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Bisio MMC, Jurado Medina LS, García-Bournissen F, Gulin JEN. Listen to what the animals say: a systematic review and meta-analysis of sterol 14-demethylase inhibitor efficacy for in vivo models of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:248. [PMID: 38904688 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08257-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Sterol 14-demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors, encompassing new chemical entities and repurposed drugs, have emerged as promising candidates for Chagas disease treatment, based on preclinical studies reporting anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Triazoles like ravuconazole (RAV) and posaconazole (POS) progressed to clinical trials. Unexpectedly, their efficacy was transient in chronic Chagas disease patients, and their activity was not superior to benznidazole (BZ) treatment. This paper aims to summarize evidence on the global activity of CYP51 inhibitors against T. cruzi by applying systematic review strategies, risk of bias assessment, and meta-analysis from in vivo studies. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for original articles, obtaining fifty-six relevant papers meeting inclusion criteria. Characteristics of animal models, parasite strain, treatment schemes, and cure rates were extracted. Primary outcomes such as maximum parasitaemia values, survival, and parasitological cure were recorded for meta-analysis, when possible. The risk of bias was uncertain in most studies. Animals treated with itraconazole, RAV, or POS survived significantly longer than the infected non-treated groups (RR = 4.85 [3.62, 6.49], P < 0.00001), and they showed no differences with animals treated with positive control drugs (RR = 1.01 [0.98, 1.04], P = 0.54). Furthermore, the overall analysis showed that RAV or POS was not likely to achieve parasitological cure when compared with BZ or NFX treatment (OD = 0.49 [0.31, 0.77], P = 0.002). This systematic review contributes to understanding why the azoles had failed in clinical trials and, more importantly, how to improve the animal models of T. cruzi infection by filling the gaps between basic, translational, and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita María Catalina Bisio
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología (INP) 'Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben'-ANLIS 'Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán', Buenos Aires, Argentina. Av. Paseo Colón 568, C1097, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Smeldy Jurado Medina
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Mediche E Chirurgiche, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 2 Floor, 55. 40126, BO. Bologna, Italy
| | - Facundo García-Bournissen
- Division of Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 800 Commissioners Rd. E., Rm. B1-437., London, ON, Canada
| | - Julián Ernesto Nicolás Gulin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (C1428ADN), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155 (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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2
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Crilly NP, Zita MD, Beaver AK, Sysa-Shah P, Bhalodia A, Gabrielson K, Adamo L, Mugnier MR. A murine model of Trypanosoma brucei-induced myocarditis and cardiac dysfunction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.05.560950. [PMID: 37873308 PMCID: PMC10592974 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.05.560950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a protozoan parasite that causes human and animal African trypanosomiases (HAT and AAT). Cardiac symptoms are commonly reported in HAT patients, and intracardiac parasites with accompanying myocarditis have been observed in both natural hosts and animal models of T. brucei infection. Despite the importance of T. brucei as a cause of cardiac dysfunction and the dramatic socioeconomic impact of African trypanosomiases in sub-Saharan Africa, there are currently no reproducible murine models of T. brucei-associated cardiomyopathy. We present the first clinically relevant, reproducible murine model of cardiac dysfunction in chronic T. brucei infection. Similar to humans, mice showed histological evidence of myocarditis and elevation of serum NT-proBNP with electrocardiographic abnormalities. Serum NT-proBNP levels were elevated prior to the development of severe ventricular dysfunction. On flow cytometry, myocarditis was associated with an increase of most myocardial immune cell populations, including multiple T cell and macrophage subsets, corroborating the notion that T. brucei-associated cardiac damage is an immune-mediated event. This novel mouse model represents a powerful and practical tool to investigate the pathogenesis of T. brucei-mediated heart damage and supports the development of therapeutic options for T. brucei-associated cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P. Crilly
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Marcelle Dina Zita
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexander K. Beaver
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Polina Sysa-Shah
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Molecular Imaging Service Center and Cancer Functional Imaging Core, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aashik Bhalodia
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathy Gabrielson
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Luigi Adamo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Monica R. Mugnier
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Langston H, Fortes Francisco A, Doidge C, Roberts CH, Khan AA, Jayawardhana S, Taylor MC, Kelly JM, Lewis MD. Dynamics of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in hamsters and novel association with progressive motor dysfunction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012278. [PMID: 38905323 PMCID: PMC11221660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Clinical outcomes range from long-term asymptomatic carriage to cardiac, digestive, neurological and composite presentations that can be fatal in both acute and chronic stages of the disease. Studies of T. cruzi in animal models, principally mice, have informed our understanding of the biological basis of this variability and its relationship to infection and host response dynamics. Hamsters have higher translational value for many human infectious diseases, but they have not been well developed as models of Chagas disease. We transposed a real-time bioluminescence imaging system for T. cruzi infection from mice into female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). This enabled us to study chronic tissue pathology in the context of spatiotemporal infection dynamics. Acute infections were widely disseminated, whereas chronic infections were almost entirely restricted to the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Neither cardiac nor digestive tract disease were reproducible features of the model. Skeletal muscle had only sporadic parasitism in the chronic phase, but nevertheless displayed significant inflammation and fibrosis, features also seen in mouse models. Whereas mice had normal locomotion, all chronically infected hamsters developed hindlimb muscle hypertonia and a gait dysfunction resembling spastic diplegia. With further development, this model may therefore prove valuable in studies of peripheral nervous system involvement in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Langston
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Fortes Francisco
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ciaran Doidge
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chrissy H. Roberts
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Archie A. Khan
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shiromani Jayawardhana
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C. Taylor
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Kelly
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D. Lewis
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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4
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Morilla MJ, Ghosal K, Romero EL. Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 15:333-349. [PMID: 38590427 PMCID: PMC11000002 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.15.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Morilla
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kajal Ghosal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja Subodh Chandra Mallick Rd., Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Eder Lilia Romero
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Liu Z, Ulrich vonBargen R, Kendricks AL, Wheeler K, Leão AC, Sankaranarayanan K, Dean DA, Kane SS, Hossain E, Pollet J, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Jones KM, McCall LI. Localized cardiac small molecule trajectories and persistent chemical sequelae in experimental Chagas disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6769. [PMID: 37880260 PMCID: PMC10600178 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42247-w] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-infectious conditions present major health burdens but remain poorly understood. In Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, antiparasitic agents that successfully clear T. cruzi do not always improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we reveal differential small molecule trajectories between cardiac regions during chronic T. cruzi infection, matching with characteristic CD apical aneurysm sites. Incomplete, region-specific, cardiac small molecule restoration is observed in animals treated with the antiparasitic benznidazole. In contrast, superior restoration of the cardiac small molecule profile is observed for a combination treatment of reduced-dose benznidazole plus an immunotherapy, even with less parasite burden reduction. Overall, these results reveal molecular mechanisms of CD treatment based on simultaneous effects on the pathogen and on host small molecule responses, and expand our understanding of clinical treatment failure in CD. This link between infection and subsequent persistent small molecule perturbation broadens our understanding of infectious disease sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Rebecca Ulrich vonBargen
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Kate Wheeler
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Leão
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Danya A Dean
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Shelley S Kane
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Ekram Hossain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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6
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Robledo SM, Pérez-Silanes S, Fernández-Rubio C, Poveda A, Monzote L, González VM, Alonso-Collado P, Carrión J. Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease. Pathogens 2023; 12:939. [PMID: 37513786 PMCID: PMC10383258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Robledo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Poveda
- DNA Replication and Genome Instability Unit, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública (GIBCIZ), Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Apartado Postal No. 601, Marianao 13, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Víctor M González
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km. 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Alonso-Collado
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Carrión
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Gabaldón-Figueira JC, Martinez-Peinado N, Escabia E, Ros-Lucas A, Chatelain E, Scandale I, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Alonso-Padilla J. State-of-the-Art in the Drug Discovery Pathway for Chagas Disease: A Framework for Drug Development and Target Validation. Res Rep Trop Med 2023; 14:1-19. [PMID: 37337597 PMCID: PMC10277022 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s415273] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is the most important protozoan infection in the Americas, and constitutes a significant public health concern throughout the world. Development of new medications against its etiologic agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, has been traditionally slow and difficult, lagging in comparison with diseases caused by other kinetoplastid parasites. Among the factors that explain this are the incompletely understood mechanisms of pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection and its complex set of interactions with the host in the chronic stage of the disease. These demand the performance of a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays as part of any drug development effort. In this review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the parasite's life cycle and their implications in the search for new chemotherapeutics. For this, we present a framework to guide drug discovery efforts against Chagas disease, considering state-of-the-art preclinical models and recently developed tools for the identification and validation of molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisa Escabia
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pinazo
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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8
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis (visceral and cutaneous), Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis cause substantial death and morbidity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although the situation has improved for human African trypanosomiasis, there remains an urgent need for new medicines to treat leishmaniasis and Chagas disease; the clinical development pipeline is particularly sparse for Chagas disease. In this Review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of the biology of the causative pathogens, particularly from the drug discovery perspective, and we explore the progress that has been made in the development of new drug candidates and the identification of promising molecular targets. We also explore the challenges in developing new clinical candidates and discuss potential solutions to overcome such hurdles.
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9
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Identification of Aryl Polyamines Derivatives as Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Agents Targeting Iron Superoxide Dismutase. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010140. [PMID: 36678771 PMCID: PMC9863987 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a tropical and potentially fatal infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Although CD was limited to Latin America as a silent disease, CD has become widespread as a result of globalization. Currently, 6-8 million people are infected worldwide, and no effective treatment is available. Here, we identify new effective agents against T. cruzi. In short, 16 aryl polyamines were screened in vitro against different T. cruzi strains, and lead compounds were evaluated in vivo after oral administration in both the acute and chronic infections. The mode of action was also evaluated at the energetic level, and its high activity profile could be ascribed to a mitochondria-dependent bioenergetic collapse and redox stress by inhibition of the Fe-SOD enzyme. We present compound 15 as a potential compound that provides a step forward for the development of new agents to combat CD.
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Reséndiz-Mora A, Barrera-Aveleida G, Sotelo-Rodríguez A, Galarce-Sosa I, Nevárez-Lechuga I, Santiago-Hernández JC, Nogueda-Torres B, Meza-Toledo S, Gómez-Manzo S, Wong-Baeza I, Baeza I, Wong-Baeza C. Effect of B-NIPOx in Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010333. [PMID: 36613783 PMCID: PMC9820238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and represents a major public health problem, which is endemic in Latin America and emerging in the rest of the world. The two drugs that are currently available for its treatment, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, are partially effective in the chronic phase of the disease. In this study, we designed and synthesized the benzyl ester of N-isopropyl oxamic acid (B-NIPOx), which is a non-polar molecule that crosses cell membranes. B-NIPOx is cleaved inside the parasite by carboxylesterases, releasing benzyl alcohol (a molecule with antimicrobial activity), and NIPOx, which is an inhibitor of α-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase isozyme II (HADH-II), a key enzyme in T. cruzi metabolism. We evaluated B-NIPOx cytotoxicity, its toxicity in mice, and its inhibitory activity on purified HADH-II and on T. cruzi homogenates. We then evaluated the trypanocidal activity of B-NIPOx in vitro and in vivo and its effect in the intestine of T. cruzi-infected mice. We found that B-NIPOx had higher trypanocidal activity on epimastigotes and trypomastigotes than Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, that it was more effective to reduce blood parasitemia and amastigote nests in infected mice, and that, in contrast to the reference drugs, it prevented the development of Chagasic enteropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albany Reséndiz-Mora
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Giovanna Barrera-Aveleida
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Anahi Sotelo-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Iván Galarce-Sosa
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Irene Nevárez-Lechuga
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Santiago-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Nogueda-Torres
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Sergio Meza-Toledo
- Laboratorio de Quimioterapia Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Saúl Gómez-Manzo
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Isabel Wong-Baeza
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular II, Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Isabel Baeza
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.W.-B.); Tel.: +52-55-5729-6000 (ext. 62326) (I.B. & C.W.-B.)
| | - Carlos Wong-Baeza
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.W.-B.); Tel.: +52-55-5729-6000 (ext. 62326) (I.B. & C.W.-B.)
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11
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da Silva-Gomes NL, Ruivo LADS, Moreira C, Meuser-Batista M, da Silva CF, Batista DDGJ, Fragoso S, de Oliveira GM, Soeiro MDNC, Moreira OC. Overexpression of TcNTPDase-1 Gene Increases Infectivity in Mice Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314661. [PMID: 36498985 PMCID: PMC9736689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) are enzymes located on the surface of the T. cruzi plasma membrane, which hydrolyze a wide range of tri-/-diphosphate nucleosides. In this work, we used previously developed genetically modified strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), hemi-knockout (KO +/−) and overexpressing (OE) the TcNTPDase-1 gene to evaluate the parasite infectivity profile in a mouse model of acute infection (n = 6 mice per group). Our results showed significantly higher parasitemia and mortality, and lower weight in animals infected with parasites OE TcNTPDase-1, as compared to the infection with the wild type (WT) parasites. On the other hand, animals infected with (KO +/−) parasites showed no mortality during the 30-day trial and mouse weight was more similar to the non-infected (NI) animals. In addition, they had low parasitemia (45.7 times lower) when compared with parasites overexpressing TcNTPDase-1 from the hemi-knockout (OE KO +/−) group. The hearts of animals infected with the OE KO +/− and OE parasites showed significantly larger regions of cardiac inflammation than those infected with the WT parasites (p < 0.001). Only animals infected with KO +/− did not show individual electrocardiographic changes during the period of experimentation. Together, our results expand the knowledge on the role of NTPDases in T. cruzi infectivity, reenforcing the potential of this enzyme as a chemotherapy target to treat Chagas disease (CD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Lins da Silva-Gomes
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular-IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos-ICC/FIOCRUZ, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Meuser-Batista
- Laboratório de Educação Profissional em Técnicas Laboratoriais em Saúde, EPSJV/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | | | - Stênio Fragoso
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos-ICC/FIOCRUZ, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | | | | | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular-IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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12
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Neuroprotective Treatments for Digestive Forms of Chagas Disease in Experimental Models: A Systematic Review. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:9397290. [PMID: 36199427 PMCID: PMC9527410 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9397290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is characterized as a neglected disease. It is currently endemic in 21 countries on the Latin American continent, including Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. Unfortunately, there are no optimally effective treatments that can reduce the damage caused in the digestive form of the disease, such as the neuronal destruction of the myenteric plexus of both the esophagus and the colon. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to report the possible pharmacological neuroprotective agents that were tested in murine models of the digestive form of Chagas disease. Inclusion criteria are in vivo experimental studies that used different murine models for digestive forms of Chagas disease related to pharmacological interventions with neuroprotective potential, without year and language restriction. On the other hand, the exclusion criteria were studies that did not approach murine models with the digestive form of the disease or did not use neuroprotective treatments, among others. The search in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and LILACS databases was performed on September 4, 2021. In addition, a manual search was performed using the references of the included articles. The risk of bias assessment of the studies was performed based on the SYRCLE tool guidelines, and the data from the selected articles are presented in this review as a narrative description and in tables. Eight articles were included, 4 of which addressed treatment with acetylsalicylic acid, 3 with cyclophosphamide, and 1 with Lycopodium clavatum 13c. In view of the results of the studies, most of them show neuroprotective activity of the treatments, with the potential to reduce the number of damaged neurons, as well as positive changes in the structure of these cells. However, more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms triggered by each drug, as well as their safety and immunogenicity. Systematic review registration is as follows: PROSPERO database (CRD42022289746).
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13
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de Souza-Silva TG, Gollob KJ, Dutra WO. T-cell receptor variable region usage in Chagas disease: A systematic review of experimental and human studies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010546. [PMID: 36107855 PMCID: PMC9477334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells recognize their ligand, the peptide major histocompatibility complex (MHC), via the T-cell receptor (TCR), which is composed of covalently linked α and β or γ and δ chains. This recognition is critical for T-cell ontogeny and controls the selection, activation, and function of T lymphocytes. Specific TCR αβ variable regions have been associated with immunopathogenesis of Chagas disease. Here, we present a systematic review that compiles experimental in vivo and human data regarding the preferential expression of variable alpha (Vα) and variable beta (Vβ) chain regions in Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The original studies indexed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were screened according to the PRISMA strategy. The analysis showed that expression of TCR Vα subfamilies were evaluated in one human study, and, unlike TCR Vβ, TCR Vα presented a more restricted usage. Despite the great variability in the usage of TCR Vβ regions in human Chagas disease, a down-regulation of TCR Vβ5 expression by T cells from patients in the acute phase of the disease was shown. Opposingly, this TCR region was found overly expressed in CD4+ T cells from chronic Chagas patients. It was also demonstrated that murine Vβ9+ T cells derived from nonlymphoid organs of T. cruzi-infected animals had a modulatory profile, while splenic Vβ9+ T cells produced inflammatory cytokines, indicating that although they display the same TCR Vβ region usage, these cells are functionally distinct. Despite the limitations of few papers and year of publication of the studies, compiling the data derived from them reveals that further investigation of TCR usage will point to their potential role in protective or pathogenic responses, as biomarkers of disease progression, and in the search for dominant peptides potentially useful for the development of vaccines or therapies. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease, caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Differential expression of certain T-cell receptor (TCR) variable regions has been associated with the immunopathogenesis of Chagas disease. Here, we present a systematic review that compiled experimental in vivo and human data regarding the preferential expression of TCR alpha and beta chain variable regions in Chagas disease. The original studies indexed in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were screened according to the PRISMA strategy. Despite the great variability in the use of TCR Vβ in T. cruzi infection, the outcomes indicate that there is a down-regulation of TCR Vβ5 expression in T cells from patients in the acute phase of Chagas disease. However, this region is preferentially expressed by CD4+ T cells from chronic Chagas patients. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that murine Vβ9+ T cells derived from nonlymphoid organs displayed a modulatory profile, while splenic Vβ9+ T cells produced inflammatory cytokines, indicating that although they express the same TCR Vβ region, these cells are functionally distinct. Information on TCR expression, specificity and function have critical impact on vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaiany Goulart de Souza-Silva
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kenneth J. Gollob
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Walderez O. Dutra
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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14
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Martín-Escolano R, Rosales MJ, Marín C. Biological characteristics of the Trypanosoma cruzi Arequipa strain make it a good model for Chagas disease drug discovery. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106679. [PMID: 36096184 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106679] [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: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD), is a genuine parasite with tremendous genetic diversity and a complex life cycle. Scientists have studied this disease for more than 100 years, and CD drug discovery has been a mainstay due to the absence of an effective treatment. Technical advances in several areas have contributed to a better understanding of the complex biology and life cycle of this parasite, with the aim of designing the ideal profile of both drug and therapeutic options to treat CD. Here, we present the T. cruzi Arequipa strain (MHOM/Pe/2011/Arequipa) as an interesting model for CD drug discovery. We characterized acute-phase parasitaemia and chronic-phase tropism in BALB/c mice and determined the in vitro and in vivo benznidazole susceptibility profile of the different morphological forms of this strain. The tropism of this strain makes it an interesting model for the screening of new compounds with a potential anti-Chagas profile for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.
| | - María José Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, Granada 18071, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, Granada 18071, Spain.
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15
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Gulin JEN, Bisio MMC, Rocco D, Altcheh J, Solana ME, García-Bournissen F. Miltefosine and Benznidazole Combination Improve Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:855119. [PMID: 35865815 PMCID: PMC9294734 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.855119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing and combination therapy have been proposed as cost-effective strategies to improve Chagas disease treatment. Miltefosine (MLT), a synthetic alkylphospholipid initially developed for breast cancer and repositioned for leishmaniasis, is a promising candidate against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. This study evaluates the efficacy of MLT as a monodrug and combined with benznidazole (BZ) in both in vitro and in vivo models of infection with T. cruzi (VD strain, DTU TcVI). MLT exhibited in vitro activity on amastigotes and trypomastigotes with values of IC50 = 0.51 µM (0.48 µM; 0,55 µM) and LC50 = 31.17 µM (29.56 µM; 32.87 µM), respectively. Drug interaction was studied with the fixed-ration method. The sum of the fractional inhibitory concentrations (ΣFICs) resulted in ∑FIC= 0.45 for trypomastigotes and ∑FIC= 0.71 for amastigotes, suggesting in vitro synergistic and additive effects, respectively. No cytotoxic effects on host cells were observed. MLT efficacy was also evaluated in a murine model of acute infection alone or combined with BZ. Treatment was well tolerated with few adverse effects, and all treated animals displayed significantly lower mean peak parasitemia and mortality than infected non-treated controls (p<0.05). The in vivo studies showed that MLT led to a dose-dependent parasitostatic effect as monotherapy which could be improved by combining with BZ, preventing parasitemia rebound after a stringent immunosuppression protocol. These results support MLT activity in clinically relevant stages from T. cruzi, and it is the first report of positive interaction with BZ, providing further support for evaluating combined schemes using MLT and exploring synthetic alkylphospholipids as drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Ernesto Nicolás Gulin
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)-Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (GCBA), Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) – CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Margarita María Catalina Bisio
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)-Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (GCBA), Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología (INP) ‘Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben’-Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) ‘Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán’, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Rocco
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)-Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (GCBA), Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)-Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (GCBA), Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elisa Solana
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Facundo García-Bournissen
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas (IMIPP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)-Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (GCBA), Servicio de Parasitología y Enfermedad de Chagas, Hospital de Niños “Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Division of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Facundo García-Bournissen,
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16
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Travi BL. Current status of antihistamine drugs repurposing for infectious diseases. MEDICINE IN DRUG DISCOVERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medidd.2022.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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17
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Temporal and Wash-Out Studies Identify Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box Compounds with Fast-Acting Activity against Both Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071287. [PMID: 35889006 PMCID: PMC9317670 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071287] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic to 21 countries in the Americas, effects approximately 6 million people and on average results in 12,000 deaths annually. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by the Trypanosoma brucei sub-species, endemic to 36 countries within sub-Saharan Africa. Treatment regimens for these parasitic diseases are complicated and not effective against all disease stages; thus, there is a need to find improved treatments. To identify new molecules for the drug discovery pipelines for these diseases, we have utilised in vitro assays to identify compounds with selective activity against both T. cruzi and T.b. brucei from the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pathogen Box compound collection. To prioritise these molecules for further investigation, temporal and wash off assays were utilised to identify the speed of action and cidality of compounds. For translational relevance, compounds were tested against clinically relevant T.b. brucei subspecies. Compounds with activity against T. cruzi cytochrome P450 (TcCYP51) have not previously been successful in clinical trials for chronic Chagas disease; thus, to deprioritise compounds with this activity, they were tested against recombinant TcCYP51. Compounds with biological profiles warranting progression offer important tools for drug and target development against kinetoplastids.
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18
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Arana Y, Gálvez RI, Jacobs T. Role of the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway in Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection and Potential Therapeutic Options. Front Immunol 2022; 13:866120. [PMID: 35812458 PMCID: PMC9260015 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.866120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected chronic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). A significant portion of infected people develops cardiac or digestive alterations over a lifetime. Since several chronic infections associated with antigen persistence and inflammation have been shown to lead to T cell exhaustion, new therapies targeting co-inhibitory receptors to regain T cell activity are under consideration. This study explored immune therapeutic approaches targeting the inhibitory PD-1/PD-L pathway in an experimental model for CD. Infected PD-L1 knockout mice (PD-L1 KO) showed increased systemic parasitemia in blood although no significant differences in parasite load were observed in different organs. Furthermore, we found no significant differences in the frequency of activated T cells or proinflammatory cytokine production when compared to WT counterparts. PD-L1 deficiency led to the production of IL-10 by CD8+ T cells and an upregulation of Tim-3 and CD244 (2B4). Unexpectedly, the lack of PD-L1 did not contribute to a significantly improved T cell response to infection. Single blockade and combined blockade of PD-1 and Tim-3 using monoclonal antibodies confirmed the results observed in infected. PD-L1 KO mice. Our results describe for the first time that the interruption of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis during acute T. cruzi infection does not necessarily enhance the immune response against this parasite. Its interruption favors increased levels of parasitemia and sustained upregulation of other co-inhibitory receptors as well as the production of regulatory cytokines. These results suggest that the clinical application of immune therapeutic approaches targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in CD might be risky and associated with adverse events. It highlights that more research is urgently needed to better understand the immune regulation of T cells in CD before designing immune therapeutic approaches for a clinical context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Jacobs
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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19
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Martín-Escolano J, Marín C, Rosales MJ, Tsaousis AD, Medina-Carmona E, Martín-Escolano R. An Updated View of the Trypanosoma cruzi Life Cycle: Intervention Points for an Effective Treatment. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1107-1115. [PMID: 35652513 PMCID: PMC9194904 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Chagas disease (CD)
is a parasitic, systemic, chronic, and often
fatal illness caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma
cruzi. The World Health Organization classifies CD as the
most prevalent of poverty-promoting neglected tropical diseases, the
most important parasitic one, and the third most infectious disease
in Latin America. Currently, CD is a global public health issue that
affects 6–8 million people. However, the current approved treatments
are limited to two nitroheterocyclic drugs developed more than 50
years ago. Many efforts have been made in recent decades to find new
therapies, but our limited understanding of the infection process,
pathology development, and long-term nature of this disease has made
it impossible to develop new drugs, effective treatment, or vaccines.
This Review aims to provide a comprehensive update on our understanding
of the current life cycle, new morphological forms, and genetic diversity
of T. cruzi, as well as identify intervention points
in the life cycle where new drugs and treatments could achieve a parasitic
cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martín-Escolano
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, E41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Anastasios D. Tsaousis
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
| | - Encarnación Medina-Carmona
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
| | - Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
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20
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Gálvez RI, Jacobs T. Exhausted PD-1 + TOX + CD8 + T Cells Arise Only in Long-Term Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:866179. [PMID: 35720419 PMCID: PMC9203896 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.866179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi remains the most important neglected zoonosis in Latin America. This infection does not lead to specific symptoms in the acute phase, but chronic infection can result in Chagas disease (CD) with cardiac and/or gastrointestinal manifestations that can lead to death. CD8+ T cells are highly effective and essential to control this infection, but fail to eliminate all parasites. In this study, we show that the CD8+ T cells are modulated by the transient induction of co-inhibitory receptors during acute infection of C57BL/6 mice. Therapeutic intervention strategies with blocking antibodies only had a marginal effect on the elimination of parasite reservoirs. Only long-term chronic infection gave rise to dysfunctional CD8+ T cells, which were characterized by high expression of the inhibitory receptor PD-1 and the co-expression of the transcription factor TOX, which plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the exhausted phenotype. PD-1+ TOX+ CD8+ T cells isolated from the site of infection produced significantly less IFN-γ, TNF-α and Granzyme B than their PD-1- TOX- CD8+ T cell counterparts after T. cruzi-specific stimulation ex vivo. Taken together, we provide evidence that, in the context of experimental infection of mice, the magnitude of the CD8+ T cell response in the acute phase is sufficient for parasite control and cannot be further increased by targeting co-inhibitory receptors. In contrast, persistent long-term chronic infection leads to an increase of exhausted T cells within the tissues of persistence. To our knowledge, this is the first description of infection-induced CD8+ T cells with an exhausted phenotype and reduced cytokine production in muscles of T. cruzi-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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21
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Kratz JM, Gonçalves KR, Romera LM, Moraes CB, Bittencourt-Cunha P, Schenkman S, Chatelain E, Sosa-Estani S. The translational challenge in Chagas disease drug development. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e200501. [PMID: 35613156 PMCID: PMC9128742 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. There is an urgent need for safe, effective, and accessible new treatments since the currently approved drugs have serious limitations. Drug development for Chagas disease has historically been hampered by the complexity of the disease, critical knowledge gaps, and lack of coordinated R&D efforts. This review covers some of the translational challenges associated with the progression of new chemical entities from preclinical to clinical phases of development, and discusses how recent technological advances might allow the research community to answer key questions relevant to the disease and to overcome hurdles in R&D for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadel M Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karolina R Gonçalves
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Lavínia Md Romera
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Diadema, SP, Brasil
| | - Paula Bittencourt-Cunha
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.,Epidemiology and Public Health Research Centre, CIESP-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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de Oliveira RG, Cruz LR, Mollo MC, Dias LC, Kratz JM. Chagas Disease Drug Discovery in Latin America-A Mini Review of Antiparasitic Agents Explored Between 2010 and 2021. Front Chem 2021; 9:771143. [PMID: 34778217 PMCID: PMC8581468 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.771143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that endangers almost 70 million people worldwide. The only two drugs that are currently approved for its treatment, benznidazole and nifurtimox, have controversial efficacy in adults and restricting safety issues, leaving thousands of patients without a suitable treatment. The neglect of Chagas disease is further illustrated by the lack of a robust and diverse drug discovery and development portfolio of new chemical entities, and it is of paramount importance to build a strong research and development network for antichagasic drugs. Focusing on drug discovery programs led by scientists based in Latin America, the main endemic region for this disease, we discuss herein what has been published in the last decade in terms of identification of new antiparasitic drugs to treat Chagas disease, shining a spotlight on the origin, chemical diversity, level of characterization of hits, and strategies used for optimization of lead compounds. Finally, we identify strengths and weaknesses in these drug discovery campaigns and highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon G. de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luiza R. Cruz
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - María C. Mollo
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luiz C. Dias
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jadel M. Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Profiro de Oliveira JH, Arruda IES, Izak Ribeiro de Araújo J, Chaves LL, de La Rocca Soares MF, Soares-Sobrinho JL. Why do few drug delivery systems to combat neglected tropical diseases reach the market? An analysis from the technology's stages. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 32:89-114. [PMID: 34424127 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1970746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Many drugs used to combat schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis (SCL) have clinical limitations such as: high toxicity to the liver, kidneys and spleen; reproductive, gastrointestinal, and heart disorders; teratogenicity. In this sense, drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been described in the literature as a viable option for overcoming the limitations of these drugs. An analysis of the level of development (TRL) of patents can help in determine the steps that must be taken for promising technologies to reach the market. AREAS COVERED This study aimed to analyze the stage of development of DDSs for the treatment of SCL described in patents. In addition, we try to understand the main reasons why many DDSs do not reach the market. In this study, we examined DDSs for drugs indicated by WHO and treatment of SCL, by performing a search for patents. EXPERT OPINION In this present work we provide arguments that support the hypothesis that there is a lack of integration between academia and industry to finance and continue research, especially the development of clinical studies. We cite the translational research consortia as the potential alternative for developing DDSs to combat NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luise Lopes Chaves
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Recife-Pernambuco
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24
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Rivero CV, Martínez SJ, Novick P, Cueto JA, Salassa BN, Vanrell MC, Li X, Labriola CA, Polo LM, Engman DM, Clos J, Romano PS. Repurposing Carvedilol as a Novel Inhibitor of the Trypanosoma cruzi Autophagy Flux That Affects Parasite Replication and Survival. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:657257. [PMID: 34476220 PMCID: PMC8406938 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.657257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T. cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, is a parasite able to infect different types of host cells and to persist chronically in the tissues of human and animal hosts. These qualities and the lack of an effective treatment for the chronic stage of the disease have contributed to the durability and the spread of the disease around the world. There is an urgent necessity to find new therapies for Chagas disease. Drug repurposing is a promising and cost-saving strategy for finding new drugs for different illnesses. In this work we describe the effect of carvedilol on T. cruzi. This compound, selected by virtual screening, increased the accumulation of immature autophagosomes characterized by lower acidity and hydrolytic properties. As a consequence of this action, the survival of trypomastigotes and the replication of epimastigotes and amastigotes were impaired, resulting in a significant reduction of infection and parasite load. Furthermore, carvedilol reduced the whole-body parasite burden peak in infected mice. In summary, in this work we present a repurposed drug with a significant in vitro and in vivo activity against T. cruzi. These data in addition to other pharmacological properties make carvedilol an attractive lead for Chagas disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Vanesa Rivero
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.,Leishmaniasis Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Santiago José Martínez
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paul Novick
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Juan Agustín Cueto
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Betiana Nebaí Salassa
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Cristina Vanrell
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Xiaomo Li
- Leishmaniasis Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carlos Alberto Labriola
- Laboratorio de Biología estructural y celular, Fundación Instituto Leloir (FIL-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Mariano Polo
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - David M Engman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joachim Clos
- Leishmaniasis Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Silvia Romano
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y la célula hospedadora - Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", IHEM-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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25
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Providello MV, Portapilla GB, Oliveira PAS, da Silva CBP, Anchieta NF, Tirapelli CR, de Albuquerque S. Melatonin decreases circulating Trypanosoma cruzi load with no effect on tissue parasite replication. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 99:795-802. [PMID: 33296274 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2020-0473] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac damage during the acute phase of Chagas disease (CD) is associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. Melatonin (MEL) has emerged as a promising therapy for CD due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties; however, the protective action of MEL in the cardiac tissue, as well as its direct action on the parasite cycle, is not fully understood. We investigated the effects of MEL on heart parasitism in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and also its effects on the parasitic proliferation in vitro. Our in vivo study showed that MEL reduced circulating parasitemia load, but did not control tissue (heart, liver, and spleen) parasitism in mice. MEL did not prevent the redox imbalance in the left ventricle of infected mice. Our in vitro findings showed that MEL did not inhibit parasites replication within cells, but rather increased their release from cells. MEL did not control parasitism load in the heart or prevent the cardiac redox imbalance induced by acute T. cruzi infection. The hormone controlled the circulating parasitic load, but within cells MEL accelerated parasitic release, a response that can be harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiara Voltarelli Providello
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, DACTB, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Bulhões Portapilla
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, DACTB, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Alexandre Sampaio Oliveira
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, DACTB, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Brigagão Pacheco da Silva
- Laboratório de Farmacologia, DEPCH, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Naira Ferreira Anchieta
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, DACTB, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato Tirapelli
- Laboratório de Farmacologia, DEPCH, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sérgio de Albuquerque
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, DACTB, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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26
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Rodrigues da Cunha GM, Azevedo MA, Nogueira DS, Clímaco MDC, Valencia Ayala E, Jimenez Chunga JA, La Valle RJY, da Cunha Galvão LM, Chiari E, Brito CRN, Soares RP, Nogueira PM, Fujiwara RT, Gazzinelli R, Hincapie R, Chaves CS, Oliveira FMS, Finn MG, Marques AF. α-Gal immunization positively impacts Trypanosoma cruzi colonization of heart tissue in a mouse model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009613. [PMID: 34314435 PMCID: PMC8345864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered endemic in more than 20 countries but lacks both an approved vaccine and limited treatment for its chronic stage. Chronic infection is most harmful to human health because of long-term parasitic infection of the heart. Here we show that immunization with a virus-like particle vaccine displaying a high density of the immunogenic α-Gal trisaccharide (Qβ-αGal) induced several beneficial effects concerning acute and chronic T. cruzi infection in α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mice. Approximately 60% of these animals were protected from initial infection with high parasite loads. Vaccinated animals also produced high anti-αGal IgG antibody titers, improved IFN-γ and IL-12 cytokine production, and controlled parasitemia in the acute phase at 8 days post-infection (dpi) for the Y strain and 22 dpi for the Colombian strain. In the chronic stage of infection (36 and 190 dpi, respectively), all of the vaccinated group survived, showing significantly decreased heart inflammation and clearance of amastigote nests from the heart tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maíra Araújo Azevedo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Denise Silva Nogueira
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Juan Atilio Jimenez Chunga
- Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Faculdad de Ciencias Biologicas, Escuela Profesional de Microbiología y Parasitología—Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Lima, Peru
| | - Raul Jesus Ynocente La Valle
- Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Faculdad de Ciencias Biologicas, Escuela Profesional de Microbiología y Parasitología—Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Egler Chiari
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ramon Nascimento Brito
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte—Centro de Ciências da Saúde—Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Natal, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ricardo Gazzinelli
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ–MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Robert Hincapie
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Carlos-Sanhueza Chaves
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - M. G. Finn
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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27
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de Lana M, Giunchetti RC. Dogs as a Model for Chemotherapy of Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1741-1756. [PMID: 33371843 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666201228142703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dogs are natural reservoir of Chagas disease (CD) and leishmaniasis and have been used for studies of these infections as they develop different clinical forms of these diseases similar to humans. OBJECTIVE This article describes publications on the dog model relative to CD and leishmaniasis chemotherapy. METHODS The search of articles was based on PubMed, Scopus and MESH using the keywords: dog, Trypanosoma cruzi, treatment (T. cruzi chemotherapy analysis), Leishmania chagasi, Leishmania infantum, canine visceral leishmaniasis, treatment (Leishmania chemotherapy evaluation). RESULTS Benznidazole and nifurtimox were used as a reference in the treatment of CD and in combination with other compounds. Eleven out of the fifteen studies have authors from the same team, using similar protocols and post-treatment evaluations, which assured more reproducibility and credibility. Twenty leishmaniasis studies, especially on visceral leishmaniasis, presenting at least one parasitological analysis tested in distinct monochemotherapy and polychemotherapy approaches were accessed. Data demonstrated that polychemotherapy was more effective in improving the clinical signs and parasitism control. CONCLUSION The benefits of treatment in terms of reducing or eliminating lesions and/or cardiac dysfunctions were demonstrated at acute and/or chronic phases relative to parasite load and/or the T. cruzi strain resistance to treatment. BZ presented better therapeutic results than the two EBI compounds evaluated. Although treatment of the canine visceral leishmaniasis was not able to induce complete parasite clearance, it can improve clinical recovery. Thus, the dog is a good model for CD and leishmaniasis studies of chemotherapy and may be indicated for pre-clinical trials of new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta de Lana
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Farmaceuticas (CiPHARMA), Escola de Farmacia, Programa Pos-Graduacao em de Ciencias Biologicas, Nucleo de Pesquisas em Ciencias Biologicas (NUPEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil
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28
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Ferragut F, Acevedo GR, Gómez KA. T Cell Specificity: A Great Challenge in Chagas Disease. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674078. [PMID: 34267750 PMCID: PMC8276045 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune response against T. cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease, are relevant for both parasite control and disease pathogenesis. Several studies have been focused on their phenotype and functionally, but only a few have drilled down to identify the parasite proteins that are processed and presented to these cells, especially to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Although approximately 10,000 proteins are encoded per haploid T. cruzi genome, fewer than 200 T cell epitopes from 49 T. cruzi proteins have been identified so far. In this context, a detailed knowledge of the specific targets of T cell memory response emerges as a prime tool for the conceptualization and development of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines, an approach with great potential to prevent and treat this chronic disease. Here, we review the available information about this topic in a comprehensive manner and discuss the future challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Ferragut
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo R Acevedo
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karina A Gómez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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29
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Perin L, Pinto L, Balthazar Nardotto GH, da Silva Fonseca K, Oliveira Paiva B, Fernanda Rodrigues Bastos Mendes T, Molina I, Correa-Oliveira R, Melo de Abreu Vieira P, Martins Carneiro C. Population pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of benznidazole in mice. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:2213-2221. [PMID: 32356873 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the population pharmacokinetics of different benznidazole treatment regimens and the drug's biodistribution in mice. METHODS Two hundred mice were divided into five groups according to benznidazole dosing regimens: (1) 100 mg/kg/day for 20 days; (2) 100 mg/kg/day for 40 days; (3) 200 mg/kg/day for 20 days; (4) 40 mg/kg/day for 20 days; or (5) 40 mg/kg/day for 40 days. The mice were euthanized and blood, heart, liver, colon and brain were collected. Samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction and analysed by HPLC-diode-array detection. The pharmacokinetic analysis of benznidazole was evaluated via non-linear mixed-effects modelling using the NONMEN program. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that mouse weight allometrically influences benznidazole clearance; the AUC curve and the highest plasma concentration are dose proportional; benznidazole does not influence its own metabolism; its tissue distribution is limited; and the standard treatment regimen for Chagas' disease in mice (100 mg/kg/day for 20 days) is inadequate from a pharmacokinetic standpoint, as are the other regimens tested in this study (100 mg/kg/day for 40 days, 200 mg/kg/day for 20 days and 40 mg/kg/day for 20 or 40 days). CONCLUSIONS Benznidazole reformulations that allow better tissue penetration and plasma and tissue exposure should be evaluated to enable higher cure rates in both animals and patients. The population pharmacokinetic model developed here can allow optimization of the dosing regimen of benznidazole to treat experimental Chagas' disease. Determining appropriate treatment regimens in animals allows translation of these to clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Perin
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Pinto
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Glauco Henrique Balthazar Nardotto
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analyses, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kátia da Silva Fonseca
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Oliveira Paiva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Israel Molina
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, PROSICS Barcelona
| | - Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Martins Carneiro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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30
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Martín-Escolano R, Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena M, Martín-Escolano J, Plano D, Rosales MJ, Espuelas S, Moreno E, Sánchez-Moreno M, Sanmartín C, Marín C. Selenium Derivatives as Promising Therapy for Chagas Disease: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1727-1738. [PMID: 33871252 PMCID: PMC8480776 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a tropical infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and a global public health concern. It is a paradigmatic example of a chronic disease without an effective treatment. Current treatments targeting T. cruzi are limited to two obsolete nitroheterocyclic drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which lead to serious drawbacks. Hence, new, more effective, safer, and affordable drugs are urgently needed. Selenium and their derivatives have emerged as an interesting strategy for the treatment of different prozotoan diseases, such as African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and malaria. In the case of Chagas disease, diverse selenium scaffolds have been reported with antichagasic activity in vitro and in vivo. On the basis of these premises, we describe the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of 41 selenocompounds against the three morphological forms of different T. cruzi strains. For the most active selenocompounds, their effect on the metabolic and mitochondrial levels and superoxide dismutase enzyme inhibition capacity were measured in order to determine the possible mechanism of action. Derivative 26, with a selenocyanate motif, fulfills the most stringent in vitro requirements for potential antichagasic agents and exhibits a better profile than benznidazole in vivo. This finding provides a step forward for the development of a new antichagasic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mikel Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra (ISTUN), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Martín-Escolano
- Servicio de Microbiologia Clinica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación, Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Plano
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra (ISTUN), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra (ISTUN), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Esther Moreno
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra (ISTUN), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra (ISTUN), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Fonseca KDS, Perin L, de Paiva NCN, da Silva BC, Duarte THC, Marques FDS, Costa GDP, Molina I, Correa-Oliveira R, Vieira PMDA, Carneiro CM. Benznidazole Treatment: Time- and Dose-Dependence Varies with the Trypanosoma cruzi Strain. Pathogens 2021; 10:729. [PMID: 34207764 PMCID: PMC8229751 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060729] [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: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As the development of new drugs for Chagas disease is not a priority due to its neglected disease status, an option for increasing treatment adherence is to explore alternative treatment regimens, which may decrease the incidence of side effects. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of different therapeutic schemes with benznidazole (BNZ) on the acute and chronic phases of the disease, using mice infected with strains that have different BNZ susceptibilities. Our results show that the groups of animals infected by VL-10 strain, when treated in the chronic phase with a lower dose of BNZ for a longer period of time (40 mg/kg/day for 40 days) presented better treatment efficacy than with the standard protocol (100 mg/kg/day for 20 days) although the best result in the treatment of the animals infected by the VL-10 strain was with100 mg/kg/day for 40 days. In the acute infection by the Y and VL-10 strains of T. cruzi, the treatment with a standard dose, but with a longer time of treatment (100 mg/kg/day for 40 days) presented the best results. Given these data, our results indicate that for BNZ, the theory of dose and time proportionality does not apply to the phases of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kátia da Silva Fonseca
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
| | - Luísa Perin
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
| | - Nívia Carolina Nogueira de Paiva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
| | - Beatriz Cristiane da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
| | - Thays Helena Chaves Duarte
- Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (T.H.C.D.); (F.d.S.M.)
| | - Flávia de Souza Marques
- Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (T.H.C.D.); (F.d.S.M.)
| | - Guilherme de Paula Costa
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
| | - Israel Molina
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
- Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, PROSICS Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
- Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (T.H.C.D.); (F.d.S.M.)
| | - Cláudia Martins Carneiro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil; (K.d.S.F.); (L.P.); (N.C.N.d.P.); (B.C.d.S.); (G.d.P.C.); (I.M.); (R.C.-O.); (P.M.d.A.V.)
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
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Rodríguez-Bejarano OH, Avendaño C, Patarroyo MA. Mechanisms Associated with Trypanosoma cruzi Host Target Cell Adhesion, Recognition and Internalization. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:534. [PMID: 34207491 PMCID: PMC8227291 DOI: 10.3390/life11060534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is mainly transmitted by hematophagous insect bites. The parasite's lifecycle has an obligate intracellular phase (amastigotes), while metacyclic and bloodstream-trypomastigotes are its infective forms. Mammalian host cell recognition of the parasite involves the interaction of numerous parasite and host cell plasma membrane molecules and domains (known as lipid rafts), thereby ensuring internalization by activating endocytosis mechanisms triggered by various signaling cascades in both host cells and the parasite. This increases cytoplasmatic Ca2+ and cAMP levels; cytoskeleton remodeling and endosome and lysosome intracellular system association are triggered, leading to parasitophorous vacuole formation. Its membrane becomes modified by containing the parasite's infectious form within it. Once it has become internalized, the parasite seeks parasitophorous vacuole lysis for continuing its intracellular lifecycle, fragmenting such a vacuole's membrane. This review covers the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in T. cruzi adhesion to, recognition of and internalization in host target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Hernán Rodríguez-Bejarano
- Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Calle 222#55-37, Bogotá 111166, Colombia;
| | - Catalina Avendaño
- Animal Science Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Calle 222#55-37, Bogotá 111166, Colombia;
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, Carrera 9#51-11, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
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Martín-Escolano R, Molina-Carreño D, Plano D, Espuelas S, Rosales MJ, Moreno E, Aydillo C, Sanmartín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Marín C. Library of Selenocyanate and Diselenide Derivatives as In Vivo Antichagasic Compounds Targeting Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050419. [PMID: 34062791 PMCID: PMC8147293 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is usually caused by tropical infection with the insect-transmitted protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Currently, Chagas disease is a major public health concern worldwide due to globalization, and there are no treatments neither vaccines because of the long-term nature of the disease and its complex pathology. Current treatments are limited to two obsolete drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which lead to serious drawbacks. Taking into account the urgent need for strict research efforts to find new therapies, here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of a library of selected forty-eight selenocyanate and diselenide derivatives that exhibited leishmanicidal properties. The inclusion of selenium, an essential trace element, was due to the well-known extensive pharmacological activities for selenium compounds including parasitic diseases as T. cruzi. Here we present compound 8 as a potential compound that exhibits a better profile than benznidazole both in vitro and in vivo. It shows a fast-acting behaviour that could be attributed to its mode of action: it acts in a mitochondrion-dependent manner, causing cell death by bioenergetic collapse. This finding provides a step forward for the development of a new antichagasic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
| | - Daniel Molina-Carreño
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Daniel Plano
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Esther Moreno
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos Aydillo
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
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Pandey RP, Nascimento MS, Moore CE, Raj VS, Kalil J, Cunha-Neto E. New Approaches for the Treatment of Chagas Disease. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:835-841. [PMID: 33238855 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121999201124122643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is a neglected tropical disease with high prevalence (5.7 million in Latin America, WHO 2015), significant burden, and significant morbimortality mostly due to severe heart disorders during the chronic phase of infection. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America, and medical care for the disease is the major expense for Brazil's Universal Healthcare System (Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The efficacy of the available drugs benznidazole and nifurtimox are low for the chronic phase of Chagas disease, the phase in which most patients are diagnosed, and there are frequent side effects, and drug resistance occurs. The rapid deployment of new drug regimens that are effective for the chronic phase treatment is low-cost and less toxic than the currently available therapy, which is a global priority. Repurposing drugs already in clinical use with other combinations would be the fastest and safest strategy for treating Chagas disease patients. We hypothesize that the combined treatment using repurposing drugs with benznidazole will be more efficacious than benznidazole alone. This needs to be tested further both in vitro and in animal models to understand the efficacy of the treatment before performing human clinical trials. We further hypothesize that producing nanoparticle formulation of the drugs can reduce their toxicity and improve therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramendra Pati Pandey
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, DelhiNCR, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonepat - 131 029, Haryana, India
| | - Marilda Savoia Nascimento
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Catrin E Moore
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - V Samuel Raj
- Centre for Drug Design Discovery and Development (C4D), SRM University, DelhiNCR, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonepat - 131 029, Haryana, India
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edecio Cunha-Neto
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Bouton J, Ferreira de Almeida Fiuza L, Cardoso Santos C, Mazzarella MA, Soeiro MDNC, Maes L, Karalic I, Caljon G, Van Calenbergh S. Revisiting Pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidine Nucleosides as Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi and Antileishmanial Agents. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4206-4238. [PMID: 33784107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis are two neglected tropical diseases responsible for numerous deaths around the world. For both, current treatments are largely inadequate, resulting in a continued need for new drug discovery. As both kinetoplastid parasites are incapable of de novo purine synthesis, they depend on purine salvage pathways that allow them to acquire and process purines from the host to meet their demands. Purine nucleoside analogues therefore constitute a logical source of potential antiparasitic agents. Earlier optimization efforts of the natural product tubercidin (7-deazaadenosine) involving modifications to the nucleobase 7-position and the ribofuranose 3'-position led to analogues with potent anti-Trypanosoma brucei and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activities. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine nucleosides with 3'- and 7-modifications and assess their potential as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and antileishmanial agents. One compound was selected for in vivo evaluation in an acute Chagas disease mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Bouton
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ludmila Ferreira de Almeida Fiuza
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Cardoso Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Angela Mazzarella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Izet Karalic
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
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Borghi SM, Fattori V, Carvalho TT, Tatakihara VLH, Zaninelli TH, Pinho-Ribeiro FA, Ferraz CR, Staurengo-Ferrari L, Casagrande R, Pavanelli WR, Cunha FQ, Cunha TM, Pinge-Filho P, Verri WA. Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Induces Pain in Mice Dependent on Early Spinal Cord Glial Cells and NFκB Activation and Cytokine Production. Front Immunol 2021; 11:539086. [PMID: 33574810 PMCID: PMC7870690 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.539086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical infirmity Chagas disease (CD) presents high mortality. Its etiological agent T. cruzi is transmitted by infected hematophagous insects. Symptoms of the acute phase of the infection include fever, fatigue, body aches, and headache, making diagnosis difficult as they are present in other illnesses as well. Thus, in endemic areas, individuals with undetermined pain may be considered for CD. Although pain is a characteristic symptom of CD, its cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown except for demonstration of a role for peripheral TNF-α in CD pain. In this study, we evaluate the role of spinal cord glial cells in experimental T. cruzi infection in the context of pain using C57BL/6 mice. Pain, parasitemia, survival, and glial and neuronal function as well as NFκB activation and cytokine/chemokine production were assessed. T. cruzi infection induced chronic mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Systemic TNF-α and IL-1β peaked 14 days postinfection (p.i.). Infected mice presented increased spinal gliosis and NFκB activation compared to uninfected mice at 7 days p.i. Glial and NFκB inhibitors limited T. cruzi–induced pain. Nuclear phosphorylated NFκB was detected surrounded by glia markers, and glial inhibitors reduced its detection. T. cruzi–induced spinal cord production of cytokines/chemokines was also diminished by glial inhibitors. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons presented increased activity in infected mice, and the production of inflammatory mediators was counteracted by glial/NFκB inhibitors. The present study unveils the contribution of DRG and spinal cord cellular and molecular events leading to pain in T. cruzi infection, contributing to a better understanding of CD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Borghi
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.,Center for Research in Health Science, University of Northern Paraná-Unopar, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Victor Fattori
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Thacyana T Carvalho
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Vera L H Tatakihara
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Tiago H Zaninelli
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Felipe A Pinho-Ribeiro
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Camila R Ferraz
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Larissa Staurengo-Ferrari
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Rubia Casagrande
- Departament of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, University Hospital, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Wander R Pavanelli
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Fernando Q Cunha
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Thiago M Cunha
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Phileno Pinge-Filho
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Waldiceu A Verri
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biological Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
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Pharmacokinetics of Benznidazole in Experimental Chronic Chagas Disease Using the Swiss Mouse-Berenice-78 Trypanosoma cruzi Strain Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01383-20. [PMID: 33168611 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01383-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Chagas disease might have an impact on benznidazole pharmacokinetics with potential alterations in the therapeutic dosing regimen. This study aims to investigate the influence of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of benznidazole in mice. Healthy (n = 40) and chronically T. cruzi (Berenice-78 strain)-infected (n = 40) Swiss female 10-month-old mice received a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight of benznidazole. Serial blood, heart, colon, and brain samples were collected up to 12 h after benznidazole administration. The serum and tissue samples were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatography instrument coupled to a diode array detector. Chronic infection by T. cruzi increased the values of the pharmacokinetic parameters absorption rate constant (Ka ) (3.92 versus 1.82 h-1), apparent volume of distribution (V/F) (0.089 versus 0.036 liters), and apparent clearance (CL/F) (0.030 versus 0.011 liters/h) and reduced the values of the time to the maximum concentration of drug in serum (T max) (0.67 versus 1.17 h) and absorption half-life (t 1/2 a ) (0.18 versus 0.38 h). Tissue exposure (area under the concentration-versus-time curve from 0 h to time t for tissue [AUC0- t ,tissue]) was longer and higher in the colon (8.15 versus 21.21 μg · h/g) and heart (5.72 versus 13.58 μg · h/g) of chronically infected mice. Chronic infection also increased the benznidazole tissue penetration ratios (AUC0- t ,tissue/AUC0- t ,serum ratios) of brain, colon, and heart by 1.6-, 3.25-, and 3-fold, respectively. The experimental chronic Chagas disease inflammation-mediated changes in the regulation of membrane transporters probably influence the benznidazole pharmacokinetics and the extent of benznidazole exposure in tissues. These results advise for potential alterations in benznidazole pharmacokinetics in chronic Chagas disease patients with possibilities of changes in the standard dosing regimen.
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de Almeida Fiuza LF, Batista DDGJ, Nunes DF, Moreira OC, Cascabulho C, Soeiro MDNC. Benznidazole modulates release of inflammatory mediators by cardiac spheroids infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2020; 221:108061. [PMID: 33383023 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.108061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi remains a serious public health problem in Latin America. The available treatment is limited to two old drugs, benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox, which exhibit limited efficacy and trigger side effects, justifying the search for new therapies. Also, more accurate and sensitive experimental protocols for drug discovery programs are necessary to shrink the translational gaps found among pre-clinical and clinical trials. Presently, cardiac spheroids were used to evaluate host cell cytotoxicity and anti-T.cruzi activity of benznidazole, exploring its effect on the release of inflammatory mediators. Bz presented low toxic profile on 3D matrices (LC50 > 200 μM) and high potency in vitro (EC50 = 0.99 μM) evidenced by qPCR analysis of T.cruzi-infected cardiac spheroids. Flow cytometry appraisal of inflammatory mediators released at the cellular supernatant showed increases in IL - 6 and TNF contents (≈190 and ≈ 25-fold) in parasitized spheroids as compared to uninfected cultures. Bz at 10 μM suppressed parasite load (92%) concomitantly decreasing in IL-6 (36%) and TNF (68%). Our findings corroborate the successful use of 3D cardiac matrices for in vitro identification of novel anti-parasitic agents and potential impact in host cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Ferreira Nunes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacílio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Cascabulho
- Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Martín-Escolano R, Guardia JJ, Martín-Escolano J, Cirauqui N, Fernández A, Rosales MJ, Chahboun R, Sánchez-Moreno M, Alvarez-Manzaneda E, Marín C. In Vivo Biological Evaluation of a Synthetic Royleanone Derivative as a Promising Fast-Acting Trypanocidal Agent by Inducing Mitochondrial-Dependent Necrosis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:3571-3583. [PMID: 33253573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The life-long and life-threatening Chagas disease is one of the most neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is a major public health problem in Latin America, as six to seven million people are infected, being the principal cause of mortality in many endemic regions. Moreover, Chagas disease has become widespread due to migrant populations. Additionally, there are no vaccines nor effective treatments to fight the disease because of its long-term nature and complex pathology. Therefore, these facts emphasize how crucial the international effort for the development of new treatments against Chagas disease is. Here, we present the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of some oxygenated abietane diterpenoids and related compounds. The 1,4-benzoquinone 15, not yet reported, was identified as a fast-acting trypanocidal drug with efficacy against different strains in vitro and higher activity and lower toxicity than benznidazole in both phases of murine Chagas disease. The mode of action was also evaluated, suggesting that quinone 15 kills T. cruzi by inducing mitochondrion-dependent necrosis through a bioenergetics collapse caused by a mitochondrial membrane depolarization and iron-containing superoxide dismutase inhibition. Therefore, the abietane 1,4-benzoquinone 15 can be considered as a new candidate molecule for the development of an appropriate and commercially accessible anti-Chagas drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan J Guardia
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Maria J Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Rachid Chahboun
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Enrique Alvarez-Manzaneda
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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da Silva CFN, Chrispim PBH, Possato B, Portapilla GB, Rohrabaugh TN, Ramos LCB, Santana da Silva R, de Albuquerque S, Turro C, Nikolaou S. Anticancer and antitrypanosomal activities of trinuclear ruthenium compounds with orthometalated phenazine ligands. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:16440-16452. [PMID: 32776028 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt01035a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Trinuclear ruthenium complexes with orthometalated phenazines of general formula [Ru3(μ3-O)(μ2-OAc)5(L)(py)2]PF6 (L = dppn, benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 1; dppz, dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 2; CH3-dppz, 7-methyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 3; Cl-dppz, 7-chlorodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, 4) were investigated for their cytotoxic activity toward the B16F10 murine melanoma and the L929 non-cancer cell lines and against Trypanosoma cruzi (2-4). This study also reports a multi-technique investigation into how complexes 1-4 interact with DNA and human serum albumin, HSA. At concentrations ranging from 2 to 50 μM, all the complexes reduced B16F10 murine melanoma cell viability by over 50%. Complex 4 had the highest cytotoxic effect in the series, diminishing B16F10 cell viability to 38% at 2 μM, with an overall order for anticancer activity of 4 > 2 > 3 > 1. Complexes 2-4 showed remarkable activity in inhibiting epimastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi. Complex 2 showed better antitrypanosomal activity than the reference drug (IC50 = 1.19 μM and IC50 = 0.25 μM for epimastigote and amastigotes forms, respectivily). Ethidium bromide (EB) displacement assays showed that DNA intercalation progressively increases with the extension of the π-conjugation of the cyclometalating ligand and the presence of substituents in the phenazinic portion (1 > 4-3 > 2), showing that complex 1 is a stronger intercalator than EB itself (Kapp > 107 M-1). Viscosity measurements followed the same trend. Cytotoxicity against cancer cells and antitrypanosomal activity follow the same order, which is different to the tendency of DNA intercalation, suggesting DNA is not the main target of these complexes. Compound 1-4 showed very high affinity with HSA (Kb ∼109 M-1). Circular dichroism results also showed that the complexes alter significantly the secondary structure of the HSA, lowering the α-helix % from 86.2 (pure protein) to less than 5% for compounds 1, 2 and 4 at 2.8 μM. These findings demonstrated the important role of phenazines for the biological activity of triruthenium compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Fontes Neves da Silva
- LABIQSC2 (Laboratório de Atividade Biológica e Química Supramolecular de Compostos de Coordenação), Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Martín-Escolano J, Medina-Carmona E, Martín-Escolano R. Chagas Disease: Current View of an Ancient and Global Chemotherapy Challenge. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:2830-2843. [PMID: 33034192 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease and a global public health issue. In terms of treatment, no progress has been made since the 1960s, when benznidazole and nifurtimox, two obsolete drugs still prescribed, were used to treat this disease. Hence, currently, there are no effective treatments available to tackle Chagas disease. Over the past 20 years, there has been an increasing interest in the disease. However, parasite genetic diversity, drug resistance, tropism, and complex life cycle, along with the limited understanding of the disease and inadequate methodologies and strategies, have resulted in the absence of new insights in drugs development and disappointing outcomes in clinical trials so far. In summary, new drugs are urgently needed. This Review considers the relevant aspects related to the lack of drugs for Chagas disease, resumes the advances in tools for drug discovery, and discusses the main features to be taken into account to develop new effective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | | | - Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Gulin JEN, Eagleson MA, López-Muñoz RA, Solana ME, Altcheh J, García-Bournissen F. In vitro and in vivo activity of voriconazole and benznidazole combination on trypanosoma cruzi infection models. Acta Trop 2020; 211:105606. [PMID: 32598923 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Combination therapy has been proposed as an ideal strategy to reduce drug toxicity and improve treatment efficacy in Chagas disease. Previously, we demonstrated potent in vivo anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of voriconazole. In this work, we aimed to study the synergistic effect of voriconazole (VCZ) and benznidazole (BZ) both in vitro and in vivo models of T. cruzi infection using the Tulahuen strain. Combining VCZ and BZ at fixed concentrations, the inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) on amastigotes was lower than the obtained IC50 for BZ alone and the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (∑FIC) suggested an in vitro additive effect on T. cruzi amastigotes inhibition at concentrations devoid of cytotoxic effects. Treatment response in the in vivo model was evaluated by comparing behavior and physical aspects, parasitemia and mortality of mice infected with Tulahuen strain. VCZ and BZ treatments alone or in combination were well tolerated. All treated animals displayed significantly lower mean peak parasitemia and mortality compared to infected non-treated controls (p< 0.05). However, VCZ + BZ combination elicited no additional benefits over BZ monotherapy. VCZ efficacy was not enhanced by combination therapy with BZ at the doses studied, requiring further and astringent non-clinical studies to establish the VCZ efficacy and eventually moving forward to clinical trials.
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Pérez-Mazliah D, Ward AI, Lewis MD. Host-parasite dynamics in Chagas disease from systemic to hyper-local scales. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12786. [PMID: 32799361 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a remarkably versatile parasite. It can parasitize almost any nucleated cell type and naturally infects hundreds of mammal species across much of the Americas. In humans, it is the cause of Chagas disease, a set of mainly chronic conditions predominantly affecting the heart and gastrointestinal tract, which can progress to become life threatening. Yet around two thirds of infected people are long-term asymptomatic carriers. Clinical outcomes depend on many factors, but the central determinant is the nature of the host-parasite interactions that play out over the years of chronic infection in diverse tissue environments. In this review, we aim to integrate recent developments in the understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of T. cruzi infections with established and emerging concepts in host immune responses in the corresponding phases and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damián Pérez-Mazliah
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Alexander I Ward
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Michael D Lewis
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Chatelain E, Scandale I. Animal models of Chagas disease and their translational value to drug development. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:1381-1402. [PMID: 32812830 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1806233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION American trypanosomiasis, better known as Chagas disease, is a global public health issue. Current treatments targeting the causative parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, are limited to two old nitroheterocyclic compounds; new, safer drugs are needed. New tools to identify compounds suitable for parasitological cure in humans have emerged through efforts in drug discovery. AREAS COVERED Animal disease models are an integral part of the drug discovery process. There are numerous experimental models of Chagas disease described and in use; rather than going through each of these and their specific features, the authors focus on developments in recent years, in particular the imaging technologies that have dramatically changed the Chagas R&D landscape, and provide a critical view on their value and limitations for moving compounds forward into further development. EXPERT OPINION The application of new technological advances to the field of drug development for Chagas disease has led to the implementation of new and robust/standardized in vivo models that contributed to a better understanding of host/parasite interactions. These new models should also build confidence in their translational value for moving compounds forward into clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- R&D Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) , Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- R&D Department, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) , Geneva, Switzerland
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Martínez-Peinado N, Cortes-Serra N, Losada-Galvan I, Alonso-Vega C, Urbina JA, Rodríguez A, VandeBerg JL, Pinazo MJ, Gascon J, Alonso-Padilla J. Emerging agents for the treatment of Chagas disease: what is in the preclinical and clinical development pipeline? Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:947-959. [PMID: 32635780 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1793955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease treatment relies on the lengthy administration of benznidazole and/or nifurtimox, which have frequent toxicity associated. The disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is mostly diagnosed at its chronic phase when life-threatening symptomatology manifest in approximately 30% of those infected. Considering that both available drugs have variable efficacy by then, and there are over 6 million people infected, there is a pressing need to find safer, more efficacious drugs. AREAS COVERED We provide an updated view of the path to achieve the aforementioned goal. From state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo assays based on genetically engineered parasites that have allowed high throughput screenings of large chemical collections, to the unfulfilled requirement of having treatment-response biomarkers for the clinical evaluation of drugs. In between, we describe the most promising pre-clinical hits and the landscape of clinical trials with new drugs or new regimens of existing ones. Moreover, the use of monkey models to reduce the pre-clinical to clinical attrition rate is discussed. EXPERT OPINION In addition to the necessary research on new drugs and much awaited biomarkers of treatment efficacy, a key step will be to generalize access to diagnosis and treatment and maximize efforts to impede transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martínez-Peinado
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Losada-Galvan
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Alonso-Vega
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio A Urbina
- Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research , Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Ana Rodríguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine , New York, NY, USA
| | - John L VandeBerg
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, and Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , Brownsville/Harlingen/Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) , Barcelona, Spain
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Ayala EV, Rodrigues da Cunha G, Azevedo MA, Calderon M, Jimenez J, Venuto AP, Gazzinelli R, Lavalle RJY, Riva AGV, Hincapie R, Finn MG, Marques AF. C57BL/6 α-1,3-Galactosyltransferase Knockout Mouse as an Animal Model for Experimental Chagas Disease. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1807-1815. [PMID: 32374586 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The leading animal model of experimental Chagas disease, the mouse, plays a significant role in studies for vaccine development, diagnosis, and human therapies. Humans, along with Old World primates, alone among mammals, cannot make the terminal carbohydrate linkage of the α-Gal trisaccharide. It has been established that the anti-α-Gal immune response is likely to be a critical factor for protection against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection in humans. However, the mice customarily employed for the study of T. cruzi infection naturally express the α-Gal epitope and therefore do not produce anti-α-Gal antibodies. Here, we used the C57BL/6 α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (α-GalT-KO) mouse, which does not express the α-Gal epitope as a model for experimental Chagas disease. We found the anti-α-Gal IgG antibody response to an increase in α-GalT-KO mice infected with Arequipa and Colombiana strains of T. cruzi, leading to fewer parasite nests, lower parasitemia, and an increase of INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 cytokines in the heart of α-GalT-KO mice compared with α-GalT-WT mice on days 60 and 120 postinfection. We therefore agree that the C57BL/6 α-GalT-KO mouse represents a useful model for initial testing of therapeutic and immunological approaches against different strains of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Valencia Ayala
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Genômica de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigación, Centro de Investigación en Inmunología e Infectología, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Gisele Rodrigues da Cunha
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Maira Araujo Azevedo
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Maritza Calderon
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Juan Jimenez
- Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Ana Paula Venuto
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Gazzinelli
- Instituto de Pesquisa Rene Rachou, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-009, Brazil
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Raúl Jesus Ynocente Lavalle
- Laboratorio de Parasitología en Fauna Silvestre y Zoonosis, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Angela Giovana Vidal Riva
- Instituto de Investigación, Centro de Investigación en Inmunología e Infectología, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Lima 15000, Perú
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15000, Perú
| | - Robert Hincapie
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
| | - M. G. Finn
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 United States
| | - Alexandre F. Marques
- Laboratório de Imuno-Proteômica e Biologia de Parasitos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270901, Brazil
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Mendonça AAS, Gonçalves-Santos E, Souza-Silva TG, González-Lozano KJ, Caldas IS, Gonçalves RV, Diniz LF, Novaes RD. Thioridazine aggravates skeletal myositis, systemic and liver inflammation in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected and benznidazole-treated mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 85:106611. [PMID: 32447223 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
While thioridazine (Tio) inhibits the antioxidant defenses of Trypanosoma cruzi, the gold standard antitrypanosomal drug benznidazole (Bz) has potent anti-inflammatory and pro-oxidant properties. The combination of these drugs has never been tested to determine the effect on T. cruzi infection. Thus, we compared the impact of Tio and Bz, administered alone and in combination, on the development of skeletal myositis and liver inflammation in T. cruzi-infected mice. Swiss mice were randomized into six groups: uninfected untreated, infected untreated, treated with Tio (80 mg/kg) alone, Bz (50 or 100 mg/kg) alone, or a combination of Tio and Bz. Infected animals were inoculated with a virulent T. cruzi strain (Y) and treated by gavage for 20 days. Mice untreated or treated with Tio alone developed the most intense parasitemia, highest parasitic load, elevated IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α plasma levels, increased N-acetylglucosaminidase and myeloperoxidase activity in the liver and skeletal muscle, as well as severe myositis and liver inflammation (P < 0.05). All parameters were markedly attenuated in animals receiving Bz alone (P < 0.05). However, the co-administration of Tio impaired the response to Bz chemotherapy, causing a decrease in parasitological control (parasitemia and parasite load), skeletal muscle and liver inflammation, and increased microstructural damage, when compared to the group receiving Bz alone (P < 0.05). Altogether, our findings indicated that Tio aggravates systemic inflammation, skeletal myositis and hepatic inflammatory damage in T. cruzi-infected mice. By antagonizing the antiparasitic potential of Bz, Tio limits the anti-inflammatory, myoprotectant and hepatoprotective effects of the reference chemotherapy, aggravating the pathological remodeling of both organs. As the interaction of T. cruzi infection, Bz and Tio is potentially toxic to the liver, inducing inflammation and microvesicular steatosis; this drug combination represents a worrying pharmacological risk factor in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa A S Mendonça
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elda Gonçalves-Santos
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaiany G Souza-Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kelly J González-Lozano
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ivo S Caldas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Reggiani V Gonçalves
- Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lívia F Diniz
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rômulo D Novaes
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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48
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Menezes APDJ, Silva MLD, Pereira WL, Costa GDP, Horta AL, Mendonça AAS, Carneiro ACA, Souza DMSD, Novaes RD, Teixeira RR, Talvani A. In vitro tripanocidal effect of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes (xanthenodiones) and tetraketones and improvement of cardiac parameters in vivo. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2020; 22:466-476. [PMID: 32417591 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Trypanosoma cruzi infection affects millions of people worldwide, and the drugs available for its treatment have limited efficacy. 1,8-Dioxooctahydroxanthenes and tetraketones are compounds with important biological applications. The aim of this study was to assess the trypanocidal and inflammatory activities of nine 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes (1-9) and three tetraketones (10-12). METHODS AND RESULTS By in vitro killing assay, three compounds were able to eliminate CL TdTomato expressing strain of T. cruzi, 9 (IC50=30.65μM), 10 (IC50=14.11μM), and 11 (IC50=26.43μM). However, only 9 was not toxic to Vero cells. Next, to evaluate the in vivo antitrypanosomal and immunological efficacy of 9, Swiss mice were infected with the Y and CL strains of T. cruzi and treated for 10 days with 50mg/kg of 9. This compound reduced the cardiac inflammatory infiltration in animals infected with both strains. Rank's ligand (RankL), CCL2, and interferon (IFN)-γ were measured in the cardiac tissue homogenate of the Y-strain-infected animals, and no interference of 9 was observed. However, compound 9 increased the RankL and interleukin (IL)-10 levels in CL-infected mice. No hepatic and renal toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthene has antiparasitic effect and ameliorates the cardiac inflammatory parameters related to T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula de Jesus Menezes
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Guilherme de Paula Costa
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Aline Luciano Horta
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Claudia Alvarenga Carneiro
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Debora Maria Soares de Souza
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Dias Novaes
- Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | | | - André Talvani
- Immunobiology Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/ICEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
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49
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Sunyoto T. Partnerships for better neglected disease drug discovery and development: how have we fared? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:531-537. [PMID: 32129688 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1736550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: In the field of neglected disease, mushrooming partnerships have changed the landscape in the last decades. With high diversity in participants, type, scope, and operational models, partnership becomes the ultimate choice for drug discovery and development. This paper aims to reflect on this phenomenon based on experiences and lessons learned, providing insights for the future.Areas covered: Lack of safe and effective drugs for neglected diseases stems from market and public policy failure. Combining resources, skills, and expertise justifies working collaboratively in the R&D quest. The advancement of public-private partnerships (PPP), including product development partnership (PDP) for neglected diseases, is described, herein, including the rationale behind their conception, evolution, expansion, and alternative approaches. The author also discusses the appeals and the pitfalls of partnership in this field.Expert opinion: The progressive partnerships in drug discovery and development for neglected diseases need to be encouraged, especially in alignment with an open science culture. Experiences in partnerships vary with bias for successful ones, rendering more rigorous evaluation and research necessary. Eventually, the focus of improving partnership should not only be on addressing discovery bottlenecks, but also safeguarding access and delivery. Expanding focus to include vaccines and diagnostics is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temmy Sunyoto
- Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
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50
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Perin L, Fonseca KDS, de Carvalho TV, Carvalho LM, Madeira JV, Medeiros LDF, Molina I, Correa-Oliveira R, Carneiro CM, Vieira PMDA. Low-dose of benznidazole promotes therapeutic cure in experimental chronic Chagas' disease with absence of parasitism in blood, heart and colon. Exp Parasitol 2020; 210:107834. [PMID: 31978394 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that the dose of the standard benznidazole (BNZ) treatment regimen might be too high. We investigated the efficacy of BNZ 20 and 40 mg/kg/day compared with standard dose (100 mg/kg/day) to induce cure in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in the acute and chronic phases of Chagas' disease. Our findings indicate that an experimental treatment with a BNZ low-dose (40 mg/kg/day) is similarly effective as the usual dose in the chronic mice model (100% of cure). In addition, the treatment in the chronic model of Chagas' disease presented better results than the acute model and colon appears to be a key tissue when it comes to evaluating treatment efficacy compared to blood and heart. Therefore, our data suggest the reconsideration of the current therapy, mainly in the chronic phase of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Perin
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Kátia da Silva Fonseca
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaís Vieira de Carvalho
- Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lívia Mendes Carvalho
- Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - João Vitor Madeira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luciana da Fonseca Medeiros
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Israel Molina
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Martins Carneiro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Laboratory of Morphopathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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