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Ahmed CM, Johnson HM, Lewin AS. Corneal application of SOCS1/3 peptides for the treatment of eye diseases mediated by inflammation and oxidative stress. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1416181. [PMID: 39104531 PMCID: PMC11298391 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1416181] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Several blinding diseases affecting the retina and optic nerve are exacerbated by or caused by dysregulated inflammation and oxidative stress. These diseases include uveitis, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Consequently, despite their divergent symptoms, treatments that reduce oxidative stress and suppress inflammation may be therapeutic. The production of inflammatory cytokines and their activities are regulated by a class of proteins termed Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS). SOCS1 and SOCS3 are known to dampen signaling via pathways employing Janus kinases and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK/STAT), Toll-like Receptors (TLR), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). We have developed cell-penetrating peptides from the kinase inhibitory region of the SOCS1 and SOCS3 (denoted as R9-SOCS1-KIR and R9-SOCS3-KIR) and tested them in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and in macrophage cell lines. SOCS-KIR peptides exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-angiogenic properties. In cell culture, both Th1 and Th17 cells were suppressed together with the inhibition of other inflammatory markers. We also observed a decrease in oxidants and a simultaneous rise in neuroprotective and anti-oxidant effectors. In addition, treatment prevented the loss of gap junction proteins and the ensuing drop in transepithelial electrical resistance in RPE cells. When tested in mouse models by eye drop instillation, they showed protection against autoimmune uveitis, as a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic. Mice with endotoxin-induced uveitis were protected by eye drop administration as well. R9-SOCS3-KIR was particularly effective against the pathways acting through STAT3, e.g. IL-6 and VEGF-A mediated responses that lead to macular degeneration. Eye drop administration of R9-SOCS3-KIR stimulated production of antioxidant effectors and reduced clinical symptoms in mouse model of oxidative stress that replicates the RPE injury occurring in AMD. Because these peptides suppress multiple pathogenic stimuli and because they can be delivered topically to the cornea, they are attractive candidates for therapeutics for uveitis, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulbul M. Ahmed
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Howard M. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alfred S. Lewin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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2
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Cugudda A, La Manna S, Marasco D. Are peptidomimetics the compounds of choice for developing new modulators of the JAK-STAT pathway? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1406886. [PMID: 38983855 PMCID: PMC11232365 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1406886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play critical roles in a wide range of biological processes including the dysregulation of cellular pathways leading to the loss of cell function, which in turn leads to diseases. The dysfunction of several signaling pathways is linked to the insurgence of pathological processes such as inflammation, cancer development and neurodegeneration. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel chemical modulators of dysregulated PPIs to drive progress in targeted therapies. Several PPIs have been targeted by bioactive compounds, and, often, to properly cover interacting protein regions and improve the biological activities of modulators, a particular focus concerns the employment of macrocycles as proteomimetics. Indeed, for their physicochemical properties, they occupy an intermediate space between small organic molecules and macromolecular proteins and are prominent in the drug discovery process. Peptide macrocycles can modulate fundamental biological mechanisms and here we will focus on peptidomimetics active on the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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3
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Morelli M, Madonna S, Albanesi C. SOCS1 and SOCS3 as key checkpoint molecules in the immune responses associated to skin inflammation and malignant transformation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1393799. [PMID: 38975347 PMCID: PMC11224294 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1393799] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
SOCS are a family of negative inhibitors of the molecular cascades induced by cytokines, growth factors and hormones. At molecular level, SOCS proteins inhibit the kinase activity of specific sets of receptor-associated Janus Activated Kinases (JAKs), thereby suppressing the propagation of intracellular signals. Of the eight known members, SOCS1 and SOCS3 inhibit activity of JAKs mainly induced by cytokines and can play key roles in regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. SOCS1 and SOCS3 are the most well-characterized SOCS members in skin inflammatory diseases, where their inhibitory activity on cytokine activated JAKs and consequent anti-inflammatory action has been widely investigated in epidermal keratinocytes. Structurally, SOCS1 and SOCS3 share the presence of a N-terminal domain containing a kinase inhibitory region (KIR) motif able to act as a pseudo-substrate for JAK and to inhibit its activity. During the last decades, the design and employment of SOCS1 and SOCS3-derived peptides mimicking KIR domains in experimental models of dermatoses definitively established a strong anti-inflammatory and ameliorative impact of JAK inhibition on skin inflammatory responses. Herein, we discuss the importance of the findings collected in the past on SOCS1 and SOCS3 function in the inflammatory responses associated to skin immune-mediated diseases and malignancies, for the development of the JAK inhibitor drugs. Among them, different JAK inhibitors have been introduced in the clinical practice for treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and others are being investigated for skin diseases like alopecia areata and vitiligo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefania Madonna
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI-IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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4
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Aslan A, Ari Yuka S. Therapeutic peptides for coronary artery diseases: in silico methods and current perspectives. Amino Acids 2024; 56:37. [PMID: 38822212 PMCID: PMC11143054 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-024-03397-3] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Many drug formulations containing small active molecules are used for the treatment of coronary artery disease, which affects a significant part of the world's population. However, the inadequate profile of these molecules in terms of therapeutic efficacy has led to the therapeutic use of protein and peptide-based biomolecules with superior properties, such as target-specific affinity and low immunogenicity, in critical diseases. Protein‒protein interactions, as a consequence of advances in molecular techniques with strategies involving the combined use of in silico methods, have enabled the design of therapeutic peptides to reach an advanced dimension. In particular, with the advantages provided by protein/peptide structural modeling, molecular docking for the study of their interactions, molecular dynamics simulations for their interactions under physiological conditions and machine learning techniques that can work in combination with all these, significant progress has been made in approaches to developing therapeutic peptides that can modulate the development and progression of coronary artery diseases. In this scope, this review discusses in silico methods for the development of peptide therapeutics for the treatment of coronary artery disease and strategies for identifying the molecular mechanisms that can be modulated by these designs and provides a comprehensive perspective for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayca Aslan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey
- Health Biotechnology Joint Research and Application Center of Excellence, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Selcen Ari Yuka
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Health Biotechnology Joint Research and Application Center of Excellence, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey.
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5
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Zhao Y, Peng F, He J, Qu Y, Ni H, Wu L, Chen X. SOCS1 Peptidomimetic Alleviates Glomerular Inflammation in MsPGN by Inhibiting Macrophage M1 Polarization. Inflammation 2023; 46:2402-2414. [PMID: 37581761 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01886-3] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), the most common pathological change in primary glomerulonephritis, is characterized by increased macrophage infiltration into glomeruli, which results in proinflammatory cytokine release. Macrophage infiltration and differentiation are induced by the Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of the transcription 1 (JAK2/STAT1) pathway. As a suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) downregulates the immune response by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT1 pathway, we investigated whether a peptide mimicking the SOCS1 kinase inhibitor region, namely, SOCS1 peptidomimetic, protects against nephropathy. Glomerular JAK2/STAT1 pathway activation was synchronized with kidney injury in an MsPGN rat model. Rats treated with the SOCS1 peptidomimetic exhibited reduced pathological glomerular changes and lessened macrophage recruitment. Moreover, in vivo, the phosphorylation of the JAK2/STAT1 pathway was downregulated in infiltrated macrophages of glomeruli. In vitro, the SOCS1 peptidomimetic inhibited macrophage M1 polarization by suppressing JAK2/STAT1 activation. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the SOCS1 peptidomimetic plays a protective role against pathologic glomerular changes in MsPGN by reducing macrophage infiltration and inhibiting macrophage polarizing to the M1 phenotype. SOCS1 peptidomimetic, therefore, presents a feasible therapeutic strategy to alleviate renal inflammation in MsPGN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghua Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Peng
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiayi He
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Yilun Qu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Huiming Ni
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Lingling Wu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Somade OT, Oyinloye BE, Ajiboye BO, Osukoya OA. Syringic acid demonstrates an anti-inflammatory effect via modulation of the NF-κB-iNOS-COX-2 and JAK-STAT signaling pathways in methyl cellosolve-induced hepato-testicular inflammation in rats. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 34:101484. [PMID: 37197735 PMCID: PMC10184048 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101484] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Syringic acid (SACI) is an emerging nutraceutical and antioxidant used in modern Chinese medicine. It has potential neuroprotective, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-angiogenic properties. Methyl cellosolve (MCEL) has been reported to induce tissue inflammation in the testis, kidney, liver, and lung. This study aimed to investigate the effect and probable mechanism of action of SACI on MCEL-induced hepatic and testicular inflammation in male rats. Compared to the control group, administration of MCEL to rats significantly increased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB in the liver and testis. Additionally, the total mRNA expressions of JAK1 (in the liver only), STAT1, and SOCS1 were significantly increased in both the liver and testis, while testicular JAK1 total mRNA levels were significantly decreased. The expression of PIAS1 protein was significantly higher in the liver and testis. Treatments with SACI at 25 (except liver iNOS), 50, and 75 mg/kg significantly decreased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB compared to the control group. Furthermore, the total mRNA expressions of JAK1 and SOCS1 in the liver were significantly reduced by all doses of SACI investigated, while the total mRNA levels of liver and testis STAT1 were significantly reduced by 25 and 50 mg/kg of SACI only. In the testis, the mRNA level of SOCS1 was significantly reduced by all doses of SACI compared to MCEL only. Additionally, SACI (at 75 mg/kg) significantly reduced PIAS1 protein expression in the liver, while in the testis, SACI at all investigated doses significantly reduced the expression of PIAS1. In conclusion, SACI demonstrated a hepatic and testicular anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the MCEL-induced activation of the NF-κB and JAK-STAT signaling pathways in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatobi T. Somade
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Biosciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria
- Corresponding author. Department of Biochemistry, College of Biosciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
| | - Babatunji E. Oyinloye
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria
- Institute of Drug Research and Development, S.E Bogoro Center, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria
- Biotechnology and Structural Biology (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa
| | - Basiru O. Ajiboye
- Institute of Drug Research and Development, S.E Bogoro Center, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria
- Phytomedicine and Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Oye, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Olukemi A. Osukoya
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti, 360001, Nigeria
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7
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Alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antagonists Prevent Meningitic Escherichia coli-Induced Blood–Brain Barrier Disruptions by Targeting the CISH/JAK2/STAT5b Axis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102358. [PMID: 36289622 PMCID: PMC9598402 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102358] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of antibiotics over the last several decades, excessive antibiotic treatments for bacterial sepsis and meningitis (BSM) in children may result in several adverse outcomes. Hematogenous pathogens may directly induce permeability increases in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunctions. Our preliminary studies demonstrated that the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) played an important role in the pathogenesis of BSM, accompanied by increasing cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CISH) at the transcriptome level, but it has remained unclear how α7nAChR-CISH works mechanistically. The study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of α7nAChR and CISH during E. coli-induced BSM in vitro (HBMECs) and in vivo (α7nAChR-KO mouse). We found that in the stage of E. coli K1-induced BBB disruptions, α7nAChR functioned as the key regulator that affects the integrity of HBMECs by activating the JAK2–STAT5 signaling pathway, while CISH inhibited JAK2–STAT5 activation and exhibited protective effects against E. coli infection. Notably, we first validated that the expression of CISH could be regulated by α7nAChR in HBMECs. In addition, we determined the protective effects of MLA (methyllycaconitine citrate) and MEM (memantine hydrochloride) (functioning as α7nAChR antagonists) on infected HBMECs and suggested that the α7nAChR–CISH axis could explain the protective effects of the two small-molecule compounds on E. coli-induced HBMECs injuries and BBB disruptions. In conclusion, we dissected the α7nAChR/CISH/JAK2/STAT5 axis as critical for the pathogenesis of E. coli-induced brain microvascular leakage and BBB disruptions and provided novel evidence for the development of α7nAChR antagonists in the prevention of pediatric E. coli BSM.
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Wu LL, Zhang Y, Li XZ, Du XL, Gao Y, Wang JX, Wang XL, Chen Q, Li YH, Zhu GQ, Tan X. Impact of Selective Renal Afferent Denervation on Oxidative Stress and Vascular Remodeling in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1003. [PMID: 35624870 PMCID: PMC9137540 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11051003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress and sustained sympathetic over-activity contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. Catheter-based renal denervation has been used as a strategy for treatment of resistant hypertension, which interrupts both afferent and efferent renal fibers. However, it is unknown whether selective renal afferent denervation (RAD) may play beneficial roles in attenuating oxidative stress and sympathetic activity in hypertension. This study investigated the impact of selective RAD on hypertension and vascular remodeling. Nine-week-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were subjected to selective renal afferent denervation (RAD) with 33 mM of capsaicin for 15 min. Treatment with the vehicle of capsaicin was used as a control. The selective denervation was confirmed by the reduced calcitonin gene-related peptide expression and the undamaged renal sympathetic nerve activity response to the stimulation of adipose white tissue. Selective RAD reduced plasma norepinephrine levels, improved heart rate variability (HRV) and attenuated hypertension in SHR.It reduced NADPH oxidase (NOX) expression and activity, and superoxide production in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), aorta and mesenteric artery of SHR. Moreover, the selective RAD attenuated the vascular remodeling of the aorta and mesenteric artery of SHR. These results indicate that selective removal of renal afferents attenuates sympathetic activity, oxidative stress, vascular remodeling and hypertension in SHR. The attenuated superoxide signaling in the PVN is involved in the attenuation of sympathetic activity in SHR, and the reduced sympathetic activity at least partially contributes to the attenuation of vascular oxidative stress and remodeling in the arteries of hypertensive rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Lu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, and Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (L.-L.W.); (J.-X.W.); (X.-L.W.)
| | - Yue Zhang
- Emergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.Z.); (X.-Z.L.); (X.-L.D.); (Y.G.)
| | - Xiu-Zhen Li
- Emergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.Z.); (X.-Z.L.); (X.-L.D.); (Y.G.)
| | - Xin-Li Du
- Emergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.Z.); (X.-Z.L.); (X.-L.D.); (Y.G.)
| | - Ying Gao
- Emergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.Z.); (X.-Z.L.); (X.-L.D.); (Y.G.)
| | - Jing-Xiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, and Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (L.-L.W.); (J.-X.W.); (X.-L.W.)
| | - Xiao-Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, and Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (L.-L.W.); (J.-X.W.); (X.-L.W.)
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Q.C.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Yue-Hua Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Q.C.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Guo-Qing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, and Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (L.-L.W.); (J.-X.W.); (X.-L.W.)
| | - Xiao Tan
- Emergency Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; (Y.Z.); (X.-Z.L.); (X.-L.D.); (Y.G.)
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La Manna S, Leone M, Mercurio FA, Florio D, Marasco D. Structure-Activity Relationship Investigations of Novel Constrained Chimeric Peptidomimetics of SOCS3 Protein Targeting JAK2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040458. [PMID: 35455455 PMCID: PMC9031227 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040458] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) protein suppresses cytokine-induced inflammation and its deletion in neurons or immune cells increases the pathological growth of blood vessels. Recently, we designed several SOCS3 peptidomimetics by assuming as template structures the interfacing regions of the ternary complex constituted by SOCS3, JAK2 (Janus Kinase 2) and gp130 (glycoprotein 130) proteins. A chimeric peptide named KIRCONG chim, including non-contiguous regions demonstrated able to bind to JAK2 and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells). With the aim to improve drug-like features of KIRCONG, herein we reported novel cyclic analogues bearing different linkages. In detail, in two of them hydrocarbon cycles of different lengths were inserted at positions i/i+5 and i/i+7 to improve helical conformations of mimetics. Structural features of cyclic compounds were investigated by CD (Circular Dichroism) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopies while their ability to bind to catalytic domain of JAK2 was assessed through MST (MicroScale Thermophoresis) assay as well as their stability in biological serum. Overall data indicate a crucial role exerted by the length and the position of the cycle within the chimeric structure and could pave the way to the miniaturization of SOCS3 protein for therapeutic aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara La Manna
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Center on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.M.); (D.F.)
| | - Marilisa Leone
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy; (M.L.); (F.A.M.)
| | - Flavia Anna Mercurio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy; (M.L.); (F.A.M.)
| | - Daniele Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Center on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.M.); (D.F.)
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Center on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.L.M.); (D.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0812534607
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10
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Gupta V, Garg A, Tomar R, Arora MK. Oxidative Stress: Meeting Multiple Targets in Pathogenesis of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction. Curr Drug Targets 2022; 23:902-912. [PMID: 35240954 DOI: 10.2174/1389450123666220303090413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelium is the innermost lining of blood vessels, which maintains vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Loss of vascular tone is a hallmark for cardiovascular disorders. Though there are numerous factors, such as over activation of renin angiotensin aldosterone system, kinases, growth factors, etc. play crucial role in induction and progression of vascular abrasion. Interestingly, dysregulation of these pathways either enhances the intensity of oxidative stress, or these pathways are affected by oxidative stress. Thus, oxidative stress has been considered a key culprit in the progression of vascular endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species causes abnormal gene expression, alteration in signal transduction, and the activation of pathways leading to induction and progression of vascular injury. In addition, numerous antioxidants have been noted to possess promising therapeutic potential in preventing the development of vascular endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we have focused on current perspectives in oxidative stress signalling to evaluate common biological processes whereby oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the progression of vascular endothelial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardan Gupta
- Department of Pharmacology, KIET School of Pharmacy, Ghaziabad-250005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anchal Garg
- Department of Pharmacology, KIET School of Pharmacy, Ghaziabad-250005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ritu Tomar
- School of Pharmaceutical and Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehradun-248009, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mandeep Kumar Arora
- School of Pharmaceutical and Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehradun-248009, Uttarakhand, India
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Chen H, Wu Y, Li K, Currie I, Keating N, Dehkhoda F, Grohmann C, Babon JJ, Nicholson SE, Sleebs BE. Optimization of Phosphotyrosine Peptides that Target the SH2 Domain of SOCS1 and Block Substrate Ubiquitination. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:449-462. [PMID: 34989544 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory and viral diseases. SOCS1 operates via its kinase inhibitory region, Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, and SOCS box to negatively regulate the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway. In this study, we utilized native phosphotyrosine peptide substrates as a starting point to iteratively explore the requirement of each amino acid position to target the SH2 domain of SOCS1. We show that Met, Thr, Thr, Val, and Asp in the respective -1, +1, +2, +3, and +5 positions within the peptide substrate are favored for binding to the SOCS1-SH2 domain and identifying several phosphotyrosine peptides that have potent SOCS1 binding affinity with IC50 values ranging from 20 to 70 nM and greater than 100-fold selectivity against the closely related SOCS family proteins, CIS, SOCS2, and SOCS3. The optimized phosphotyrosine peptide was shown to stabilize SOCS1 in a thermal shift assay using cell lysates and inhibited SOCS1-mediated ubiquitination of a target substrate in a biochemical assay. Collectively, these data provide the framework to develop cell-permeable peptidomimetics that further investigate the potential of the SOCS1-SH2 domain as a therapeutic target in inflammatory and viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Yuntong Wu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kunlun Li
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Narelle Keating
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Farhad Dehkhoda
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Christoph Grohmann
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Jeffrey J. Babon
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Sandra E. Nicholson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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La Manna S, De Benedictis I, Marasco D. Proteomimetics of Natural Regulators of JAK-STAT Pathway: Novel Therapeutic Perspectives. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:792546. [PMID: 35047557 PMCID: PMC8762217 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.792546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The JAK-STAT pathway is a crucial cellular signaling cascade, including an intricate network of Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) responsible for its regulation. It mediates the activities of several cytokines, interferons, and growth factors and transduces extracellular signals into transcriptional programs to regulate cell growth and differentiation. It is essential for the development and function of both innate and adaptive immunities, and its aberrant deregulation was highlighted in neuroinflammatory diseases and in crucial mechanisms for tumor cell recognition and tumor-induced immune escape. For its involvement in a multitude of biological processes, it can be considered a valuable target for the development of drugs even if a specific focus on possible side effects associated with its inhibition is required. Herein, we review the possibilities to target JAK-STAT by focusing on its natural inhibitors as the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins. This protein family is a crucial checkpoint inhibitor in immune homeostasis and a valuable target in immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer and immune deficiency disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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13
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Undruggable targets refer to clinically meaningful therapeutic targets that are 'difficult to drug' or 'yet to be drugged' via traditional approaches. Featuring characteristics of lacking defined ligand-binding pockets, non-catalytic protein-protein interaction functional modes and less-investigated 3D structures, these undruggable targets have been targeted with novel therapeutic entities developed with the progress of unconventional drug discovery approaches, such as targeted degradation molecules and display technologies. AREA COVERED This review first presents the concept of 'undruggable' exemplified by RAS and other targets. Next, detailed strategies are illustrated in two aspects: innovation of therapeutic entities and development of unconventional drug discovery technologies. Finally, case studies covering typical undruggable targets (Bcl-2, p53, and RAS) are depicted to further demonstrate the feasibility of the strategies and entities above. EXPERT OPINION Targeting the undruggable expands the scope of therapeutically reachable targets. Consequently, it represents the drug discovery frontier. Biomedical studies are capable of dissecting disease mechanisms, thus broadening the list of undruggable targets. Encouraged by the recent approval of the KRAS inhibitor Sotorasib, we believe that merging multiple discovery approaches and exploiting various novel therapeutic entities would pave the way for dealing with more 'undruggable' targets in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gong Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Yuting Gao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Yangfeng Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Yizhou Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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