Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Dihydrobenzo[cd]indole-6-sulfonamide as TNF-α Inhibitors

Knockdown of ADAMDEC1 ameliorates ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell injury and atherosclerosis progression

This study was designed to investigate the role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-like protein decysin 1 (ADAMDEC-1) in atherosclerosis (AS). The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between carotid atheroma plaque and carotid tissue adjacent atheroma plaque obtained from AS patients. Gene functional enrichment analysis was conducted on DEGs using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). QRT-PCR was employed to quantify mRNAs expression. AS animal model was established using ApoE-/- mice; serum triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were detected. Aortic sinus atherosclerotic lesions were observed using H&E staining and Oil Red O staining. ADAMDEC-1 was silenced using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs). Cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression were detected by cell count kit-8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU), wound scratch healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to evaluate various protein expression levels. Our results showed that ADAMDEC-1 was highly expressed in the serum of AS patients, consistent with the in silico results. The elevated TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels along with H&E and Oil Red O staining confirmed the successful establishment of the AS mouse model. ADAMDEC-1 expression was also elevated in AS mice. ADAMDEC-1 knockdown in HVSMCs suppressed cell proliferation, inhibited the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9) proteins. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis indicated that ADAMDEC-1 was associated with CXCL9, CCR5, TNF-α, TNFR1, and NF-κB-p50. The expression levels of CXCL9, CCR5, TNF-α, TNFR1, and NF-κB-p50 increased, while ADAMDEC-1 knockdown attenuated the expression of these proteins. Our study findings substantiate that ADAMDEC-1 may represent a novel target for AS.

An orally available small molecule that targets soluble TNF to deliver anti-TNF biologic-like efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to a family of trimeric proteins with both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. TNF is a key mediator in autoimmune diseases and during the last couple of decades several biologic drugs have delivered new therapeutic options for patients suffering from chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Attempts to design small molecule therapies directed to this cytokine have not led to approved products yet. Here we report the discovery and development of a potent small molecule inhibitor of TNF that was recently moved into phase 1 clinical trials. The molecule, SAR441566, stabilizes an asymmetrical form of the soluble TNF trimer, compromises downstream signaling and inhibits the functions of TNF in vitro and in vivo. With SAR441566 being studied in healthy volunteers we hope to deliver a more convenient orally bioavailable and effective treatment option for patients suffering with chronic autoimmune diseases compared to established biologic drugs targeting TNF.

An orally active, small-molecule TNF inhibitor that disrupts the homotrimerization interface improves inflammatory arthritis in mice

Excessive signaling by the proinflammatory cytokine TNF is involved in several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, unlike the approved biologics currently used to treat this and other conditions, commercially available small-molecule inhibitors of TNF trimerization are cytotoxic or exhibit low potency. Here, we report a TNF-inhibitory molecule (TIM) that reduced TNF signaling in vitro and was an effective treatment in a mouse model of RA. The initial lead compound, TIM1, attenuated TNF-induced apoptosis of human and mouse cells by delaying the induction of proinflammatory NF-κB and MAPK signaling and caspase 3– and caspase 8–dependent apoptosis. TIM1 inhibited the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 by disrupting TNF homotrimerization, thereby preventing its association with the TNF receptor. In a mouse model of collagen-induced polyarthritis, the more potent TIM1 analog TIM1c was orally bioavailable and reduced paw swelling, histological indicators of knee joint pathology, inflammatory infiltration of the joint, and the overall arthritis index. Orally delivered TIM1c showed immunological effects similar to those elicited by intraperitoneal injection of the FDA-approved TNF receptor decoy etanercept. Thus, TIM1c is a promising lead compound for the development of small-molecule therapies for the treatment of RA and other TNF-dependent systemic inflammation disorders.

Immune cell infiltration and the genes associated with ligamentum flavum hypertrophy: Identification and validation

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a common cause of spinal stenosis. The aim of the current study was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LFH and the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of and immune responses to LFH. The gene expression omnibus (GEO) database was used to obtain the GSE113212 dataset, and the DEGs were derived from microarray data. To identify critical genes and signaling pathways, gene ontology enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed, followed by immune cell infiltration and Friends analyses using the retrieved datasets. The results were validated using quantitative real-time PCR. The 1530 DEGs identified comprised 971 upregulated and 559 downregulated genes. KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs were mostly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, while PPI network analysis identified tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, epidermal growth factor receptor, and leptin as important nodes, which was validated by qPCR and IHC in human LFH tissues in vitro. A significant positive correlation was found between key LFH immune-related DEGs and several immune cell types, including T and B cells. The findings of the present study might lead to novel therapeutic targets and clinical approaches, as they provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of LFH.

Advances in the Development of Biomarkers for Poststroke Epilepsy

Stroke is the main cause of acquired epilepsy in elderly people. Poststroke epilepsy (PSE) not only affects functional recovery after stroke but also brings considerable social consequences. While some factors such as cortical involvement, hemorrhagic transformation, and stroke severity are associated with increased seizure risk, so far that remains controversial. In recent years, there are an increasing number of studies on potential biomarkers of PSE as tools for diagnosing and predicting epileptic seizures. Biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), glutamate, and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) in blood are associated with the occurrence of PSE. This review is aimed at summarizing the progress on potential biomarkers of PSE.