for the development of drugs against Trypanosoma brucei, which causes human African trypanosomiasis. Optimized with phenotypic screening, targets of NEU-4438 are unknown. Herein, we present a cell perturbome workflow that compares NEU-4438's molecular modes of action to those of SCYX-7158 (acoziborole). Following a 6 h perturbation of trypanosomes, NEU-4438 and acoziborole reduced steady-state amounts of 68 and 92 unique proteins, respectively. After analysis of proteomes, hypotheses formulated for modes of action were tested: Acoziborole and NEU-4438 have different modes of action. Whereas NEU-4438 prevented DNA biosynthesis and basal body maturation, acoziborole destabilized CPSF3 and other proteins, inhibited polypeptide translation, and reduced endocytosis of haptoglobin-hemoglobin. These data point to CPSF3-independent modes of action for acoziborole. In case of polypharmacology, the cell-perturbome workflow elucidates modes of action because it is target-agnostic. Finally, the workflow can be used in any cell that is amenable to proteomic and molecular biology experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
| | - Michael Cipriano
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Lori Ferrins
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephen L. Hajduk
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA,Corresponding author
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4
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Bromodomain factor 5 is an essential regulator of transcription in Leishmania. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4071. [PMID: 35831302 PMCID: PMC9279504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31742-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania are unicellular parasites that cause human and animal diseases. Like other kinetoplastids, they possess large transcriptional start regions (TSRs) which are defined by histone variants and histone lysine acetylation. Cellular interpretation of these chromatin marks is not well understood. Eight bromodomain factors, the reader modules for acetyl-lysine, are found across Leishmania genomes. Using L. mexicana, Cas9-driven gene deletions indicate that BDF1–5 are essential for promastigotes. Dimerisable, split Cre recombinase (DiCre)-inducible gene deletion of BDF5 show it is essential for both promastigotes and murine infection. ChIP-seq identifies BDF5 as enriched at TSRs. XL-BioID proximity proteomics shows the BDF5 landscape is enriched for BDFs, HAT2, proteins involved in transcriptional activity, and RNA processing; revealing a Conserved Regulators of Kinetoplastid Transcription (CRKT) Complex. Inducible deletion of BDF5 causes global reduction in RNA polymerase II transcription. Our results indicate the requirement of Leishmania to interpret histone acetylation marks through the bromodomain-enriched CRKT complex for normal gene expression and cellular viability. Leishmania use large (5–10 kb) transcriptional start regions, where the chromatin is highly enriched for acetylated histones, to drive the expression of polycistronic gene arrays. Here the authors show bromodomain-containing protein BDF5 is enriched at transcriptional start sites and its depletion leads to cell death in vitro and in murine infections, and they identify its interactors.
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5
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Mensa-Wilmot K. How Physiologic Targets Can Be Distinguished from Drug-Binding Proteins. Mol Pharmacol 2021; 100:1-6. [PMID: 33941662 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.120.000186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In clinical trials, some drugs owe their effectiveness to off-target activity. This and other observations raise a possibility that many studies identifying targets of drugs are incomplete. If off-target proteins are pharmacologically important, it will be worthwhile to identify them early in the development process to gain a better understanding of the molecular basis of drug action. Herein, we outline a multidisciplinary strategy for systematic identification of physiologic targets of drugs in cells. A drug-binding protein whose genetic disruption yields very similar molecular effects as treatment of cells with the drug may be defined as a physiologic target of the drug. For a drug developed with a rational approach, it is desirable to verify experimentally that a protein used for hit optimization in vitro remains the sole polypeptide recognized by the drug in a cell. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A body of evidence indicates that inactivation of many drug-binding proteins may not cause the pharmacological effects triggered by the drugs. A multidisciplinary cell-based approach can be of great value in identifying the physiologic targets of drugs, including those developed with target-based strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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6
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Veale CGL. Unpacking the Pathogen Box-An Open Source Tool for Fighting Neglected Tropical Disease. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:386-453. [PMID: 30614200 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Pathogen Box is a 400-strong collection of drug-like compounds, selected for their potential against several of the world's most important neglected tropical diseases, including trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue virus and trichuriasis, in addition to malaria and tuberculosis. This library represents an ensemble of numerous successful drug discovery programmes from around the globe, aimed at providing a powerful resource to stimulate open source drug discovery for diseases threatening the most vulnerable communities in the world. This review seeks to provide an in-depth analysis of the literature pertaining to the compounds in the Pathogen Box, including structure-activity relationship highlights, mechanisms of action, related compounds with reported activity against different diseases, and, where appropriate, discussion on the known and putative targets of compounds, thereby providing context and increasing the accessibility of the Pathogen Box to the drug discovery community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton G L Veale
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Pietermaritzburg Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
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7
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Senerovic L, Opsenica D, Moric I, Aleksic I, Spasić M, Vasiljevic B. Quinolines and Quinolones as Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anti-virulence, Antiviral and Anti-parasitic Agents. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1282:37-69. [PMID: 31515709 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2019_428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Infective diseases have become health threat of a global proportion due to appearance and spread of microorganisms resistant to majority of therapeutics currently used for their treatment. Therefore, there is a constant need for development of new antimicrobial agents, as well as novel therapeutic strategies. Quinolines and quinolones, isolated from plants, animals, and microorganisms, have demonstrated numerous biological activities such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and antitumor. For more than two centuries quinoline/quinolone moiety has been used as a scaffold for drug development and even today it represents an inexhaustible inspiration for design and development of novel semi-synthetic or synthetic agents exhibiting broad spectrum of bioactivities. The structural diversity of synthetized compounds provides high and selective activity attained through different mechanisms of action, as well as low toxicity on human cells. This review describes quinoline and quinolone derivatives with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-virulent, antiviral, and anti-parasitic activities with the focus on the last 10 years literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidija Senerovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Dejan Opsenica
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Center of excellence in Environmental Chemistry and Engineering, ICTM - University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Moric
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Aleksic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marta Spasić
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branka Vasiljevic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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8
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Kryshchyshyn A, Devinyak O, Kaminskyy D, Grellier P, Lesyk R. Development of Predictive QSAR Models of 4-Thiazolidinones Antitrypanosomal Activity Using Modern Machine Learning Algorithms. Mol Inform 2017; 37:e1700078. [PMID: 29134756 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201700078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents novel QSAR models for the prediction of antitrypanosomal activity among thiazolidines and related heterocycles. The performance of four machine learning algorithms: Random Forest regression, Stochastic gradient boosting, Multivariate adaptive regression splines and Gaussian processes regression have been studied in order to reach better levels of predictivity. The results for Random Forest and Gaussian processes regression are comparable and outperform other studied methods. The preliminary descriptor selection with Boruta method improved the outcome of machine learning methods. The two novel QSAR-models developed with Random Forest and Gaussian processes regression algorithms have good predictive ability, which was proved by the external evaluation of the test set with corresponding Q2ext =0.812 and Q2ext =0.830. The obtained models can be used further for in silico screening of virtual libraries in the same chemical domain in order to find new antitrypanosomal agents. Thorough analysis of descriptors influence in the QSAR models and interpretation of their chemical meaning allows to highlight a number of structure-activity relationships. The presence of phenyl rings with electron-withdrawing atoms or groups in para-position, increased number of aromatic rings, high branching but short chains, high HOMO energy, and the introduction of 1-substituted 2-indolyl fragment into the molecular structure have been recognized as trypanocidal activity prerequisites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kryshchyshyn
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska str. 69, 79010, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Oleg Devinyak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Disciplines, Uzhgorod National University, Narodna sq. 1, 88000, Uzhgorod, Ukraine
| | - Danylo Kaminskyy
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska str. 69, 79010, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Philippe Grellier
- National Museum of Natural History, UMR 7245 CNRS MCAM, Sorbonne Universités, CP 52, 57 Rue Cuvier, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Roman Lesyk
- Department of Pharmaceutical, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Pekarska str. 69, 79010, Lviv, Ukraine
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9
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Optimization of physicochemical properties for 4-anilinoquinazoline inhibitors of trypanosome proliferation. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 141:446-459. [PMID: 29049963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a deadly disease in need of new chemotherapeutics that can cross into the central nervous system. We previously reported the discovery of 2 (NEU-617), a small molecule with activity against T. brucei bloodstream proliferation. Further optimization of 2 to improve the physicochemical properties (LogP, LLE, [1], and MPO score) [2] have led us to twelve sub-micromolar compounds, most importantly the headgroup variants 9i and 9j, and the linker variant 18. Although these 3 compounds had reduced potency compared to 2, they all had improved LogP, LLE and MPO scores. Cross-screening these analogs against other protozoan parasites uncovered 9o with potent activity towards T. brucei, T. cruzi and L. major, while four others compounds (17, 18, 21, 26) showed activity towards P. falciparum D6. This reinforces the effectiveness of lead repurposing for the discovery of new protozoan disease therapeutics.
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10
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Berninger M, Schmidt I, Ponte-Sucre A, Holzgrabe U. Novel lead compounds in pre-clinical development against African sleeping sickness. MEDCHEMCOMM 2017; 8:1872-1890. [PMID: 30108710 PMCID: PMC6072528 DOI: 10.1039/c7md00280g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as African sleeping sickness, is caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Trypanosoma. As the disease progresses, the parasites cross the blood brain barrier and are lethal for the patients if the disease is left untreated. Current therapies suffer from several drawbacks due to e.g. toxicity of the respective compounds or resistance to approved antitrypanosomal drugs. In this review, the different strategies of drug development against HAT are considered, namely the target-based approach, the phenotypic high throughput screening and the drug repurposing strategy. The most promising compounds emerging from these approaches entering an in vivo evaluation are mentioned herein. Of note, it may turn out to be difficult to confirm in vitro activity in an animal model of infection; however, possible reasons for the missing efficacy in unsuccessful in vivo studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Berninger
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland , 97074 Würzburg , Germany .
| | - Ines Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland , 97074 Würzburg , Germany .
| | - Alicia Ponte-Sucre
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology , Institute of Experimental Medicine , Luis Razetti School of Medicine , Faculty of Medicine , Universidad Central de Venezuela Caracas , Venezuela . Tel: +0931 31 85461
| | - Ulrike Holzgrabe
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland , 97074 Würzburg , Germany .
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11
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Dichiara M, Marrazzo A, Prezzavento O, Collina S, Rescifina A, Amata E. Repurposing of Human Kinase Inhibitors in Neglected Protozoan Diseases. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:1235-1253. [PMID: 28590590 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis belong to a group of infectious diseases known as neglected tropical diseases and are induced by infection with protozoan parasites named trypanosomatids. Drugs in current use have several limitations, and therefore new candidate drugs are required. The majority of current therapeutic trypanosomatid targets are enzymes or cell-surface receptors. Among these, eukaryotic protein kinases are a major group of protein targets whose modulation may be beneficial for the treatment of neglected tropical protozoan diseases. This review summarizes the finding of new hit compounds for neglected tropical protozoan diseases, by repurposing known human kinase inhibitors on trypanosomatids. Kinase inhibitors are grouped by human kinase family and discussed according to the screening (target-based or phenotypic) reported for these compounds on trypanosomatids. This collection aims to provide insight into repurposed human kinase inhibitors and their importance in the development of new chemical entities with potential beneficial effects on the diseases caused by trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dichiara
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria, 6, 95100, Catania, Italy
| | - Agostino Marrazzo
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria, 6, 95100, Catania, Italy
| | - Orazio Prezzavento
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria, 6, 95100, Catania, Italy
| | - Simona Collina
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, V.le Taramelli, 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria, 6, 95100, Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amata
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria, 6, 95100, Catania, Italy
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12
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Novel Therapeutic Targets for Human African Trypanosomiasis. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40506-017-0120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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13
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Devine W, Thomas SM, Erath J, Bachovchin KA, Lee PJ, Leed SE, Rodriguez A, Sciotti RJ, Mensa-Wilmot K, Pollastri MP. Antiparasitic Lead Discovery: Toward Optimization of a Chemotype with Activity Against Multiple Protozoan Parasites. ACS Med Chem Lett 2017; 8:350-354. [PMID: 28337329 PMCID: PMC5346991 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
Human
African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis
present a significant burden across the developing world. Existing
therapeutics for these protozoal neglected tropical diseases suffer
from severe side effects and toxicity. Previously, NEU-1045 (3) was identified as a promising lead with cross-pathogen
activity, though it possessed poor physicochemical properties. We
have designed a library of analogues with improved calculated physicochemical
properties built on the quinoline scaffold of 3 incorporating
small, polar aminoheterocycles in place of the 4-(3-fluorobenzyloxy)aniline
substituent. We report the biological activity of these inhibitors
against Trypanosoma brucei (HAT), T. cruzi (Chagas disease), and Leishmania major (cutaneous
leishmaniasis) and describe the identification of N-(5-chloropyrimidin-2-yl)-6-(4-(morpholinosulfonyl)phenyl)quinolin-4-amine
(13t) as a promising inhibitor of L. major proliferation and 6-(4-(morpholinosulfonyl)phenyl)-N-(pyrimidin-4-yl)quinolin-4-amine (13j), a potent inhibitor
of T. brucei proliferation with improved drug-like
properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Devine
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Sarah M. Thomas
- Department
of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jessey Erath
- Anti-Infectives
Screening Core, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Kelly A. Bachovchin
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Patricia J. Lee
- Experimental
Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden
Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Susan E. Leed
- Experimental
Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden
Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department
of Microbiology, Division of Parasitology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street New
York, New York 10010, United States
- Anti-Infectives
Screening Core, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Richard J. Sciotti
- Experimental
Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden
Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department
of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Michael P. Pollastri
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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14
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Sullenberger C, Piqué D, Ogata Y, Mensa-Wilmot K. AEE788 Inhibits Basal Body Assembly and Blocks DNA Replication in the African Trypanosome. Mol Pharmacol 2017; 91:482-498. [PMID: 28246189 PMCID: PMC5399642 DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.106906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). The pyrrolopyrimidine AEE788 (a hit for anti-HAT drug discovery) associates with three trypanosome protein kinases. Herein we delineate the effects of AEE788 on T. brucei using chemical biology strategies. AEE788 treatment inhibits DNA replication in the kinetoplast (mitochondrial nucleoid) and nucleus. In addition, AEE788 blocks duplication of the basal body and the bilobe without affecting mitosis. Thus, AEE788 prevents entry into the S-phase of the cell division cycle. To study the kinetics of early events in trypanosome division, we employed an "AEE788 block and release" protocol to stage entry into the S-phase. A time-course of DNA synthesis (nuclear and kinetoplast DNA), duplication of organelles (basal body, bilobe, kinetoplast, nucleus), and cytokinesis was obtained. Unexpected findings include the following: 1) basal body and bilobe duplication are concurrent; 2) maturation of probasal bodies, marked by TbRP2 recruitment, is coupled with nascent basal body assembly, monitored by localization of TbSAS6 at newly forming basal bodies; and 3) kinetoplast division is observed in G2 after completion of nuclear DNA synthesis. Prolonged exposure of trypanosomes to AEE788 inhibited transferrin endocytosis, altered cell morphology, and decreased cell viability. To discover putative effectors for the pleiotropic effects of AEE788, proteome-wide changes in protein phosphorylation induced by the drug were determined. Putative effectors include an SR protein kinase, bilobe proteins, TbSAS4, TbRP2, and BILBO-1. Loss of function of one or more of these effectors can, from published literature, explain the polypharmacology of AEE788 on trypanosome biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Sullenberger
- Department of Cellular Biology, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (C.S., D.P., K.M.-W.); and the Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (Y.O.)
| | - Daniel Piqué
- Department of Cellular Biology, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (C.S., D.P., K.M.-W.); and the Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (Y.O.)
| | - Yuko Ogata
- Department of Cellular Biology, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (C.S., D.P., K.M.-W.); and the Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (Y.O.)
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department of Cellular Biology, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (C.S., D.P., K.M.-W.); and the Proteomics Facility, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington (Y.O.)
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15
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Novel Effects of Lapatinib Revealed in the African Trypanosome by Using Hypothesis-Generating Proteomics and Chemical Biology Strategies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.01865-16. [PMID: 27872081 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01865-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei Lapatinib, a human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, can cure 25% of trypanosome-infected mice, although the parasite lacks EGFR-like tyrosine kinases. Four trypanosome protein kinases associate with lapatinib, suggesting that the drug may be a multitargeted inhibitor of phosphoprotein signaling in the bloodstream trypanosome. Phosphoprotein signaling pathways in T. brucei have diverged significantly from those in humans. As a first step in the evaluation of the polypharmacology of lapatinib in T. brucei, we performed a proteome-wide phosphopeptide analysis before and after drug addition to cells. Lapatinib caused dephosphorylation of Ser/Thr sites on proteins predicted to be involved in scaffolding, gene expression, and intracellular vesicle trafficking. To explore the perturbation of phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-dependent signaling by lapatinib, proteins in lapatinib-susceptible pTyr complexes were identified by affinity chromatography; they included BILBO-1, MORN, and paraflagellar rod (PFR) proteins PFR1 and PFR2. These data led us to hypothesize that lapatinib disrupts PFR functions and/or endocytosis in the trypanosome. In direct chemical biology tests of these speculations, lapatinib-treated trypanosomes (i) lost segments of the PFR inside the flagellum, (ii) were inhibited in the endocytosis of transferrin, and (iii) changed morphology from long and slender to rounded. Thus, our hypothesis-generating phosphoproteomics strategy predicted novel physiological pathways perturbed by lapatinib, which were verified experimentally. General implications of this workflow for identifying signaling pathways perturbed by drug hits discovered in phenotypic screens are discussed.
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Thomas SM, Purmal A, Pollastri M, Mensa-Wilmot K. Discovery of a Carbazole-Derived Lead Drug for Human African Trypanosomiasis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32083. [PMID: 27561392 PMCID: PMC5000474 DOI: 10.1038/srep32083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes the fatal illness human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Standard of care medications currently used to treat HAT have severe limitations, and there is a need to find new chemical entities that are active against infections of T. brucei. Following a "drug repurposing" approach, we tested anti-trypanosomal effects of carbazole-derived compounds called "Curaxins". In vitro screening of 26 compounds revealed 22 with nanomolar potency against axenically cultured bloodstream trypanosomes. In a murine model of HAT, oral administration of compound 1 cured the disease. These studies established 1 as a lead for development of drugs against HAT. Pharmacological time-course studies revealed the primary effect of 1 to be concurrent inhibition of mitosis coupled with aberrant licensing of S-phase entry. Consequently, polyploid trypanosomes containing 8C equivalent of DNA per nucleus and three or four kinetoplasts were produced. These effects of 1 on the trypanosome are reminiscent of "mitotic slippage" or endoreplication observed in some other eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Thomas
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Andrei Purmal
- Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Michael Pollastri
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Guyett PJ, Xia S, Swinney DC, Pollastri MP, Mensa-Wilmot K. Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Promotes the Endocytosis of Transferrin in the African Trypanosome. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:518-28. [PMID: 27626104 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Human parasite Trypanosoma brucei proliferates in the blood of its host, where it takes up iron via receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin (Tf). Mechanisms of Tf endocytosis in the trypanosome are not fully understood. Small molecule lapatinib inhibits Tf endocytosis in T. brucei and associates with protein kinase GSK3β (TbGSK3β). Therefore, we hypothesized that Tf endocytosis may be regulated by TbGSK3β, and we used three approaches (both genetic and small molecule) to test this possibility. First, the RNAi knock-down of TbGSK3β reduced Tf endocytosis selectively, without affecting the uptake of haptaglobin-hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Second, the overexpression of TbGSK3β increased the Tf uptake. Third, small-molecule inhibitors of TbGSK3β, TWS119 (IC50 = 600 nM), and GW8510 (IC50 = 8 nM) reduced Tf endocytosis. Furthermore, TWS119, but not GW8510, selectively blocked Tf uptake. Thus, TWS119 phenocopies the selective endocytosis effects of a TbGSK3β knockdown. Two new inhibitors of TbGSK3β, LY2784544 (IC50 = 0.6 μM) and sorafenib (IC50 = 1.7 μM), were discovered in a focused screen: at low micromolar concentrations, they prevented Tf endocytosis as well as trypanosome proliferation (GI50's were 1.0 and 3.1 μM, respectively). These studies show that (a) TbGSK3β regulates Tf endocytosis, (b) TWS119 is a small-molecule tool for investigating the endocytosis of Tf,
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Guyett
- Department
of Cellular Biology, The Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 724 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
| | - Shuangluo Xia
- Institute for Rare and Neglected Disease Drug Discovery (IRND3), 897 Independence Avenue #2C, Mountain View, California 94043, United States
| | - David C. Swinney
- Institute for Rare and Neglected Disease Drug Discovery (IRND3), 897 Independence Avenue #2C, Mountain View, California 94043, United States
| | - Michael P. Pollastri
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 417 Egan
Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department
of Cellular Biology, The Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 724 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is a chronic infection associated with long-term morbidity. Increased funding and advocacy for drug discovery for neglected diseases have prompted the introduction of several important technological advances, and Chagas disease is among the neglected conditions that has mostly benefited from technological developments. A number of screening campaigns, and the development of new and improved in vitro and in vivo assays, has led to advances in the field of drug discovery. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the major advances in Chagas disease drug screening, and how these are being used not only to discover novel chemical entities and drug candidates, but also increase our knowledge about the disease and the parasite. Different methodologies used for compound screening and prioritization are discussed, as well as novel techniques for the investigation of these targets. The molecular mechanism of action is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Technological advances have been executed with scientific rigour for the development of new in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo animal models, to bring about novel and better drugs for Chagas disease, as well as to increase our understanding of what are the necessary properties for a compound to be successful in the clinic. The gained knowledge, combined with new exciting approaches toward target deconvolution, will help identifying new targets for Chagas disease chemotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina B Moraes
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Caio H Franco
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil.,b Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology , Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
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Devine W, Woodring JL, Swaminathan U, Amata E, Patel G, Erath J, Roncal NE, Lee PJ, Leed SE, Rodriguez A, Mensa-Wilmot K, Sciotti RJ, Pollastri MP. Protozoan Parasite Growth Inhibitors Discovered by Cross-Screening Yield Potent Scaffolds for Lead Discovery. J Med Chem 2015; 58:5522-37. [PMID: 26087257 PMCID: PMC4515785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
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Tropical protozoal infections are
a significant cause of morbidity
and mortality worldwide; four in particular (human African trypanosomiasis
(HAT), Chagas disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and malaria) have
an estimated combined burden of over 87 million disability-adjusted
life years. New drugs are needed for each of these diseases. Building
on the previous identification of NEU-617 (1) as a potent
and nontoxic inhibitor of proliferation for the HAT pathogen (Trypanosoma brucei), we have now tested this class of analogs
against other protozoal species: T. cruzi (Chagas
disease), Leishmania major (cutaneous leishmaniasis),
and Plasmodium falciparum (malaria). Based on hits
identified in this screening campaign, we describe the preparation
of several replacements for the quinazoline scaffold and report these
inhibitors’ biological activities against these parasites.
In doing this, we have identified several potent proliferation inhibitors
for each pathogen, such as 4-((3-chloro-4-((3-fluorobenzyl)oxy)phenyl)amino)-6-(4-((4-methyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)sulfonyl)phenyl)quinoline-3-carbonitrile
(NEU-924, 83) for T. cruzi and N-(3-chloro-4-((3-fluorobenzyl)oxy)phenyl)-7-(4-((4-methyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)sulfonyl)phenyl)cinnolin-4-amine
(NEU-1017, 68) for L. major and P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jessey Erath
- ‡Division of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E. 25th St., New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Norma E Roncal
- §Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Patricia J Lee
- §Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Susan E Leed
- §Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- ‡Division of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E. 25th St., New York, New York 10010, United States.,⊥Anti-Infectives Screening Core, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- ∥Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Richard J Sciotti
- §Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, 2460 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
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Sun J, Chen C, Yao X, Sun S. Lapatinib combined with neoadjuvant paclitaxel-trastuzumab-based chemotherapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Oncol Lett 2015; 9:1351-1358. [PMID: 25663912 PMCID: PMC4315003 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.2848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to quantify the cumulative randomized evidence for the efficacy and safety of lapatinib combined with neoadjuvant therapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2-positive breast cancer. Three electronic databases, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the abstracts of major international conferences between inception and 15 December 2013 were searched. Two evaluators independently extracted data. The end-points assessed consisted of the pathological complete response (pCR) rate, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rate and the occurrence of adverse events. Four randomized controlled trials were assessed in the present study, involving a total of 779 participants. Compared with the patients who did not receive lapatinib, the pCR rate was higher in the hormone receptor (HR)-positive [risk ratio (RR), 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12–1.72; P=0.002) and HR-negative (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.14–1.68; P=0.0009) patients that received lapatinib. No significant difference between the BCS rate of the two treatment arms was observed in two trials (n=382; RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.89–1.47; P=0.31). The primary adverse events, including diarrhea, dermatological toxicity, hepatic toxicity and neutropenia, were statistically more frequent in patients that received lapatinib (RR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.97–3.07; P<0.00001). The present analysis revealed that the addition of lapatinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer improves the probability of achieving a higher pCR rate, but the use of lapatinib is associated with a higher risk of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhong Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China ; Department of General Surgery, Xiangyang Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei, P.R. China
| | - Chuang Chen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Shengrong Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
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Merritt C, Silva L, Tanner AL, Stuart K, Pollastri MP. Kinases as druggable targets in trypanosomatid protozoan parasites. Chem Rev 2014; 114:11280-304. [PMID: 26443079 PMCID: PMC4254031 DOI: 10.1021/cr500197d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Merritt
- Seattle
Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98109-5219, United States
| | - Lisseth
E. Silva
- Department
of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, 417 Egan
Research Center, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Angela L. Tanner
- Department
of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, 417 Egan
Research Center, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kenneth Stuart
- Seattle
Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98109-5219, United States
| | - Michael P. Pollastri
- Department
of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, 417 Egan
Research Center, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Identification and characterization of hundreds of potent and selective inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei growth from a kinase-targeted library screening campaign. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3253. [PMID: 25340575 PMCID: PMC4207660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the interest of identification of new kinase-targeting chemotypes for target and pathway analysis and drug discovery in Trypanosomal brucei, a high-throughput screen of 42,444 focused inhibitors from the GlaxoSmithKline screening collection was performed against parasite cell cultures and counter-screened against human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells. In this way, we have identified 797 sub-micromolar inhibitors of T. brucei growth that are at least 100-fold selective over HepG2 cells. Importantly, 242 of these hit compounds acted rapidly in inhibiting cellular growth, 137 showed rapid cidality. A variety of in silico and in vitro physicochemical and drug metabolism properties were assessed, and human kinase selectivity data were obtained, and, based on these data, we prioritized three compounds for pharmacokinetic assessment and demonstrated parasitological cure of a murine bloodstream infection of T. brucei rhodesiense with one of these compounds (NEU-1053). This work represents a successful implementation of a unique industrial-academic collaboration model aimed at identification of high quality inhibitors that will provide the parasitology community with chemical matter that can be utilized to develop kinase-targeting tool compounds. Furthermore these results are expected to provide rich starting points for discovery of kinase-targeting tool compounds for T. brucei, and new HAT therapeutics discovery programs. Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, affects 10,000 patients annually, yet current drugs for this disease are poor, with high toxicity and inconvenient dosing requirements. Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite that causes sleeping sickness, is sensitive to a class of compounds called kinase inhibitors, and our project was aimed at identifying kinase-targeting compounds that rapidly and irreversibly inhibit parasite growth. This was accomplished by high-throughput screening of over 42,000 compounds, which resulted in identification of 797 potent inhibitors of parasite growth that are non-toxic to human cells. These inhibitors were studied for the speed of their effects and reversibility of growth inhibition, and were grouped on the basis of chemical structure similarity. One compound was shown to cure mice from a bloodstream of infection of T. brucei. These compounds can now be utilized by the research community as starting points for new drug discovery, and also as tool compounds for understanding the function of kinases in T. brucei.
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23
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Kryshchyshyn A, Kaminskyy D, Grellier P, Lesyk R. Trends in research of antitrypanosomal agents among synthetic heterocycles. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 85:51-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.07.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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24
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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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25
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Seixas JD, Luengo-Arratta SA, Diaz R, Saldivia M, Rojas-Barros DI, Manzano P, Gonzalez S, Berlanga M, Smith TK, Navarro M, Pollastri MP. Establishment of a structure-activity relationship of 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline-based kinase inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 as a lead for African sleeping sickness. J Med Chem 2014; 57:4834-48. [PMID: 24805946 PMCID: PMC4099174 DOI: 10.1021/jm500361r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
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Compound
NVP-BEZ235 (1) is a potent inhibitor of human
phospoinositide-3-kinases and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)
that also showed high inhibitory potency against Trypanosoma
brucei cultures. With an eye toward using 1 as a starting point for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, we report
efforts to reduce host cell toxicity, to improve the physicochemical
properties, and to improve the selectivity profile over human kinases.
In this work, we have developed structure–activity relationships
for analogues of 1 and have prepared analogues of 1 with improved solubility properties and good predicted central
nervous system exposure. In this way, we have identified 4e, 9, 16e, and 16g as the most
promising leads to date. We also report cell phenotype and phospholipidomic
studies that suggest that these compounds exert their anti-trypanosomal
effects, at least in part, by inhibition of lipid kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- João D Seixas
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University , Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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26
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Sanderson L, Yardley V, Croft SL. Activity of anti-cancer protein kinase inhibitors against Leishmania spp. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014; 69:1888-91. [PMID: 24668412 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dku069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is an urgent need to develop new and effective treatments for poverty-related neglected diseases. In light of the time required to bring a new drug to market and the cost involved (10-15 years, >1 billion US$), one approach to identifying new treatments for diseases like leishmaniasis is to evaluate drugs that are already registered for the treatment of other diseases. This paper describes the anti-leishmanial activities of 10 FDA-approved protein kinase inhibitors already available for the treatment of human cancers. METHODS In vitro and in vivo models of Leishmania infection were used to evaluate the potency of selected protein kinase inhibitors. RESULTS Sunitinib, sorafenib and lapatinib were identified as active against Leishmania donovani amastigotes in cultured murine macrophages with IC(50) values of 1.1, 3.7 and 2.5 μM, respectively, a level of potency similar to that of miltefosine (IC(50) = 1.0 μM), and were not toxic to mammalian cells. In addition, some of the protein kinase inhibitors were active against L. donovani in the BALB/c mouse model of infection; dosing on days 7-11 with a 50 mg/kg oral dose of sunitinib, lapatinib or sorafenib reduced liver amastigote burdens by 41%, 36% and 30%, respectively, compared with untreated control mice. Although less efficacious, sorafenib was also active in vitro against intracellular amastigotes of the cutaneous disease-causing species Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of clinically used protein kinase inhibitors and provides further evidence of the potential of drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Sanderson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Simon L Croft
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Andrews KT, Fisher G, Skinner-Adams TS. Drug repurposing and human parasitic protozoan diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2014; 4:95-111. [PMID: 25057459 PMCID: PMC4095053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases have an enormous health, social and economic impact and are a particular problem in tropical regions of the world. Diseases caused by protozoa and helminths, such as malaria and schistosomiasis, are the cause of most parasite related morbidity and mortality, with an estimated 1.1 million combined deaths annually. The global burden of these diseases is exacerbated by the lack of licensed vaccines, making safe and effective drugs vital to their prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, where drugs are available, their usefulness is being increasingly threatened by parasite drug resistance. The need for new drugs drives antiparasitic drug discovery research globally and requires a range of innovative strategies to ensure a sustainable pipeline of lead compounds. In this review we discuss one of these approaches, drug repurposing or repositioning, with a focus on major human parasitic protozoan diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis and leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T Andrews
- Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gillian Fisher
- Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tina S Skinner-Adams
- Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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New chemical scaffolds for human african trypanosomiasis lead discovery from a screen of tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:2202-10. [PMID: 24468788 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01691-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. New drugs are needed to treat HAT because of undesirable side effects and difficulties in the administration of the antiquated drugs that are currently used. In human proliferative diseases, protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors (PTKIs) have been developed into drugs (e.g., lapatinib and erlotinib) by optimization of a 4-anilinoquinazoline scaffold. Two sets of facts raise a possibility that drugs targeted against human PTKs could be "hits" for antitrypanosomal lead discoveries. First, trypanosome protein kinases bind some drugs, namely, lapatinib, CI-1033, and AEE788. Second, the pan-PTK inhibitor tyrphostin A47 blocks the endocytosis of transferrin and inhibits trypanosome replication. Following up on these concepts, we performed a focused screen of various PTKI drugs as possible antitrypanosomal hits. Lapatinib, CI-1033, erlotinib, axitinib, sunitinib, PKI-166, and AEE788 inhibited the replication of bloodstream T. brucei, with a 50% growth inhibitory concentration (GI50) between 1.3 μM and 2.5 μM. Imatinib had no effect (i.e., GI50>10 μM). To discover leads among the drugs, a mouse model of HAT was used in a proof-of-concept study. Orally administered lapatinib reduced parasitemia, extended the survival of all treated mice, and cured the trypanosomal infection in 25% of the mice. CI-1033 and AEE788 reduced parasitemia and extended the survival of the infected mice. On the strength of these data and noting their oral bioavailabilities, we propose that the 4-anilinoquinazoline and pyrrolopyrimidine scaffolds of lapatinib, CI-1033, and AEE788 are worth optimizing against T. brucei in medicinal chemistry campaigns (i.e., scaffold repurposing) to discover new drugs against HAT.
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Patel G, Karver CE, Behera R, Guyett PJ, Sullenberger C, Edwards P, Roncal NE, Mensa-Wilmot K, Pollastri MP. Kinase scaffold repurposing for neglected disease drug discovery: discovery of an efficacious, lapatinib-derived lead compound for trypanosomiasis. J Med Chem 2013; 56:3820-32. [PMID: 23597080 DOI: 10.1021/jm400349k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei . Because drugs in use against HAT are toxic and require intravenous dosing, new drugs are needed. Initiating lead discovery campaigns by using chemical scaffolds from drugs approved for other indications can speed up drug discovery for neglected diseases. We demonstrated recently that the 4-anilinoquinazolines lapatinib (GW572016, 1) and canertinib (CI-1033) kill T. brucei with low micromolar EC50 values. We now report promising activity of analogues of 1, which provided an excellent starting point for optimization of the chemotype. Our compound optimization that has led to synthesis of several potent 4-anilinoquinazolines, including NEU617, 23a, a highly potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of trypanosome replication. At the cellular level, 23a blocks duplication of the kinetoplast and arrests cytokinesis, making it a new chemical tool for studying regulation of the trypanosome cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Patel
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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