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de Souza TP, Orlando LMR, Lara LDS, Paes VB, Dutra LP, dos Santos MS, Pereira MCDS. Synthesis and Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of New Pyrazole-Thiadiazole Scaffolds. Molecules 2024; 29:3544. [PMID: 39124949 PMCID: PMC11314410 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29153544] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, a silent but widespread disease that mainly affects a socioeconomically vulnerable population, lacks innovative safe drug therapy. The available drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are more than fifty years old, have limited efficacy, and carry harmful side effects, highlighting the need for new therapeutics. This study presents two new series of pyrazole-thiadiazole compounds evaluated for trypanocidal activity using cellular models predictive of efficacy. Derivatives 1c (2,4-diCl) and 2k (4-NO2) were the most active against intracellular amastigotes. Derivative 1c also showed activity against trypomastigotes, with the detachment of the flagellum from the parasite body being a predominant effect at the ultrastructural level. Analogs have favorable physicochemical parameters and are predicted to be orally available. Drug efficacy was also evaluated in 3D cardiac microtissue, an important target tissue of Trypanosoma cruzi, with derivative 2k showing potent antiparasitic activity and a significant reduction in parasite load. Although 2k potentially reduced parasite load in the washout assay, it did not prevent parasite recrudescence. Drug combination analysis revealed an additive profile, which may lead to favorable clinical outcomes. Our data demonstrate the antiparasitic activity of pyrazole-thiadiazole derivatives and support the development of these compounds using new optimization strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamyris Perez de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (T.P.d.S.); (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Lorraine Martins Rocha Orlando
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (T.P.d.S.); (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Leonardo da Silva Lara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (T.P.d.S.); (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Vitoria Barbosa Paes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (T.P.d.S.); (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (V.B.P.)
| | - Lucas Penha Dutra
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Instituto de Física e Química (IFQ), Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Av. BPS 1303, Pinheirinho, Itajubá 37500-903, MG, Brazil; (L.P.D.); (M.S.d.S.)
| | - Mauricio Silva dos Santos
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Instituto de Física e Química (IFQ), Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Av. BPS 1303, Pinheirinho, Itajubá 37500-903, MG, Brazil; (L.P.D.); (M.S.d.S.)
| | - Mirian Claudia de Souza Pereira
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (T.P.d.S.); (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (V.B.P.)
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2
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Bonastre-Sabater I, Lopera A, Martínez-Camarena Á, Blasco S, Doménech-Carbó A, Jiménez HR, Verdejo B, García-España E, Clares MP. Exo- or endo-1 H-pyrazole metal coordination modulated by the polyamine chain length in [1 + 1] condensation azamacrocycles. Binuclear complexes with remarkable SOD activity. Dalton Trans 2024. [PMID: 38973348 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01236d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The Cu2+ complexes of three [1 + 1] azacyclophane macrocycles having the 1H-pyrazole ring as the spacer and the pentaamine 1,5,8,11,15-pentaazadecane (L1) or hexaamines 1,5,8,12,15,19-hexaazanonadecane (L2) and 1,5,9,13,17,21-hexaazaheneicosane (L3) as bridges show endo- coordination of the pyrazolate bridge giving rise to discrete monomeric species. Previously reported pyrazolacyclophanes evidenced, however, exo-coordination with the formation of dimeric species of 2 : 2, 3 : 2 or even 4 : 2 Cu2+ : L stoichiometry. The complexes have been characterized in solution using potentiometric studies, UV-Vis spectroscopy, paramagnetic NMR, cyclic voltammetry and mass spectrometry. The measurements show that all three ligands have as many protonation steps in water as secondary amines are in the bridge, while they are able to form both mono- and binuclear Cu2+ species. The crystal structures of the complexes [Cu(HL1)Br]Br(1+x)(ClO4)(1-x)·yH2O (1) and [Cu2(H-1L2)Cl(ClO4)](ClO4)·H2O·C2H5OH (2) have been solved by X-ray diffraction studies. In 1 the metal ion lies at one side of the macrocyclic cavity being coordinated by one nitrogen of the pyrazolate moiety and the three consecutive nitrogen atoms of the polyamine bridge. The other nitrogen of the pyrazole ring is hydrogen-bonded to an amine group. In 2 the two metal ions are interconnected by a pyrazolate bis(monodentate) moiety and complete their coordination spheres with three amines and either a bromide or a perchlorate anion, which occupy the axial positions of distorted square pyramid geometries. Paramagnetic NMR studies of the binuclear complexes confirm the coordination pattern observed in the crystal structures. Cyclic voltamperommetry data show potentials within the adequate range to exhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The IC50 values calculated by McCord-Fridovich enzymatic assays show that the binuclear Cu2+ complexes of L2 and L3 have SOD activities that rank amongst the highest ones reported so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Bonastre-Sabater
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Alberto Lopera
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Álvaro Martínez-Camarena
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Blasco
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Antonio Doménech-Carbó
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Calle Dr Moliner s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Hermas R Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Valencia, Calle Doctor Moliner s/n, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña Verdejo
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Enrique García-España
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - M Paz Clares
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular. Universidad de Valencia, Calle Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Soeiro MDNC, Sales-Junior PA, Pereira VRA, Vannier-Santos MA, Murta SMF, de Sousa AS, Sangenis LHC, Moreno AMH, Boechat N, Branco FSC, Holetz FB, Ávila AR, Pereira MCDS. Drug screening and development cascade for Chagas disease: an update of in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2024; 119:e240057. [PMID: 38958341 PMCID: PMC11218046 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760240057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a tropical neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide, still demanding a more effective and safer therapy, especially in its chronic phase which lacks a treatment that promotes substantial parasitological cure. The technical note of Romanha and collaborators published in 2010 aimed establish a guideline with the set of minimum criteria and decision gates for the development of new agents against Trypanosoma cruzi with the focus on developing new antichagasic drugs. In this sense, the present review aims to update this technical note, bringing the state of the art and new advances on this topic in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Policarpo Ademar Sales-Junior
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Departamento de Imunologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Biologia Molecular, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Valeria Rêgo Alves Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Departamento de Imunologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Biologia Molecular, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Marcos André Vannier-Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Andrea Silvestre de Sousa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doença de Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Luiz Henrique Conde Sangenis
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doença de Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher Moreno
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doença de Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Núbia Boechat
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos, Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos e Bioativos, Laboratório de Síntese de Fármacos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Frederico Silva Castelo Branco
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos, Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos e Bioativos, Laboratório de Síntese de Fármacos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Fabíola Barbieri Holetz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Andrea Rodrigues Ávila
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
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Murta SMF, Lemos Santana PA, Jacques Dit Lapierre TJW, Penteado AB, El Hajje M, Navarro Vinha TC, Liarte DB, de Souza ML, Goulart Trossini GH, de Oliveira Rezende Júnior C, de Oliveira RB, Ferreira RS. New drug discovery strategies for the treatment of benznidazole-resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:741-753. [PMID: 38715393 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2349155] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Benznidazole, the drug of choice for treating Chagas Disease (CD), has significant limitations, such as poor cure efficacy, mainly in the chronic phase of CD, association with side effects, and parasite resistance. Understanding parasite resistance to benznidazole is crucial for developing new drugs to treat CD. AREAS COVERED Here, the authors review the current understanding of the molecular basis of benznidazole resistance. Furthermore, they discuss the state-of-the-art methods and critical outcomes employed to evaluate the efficacy of potential drugs against T. cruzi, aiming to select better compounds likely to succeed in the clinic. Finally, the authors describe the different strategies employed to overcome resistance to benznidazole and find effective new treatments for CD. EXPERT OPINION Resistance to benznidazole is a complex phenomenon that occurs naturally among T. cruzi strains. The combination of compounds that inhibit different metabolic pathways of the parasite is an important strategy for developing a new chemotherapeutic protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
- Grupo de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos - Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Pedro Augusto Lemos Santana
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - André Berndt Penteado
- Departamento de Farmacia, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marissa El Hajje
- Departamento de Farmacia, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mariana Laureano de Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Renata Barbosa de Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Salgado Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Orlando LMR, Lara LDS, Lechuga GC, Rodrigues GC, Pandoli OG, de Sá DS, Pereira MCDS. Antitrypanosomal Activity of 1,2,3-Triazole-Based Hybrids Evaluated Using In Vitro Preclinical Translational Models. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1222. [PMID: 37759621 PMCID: PMC10525445 DOI: 10.3390/biology12091222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease therapy still relies on two nitroderivatives, nifurtimox and benznidazole (Bz), which have important limitations and serious adverse effects. New therapeutic alternatives for this silent disease, which has become a worldwide public health problem, are essential for its control and elimination. In this study, 1,2,3-triazole analogues were evaluated for efficacy against T. cruzi. Three triazole derivatives, 1d (0.21 µM), 1f (1.23 µM), and 1g (2.28 µM), showed potent activity against trypomastigotes, reaching IC50 values 10 to 100 times greater than Bz (22.79 µM). Promising candidates are active against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 ≤ 6.20 µM). Treatment of 3D cardiac spheroids, a translational in vitro model, significantly reduced parasite load, indicating good drug diffusion and efficacy. Oral bioavailability was predicted for triazole derivatives. Although infection was significantly reduced without drug pressure in a washout assay, the triazole derivatives did not inhibit parasite resurgence. An isobologram analysis revealed an additive interaction when 1,2,3-triazole analogs and Bz were combined in vitro. These data indicate a strengthened potential of the triazole scaffold and encourage optimization based on an analysis of the structure-activity relationship aimed at identifying new compounds potentially active against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Martins Rocha Orlando
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.)
| | - Leonardo da Silva Lara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.)
| | - Guilherme Curty Lechuga
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.)
| | - Giseli Capaci Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino das Ciências, Unigranrio Rua Prof. José de Souza Herdy, Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro 25071-970, Brazil;
| | - Omar Ginoble Pandoli
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rua Marquês de São Vincente, 225, Rio de Janeiro 22451-900, Brazil; (O.G.P.); (D.S.d.S.)
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16126 Genova, Italy
| | - Druval Santos de Sá
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rua Marquês de São Vincente, 225, Rio de Janeiro 22451-900, Brazil; (O.G.P.); (D.S.d.S.)
| | - Mirian Claudia de Souza Pereira
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.M.R.O.); (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.)
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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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7
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Egbujor MC, Tucci P, Onyeije UC, Emeruwa CN, Saso L. NRF2 Activation by Nitrogen Heterocycles: A Review. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062751. [PMID: 36985723 PMCID: PMC10058096 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Several nitrogen heterocyclic analogues have been applied to clinical practice, and about 75% of drugs approved by the FDA contain at least a heterocyclic moiety. Thus, nitrogen heterocycles are beneficial scaffolds that occupy a central position in the development of new drugs. The fact that certain nitrogen heterocyclic compounds significantly activate the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and upregulate the expression of NRF2-dependent genes, especially HO-1 and NQO1, underscores the need to study the roles and pharmacological effects of N-based heterocyclic moieties in NRF2 activation. Furthermore, nitrogen heterocycles exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. NRF2-activating molecules have been of tremendous research interest in recent times due to their therapeutic roles in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress-mediated diseases. A comprehensive review of the NRF2-inducing activities of N-based heterocycles and their derivatives will broaden their therapeutic prospects in a wide range of diseases. Thus, the present review, as the first of its kind, provides an overview of the roles and effects of nitrogen heterocyclic moieties in the activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway underpinning their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in several diseases, their pharmacological properties and structural-activity relationship are also discussed with the aim of making new discoveries that will stimulate innovative research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melford C Egbujor
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Rhema University Nigeria, Aba 453115, Nigeria
| | - Paolo Tucci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Ugomma C Onyeije
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 420007, Nigeria
| | - Chigbundu N Emeruwa
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Rhema University Nigeria, Aba 453115, Nigeria
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Vittorio Erspamer, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Lara LDS, Lechuga GC, Orlando LMR, Ferreira BS, Souto BA, dos Santos MS, Pereira MCDS. Bioactivity of Novel Pyrazole-Thiazolines Scaffolds against Trypanosoma cruzi: Computational Approaches and 3D Spheroid Model on Drug Discovery for Chagas Disease. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:995. [PMID: 35631581 PMCID: PMC9146228 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, a century-old disease that mainly affects the impoverished population in Latin America, causes high morbidity and mortality in endemic countries. The available drugs, benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox, have limited effectiveness and intense side effects. Drug repurposing, and the development of new chemical entities with potent activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, are a potential source of therapeutic options. The present study describes the biological activity of two new series of pyrazole-thiazoline derivatives, based on optimization of a hit system 5-aminopyrazole-imidazoline previously identified, using structure−activity relationship exploration, and computational and phenotype-based strategies. Promising candidates, 2c, 2e, and 2i derivatives, showed good oral bioavailability and ADMET properties, and low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 µM) besides potent activity against trypomastigotes (0.4−2.1 µM) compared to Bz (19.6 ± 2.3 µM). Among them, 2c also stands out, with greater potency against intracellular amastigotes (pIC50 = 5.85). The selected pyrazole-thiazoline derivatives showed good permeability and effectiveness in the 3D spheroids system, but did not sustain parasite clearance in a washout assay. The compounds’ mechanism of action is still unknown, since the treatment neither increased reactive oxygen species, nor reduced cysteine protease activity. This new scaffold will be targeted to optimize in order to enhance its biological activity to identify new drug candidates for Chagas disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo da Silva Lara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.); (L.M.R.O.)
| | - Guilherme Curty Lechuga
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.); (L.M.R.O.)
| | - Lorraine Martins Rocha Orlando
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.); (L.M.R.O.)
| | - Byanca Silva Ferreira
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Instituto de Física e Química, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Avenida BPS, 1303, Pinheirinho, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil; (B.S.F.); (B.A.S.); (M.S.d.S.)
| | - Bernardo Araújo Souto
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Instituto de Física e Química, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Avenida BPS, 1303, Pinheirinho, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil; (B.S.F.); (B.A.S.); (M.S.d.S.)
| | - Maurício Silva dos Santos
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Instituto de Física e Química, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Avenida BPS, 1303, Pinheirinho, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil; (B.S.F.); (B.A.S.); (M.S.d.S.)
| | - Mirian Claudia de Souza Pereira
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.d.S.L.); (G.C.L.); (L.M.R.O.)
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