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Batista DDGJ, de Almeida Fiuza LF, Klupsch F, da Costa KN, Batista MM, da Conceição K, Bouafia H, Vergoten G, Millet R, Thuru X, Bailly C, Soeiro MDNC. Activity of pyridyl-pyrazolone derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2024; 262:108787. [PMID: 38759776 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108787] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
New affordable drugs are needed for the treatment of infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi responsible for the Chagas disease (CD). Only two old drugs are currently available, nifurtimox and benznidazole (Bz) but they exhibit unwanted side effects and display a weak activity in the late chronic phase of the disease. In this context, we evaluated the activity of a series of aryl-pyrazolone derivatives against T cruzi, using both bloodstream trypomastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of the parasite. The test compounds originate from a series of anticancer agents targeting the immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 and bear an analogy with known anti-trypanosomal pyrazolones. A first group of 6 phenyl-pyrazolones was tested, revealing the activity of a single pyridyl-pyrazolone derivative. Then a second group of 8 compounds with a common pyridyl-pyrazolone core was evaluated. The in vitro testing process led to the identification of two non-cytotoxic and highly potent molecules against the intracellular form of T. cruzi, with an activity comparable to Bz. Moreover, one compound revealed an activity largely superior to that of Bz against bloodstream trypomastigotes, while being non-cytotoxic (selectivity index >1000). Unfortunately, the compound showed little activity in vivo, most likely due to its very limited plasma stability. However, the study opens novel perspectives for the design of new anti-trypanosomal products and the mechanism of action of the compounds is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, 210360-040, Brazil
| | | | - Frédérique Klupsch
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Krislayne Nunes da Costa
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, 210360-040, Brazil
| | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, 210360-040, Brazil
| | - Ketlym da Conceição
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, 210360-040, Brazil
| | - Hassiba Bouafia
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Gérard Vergoten
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Régis Millet
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Xavier Thuru
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Christian Bailly
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000, Lille, France; University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 59000, Lille, France.
| | - Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, 210360-040, Brazil.
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Regnault R, Klupsch F, El-Bouazzati H, Magnez R, Le Biannic R, Leleu-Chavain N, Ahouari H, Vezin H, Millet R, Goossens JF, Thuru X, Bailly C. Novel PD-L1-Targeted Phenyl-Pyrazolone Derivatives with Antioxidant Properties. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083491. [PMID: 37110727 PMCID: PMC10144346 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083491] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Orally-active anticancer small molecules targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint are actively searched. Phenyl-pyrazolone derivatives with a high affinity for PD-L1 have been designed and characterized. In addition, the phenyl-pyrazolone unit acts as a scavenger of oxygen free radicals, providing antioxidant effects. The mechanism is known for the drug edaravone (1) which is also an aldehyde-reactive molecule. The present study reports the synthesis and functional characterization of new molecules (2-5) with an improved anti-PD-L1 activity. The leading fluorinated molecule 5 emerges as a potent checkpoint inhibitor, avidly binding to PD-L1, inducing its dimerization, blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling mediated by phosphatase SHP-2 and reactivating the proliferation of CTLL-2 cells in the presence of PD-L1. In parallel, the compound maintains a significant antioxidant activity, characterized using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based free radical scavenging assays with the probes DPPH and DMPO. The aldehyde reactivity of the molecules was investigated using 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which is a major lipid peroxidation product. The formation of drug-HNE adducts, monitored by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), was clearly identified and compared for each compound. The study leads to the selection of compound 5 and the dichlorophenyl-pyrazolone unit as a scaffold for the design of small molecule PD-L1 inhibitors endowed with antioxidant properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Regnault
- ULR 7365-GRITA-Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Frédérique Klupsch
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Hassiba El-Bouazzati
- UMR9020-UMR1277-Canther-Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Romain Magnez
- UMR9020-UMR1277-Canther-Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Raphaël Le Biannic
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Natascha Leleu-Chavain
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Hania Ahouari
- LASIRE Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Intéractions la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- FR 2638-IMEC-Institut Michel-Eugène Chevreul, University Lille, F-59655 Lille, France
| | - Hervé Vezin
- LASIRE Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Intéractions la Réactivité et l'Environnement, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Régis Millet
- U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation, ICPAL, Inserm, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Jean-François Goossens
- ULR 7365-GRITA-Groupe de Recherche sur les formes Injectables et les Technologies Associées, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Xavier Thuru
- UMR9020-UMR1277-Canther-Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Christian Bailly
- UMR9020-UMR1277-Canther-Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Inserm, CNRS, CHU Lille, University Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- Oncowitan, Scientific Consulting Office, Wasquehal, F-59290 Lille, France
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Thuru X, Magnez R, Vergoten G, Bailly C. A Potential Off-Target Effect of the Wnt/β-Catenin Inhibitor KYA1797K: PD-L1 Binding and Checkpoint Inhibition. Biomed Hub 2023; 8:1-9. [PMID: 36938364 PMCID: PMC10015704 DOI: 10.1159/000528499] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The quest for small molecule inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint continues in parallel to the extensive development of monoclonal antibodies directed against this immune checkpoint. Drug screening strategies are being set up to identify novel PD-L1 inhibitors. Methods A virtual screening based on molecular docking with the PD-L1 protein dimer has been performed to identify a new binder. Binding of the identified ligand to PD-L1 has been validated experimentally using a microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay. The cellular effect of the compound was evidenced using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay based on activation of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. Results We have identified the potent Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor KYA1797K as a weak PD-L1 binder. Molecular docking suggested that the compound can bind to the interface of a PD-L1 dimer, with a geometry superimposable to that of the reference PD-L1 inhibitor BMS-202. The atypical 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone motif of KYA1797K, derived from the natural product rhodanine, plays a major role in the interaction with PD-L1. Binding of KYA1797K to recombinant hPD-L1 was validated experimentally, using MST. The drug was found to bind modestly but effectively to hPD-L1. The FRET assay confirmed the weak capacity of KYA1797K to interfere with the activation of SHP-2 upon its interaction with human PD-1. Discussion Collectively, the data show that KYA1797K could function as a weak modulator of the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint. This effect may contribute, at least partially, to the reported capacity of the β-catenin inhibitor to downregulate PD-L1 in cancer cells. The work also underlines the interest to further consider the rhodanine moiety as a chemical motif for the design of new PD-L1 binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Thuru
- Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, UMR9020 − UMR1277 − Canther − Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, University Lille, Lille, France
- *Xavier THURU,
| | - Romain Magnez
- Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, UMR9020 − UMR1277 − Canther − Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, University Lille, Lille, France
| | - Gérard Vergoten
- Inserm, INFINITE − U1286, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), Faculté de Pharmacie, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Christian Bailly
- Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, UMR9020 − UMR1277 − Canther − Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, University Lille, Lille, France
- Oncowitan, Scientific Consulting Office, Lille (Wasquehal), France
- **Christian BAILLY,
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Microscale Thermophoresis as a Tool to Study Protein Interactions and Their Implication in Human Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147672. [PMID: 35887019 PMCID: PMC9315744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The review highlights how protein–protein interactions (PPIs) have determining roles in most life processes and how interactions between protein partners are involved in various human diseases. The study of PPIs and binding interactions as well as their understanding, quantification and pharmacological regulation are crucial for therapeutic purposes. Diverse computational and analytical methods, combined with high-throughput screening (HTS), have been extensively used to characterize multiple types of PPIs, but these procedures are generally laborious, long and expensive. Rapid, robust and efficient alternative methods are proposed, including the use of Microscale Thermophoresis (MST), which has emerged as the technology of choice in drug discovery programs in recent years. This review summarizes selected case studies pertaining to the use of MST to detect therapeutically pertinent proteins and highlights the biological importance of binding interactions, implicated in various human diseases. The benefits and limitations of MST to study PPIs and to identify regulators are discussed.
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