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Nayak S, Gowda J, Abbas SA, Kim H, Han SB. Recent Advances in the Development of Sulfamoyl-Based Hepatitis B Virus Nucleocapsid Assembly Modulators. Viruses 2023; 15:2367. [PMID: 38140607 PMCID: PMC10747759 DOI: 10.3390/v15122367] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the primary contributor to severe liver ailments, encompassing conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Globally, 257 million people are affected by HBV annually and 887,000 deaths are attributed to it, representing a substantial health burden. Regrettably, none of the existing therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have achieved satisfactory clinical cure rates. This issue stems from the existence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is difficult to eliminate from the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. HBV genetic material is composed of partially double-stranded DNA that forms complexes with viral polymerase inside an icosahedral capsid composed of a dimeric core protein. The HBV core protein, consisting of 183 to 185 amino acids, plays integral roles in multiple essential functions within the HBV replication process. In this review, we describe the effects of sulfamoyl-based carboxamide capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) on capsid assembly, which can suppress HBV replication and disrupt the production of new cccDNA. We present research on classical, first-generation sulfamoyl benzocarboxamide CAMs, elucidating their structural composition and antiviral efficacy. Additionally, we explore newly identified sulfamoyl-based CAMs, including sulfamoyl bicyclic carboxamides, sulfamoyl aromatic heterocyclic carboxamides, sulfamoyl aliphatic heterocyclic carboxamides, cyclic sulfonamides, and non-carboxamide sulfomoyl-based CAMs. We believe that certain molecules derived from sulfamoyl groups have the potential to be developed into essential components of a well-suited combination therapy, ultimately yielding superior clinical efficacy outcomes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandesha Nayak
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jayaraj Gowda
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Syed Azeem Abbas
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Kim
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Bong Han
- Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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Spunde K, Vigante B, Dubova UN, Sipola A, Timofejeva I, Zajakina A, Jansons J, Plotniece A, Pajuste K, Sobolev A, Muhamadejev R, Jaudzems K, Duburs G, Kozlovska T. Design and Synthesis of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Capsid Assembly Modulators and Evaluation of Their Activity in Mammalian Cell Model. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070773. [PMID: 35890072 PMCID: PMC9317397 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070773] [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: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) have emerged as a promising class of antiviral agents. We studied the effects of twenty-one newly designed and synthesized CAMs including heteroaryldihydropyrimidine compounds (HAPs), their analogs and standard compounds on hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly. Cytoplasmic expression of the HBV core (HBc) gene driven by the exogenously delivered recombinant alphavirus RNA replicon was used for high level production of the full-length HBc protein in mammalian cells. HBV capsid assembly was assessed by native agarose gel immunoblot analysis, electron microscopy and inhibition of virion secretion in HepG2.2.15 HBV producing cell line. Induced fit docking simulation was applied for modelling the structural relationships of the synthesized compounds and HBc. The most efficient were the HAP class compounds—dihydropyrimidine 5-carboxylic acid n-alkoxyalkyl esters, which induced the formation of incorrectly assembled capsid products and their accumulation within the cells. HBc product accumulation in the cells was not detected with the reference HAP compound Bay 41-4109, suggesting different modes of action. A significant antiviral effect and substantially reduced toxicity were revealed for two of the synthesized compounds. Two new HAP compounds revealed a significant antiviral effect and a favorable toxicity profile that allows these compounds to be considered promising leads and drug candidates for the treatment of HBV infection. The established alphavirus based HBc expression approach allows for the specific selection of capsid assembly modulators directly in the natural cell environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Spunde
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (B.V.)
| | - Brigita Vigante
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (B.V.)
| | - Unda Nelda Dubova
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
| | - Anda Sipola
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Irena Timofejeva
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
| | - Anna Zajakina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
| | - Juris Jansons
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
| | - Aiva Plotniece
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Karlis Pajuste
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Arkadij Sobolev
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Ruslan Muhamadejev
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Gunars Duburs
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (A.S.); (A.P.); (K.P.); (A.S.); (R.M.); (K.J.); (G.D.)
| | - Tatjana Kozlovska
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (U.N.D.); (I.T.); (A.Z.); (J.J.); (T.K.)
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Ruan J, Sun S, Cheng X, Han P, Zhang Y, Sun D. Mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, leflunomide, and mycophenolic acid directly promote hepatitis B virus replication and expression in vitro. Virol J 2020; 17:89. [PMID: 32611423 PMCID: PMC7331192 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01339-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reactivation of hepatitis B virus is a common complication that occurs in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who have received cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy. This clinical phenomenon not only occurs in overt HBV infection patients but also occurs in patients with resolved HBV infection. Previous research has confirmed that epirubicin and dexamethasone can stimulate HBV replication and expression directly rather than indirectly through immunosuppression. Mitomycin and 5-fluorouracil are currently used as cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs for cancer patients. Leflunomide and mycophenolic acid are regarded as immunosuppressants for autoimmune diseases, and numerous clinical studies have reported that these drugs can reactivate HBV replication. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, leflunomide and mycophenolic acid induce HBV reactivation directly rather than indirectly through immunosuppression. Methods To observe the effect of mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, leflunomide and mycophenolic acid on HBV replication and expression, we employed HepG2.2.15 and HBV-NLuc-35 cells as a cell model. Next, by native agarose gel electrophoresis (NAGE), quantitative PCR (qPCR), luciferase assay and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) we detected changes in HBV replication and expression induced by these drugs. We also investigated whether lamivudine could inhibit the observed phenotype. SPSS 18.0 software was employed for statistical analysis, One-way ANOVA was used to compare multiple groups. Results Expression of HBV capsids and HBeAg in HepG2.2.15 cells was increased by increasing concentration of mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, leflunomide, and mycophenolic acid. This phenomenon was also demonstrated in HBV-NLuc-35 cells, and the expression of capsids and luciferase activity increased in the same concentration-dependent manner. Replication levels of intracellular capsid DNA and extracellular HBV DNA in HepG2.2.15 cells gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, although epirubicin, mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, dexamethasone, leflunomide and mycophenolic acid enhanced HBV replication, lamivudine inhibited this process. Conclusion Our study confirmed that mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, leflunomide and mycophenolic acid directly upregulated HBV replication and expression in vitro. This effect was investigated not only in HepG2.2.15 cells but also in the HBV-NLuc-35 replication system. Moreover, this effect could be prevented by nucleoside analogs, such as lamivudine (LAM). Thus, for patients with HBV infection, prophylactic antiviral therapy is necessary before receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ruan
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China.,Department of Infection and Liver Disease, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shuo Sun
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xin Cheng
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China
| | - Pengyu Han
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yinge Zhang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China
| | - Dianxing Sun
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshanxi street, Shijiazhuang, 050082, Hebei Province, China.
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Li B, Sun S, Li M, Cheng X, Li H, Kang F, Kang J, Dörnbrack K, Nassal M, Sun D. Suppression of hepatitis B virus antigen production and replication by wild-type HBV dependently replicating HBV shRNA vectors in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 2016; 134:117-129. [PMID: 27591142 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription of a pregenomic (pg) RNA precursor, greatly increases the risk for terminal liver disease. RNA interference (RNAi) based therapy approaches have shown potential to overcome the limited efficacy of current treatments. However, synthetic siRNAs as well as small hairpin (sh) RNAs expressed from non-integrating vectors require repeated applications; integrating vectors suffer from safety concerns. We pursue a new concept by which HBV itself is engineered into a conditionally replicating, wild-type HBV dependent anti-HBV shRNA vector. Beyond sharing HBV's hepatocyte tropism, such a vector would be self-renewing, but only as long as wild-type HBV is present. Here, we realized several important aspects of this concept. We identified two distinct regions in the 3.2 kb HBV genome which tolerate replacement by shRNA expression cassettes without compromising reverse transcription when complemented in vitro by HBV helper constructs or by wild-type HBV; a representative HBV shRNA vector was infectious in cell culture. The vector-encoded shRNAs were active, including on HBV as target. A dual anti-HBV shRNA vector delivered into HBV transgenic mice, which are not susceptible to HBV infection, by a chimeric adenovirus-HBV shuttle reduced serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) up to ∼4-fold, and virus particles up to ∼20-fold. Importantly, a fraction of the circulating particles contained vector-derived DNA, indicating successful complementation in vivo. These data encourage further investigations to prove antiviral efficacy and the predicted self-limiting vector spread in a small animal HBV infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baosheng Li
- Chinese PLA Medical School, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100853, Beijing, PR China; The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
| | - Shuo Sun
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China; Troop 66220 of PLA, Xingtai, Hebei Province, 054000, PR China
| | - Minran Li
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China; The Fourth Department of the Fifth Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, 050017, PR China
| | - Xin Cheng
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
| | - Haijun Li
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
| | - Fubiao Kang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
| | - Jiwen Kang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China
| | - Katharina Dörnbrack
- Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Nassal
- Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, University Hospital Freiburg, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Dianxing Sun
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050082, PR China.
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