1
|
Moianos D, Prifti GM, Makri M, Zoidis G. Targeting Metalloenzymes: The "Achilles' Heel" of Viruses and Parasites. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:901. [PMID: 37375848 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metalloenzymes are central to the regulation of a wide range of essential viral and parasitic functions, including protein degradation, nucleic acid modification, and many others. Given the impact of infectious diseases on human health, inhibiting metalloenzymes offers an attractive approach to disease therapy. Metal-chelating agents have been expansively studied as antivirals and antiparasitics, resulting in important classes of metal-dependent enzyme inhibitors. This review provides the recent advances in targeting the metalloenzymes of viruses and parasites that impose a significant burden on global public health, including influenza A and B, hepatitis B and C, and human immunodeficiency viruses as well as Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Moianos
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia-Myrto Prifti
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Makri
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Paulino M, Espinosa-Bustos C, Bertrand J, Cabezas D, Mella J, Dávila B, Cerecetto H, Ballesteros-Casallas A, Salas CO. Development of 3D-QSAR and pharmacophoric models to design new anti- Trypanosoma cruzi agents based on 2-aryloxynaphthoquinone scaffold. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 33:701-728. [PMID: 36106834 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2022.2120069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this work we have collected a set of 30 trypanosomicidal naphthoquinones and developed pharmacophoric and 3D-QSAR models as tools for the design of new potential anti-Chagasic compounds. Firstly, qualitative information was obtained from SAR and pharmacophoric models identifying some fragments around the 2-aryloxynaphthoquinone scaffold important for the antiparasitic activity. Then, 3D-QSAR CoMFA and CoMSIA models were developed. The models showed adequate statistical parameters where the steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic features explain the trypanosomicidal effect. Therefore, to validate our models, we carried out the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation on T. cruzi epimastigotes of five new compounds (33a-e). According to CoMFA model, three out of five compounds showed pIC50 values within one logarithmic unit of deviation. The two compounds that did not fit the predictions were those with high lipophilicity, which agreed with the SAR and pharmacophore models. Docking and molecular dynamic studies were performed on T. cruzi trypanothione reductase, in a proposed binding site for this type of naphthoquinone. Interestingly, 33a-e showed the same interaction pattern as a naphthoquinone inhibitor (2). Finally, predicted drug-likeness properties indicated that 33a-e have optimal oral bioavailability. Thus, this study provides new in silico models for obtaining novel trypanosomicidal compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Paulino
- Área Bioinformática, Departamento de Experimentación y Teoría de la Materia y sus Aplicaciones, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - C Espinosa-Bustos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J Bertrand
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Cabezas
- Instituto de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - J Mella
- Instituto de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Centro de Investigación Farmacopea Chilena, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - B Dávila
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - H Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Área de Radiofarmacia, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - A Ballesteros-Casallas
- Área Bioinformática, Departamento de Experimentación y Teoría de la Materia y sus Aplicaciones, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - C O Salas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Espinosa-Bustos C, Ortiz Pérez M, Gonzalez-Gonzalez A, Zarate AM, Rivera G, Belmont-Díaz JA, Saavedra E, Cuellar MA, Vázquez K, Salas CO. New Amino Naphthoquinone Derivatives as Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Agents Targeting Trypanothione Reductase. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061121. [PMID: 35745694 PMCID: PMC9228152 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To develop novel chemotherapeutic alternatives for the treatment of Chagas disease, in this study, a set of new amino naphthoquinone derivatives were synthesised and evaluated in vitro on the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi strains (NINOA and INC-5) and on J774 murine macrophages. The design of the new naphthoquinone derivatives considered the incorporation of nitrogenous fragments with different substitution patterns present in compounds with activity on T. cruzi, and, thus, 19 compounds were synthesised in a simple manner. Compounds 2e and 7j showed the lowest IC50 values (0.43 µM against both strains for 2e and 0.19 µM and 0.92 µM for 7j). Likewise, 7j was more potent than the reference drug, benznidazole, and was more selective on epimastigotes. To postulate a possible mechanism of action, molecular docking studies were performed on T. cruzi trypanothione reductase (TcTR), specifically at a site in the dimer interface, which is a binding site for this type of naphthoquinone. Interestingly, 7j was one of the compounds that showed the best interaction profile on the enzyme; therefore, 7j was evaluated on TR, which behaved as a non-competitive inhibitor. Finally, 7j was predicted to have a good pharmacokinetic profile for oral administration. Thus, the naphthoquinone nucleus should be considered in the search for new trypanocidal agents based on our hit 7j.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Espinosa-Bustos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Mariana Ortiz Pérez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco Villa 20, General Escobedo 66054, Mexico;
| | - Alonzo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Boulevard del Maestro s/n, Reynosa 88710, Mexico; (A.G.-G.); (G.R.)
| | - Ana María Zarate
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Boulevard del Maestro s/n, Reynosa 88710, Mexico; (A.G.-G.); (G.R.)
| | - Javier A. Belmont-Díaz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México City 14080, Mexico; (J.A.B.-D.); (E.S.)
| | - Emma Saavedra
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México City 14080, Mexico; (J.A.B.-D.); (E.S.)
| | - Mauricio A. Cuellar
- Centro de Investigación Farmacopea Chilena, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile;
| | - Karina Vázquez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco Villa 20, General Escobedo 66054, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (K.V.); (C.O.S.)
| | - Cristian O. Salas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
- Correspondence: (K.V.); (C.O.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Becerra NA, Espinosa-Bustos C, Vázquez K, Rivera G, Paulino M, Cantero J, Nogueda B, Chacón-Vargas F, Castillo-Velazquez U, Rodríguez AFE, Toledo S, Moreno-Rodríguez A, Aranda M, Salas CO. Expanding the chemical space of aryloxy-naphthoquinones as potential anti-Chagasic agents: synthesis and trypanosomicidal activity. Med Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-021-02809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
5
|
Vela A, Coral-Almeida M, Sereno D, Costales JA, Barnabé C, Brenière SF. In vitro susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units (DTUs) to benznidazole: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009269. [PMID: 33750958 PMCID: PMC8016252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic to Latin America caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, currently affects 6-7 million people and is responsible for 12,500 deaths each year. No vaccine exists at present and the only two drugs currently approved for the treatment (benznidazole and nifurtimox), possess serious limitations, including long treatment regimes, undesirable side effects, and frequent clinical failures. A link between parasite genetic variability and drug sensibility/efficacy has been suggested, but remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated associations between T. cruzi genetic variability and in vitro benznidazole susceptibility via a systematic article review and meta-analysis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In vitro normalized benznidazole susceptibility indices (LC50 and IC50) for epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote stages of different T. cruzi strains were recorded from articles in the scientific literature. A total of 60 articles, which include 189 assays, met the selection criteria for the meta-analysis. Mean values for each discrete typing unit (DTU) were estimated using the meta and metaphor packages through R software, and presented in a rainforest plot. Subsequently, a meta-regression analysis was performed to determine differences between estimated mean values by DTU/parasite stage/drug incubation times. For each parasite stage, some DTU mean values were significantly different, e.g. at 24h of drug incubation, a lower sensitivity to benznidazole of TcI vs. TcII trypomastigotes was noteworthy. Nevertheless, funnel plots detected high heterogeneity of the data within each DTU and even for a single strain. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Several limitations of the study prevent assigning DTUs to different in vitro benznidazole sensitivity groups; however, ignoring the parasite's genetic variability during drug development and evaluation would not be advisable. Our findings highlight the need for establishment of uniform experimental conditions as well as a screening of different DTUs during the optimization of new drug candidates for Chagas disease treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vela
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD-CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Marco Coral-Almeida
- One Health Research group, Facultad de Ciencias de la salud, Universidad de las Américas-Quito, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Denis Sereno
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD-CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jaime A. Costales
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Christian Barnabé
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD-CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Simone Frédérique Brenière
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), UMR INTERTRYP IRD-CIRAD, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|