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Boese M, Berman RY, Qiu J, Spencer HF, Radford KD, Choi KH. Effects of Mild Closed-Head Injury and Subanesthetic Ketamine Infusion on Microglia, Axonal Injury, and Synaptic Density in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4287. [PMID: 38673871 PMCID: PMC11050690 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084287] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects millions of people in the U.S. Approximately 20-30% of those individuals develop adverse symptoms lasting at least 3 months. In a rat mTBI study, the closed-head impact model of engineered rotational acceleration (CHIMERA) produced significant axonal injury in the optic tract (OT), indicating white-matter damage. Because retinal ganglion cells project to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in the thalamus through the OT, we hypothesized that synaptic density may be reduced in the LGN of rats following CHIMERA injury. A modified SEQUIN (synaptic evaluation and quantification by imaging nanostructure) method, combined with immunofluorescent double-labeling of pre-synaptic (synapsin) and post-synaptic (PSD-95) markers, was used to quantify synaptic density in the LGN. Microglial activation at the CHIMERA injury site was determined using Iba-1 immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the effects of ketamine, a potential neuroprotective drug, were evaluated in CHIMERA-induced mTBI. A single-session repetitive (ssr-) CHIMERA (3 impacts, 1.5 joule/impact) produced mild effects on microglial activation at the injury site, which was significantly enhanced by post-injury intravenous ketamine (10 mg/kg) infusion. However, ssr-CHIMERA did not alter synaptic density in the LGN, although ketamine produced a trend of reduction in synaptic density at post-injury day 4. Further research is necessary to characterize the effects of ssr-CHIMERA and subanesthetic doses of intravenous ketamine on different brain regions and multiple time points post-injury. The current study demonstrates the utility of the ssr-CHIMERA as a rodent model of mTBI, which researchers can use to identify biological mechanisms of mTBI and to develop improved treatment strategies for individuals suffering from head trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Boese
- Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (M.B.); (K.D.R.)
| | - Rina Y. Berman
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Jennifer Qiu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;
| | - Haley F. Spencer
- Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Kennett D. Radford
- Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (M.B.); (K.D.R.)
| | - Kwang H. Choi
- Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (M.B.); (K.D.R.)
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
- Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, F. E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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Kulesskaya N, Bhattacharjee A, Holmström KM, Vuorio P, Henriques A, Callizot N, Huttunen HJ. HER-096 is a CDNF-derived brain-penetrating peptidomimetic that protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse synucleinopathy model of Parkinson's disease. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:593-606.e9. [PMID: 38039968 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.11.005] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is an unconventional neurotropic factor that modulates unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway signaling and alleviates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress providing cytoprotective effects in different models of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we developed a brain-penetrating peptidomimetic compound based on human CDNF. This compound called HER-096 shows similar potency and mechanism of action as CDNF, and promotes dopamine neuron survival, reduces α-synuclein aggregation and modulates UPR signaling in in vitro models. HER-096 is metabolically stable and able to penetrate to cerebrospinal (CSF) and brain interstitial fluids (ISF) after subcutaneous administration, with an extended CSF and brain ISF half-life compared to plasma. Subcutaneously administered HER-096 modulated UPR pathway activity, protected dopamine neurons, and reduced α-synuclein aggregates and neuroinflammation in substantia nigra of aged mice with synucleinopathy. Peptidomimetic HER-096 is a candidate for development of a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's disease with a patient-friendly route of administration.
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Huang YN, Greig NH, Huang PS, Chiang YH, Hoffer A, Yang CH, Tweedie D, Chen Y, Ou JC, Wang JY. Pomalidomide Improves Motor Behavioral Deficits and Protects Cerebral Cortex and Striatum Against Neurodegeneration Through a Reduction of Oxidative/Nitrosative Damages and Neuroinflammation After Traumatic Brain Injury. Cell Transplant 2024; 33:9636897241237049. [PMID: 38483119 PMCID: PMC10943757 DOI: 10.1177/09636897241237049] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuronal damage resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes disruption of neuronal projections and neurotransmission that contribute to behavioral deficits. Cellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) is an early event following TBI. ROS often damage DNA, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates while RNS attack proteins. The products of lipid peroxidation 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and protein nitration 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) are often used as indicators of oxidative and nitrosative damages, respectively. Increasing evidence has shown that striatum is vulnerable to damage from TBI with a disturbed dopamine neurotransmission. TBI results in neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and autophagy in the striatum and contribute to motor or behavioral deficits. Pomalidomide (Pom) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved immunomodulatory drug clinically used in treating multiple myeloma. We previously showed that Pom reduces neuroinflammation and neuronal death induced by TBI in rat cerebral cortex. Here, we further compared the effects of Pom in cortex and striatum focusing on neurodegeneration, oxidative and nitrosative damages, as well as neuroinflammation following TBI. Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to a controlled cortical impact were used as the animal model of TBI. Systemic administration of Pom (0.5 mg/kg, intravenous [i.v.]) at 5 h post-injury alleviated motor behavioral deficits, contusion volume at 24 h after TBI. Pom alleviated TBI-induced neurodegeneration stained by Fluoro-Jade C in both cortex and striatum. Notably, Pom treatment reduces oxidative and nitrosative damages in cortex and striatum and is more efficacious in striatum (93% reduction in 4-HNE-positive and 84% reduction in 3-NT-positive neurons) than in cerebral cortex (42% reduction in 4-HNE-positive and 55% reduction in 3-NT-positive neurons). In addition, Pom attenuated microgliosis, astrogliosis, and elevations of proinflammatory cytokines in cortical and striatal tissue. We conclude that Pom may contribute to improved motor behavioral outcomes after TBI through targeting oxidative/nitrosative damages and neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ni Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
- Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taoyuan City
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pen-Sen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
| | - Yung-Hsiao Chiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
| | - Alan Hoffer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chih-Hao Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
| | - Ju-Chi Ou
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
| | - Jia-Yi Wang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei
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Kopp KO, Greer ME, Glotfelty EJ, Hsueh SC, Tweedie D, Kim DS, Reale M, Vargesson N, Greig NH. A New Generation of IMiDs as Treatments for Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050747. [PMID: 37238617 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) class, which includes the founding drug member thalidomide and later generation drugs, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, has dramatically improved the clinical treatment of specific cancers, such as multiple myeloma, and it combines potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory actions. These actions, in large part, are mediated by IMiD binding to the human protein cereblon that forms a critical component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. This complex ubiquitinates and thereby regulates the levels of multiple endogenous proteins. However, IMiD-cereblon binding modifies cereblon's normal targeted protein degradation towards a new set of neosubstrates that underlies the favorable pharmacological action of classical IMiDs, but also their adverse actions-in particular, their teratogenicity. The ability of classical IMiDs to reduce the synthesis of key proinflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-α levels, makes them potentially valuable to reposition as drugs to mitigate inflammatory-associated conditions and, particularly, neurological disorders driven by an excessive neuroinflammatory element, as occurs in traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and ischemic stroke. The teratogenic and anticancer actions of classical IMiDs are substantial liabilities for effective drugs in these disorders and can theoretically be dialed out of the drug class. We review a select series of novel IMiDs designed to avoid binding with human cereblon and/or evade degradation of downstream neosubstrates considered to underpin the adverse actions of thalidomide-like drugs. These novel non-classical IMiDs hold potential as new medications for erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), a painful inflammatory skin condition associated with Hansen's disease for which thalidomide remains widely used, and, in particular, as a new treatment strategy for neurodegenerative disorders in which neuroinflammation is a key component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine O Kopp
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Margaret E Greer
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Elliot J Glotfelty
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shih-Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- Aevisbio Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Marcella Reale
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Neil Vargesson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Lecca D, Hsueh SC, Luo W, Tweedie D, Kim DS, Baig AM, Vargesson N, Kim YK, Hwang I, Kim S, Hoffer BJ, Chiang YH, Greig NH. Novel, thalidomide-like, non-cereblon binding drug tetrafluorobornylphthalimide mitigates inflammation and brain injury. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:16. [PMID: 36872339 PMCID: PMC9987061 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00907-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quelling microglial-induced excessive neuroinflammation is a potential treatment strategy across neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), and can be achieved by thalidomide-like drugs albeit this approved drug class is compromised by potential teratogenicity. Tetrafluorobornylphthalimide (TFBP) and tetrafluoronorbornylphthalimide (TFNBP) were generated to retain the core phthalimide structure of thalidomide immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) class. However, the classical glutarimide ring was replaced by a bridged ring structure. TFBP/TFNBP were hence designed to retain beneficial anti-inflammatory properties of IMiDs but, importantly, hinder cereblon binding that underlies the adverse action of thalidomide-like drugs. METHODS TFBP/TFNBP were synthesized and evaluated for cereblon binding and anti-inflammatory actions in human and rodent cell cultures. Teratogenic potential was assessed in chicken embryos, and in vivo anti-inflammatory actions in rodents challenged with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or controlled cortical impact (CCI) moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Molecular modeling was performed to provide insight into drug/cereblon binding interactions. RESULTS TFBP/TFNBP reduced markers of inflammation in mouse macrophage-like RAW264.7 cell cultures and in rodents challenged with LPS, lowering proinflammatory cytokines. Binding studies demonstrated minimal interaction with cereblon, with no resulting degradation of teratogenicity-associated transcription factor SALL4 or of teratogenicity in chicken embryo assays. To evaluate the biological relevance of its anti-inflammatory actions, two doses of TFBP were administered to mice at 1 and 24 h post-injury following CCI TBI. Compared to vehicle treatment, TFBP reduced TBI lesion size together with TBI-induction of an activated microglial phenotype, as evaluated by immunohistochemistry 2-weeks post-injury. Behavioral evaluations at 1- and 2-weeks post-injury demonstrated TFBP provided more rapid recovery of TBI-induced motor coordination and balance impairments, versus vehicle treated mice. CONCLUSION TFBP and TFNBP represent a new class of thalidomide-like IMiDs that lower proinflammatory cytokine generation but lack binding to cereblon, the main teratogenicity-associated mechanism. This aspect makes TFBP and TFNBP potentially safer than classic IMiDs for clinical use. TFBP provides a strategy to mitigate excessive neuroinflammation associated with moderate severity TBI to, thereby, improve behavioral outcome measures and warrants further investigation in neurological disorders involving a neuroinflammatory component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Shih-Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Weiming Luo
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- Aevisbio Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Abdul Mannan Baig
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
| | - Neil Vargesson
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Yu Kyung Kim
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Inho Hwang
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Kim
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Barry J Hoffer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yung-Hsiao Chiang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design and Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Kopp KO, Glotfelty EJ, Li Y, Greig NH. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and neuroinflammation: Implications for neurodegenerative disease treatment. Pharmacol Res 2022; 186:106550. [PMID: 36372278 PMCID: PMC9712272 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic, excessive neuroinflammation is a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, neuroinflammatory pathways have yet to be effectively targeted in clinical treatments for such diseases. Interestingly, increased inflammation and neurodegenerative disease risk have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR), suggesting that treatments that mitigate T2DM pathology may be successful in treating neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative pathology as well. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone that promotes healthy insulin signaling, regulates blood sugar levels, and suppresses appetite. Consequently, numerous GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) stimulating drugs have been developed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and related global regulatory authorities for the treatment of T2DM. Furthermore, GLP-1R stimulating drugs have been associated with anti-inflammatory, neurotrophic, and neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative disorder preclinical models, and hence hold promise for repurposing as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss incretin signaling, neuroinflammatory pathways, and the intersections between neuroinflammation, brain IR, and neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on AD and PD. We additionally overview current FDA-approved incretin receptor stimulating drugs and agents in development, including unimolecular single, dual, and triple receptor agonists, and highlight those in clinical trials for neurodegenerative disease treatment. We propose that repurposing already-approved GLP-1R agonists for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases may be a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective strategy for ameliorating AD and PD pathology by quelling neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine O Kopp
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
| | - Elliot J Glotfelty
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yazhou Li
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
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Scerba MT, Tweedie D, Lecca D, Siegler MA, Rais R, Greig NH. Thionated aminofluorophthalimides reduce classical markers of cellular inflammation in LPS-challenged RAW 264.7 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 76:128972. [PMID: 36265914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we present the synthesis of several fluorinated pomalidomide derivatives and their thionated counterparts with subsequent biological evaluation against classical markers of cellular inflammation. Treatment in LPS-challenged cells effected varying reductions in levels of secreted TNF-α and nitrite relative to basal amounts. While arene fluorination and thioamidation had marginal and sporadic effects on TNF-α production, specific 7-position fluorination combined with subsequent increases in carbonyl thionation produced compounds 11, 14, and 15 which demonstrated corresponding and escalating anti-nitrite activities concurrent with minimal cellular toxicity. In this regard, compound 15 displayed roughly 96 % cell viability combined with a 65 % drop in nitrite production when supplied to RAW cells challenged with 60 ng/mL LPS. When a focused family of fluorinated isomers were directly compared, the analogous 5-fluorinated isomer 17 displayed comparable minimal toxicity but markedly less anti-nitrite activity versus 15 in RAW cells challenged with 70 ng/mL LPS. Compound 15 was subsequently screened in human liver microsomes for preliminary Phase 1 analysis where it demonstrated heightened stability relative to its non-fluorinated counterpart 3,6'-dithiopomalidomide 4, a result in line with the expected metabolic fortitude provided by fluorination at the sensitive pomalidomide 7-position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Maxime A Siegler
- Small Molecule X-ray Facility, Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Rana Rais
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Lecca D, Jung YJ, Scerba MT, Hwang I, Kim YK, Kim S, Modrow S, Tweedie D, Hsueh S, Liu D, Luo W, Glotfelty E, Li Y, Wang J, Luo Y, Hoffer BJ, Kim DS, McDevitt RA, Greig NH. Role of chronic neuroinflammation in neuroplasticity and cognitive function: A hypothesis. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2327-2340. [PMID: 35234334 PMCID: PMC9437140 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluating the efficacy of 3,6'-dithioPomalidomide in 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice to test the hypothesis that neuroinflammation is directly involved in the development of synaptic/neuronal loss and cognitive decline. BACKGROUND Amyloid-β (Aβ) or tau-focused clinical trials have proved unsuccessful in mitigating AD-associated cognitive impairment. Identification of new drug targets is needed. Neuroinflammation is a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disorders, and TNF-α a pivotal neuroinflammatory driver. NEW HYPOTHESIS AD-associated chronic neuroinflammation directly drives progressive synaptic/neuronal loss and cognitive decline. Pharmacologically mitigating microglial/astrocyte activation without altering Aβ generation will define the role of neuroinflammation in AD progression. MAJOR CHALLENGES Difficulty of TNF-α-lowering compounds reaching brain, and identification of a therapeutic-time window to preserve the beneficial role of neuroinflammatory processes. LINKAGE TO OTHER MAJOR THEORIES Microglia/astroglia are heavily implicated in maintenance of synaptic plasticity/function in healthy brain and are disrupted by Aβ. Mitigation of chronic gliosis can restore synaptic homeostasis/cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yoo Jin Jung
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental ProgramStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | | | - Sun Kim
- Aevis Bio, Inc.DaejeonRepublic of Korea
| | - Sydney Modrow
- Comparative Medicine SectionNational Institute on AgingBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Shih‐Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Dong Liu
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Weiming Luo
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Elliot Glotfelty
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Department of NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Yazhou Li
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jia‐Yi Wang
- Graduate Institute of Medical SciencesTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan,Department of NeurosurgeryTaipei Medical University HospitalTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan,Neuroscience Research CenterTaipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Molecular Genetics and BiochemistryCollege of MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Barry J. Hoffer
- Department of Neurological SurgeryCase Western Reserve University HospitalClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- Aevis Bio, Inc.DaejeonRepublic of Korea,AevisBio, Inc.GaithersburgMarylandUSA
| | - Ross A. McDevitt
- Comparative Medicine SectionNational Institute on AgingBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development SectionTranslational Gerontology BranchIntramural Research Program National Institute on AgingNIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Hsueh SC, Scerba MT, Tweedie D, Lecca D, Kim DS, Baig AM, Kim YK, Hwang I, Kim S, Selman WR, Hoffer BJ, Greig NH. Activity of a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Agent F-3,6'-dithiopomalidomide as a Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2449. [PMID: 36289711 PMCID: PMC9598880 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major risk factor for several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation is a cause of later secondary cell death following TBI, has the potential to aggravate the initial impact, and provides a therapeutic target, albeit that has failed to translate into clinical trial success. Thalidomide-like compounds have neuroinflammation reduction properties across cellular and animal models of TBI and neurodegenerative disorders. They lower the generation of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-α which is pivotal in microglial cell activation. Unfortunately, thalidomide-like drugs possess adverse effects in humans before achieving anti-inflammatory drug levels. We developed F-3,6'-dithiopomalidomide (F-3,6'-DP) as a novel thalidomide-like compound to ameliorate inflammation. F-3,6'-DP binds to cereblon but does not efficiently trigger the degradation of the transcription factors (SALL4, Ikaros, and Aiolos) associated with the teratogenic and anti-proliferative responses of thalidomide-like drugs. We utilized a phenotypic drug discovery approach that employed cellular and animal models in the selection and development of F-3,6'-DP. F-3,6'-DP significantly mitigated LPS-induced inflammatory markers in RAW 264.7 cells, and lowered proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine levels in the plasma and brain of rats challenged with systemic LPS. We subsequently examined immunohistochemical, biochemical, and behavioral measures following controlled cortical impact (CCI) in mice, a model of moderate TBI known to induce inflammation. F-3,6'-DP decreased CCI-induced neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, and behavioral deficits when administered after TBI. F-3,6'-DP represents a novel class of thalidomide-like drugs that do not lower classical cereblon-associated transcription factors but retain anti-inflammatory actions and possess efficacy in the treatment of TBI and potentially longer-term neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- AevisBio, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Abdul Mannan Baig
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Sun Kim
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Warren R. Selman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Barry J. Hoffer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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10
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Cristina Cardia M, Francesca Palmas M, Casula L, Pisanu A, Marceddu S, Valenti D, Sinico C, Pini E, Scerba MT, Tweedie D, Greig NH, Rosa Carta A, Lai F. Nanocrystals as an effective strategy to improve Pomalidomide bioavailability in rodent. Int J Pharm 2022; 625:122079. [PMID: 35932932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122079] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Pomalidomide (POM) is an FDA-approved immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiDs) an it is effectively used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. IMiDs are analogs of the drug thalidomide and they have been repurposed for the treatment of several diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and Kaposi Sarcoma. In recent years, IMiDs have been also evaluated as a new treatment for neurological disorders with an inflammatory and neuroinflammatory component. POM draws particular interest for its potent anti-TNF-α activity at significantly lower concentrations than the parent compound thalidomide. However, POM's low water solubility underpins its low gastrointestinal permeability resulting in irregular and poor absorption. The purpose of this work was to prepare a POM nanocrystal-based formulation that could efficiently improve POM's plasma and brain concentration after intraperitoneal injection. POM nanocrystals prepared as a nanosuspension by the media milling method showed a mean diameter of 219 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.21. POM's nanocrystal solubility value (22.97 µg/mL) in phosphate buffer was about 1.58 folds higher than the POM raw powder. Finally, in vivo studies conducted in adult Male Sprague-Dawley rats indicated that POM nanocrystal ensured higher and longer-lasting drug levels in plasma and brain when compared with POM coarse suspension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Cardia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Luca Casula
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Marceddu
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), Baldinca (Sassari), Italy
| | - Donatella Valenti
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Sinico
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elena Pini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anna Rosa Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Lai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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11
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Tsai YR, Kim DS, Hsueh SC, Chen KY, Wu JCC, Wang JY, Tsou YS, Hwang I, Kim Y, Gil D, Jo EJ, Han BS, Tweedie D, Lecca D, Scerba MT, Selman WR, Hoffer BJ, Greig NH, Chiang YH. 3,6'- and 1,6'-Dithiopomalidomide Mitigate Ischemic Stroke in Rats and Blunt Inflammation. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:950. [PMID: 35631536 PMCID: PMC9146426 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: An important concomitant of stroke is neuroinflammation. Pomalidomide, a clinically available immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) used in cancer therapy, lowers TNF-α generation and thus has potent anti-inflammatory actions. Well-tolerated analogs may provide a stroke treatment and allow evaluation of the role of neuroinflammation in the ischemic brain. (2) Methods: Two novel pomalidomide derivatives, 3,6'-dithiopomalidomide (3,6'-DP) and 1,6'-dithiopomalidomide (1,6'-DP), were evaluated alongside pomalidomide in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) stroke model, and their anti-inflammatory actions were characterized. (3) Results: Post-MCAo administration of all drugs lowered pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL1-β levels, and reduced stroke-induced postural asymmetry and infarct size. Whereas 3,6'- and 1,6'-DP, like pomalidomide, potently bound to cereblon in cellular studies, 3,6'-DP did not lower Ikaros, Aiolos or SALL4 levels-critical intermediates mediating the anticancer/teratogenic actions of pomalidomide and IMiDs. 3,6'-DP and 1,6'-DP lacked activity in mammalian chromosome aberration, AMES and hERG channel assays -critical FDA regulatory tests. Finally, 3,6'- and 1,6'-DP mitigated inflammation across rat primary dopaminergic neuron and microglia mixed cultures challenged with α-synuclein and mouse LPS-challenged RAW 264.7 cells. (4) Conclusion: Neuroinflammation mediated via TNF-α plays a key role in stroke outcome, and 3,6'-DP and 1,6'-DP may prove valuable as stroke therapies and thus warrant further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Rou Tsai
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; (Y.-R.T.); (K.-Y.C.); (J.C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- Aevisbio Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA;
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea; (I.H.); (Y.K.); (D.G.); (E.J.J.)
| | - Shih-Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (S.-C.H.); (D.T.); (D.L.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Kai-Yun Chen
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; (Y.-R.T.); (K.-Y.C.); (J.C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.W.)
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - John Chung-Che Wu
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; (Y.-R.T.); (K.-Y.C.); (J.C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yi Wang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; (Y.-R.T.); (K.-Y.C.); (J.C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Syue Tsou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Inho Hwang
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea; (I.H.); (Y.K.); (D.G.); (E.J.J.)
| | - Yukyung Kim
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea; (I.H.); (Y.K.); (D.G.); (E.J.J.)
| | - Dayeon Gil
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea; (I.H.); (Y.K.); (D.G.); (E.J.J.)
| | - Eui Jung Jo
- Aevis Bio Inc., Daejeon 34141, Korea; (I.H.); (Y.K.); (D.G.); (E.J.J.)
| | - Baek-Soo Han
- Research Center for Biodefence, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 305-806, Korea;
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (S.-C.H.); (D.T.); (D.L.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Daniela Lecca
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (S.-C.H.); (D.T.); (D.L.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (S.-C.H.); (D.T.); (D.L.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Warren R. Selman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.R.S.); (B.J.H.)
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Barry J. Hoffer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.R.S.); (B.J.H.)
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (S.-C.H.); (D.T.); (D.L.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Yung-Hsiao Chiang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; (Y.-R.T.); (K.-Y.C.); (J.C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.W.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
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12
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Palmer A, Stezoski J, Janesko‑feldman K, Kochanek P, Drabek T. Targeting TNFα‑mediated cytotoxicity using thalidomide after experimental cardiac arrest in rats: An exploratory study. Exp Ther Med 2022; 23:380. [DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Palmer
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jason Stezoski
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Keri Janesko‑feldman
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Patrick Kochanek
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Tomas Drabek
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
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13
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Konovalov N, Timonin S, Asyutin D, Raevskiy M, Sorokin M, Buzdin A, Kaprovoy S. Transcriptomic Portraits and Molecular Pathway Activation Features of Adult Spinal Intramedullary Astrocytomas. Front Oncol 2022; 12:837570. [PMID: 35387112 PMCID: PMC8978956 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.837570] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report 31 spinal intramedullary astrocytoma (SIA) RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) profiles for 25 adult patients with documented clinical annotations. To our knowledge, this is the first clinically annotated RNA-seq dataset of spinal astrocytomas derived from the intradural intramedullary compartment. We compared these tumor profiles with the previous healthy central nervous system (CNS) RNA-seq data for spinal cord and brain and identified SIA-specific gene sets and molecular pathways. Our findings suggest a trend for SIA-upregulated pathways governing interactions with the immune cells and downregulated pathways for the neuronal functioning in the context of normal CNS activity. In two patient tumor biosamples, we identified diagnostic KIAA1549-BRAF fusion oncogenes, and we also found 16 new SIA-associated fusion transcripts. In addition, we bioinformatically simulated activities of targeted cancer drugs in SIA samples and predicted that several tyrosine kinase inhibitory drugs and thalidomide analogs could be potentially effective as second-line treatment agents to aid in the prevention of SIA recurrence and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mikhail Raevskiy
- Omicsway Corp., Walnut, CA, United States.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.,I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim Sorokin
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.,I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton Buzdin
- Omicsway Corp., Walnut, CA, United States.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.,I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Oncobox Ltd., Moscow, Russia
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14
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Characterisation of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Severity from Fresh Cerebral Biopsy of Living Patients: An Immunohistochemical Study. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030518. [PMID: 35327320 PMCID: PMC8945429 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an extremely complex disease and current systems classifying TBI as mild, moderate, and severe often fail to capture this complexity. Neuroimaging cannot resolve the cellular and molecular changes due to lack of resolution, and post-mortem tissue examination may not adequately represent acute disease. Therefore, we examined the cellular and molecular sequelae of TBI in fresh brain samples and related these to clinical outcomes. Brain biopsies, obtained shortly after injury from 25 living adult patients suffering severe TBI, underwent immunohistochemical analysis. There were no adverse events. Immunostaining revealed various qualitative cellular and biomolecular changes relating to neuronal injury, dendritic injury, neurovascular injury, and neuroinflammation, which we classified into 4 subgroups for each injury type using the newly devised Yip, Hasan and Uff (YHU) grading system. Based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended, a total YHU grade of ≤8 or ≥11 had a favourable and unfavourable outcome, respectively. Biomolecular changes observed in fresh brain samples enabled classification of this heterogeneous patient population into various injury severity categories based on the cellular and molecular pathophysiology according to the YHU grading system, which correlated with outcome. This is the first study investigating the acute biomolecular response to TBI.
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15
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Hu Y, Tao W. Microenvironmental Variations After Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:750810. [PMID: 34899180 PMCID: PMC8662751 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.750810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is linked to several pathologies. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is considered to be one of the initial changes. Further, the microenvironmental alteration following TBI-induced BBB breakdown can be multi-scaled, constant, and dramatic. The microenvironmental variations after disruption of BBB includes several pathological changes, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF) alteration, brain edema, cerebral metabolism imbalances, and accumulation of inflammatory molecules. The modulation of the microenvironment presents attractive targets for TBI recovery, such as reducing toxic substances, inhibiting inflammation, and promoting neurogenesis. Herein, we briefly review the pathological alterations of the microenvironmental changes following BBB breakdown and outline potential interventions for TBI recovery based on microenvironmental modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- School of Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiwei Tao
- School of Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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16
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3,6'-Dithiopomalidomide Ameliorates Hippocampal Neurodegeneration, Microgliosis and Astrogliosis and Improves Cognitive Behaviors in Rats with a Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158276. [PMID: 34361041 PMCID: PMC8348060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. It can instigate immediate cell death, followed by a time-dependent secondary injury that results from disproportionate microglial and astrocyte activation, excessive inflammation and oxidative stress in brain tissue, culminating in both short- and long-term cognitive dysfunction and behavioral deficits. Within the brain, the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to a TBI. We studied a new pomalidomide (Pom) analog, namely, 3,6′-dithioPom (DP), and Pom as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiD) for mitigating TBI-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration, microgliosis, astrogliosis and behavioral impairments in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI in rats. Both agents were administered as a single intravenous dose (0.5 mg/kg) at 5 h post injury so that the efficacies could be compared. Pom and DP significantly reduced the contusion volume evaluated at 24 h and 7 days post injury. Both agents ameliorated short-term memory deficits and anxiety behavior at 7 days after a TBI. The number of degenerating neurons in the CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus after a TBI was reduced by Pom and DP. DP, but not Pom, significantly attenuated the TBI-induced microgliosis and DP was more efficacious than Pom at attenuating the TBI-induced astrogliosis in CA1 and DG at 7D after a TBI. In summary, a single intravenous injection of Pom or DP, given 5 h post TBI, significantly reduced hippocampal neurodegeneration and prevented cognitive deficits with a concomitant attenuation of the neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.
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17
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Microglial Extracellular Vesicles as Vehicles for Neurodegeneration Spreading. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11060770. [PMID: 34063832 PMCID: PMC8224033 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial cells are the neuroimmune competent cells of the central nervous system. In the adult, microglia are responsible for screening the neuronal parenchyma searching for alterations in homeostasis. Chronic neuroinflammation plays a role in neurodegenerative disease. Indeed, microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in the onset and progression of several disorders in the brain and retina. Microglial cell reactivity occurs in an orchestrated manner and propagates across the neural parenchyma spreading the neuroinflammatory signal from cell to cell. Extracellular vesicles are important vehicles of intercellular communication and act as message carriers across boundaries. Extracellular vesicles can be subdivided in several categories according to their cellular origin (apoptotic bodies, microvesicles and exosomes), each presenting, different but sometimes overlapping functions in cell communication. Mounting evidence suggests a role for extracellular vesicles in regulating microglial cell action. Herein, we explore the role of microglial extracellular vesicles as vehicles for cell communication and the mechanisms that trigger their release. In this review we covered the role of microglial extracellular vesicles, focusing on apoptotic bodies, microvesicles and exosomes, in the context of neurodegeneration and the impact of these vesicles derived from other cells in microglial cell reactivity.
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18
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Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050524. [PMID: 34067173 PMCID: PMC8150909 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with human aging. Ten percent of individuals over 65 years have AD and its prevalence continues to rise with increasing age. There are currently no effective disease modifying treatments for AD, resulting in increasingly large socioeconomic and personal costs. Increasing age is associated with an increase in low-grade chronic inflammation (inflammaging) that may contribute to the neurodegenerative process in AD. Although the exact mechanisms remain unclear, aberrant elevation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) levels from several endogenous and exogenous processes in the brain may not only affect cell signaling, but also trigger cellular senescence, inflammation, and pyroptosis. Moreover, a compromised immune privilege of the brain that allows the infiltration of peripheral immune cells and infectious agents may play a role. Additionally, meta-inflammation as well as gut microbiota dysbiosis may drive the neuroinflammatory process. Considering that inflammatory/immune pathways are dysregulated in parallel with cognitive dysfunction in AD, elucidating the relationship between the central nervous system and the immune system may facilitate the development of a safe and effective therapy for AD. We discuss some current ideas on processes in inflammaging that appear to drive the neurodegenerative process in AD and summarize details on a few immunomodulatory strategies being developed to selectively target the detrimental aspects of neuroinflammation without affecting defense mechanisms against pathogens and tissue damage.
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19
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Hsueh SC, Luo W, Tweedie D, Kim DS, Kim YK, Hwang I, Gil JE, Han BS, Chiang YH, Selman W, Hoffer BJ, Greig NH. N-Adamantyl Phthalimidine: A New Thalidomide-like Drug That Lacks Cereblon Binding and Mitigates Neuronal and Synaptic Loss, Neuroinflammation, and Behavioral Deficits in Traumatic Brain Injury and LPS Challenge. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:980-1000. [PMID: 33860215 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation contributes to delayed secondary cell death following traumatic brain injury (TBI), has the potential to chronically exacerbate the initial insult, and represents a therapeutic target that has largely failed to translate into human efficacy. Thalidomide-like drugs have effectively mitigated neuroinflammation across cellular and animal models of TBI and neurodegeneration but are complicated by adverse actions in humans. We hence developed N-adamantyl phthalimidine (NAP) as a new thalidomide-like drug to mitigate inflammation without binding to cereblon, a key target associated with the antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and teratogenic actions seen in this drug class. We utilized a phenotypic drug discovery approach that employed multiple cellular and animal models and ultimately examined immunohistochemical, biochemical, and behavioral measures following controlled cortical impact (CCI) TBI in mice. NAP mitigated LPS-induced inflammation across cellular and rodent models and reduced oligomeric α-synuclein and amyloid-β mediated inflammation. Following CCI TBI, NAP mitigated neuronal and synaptic loss, neuroinflammation, and behavioral deficits, and is unencumbered by cereblon binding, a key protein underpinning the teratogenic and adverse actions of thalidomide-like drugs in humans. In summary, NAP represents a new class of thalidomide-like drugs with anti-inflammatory actions for promising efficacy in the treatment of TBI and potentially longer-term neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih Chang Hsueh
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Weiming Luo
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- AevisBio, Inc., Gaithersburg Maryland 20878, United States.,Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Kyung Kim
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Inho Hwang
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Gil
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Baek-Soo Han
- Research Center for Biodefence, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung-Hsiao Chiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Warren Selman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Barry J Hoffer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
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20
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Jung YJ, Tweedie D, Scerba MT, Kim DS, Palmas MF, Pisanu A, Carta AR, Greig NH. Repurposing Immunomodulatory Imide Drugs (IMiDs) in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:656921. [PMID: 33854417 PMCID: PMC8039148 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.656921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation represents a common trait in the pathology and progression of the major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Neuropsychiatric disorders have emerged as a global crisis, affecting 1 in 4 people, while neurological disorders are the second leading cause of death in the elderly population worldwide (WHO, 2001; GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators, 2019). However, there remains an immense deficit in availability of effective drug treatments for most neurological disorders. In fact, for disorders such as depression, placebos and behavioral therapies have equal effectiveness as antidepressants. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, drugs that can prevent, slow, or cure the disease have yet to be found. Several non-traditional avenues of drug target identification have emerged with ongoing neurological disease research to meet the need for novel and efficacious treatments. Of these novel avenues is that of neuroinflammation, which has been found to be involved in the progression and pathology of many of the leading neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation is characterized by glial inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the meta-analyses have provided evidence of genetic/proteomic upregulation of inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the mechanisms underpinning the connections between neuroinflammation and neurological disorders are unclear, and meta-analysis results have shown high sensitivity to factors such as disorder severity and sample type, there is significant evidence of neuroinflammation associations across neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the role of neuroinflammation in psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and introduce current research on the potential of immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) as a new treatment strategy for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Jin Jung
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- AevisBio, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon, South Korea
| | | | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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21
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Munafò A, Burgaletto C, Di Benedetto G, Di Mauro M, Di Mauro R, Bernardini R, Cantarella G. Repositioning of Immunomodulators: A Ray of Hope for Alzheimer's Disease? Front Neurosci 2020; 14:614643. [PMID: 33343293 PMCID: PMC7746859 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.614643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and by the presence of amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Despite recent advances in understanding its pathophysiological mechanisms, to date, there are no disease-modifying therapeutic options, to slow or halt the evolution of neurodegenerative processes in AD. Current pharmacological treatments only transiently mitigate the severity of symptoms, with modest or null overall improvement. Emerging evidence supports the concept that AD is affected by the impaired ability of the immune system to restrain the brain's pathology. Deep understanding of the relationship between the nervous and the immune system may provide a novel arena to develop effective and safe drugs for AD treatment. Considering the crucial role of inflammatory/immune pathways in AD, here we discuss the current status of the immuno-oncological, immunomodulatory and anti-TNF-α drugs which are being used in preclinical studies or in ongoing clinical trials by means of the drug-repositioning approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Munafò
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Burgaletto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giulia Di Benedetto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Di Mauro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosaria Di Mauro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Renato Bernardini
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Unit of Clinical Toxicology, University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Cantarella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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