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Johns DG, Campeau LC, Banka P, Bautmans A, Bueters T, Bianchi E, Branca D, Bulger PG, Crevecoeur I, Ding FX, Garbaccio RM, Guetschow ED, Guo Y, Ha SN, Johnston JM, Josien H, Kauh EA, Koeplinger KA, Kuethe JT, Lai E, Lanning CL, Lee AYH, Li L, Nair AG, O'Neill EA, Stoch SA, Thaisrivongs DA, Tucker TJ, Vachal P, van Dyck K, Vanhoutte FP, Volckaert B, Wolford DG, Xu A, Zhao T, Zhou D, Zhou S, Zhu X, Zokian HJ, Walji A, Wood HB. Orally Bioavailable Macrocyclic Peptide That Inhibits Binding of PCSK9 to the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor. Circulation 2023. [PMID: 37125593 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.063372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibition of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9)-low density lipoprotein receptor interaction with injectable monoclonal antibodies or small interfering RNA lowers plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, but despite nearly 2 decades of effort, an oral inhibitor of PCSK9 is not available. Macrocyclic peptides represent a novel approach to target proteins traditionally considered intractable to small-molecule drug design. METHODS Novel mRNA display screening technology was used to identify lead chemical matter, which was then optimized by applying structure-based drug design enabled by novel synthetic chemistry to identify macrocyclic peptide (MK-0616) with exquisite potency and selectivity for PCSK9. Following completion of nonclinical safety studies, MK-0616 was administered to healthy adult participants in a single rising-dose Phase 1 clinical trial designed to evaluate its safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. In a multiple-dose trial in participants taking statins, MK-0616 was administered once daily for 14 days to characterize the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics (low density lipoprotein cholesterol). RESULTS MK-0616 displayed high affinity (Ki = 5pM) for PCSK9 in vitro and sufficient safety and oral bioavailability preclinically to enable advancement into the clinic. In Phase 1 clinical studies in healthy adults, single oral doses of MK-0616 were associated with >93% geometric mean reduction (95% CI, 84-103) of free, unbound plasma PCSK9; in participants on statin therapy, multiple-oral-dose regimens provided a maximum 61% geometric mean reduction (95% CI, 43-85) in low density lipoprotein cholesterol from baseline after 14 days of once-daily dosing of 20 mg MK-0616. CONCLUSIONS This work validates the use of mRNA display technology for identification of novel oral therapeutic agents, exemplified by the identification of an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, which has the potential to be a highly effective cholesterol lowering therapy for patients in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas G Johns
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Louis-Charles Campeau
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Puja Banka
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - An Bautmans
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Tjerk Bueters
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | | | | | - Paul G Bulger
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Inne Crevecoeur
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Fa-Xiang Ding
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Robert M Garbaccio
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Erik D Guetschow
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
- Now with Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI (E.D.G.)
| | - Yan Guo
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Sookhee N Ha
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Jennifer M Johnston
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Hubert Josien
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Eunkyung A Kauh
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Kenneth A Koeplinger
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Jeffrey T Kuethe
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Eseng Lai
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Christine L Lanning
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Anita Y H Lee
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Li Li
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Anilkumar G Nair
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Edward A O'Neill
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - S Aubrey Stoch
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - David A Thaisrivongs
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Thomas J Tucker
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Petr Vachal
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Kristien van Dyck
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | | | | | - Dennis G Wolford
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Andy Xu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Tian Zhao
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Dan Zhou
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Susan Zhou
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Xiaohong Zhu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Hratch J Zokian
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Abbas Walji
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
| | - Harold B Wood
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (D.G.J., L.-C.C., P.B., A.B., T.B., P.G.B., I.C., F.-X.D., R.M.G., E.D.G., Y.G., S.N.H., J.M.J., H.J., E.A.K., K.A.K., J.T.K., E.L., C.L.L., A.Y.H.L., L.L., A.G.N., E.A.O., S.A.S., D.A.T., T.J.T., P.V., K.v.D., D.G.W., A.X., T.Z., D.Z., S.Z., X.Z., H.J.Z., A.W., H.B.W.)
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2
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Tucker TJ, Embrey MW, Alleyne C, Amin RP, Bass A, Bhatt B, Bianchi E, Branca D, Bueters T, Buist N, Ha SN, Hafey M, He H, Higgins J, Johns DG, Kerekes AD, Koeplinger KA, Kuethe JT, Li N, Murphy B, Orth P, Salowe S, Shahripour A, Tracy R, Wang W, Wu C, Xiong Y, Zokian HJ, Wood HB, Walji A. A Series of Novel, Highly Potent, and Orally Bioavailable Next-Generation Tricyclic Peptide PCSK9 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2021; 64:16770-16800. [PMID: 34704436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and a clinically validated target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease. Starting from second-generation lead structures such as 2, we were able to refine these structures to obtain extremely potent bi- and tricyclic PCSK9 inhibitor peptides. Optimized molecules such as 44 demonstrated sufficient oral bioavailability to maintain therapeutic levels in rats and cynomolgus monkeys after dosing with an enabled formulation. We demonstrated target engagement and LDL lowering in cynomolgus monkeys essentially identical to those observed with the clinically approved, parenterally dosed antibodies. These molecules represent the first report of highly potent and orally bioavailable macrocyclic peptide PCSK9 inhibitors with overall profiles favorable for potential development as once-daily oral lipid-lowering agents. In this manuscript, we detail the design criteria and multiparameter optimization of this novel series of PCSK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Tucker
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Mark W Embrey
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Candice Alleyne
- Department of Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Rupesh P Amin
- Department of Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Alan Bass
- Department of Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Bhavana Bhatt
- Department of Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecule Research and Development Department, IRBM S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30600, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Danila Branca
- Peptides and Small Molecule Research and Development Department, IRBM S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30600, 00071 Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Tjerk Bueters
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Nicole Buist
- Department of Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Sookhee N Ha
- Department of Modeling and Informatics, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Mike Hafey
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Huaibing He
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - John Higgins
- Department of Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Department of Discovery Biology, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Angela D Kerekes
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Kenneth A Koeplinger
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Jeffrey T Kuethe
- Department of Process Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Nianyu Li
- Department of Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - BethAnn Murphy
- Department of Discovery Biology, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Peter Orth
- Department of Structural Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Scott Salowe
- Department of Discovery Biology, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Aurash Shahripour
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Rodger Tracy
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Weixun Wang
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Chengwei Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486 United States
| | - Yusheng Xiong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Hratch J Zokian
- Department of Discovery Biology, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Harold B Wood
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Abbas Walji
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
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3
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Vachal P, Duffy JL, Campeau LC, Amin RP, Mitra K, Murphy BA, Shao PP, Sinclair PJ, Ye F, Katipally R, Lu Z, Ondeyka D, Chen YH, Zhao K, Sun W, Tyagarajan S, Bao J, Wang SP, Cote J, Lipardi C, Metzger D, Leung D, Hartmann G, Wollenberg GK, Liu J, Tan L, Xu Y, Chen Q, Liu G, Blaustein RO, Johns DG. Invention of MK-8262, a Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) Inhibitor Backup to Anacetrapib with Best-in-Class Properties. J Med Chem 2021; 64:13215-13258. [PMID: 34375108 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) represents one of the key regulators of the homeostasis of lipid particles, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. Epidemiological evidence correlates increased HDL and decreased LDL to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk reduction. This relationship is consistent with a clinical outcomes trial of a CETP inhibitor (anacetrapib) combined with standard of care (statin), which led to a 9% additional risk reduction compared to standard of care alone. We discuss here the discovery of MK-8262, a CETP inhibitor with the potential for being the best-in-class molecule. Novel in vitro and in vivo paradigms were integrated to drug discovery to guide optimization informed by a critical understanding of key clinical adverse effect profiles. We present preclinical and clinical evidence of MK-8262 safety and efficacy by means of HDL increase and LDL reduction as biomarkers for reduced CHD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Vachal
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Joseph L Duffy
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Louis-Charles Campeau
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Rupesh P Amin
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kaushik Mitra
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Beth Ann Murphy
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Pengcheng P Shao
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Peter J Sinclair
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Feng Ye
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Revathi Katipally
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Zhijian Lu
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Debra Ondeyka
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Yi-Heng Chen
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kake Zhao
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Wanying Sun
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Sriram Tyagarajan
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Jianming Bao
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Josee Cote
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Concetta Lipardi
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Daniel Metzger
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Dennis Leung
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Georgy Hartmann
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Gordon K Wollenberg
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Jian Liu
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Lushi Tan
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Yingju Xu
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Qinghao Chen
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Guiquan Liu
- WuXi AppTec, 90 Delin Rd., Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Robert O Blaustein
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Rd., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
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4
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Alleyne C, Amin RP, Bhatt B, Bianchi E, Blain JC, Boyer N, Branca D, Embrey MW, Ha SN, Jette K, Johns DG, Kerekes AD, Koeplinger KA, LaPlaca D, Li N, Murphy B, Orth P, Ricardo A, Salowe S, Seyb K, Shahripour A, Stringer JR, Sun Y, Tracy R, Wu C, Xiong Y, Youm H, Zokian HJ, Tucker TJ. Series of Novel and Highly Potent Cyclic Peptide PCSK9 Inhibitors Derived from an mRNA Display Screen and Optimized via Structure-Based Design. J Med Chem 2020; 63:13796-13824. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Candice Alleyne
- Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Rupesh P. Amin
- Safety Assessment, Merck & Comapny, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Bhavana Bhatt
- Safety Assessment, Merck & Comapny, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | | | - J. Craig Blain
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Nicolas Boyer
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Danila Branca
- IRBM S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30600, Pomezia, Rome 00071, Italy
| | - Mark W. Embrey
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Sookhee N. Ha
- Modeling and Informatics, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kelli Jette
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Discovery Biology, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Angela D. Kerekes
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Koeplinger
- Pharmacokinetics Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Company, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Derek LaPlaca
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Nianyu Li
- Safety Assessment, Merck & Comapny, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Beth Murphy
- Discovery Biology, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Peter Orth
- Structural Sciences, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Alonso Ricardo
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Scott Salowe
- Discovery Biology, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kathleen Seyb
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Aurash Shahripour
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Joseph R. Stringer
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Yili Sun
- UCB Ra Pharma, 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Rodger Tracy
- Pharmacokinetics Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism, Merck & Company, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Chengwei Wu
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Yusheng Xiong
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Hyewon Youm
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Hratch J. Zokian
- Discovery Biology, Merck & Company, Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Thomas J. Tucker
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck & Company, Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, P.O. Box 4, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
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5
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Lam P, Kutchukian P, Anand R, Imbriglio J, Andrews C, Padilla H, Vohra A, Lane S, Parker DL, Cornella Taracido I, Johns DG, Beerens M, MacRae CA, Caldwell JP, Sorota S, Asnani A, Peterson RT. Cyp1 Inhibition Prevents Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiomyopathy in a Zebrafish Heart‐Failure Model. Chembiochem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pui‐Ying Lam
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyCollege of PharmacyUniversity of Utah 30 S 2000 E Salt Lake City UT 84112 USA
| | | | - Rajan Anand
- Merck & Co., Inc 2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth NJ 07033 USA
| | - Jason Imbriglio
- Merck & Co., Inc 2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth NJ 07033 USA
| | | | - Hugo Padilla
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyCollege of PharmacyUniversity of Utah 30 S 2000 E Salt Lake City UT 84112 USA
| | - Anita Vohra
- CardioVascular InstituteBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center andHarvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Sarah Lane
- CardioVascular InstituteBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center andHarvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Dann L. Parker
- Merck & Co., Inc 2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth NJ 07033 USA
| | | | - Douglas G. Johns
- Merck & Co., Inc 2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth NJ 07033 USA
| | - Manu Beerens
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Genetics and Network MedicineBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Calum A. MacRae
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Genetics and Network MedicineBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - John P. Caldwell
- Merck & Co., Inc 2000 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth NJ 07033 USA
| | - Steve Sorota
- Merck & Co., Inc. 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Aarti Asnani
- CardioVascular InstituteBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center andHarvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Randall T. Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyCollege of PharmacyUniversity of Utah 30 S 2000 E Salt Lake City UT 84112 USA
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6
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Lam PY, Kutchukian P, Anand R, Imbriglio J, Andrews C, Padilla H, Vohra A, Lane S, Parker DL, Cornella Taracido I, Johns DG, Beerens M, MacRae CA, Caldwell JP, Sorota S, Asnani A, Peterson RT. Cyp1 Inhibition Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy in a Zebrafish Heart-Failure Model. Chembiochem 2020; 21:1905-1910. [PMID: 32003101 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapy agent used to treat many common malignancies. However, its use is limited by cardiotoxicity, and cumulative doses exponentially increase the risk of heart failure. To identify novel heart failure treatment targets, a zebrafish model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy was previously established for small-molecule screening. Using this model, several small molecules that prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity both in zebrafish and in mouse models have previously been identified. In this study, exploration of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is expanded by screening 2271 small molecules from a proprietary, target-annotated tool compound collection. It is found that 120 small molecules can prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, including 7 highly effective compounds. Of these, all seven exhibited inhibitory activity towards cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1). These results are consistent with previous findings, in which visnagin, a CYP1 inhibitor, also prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Importantly, genetic mutation of cyp1a protected zebrafish against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity phenotypes. Together, these results provide strong evidence that CYP1 is an important contributor to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and highlight the CYP1 pathway as a candidate therapeutic target for clinical cardioprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pui-Ying Lam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Peter Kutchukian
- Merck & Co., Inc., 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rajan Anand
- Merck & Co., Inc, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Jason Imbriglio
- Merck & Co., Inc, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | | | - Hugo Padilla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Anita Vohra
- CardioVascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sarah Lane
- CardioVascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dann L Parker
- Merck & Co., Inc, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | | | - Douglas G Johns
- Merck & Co., Inc, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Manu Beerens
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Genetics and Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Calum A MacRae
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Genetics and Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - John P Caldwell
- Merck & Co., Inc, 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Steve Sorota
- Merck & Co., Inc., 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aarti Asnani
- CardioVascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Randall T Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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7
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Johns DG, Wang S, Rosa R, Hubert J, Xu S, Chen Y, Bateman T, Blaustein RO. Impact of drug distribution into adipose on tissue function: The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor anacetrapib as a test case. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2019; 7:e00543. [PMID: 31832204 PMCID: PMC6857080 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anacetrapib is an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) previously under development as a lipid-modifying agent that reduces LDL-cholesterol and increases HDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients. Anacetrapib demonstrates a long terminal half-life and accumulates in adipose tissue, which contributes to a long residence time of anacetrapib. Given our previous report that anacetrapib distributes into the lipid droplet of adipose tissue, we sought to understand whether anacetrapib affected adipose function, using a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model. Following 20 weeks of treatment with anacetrapib (100 mg/kg/day), levels of the drug increased to approximately 0.6 mmol/L in white adipose tissue. This level of anacetrapib was not associated with any impairment in adipose functionality as evidenced by a lack of any reduction in biomarkers of adipose functionality (plasma adiponectin, leptin, insulin; adipose adiponectin, leptin mRNA). In DIO wild-type (WT) mice treated with anacetrapib for 2 weeks and then subjected to 30% food restriction during washout to induce weight loss (18%) and fat mass loss (7%), levels of anacetrapib in adipose and plasma were not different between food restricted and ad lib-fed mice. These data indicate that despite deposition and long-term residence of ~0.6 mmol/L levels of anacetrapib in adipose tissue, adipose tissue function appears to be unaffected in mice. In addition, these data also indicate that even with severe caloric restriction and acute loss of fat mass, anacetrapib does not appear to be mobilized from the fat depot, thereby solidifying the role of adipose as a long-term storage site of anacetrapib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas G. Johns
- Department of Translational PharmacologyMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - Sheng‐Ping Wang
- Department of Cardiometabolic Diseases/AtherosclerosisMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - Raymond Rosa
- Department of Cardiometabolic Diseases/AtherosclerosisMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - James Hubert
- Department of Cardiometabolic Diseases/AtherosclerosisMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - Suoyu Xu
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug MetabolismMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Cardiometabolic Diseases/AtherosclerosisMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
| | - Thomas Bateman
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug MetabolismMerck & Co., Inc.KenilworthNJUSA
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8
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Johns DG, LeVoci L, Krsmanovic M, Lu M, Hartmann G, Xu S, Wang SP, Chen Y, Bateman T, Blaustein RO. Characterization of Anacetrapib Distribution into the Lipid Droplet of Adipose Tissue in Mice and Human Cultured Adipocytes. Drug Metab Dispos 2018; 47:227-233. [DOI: 10.1124/dmd.118.084525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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9
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Asnani A, Zheng B, Liu Y, Wang Y, Chen HH, Vohra A, Chi A, Cornella-Taracido I, Wang H, Johns DG, Sosnovik DE, Peterson RT. Highly potent visnagin derivatives inhibit Cyp1 and prevent doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. JCI Insight 2018; 3:96753. [PMID: 29321375 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.96753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin are highly effective chemotherapy agents used to treat many common malignancies. However, their use is limited by cardiotoxicity. We previously identified visnagin as protecting against doxorubicin toxicity in cardiac but not tumor cells. In this study, we sought to develop more potent visnagin analogs in order to use these analogs as tools to clarify the mechanisms of visnagin-mediated cardioprotection. Structure-activity relationship studies were performed in a zebrafish model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy. Movement of the 5-carbonyl to the 7 position and addition of short ester side chains led to development of visnagin analogs with 1,000-fold increased potency in zebrafish and 250-fold increased potency in mice. Using proteomics, we discovered that doxorubicin caused robust induction of Cytochrome P450 family 1 (CYP1) that was mitigated by visnagin and its potent analog 23. Treatment with structurally divergent CYP1 inhibitors, as well as knockdown of CYP1A, prevented doxorubicin cardiomyopathy in zebrafish. The identification of potent cardioprotective agents may facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients receiving cardiotoxic chemotherapy. Moreover, these studies support the idea that CYP1 is an important contributor to doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and suggest that modulation of this pathway could be beneficial in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Asnani
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital.,CardioVascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
| | - Baohui Zheng
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Yan Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - You Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Howard H Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital.,Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anita Vohra
- CardioVascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
| | - An Chi
- Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Huijun Wang
- Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - David E Sosnovik
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital.,Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Randall T Peterson
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital.,College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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10
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Zhang M, Lei D, Peng B, Yang M, Zhang L, Charles MA, Rye KA, Krauss RM, Johns DG, Ren G. Assessing the mechanisms of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2017; 1862:1606-1617. [PMID: 28911944 PMCID: PMC6239860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors are a new class of therapeutics for dyslipidemia that simultaneously improve two major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors: elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying their efficacy are poorly understood, as are any potential mechanistic differences among the drugs in this class. Herein, we used electron microscopy (EM) to investigate the effects of three of these agents (Torcetrapib, Dalcetrapib and Anacetrapib) on CETP structure, CETP-lipoprotein complex formation and CETP-mediated cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer. We found that although none of these inhibitors altered the structure of CETP or the conformation of CETP-lipoprotein binary complexes, all inhibitors, especially Torcetrapib and Anacetrapib, increased the binding ratios of the binary complexes (e.g., HDL-CETP and LDLCETP) and decreased the binding ratios of the HDL-CETP-LDL ternary complexes. The findings of more binary complexes and fewer ternary complexes reflect a new mechanism of inhibition: one distal end of CETP bound to the first lipoprotein would trigger a conformational change at the other distal end, thus resulting in a decreased binding ratio to the second lipoprotein and a degraded CE transfer rate among lipoproteins. Thus, we suggest a new inhibitor design that should decrease the formation of both binary and ternary complexes. Decreased concentrations of the binary complex may prevent the inhibitor was induced into cell by the tight binding of binary complexes during lipoprotein metabolism in the treatment of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Applied Science & Technology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dongsheng Lei
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mickey Yang
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - M Art Charles
- School of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Kerry-Anne Rye
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ronald M Krauss
- Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA 94609, USA
| | | | - Gang Ren
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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11
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Zimmerman HA, Kennan RP, Zhang C, Shah K, Johns DG, Lynch JJ, Dajee M. Use of Microcomputed Tomography to Measure the Relaxin-induced Expansion of Intrapubic Ligaments in Mice. Comp Med 2017; 67:330-334. [PMID: 28830579 PMCID: PMC5557204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin is a 6-kDa peptide in the insulin superfamily of hormones. In addition to its effects on reproductive and musculoskeletal ligaments, relaxin has demonstrated beneficial effects on cardiac, renal, and vascular systems in preclinical models. The mouse intrapubic ligament ex vivo bioassay is the current standard for measuring in vivo relaxin bioactivity. However, this bioassay necessitates euthanasia and dissection of large cohorts to measure the intrapubic ligament at specified time points. We hypothesized that μCT imaging could be used to reduce the number of animals necessary for the intrapubic ligament bioassay by enabling a single animal to be followed longitudinally throughout the study rather than euthanizing different cohorts at established time points. Female CD1 mice were used to compare μCT imaging with the current standard. Both protocols revealed significant differences in intrapubic ligament length, with the μCT data having greater power when corrected for baseline imaging. From these data, we concluded that using μCT to measure the intrapubic ligament in mice primed with estrogen and dosed with relaxin is a viable refinement and will allow the use of fewer animals in longitudinal studies and provide more robust data, because animals can serve as their own controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Zimmerman
- Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA.
| | - Richard P Kennan
- Translational Imaging Biomarkers, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Chunlian Zhang
- Translational Imaging Biomarkers, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kashmira Shah
- In Vivo Pharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Cardiometabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Joseph J Lynch
- In Vivo Pharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Maya Dajee
- Cardiometabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
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12
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Daurio NA, Wang SP, Chen Y, Zhou H, McLaren DG, Roddy TP, Johns DG, Milot D, Kasumov T, Erion MD, Kelley DE, Previs SF. Enhancing Studies of Pharmacodynamic Mechanisms via Measurements of Metabolic Flux: Fundamental Concepts and Guiding Principles for Using Stable Isotope Tracers. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 363:80-91. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.241091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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13
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Howatt DA, Dajee M, Xie X, Moorleghen J, Rateri DL, Balakrishnan A, Da Cunha V, Johns DG, Gutstein DE, Daugherty A, Lu H. Relaxin and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Circ J 2017; 81:888-890. [PMID: 28420827 DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-17-0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study determined whether relaxin or matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 influences angiotensin II (AngII)-induced abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).Methods and Results:Male C57BL/6 or apolipoprotein E-/-mice were infused with AngII with or without relaxin. Relaxin did not influence AngII-induced AAA in either mouse strain. Infusion of AngII reduced, but relaxin increased, MMP-9 mRNA in macrophages. We then determined the effects of MMP-9 deficiency on AAA in apolipoprotein E-/-mice. MMP-9 deficiency led to AAA formation in the absence of AngII, and augmented AngII-induced aortic rupture and AAA incidence. CONCLUSIONS MMP-9 deficiency augmented AngII-induced AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya Dajee
- Cardio-Metabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Cardiovascular Research Center, Merck & Co., Inc
| | - Xiaojie Xie
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky.,Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine
| | | | - Debra L Rateri
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky
| | | | - Valdeci Da Cunha
- Cardio-Metabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Cardiovascular Research Center, Merck & Co., Inc
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Cardio-Metabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Cardiovascular Research Center, Merck & Co., Inc
| | - David E Gutstein
- Cardio-Metabolic Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Cardiovascular Research Center, Merck & Co., Inc
| | - Alan Daugherty
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky.,Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky
| | - Hong Lu
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Kentucky.,Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky
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14
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Dajee M, Johns DG, Howatt DA, Balakrishnan A, Seganish M, Da Cunha V, Moorleghen JJ, Lu H. Abstract 252: Chronic Relaxin Treatment Does Not Augment Angiotensin II Induced Aortic Pathologies in Mice. Circ Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1161/res.119.suppl_1.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction:
Human relaxin is being tested clinically as an acute treatment for heart failure. The effects of relaxin on extracellular matrix remodeling, among several mechanisms, may provide myocardial benefit, however, the effects of relaxin on vascular extracellular matrix-related pathology has not been examined. Human aortic aneurysm is characterized by extracellular remodeling, as well as inflammation, thrombus formation and rupture. Studying relaxin in a model of aortic aneurysm might provide insight into mechanisms of the disease but also will assess whether such agents impact the incidence/severity of aortic aneurysms (AA).
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to test the effects of relaxin, an anti-fibrotic agent, on angiotensin II (AngII)-induced AA, which is characterized by enhanced activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs); additionally this model mimics human pathology.
Methods and Results:
Vehicle or relaxin was co-infused with AngII (1.44 mg/kg/d) in either C57BL/6 mice or apoE null mice through mini osmotic pumps for 28 days. Dose-dependent plasma relaxin concentrations were noted (12-60ng/ml). Relaxin did not augment AngII-induced aortic rupture rate, the most severe consequence of AA. Maximal ex vivo diameters of suprarenal aortas were measured for abdominal aortic dilation, and ascending aortic area was measured using an en face method to determine ascending aortic dilation. Maximal aortic diameter of suprarenal aortas did not show significant difference in relaxin and AngII infused mice with either mouse strain. Relaxin also had no effect on ascending aortic dilation in both mouse strains.
Conclusion:
Chronic relaxin infusion for 28days does not augment aortic aneurysms in AngII-infused mice, suggesting relaxin might not impact other matrix-dependent vascular pathologies, if used as a treatment for heart failure, although additional studies are warranted. Ongoing studies interrogate the potential benefits of molecular mechanisms of relaxin response in the AngII-induced aortic pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hong Lu
- Saha Cardiovascular Rsch Cntr, Lexington, KY
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15
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Driscoll JS, Mayers DL, Bader JP, Weislow OS, Johns DG, Buckheit RW. 2′-Fluoro-2′,3′-Dideoxyarabinosyladenine (F-ddA): Activity against Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Strains and Clades A-E. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/095632029700800204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
2′-Fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyarabinosyladenine (F-ddA), an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug currently in clinical trial, was compared with zidovudine (AZT), ddl and ddC for anti-HIV activity and potency in HIV-1 strains both sensitive and resistant to zidovudine, ddl and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A variety of host cell systems [MT-2, MT-4, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)] was used. F-ddA was effective against each of the drug-resistant isolates, including the strain resistant to ddl, the other purine dideoxynucleoside evaluated in this study. The anti-HIV-1 activities of F-ddA and zidovudine were also determined against clades A-E in PHA-PBMCs. Although activities were similar, zidovudine was significantly more potent than F-ddA in the PHA-PBMC system.
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Affiliation(s)
- JS Driscoll
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 37, Room 5C-02, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - DL Mayers
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1600 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 USA
| | - JP Bader
- Antiviral Evaluations Branch, National Cancer Institute, Executive Plaza North, Room 837, 6130 Executive Plaza Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - OS Weislow
- SRA Technologies, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - DG Johns
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 37, Room 5C-02, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - RW Buckheit
- Virology Research Group, Southern Research Institute-Frederick Research Center, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
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16
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Wilson JE, Kurukulasuriya R, Reibarkh M, Reiter M, Zwicker A, Zhao K, Zhang F, Anand R, Colandrea VJ, Cumiskey AM, Crespo A, Duffy RA, Murphy BA, Mitra K, Johns DG, Duffy JL, Vachal P. Discovery of Novel Indoline Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein Inhibitors (CETP) through a Structure-Guided Approach. ACS Med Chem Lett 2016; 7:261-5. [PMID: 26985312 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Using the collective body of known (CETP) inhibitors as inspiration for design, a structurally novel series of tetrahydroquinoxaline CETP inhibitors were discovered. An exemplar from this series, compound 5, displayed potent in vitro CETP inhibition and was efficacious in a transgenic cynomologus-CETP mouse HDL PD (pharmacodynamic) assay. However, an undesirable metabolic profile and chemical instability hampered further development of the series. A three-dimensional structure of tetrahydroquinoxaline inhibitor 6 was proposed from (1)H NMR structural studies, and this model was then used in silico for the design of a new class of compounds based upon an indoline scaffold. This work resulted in the discovery of compound 7, which displayed potent in vitro CETP inhibition, a favorable PK-PD profile relative to tetrahydroquinoxaline 5, and dose-dependent efficacy in the transgenic cynomologus-CETP mouse HDL PD assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan E. Wilson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Ravi Kurukulasuriya
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Mikhail Reibarkh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Maud Reiter
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Aaron Zwicker
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kake Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Fengqi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Rajan Anand
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Vincent J. Colandrea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Cumiskey
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Alejandro Crespo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Ruth A. Duffy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Beth Ann Murphy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Kaushik Mitra
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Joseph L. Duffy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Petr Vachal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Department of Structural Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, ∥Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, and ⊥Department of Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co, Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
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McLaren DG, Previs SF, Phair RD, Stout SJ, Xie D, Chen Y, Salituro GM, Xu SS, Castro-Perez JM, Opiteck GJ, Akinsanya KO, Cleary MA, Dansky HM, Johns DG, Roddy TP. Evaluation of CETP activity in vivo under non-steady-state conditions: influence of anacetrapib on HDL-TG flux. J Lipid Res 2015; 57:398-409. [PMID: 26658238 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m063842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in lipoprotein kinetics almost exclusively rely on steady-state approaches to modeling. Herein, we have used a non-steady-state experimental design to examine the role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in mediating HDL-TG flux in vivo in rhesus macaques, and therefore, we developed an alternative strategy to model the data. Two isotopomers ([(2)H11] and [(13)C18]) of oleic acid were administered (orally and intravenously, respectively) to serve as precursors for labeling TGs in apoB-containing lipoproteins. The flux of a specific TG (52:2) from these donor lipoproteins to HDL was used as the measure of CETP activity; calculations are also presented to estimate total HDL-TG flux. Based on our data, we estimate that the peak total postprandial TG flux to HDL via CETP is ∼ 13 mg · h(-1) · kg(-1) and show that this transfer was inhibited by 97% following anacetrapib treatment. Collectively, these data demonstrate that HDL TG flux can be used as a measure of CETP activity in vivo. The fact that the donor lipoproteins can be labeled in situ using well-established stable isotope tracer techniques suggests ways to measure this activity for native lipoproteins in free-living subjects under any physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G McLaren
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Stephen F Previs
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Robert D Phair
- Integrative Bioinformatics Inc., Mountain View, CA 94041
| | - Steven J Stout
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Dan Xie
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Ying Chen
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Gino M Salituro
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Suoyu S Xu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | | | | | | | - Michele A Cleary
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Hayes M Dansky
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Thomas P Roddy
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
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18
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Bojic LA, McLaren DG, Harms AC, Hankemeier T, Dane A, Wang SP, Rosa R, Previs SF, Johns DG, Castro-Perez JM. Quantitative profiling of oxylipins in plasma and atherosclerotic plaques of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 408:97-105. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9105-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Previs SF, Herath K, Castro-Perez J, Mahsut A, Zhou H, McLaren DG, Shah V, Rohm RJ, Stout SJ, Zhong W, Wang SP, Johns DG, Hubbard BK, Cleary MA, Roddy TP. Effect of Error Propagation in Stable Isotope Tracer Studies: An Approach for Estimating Impact on Apparent Biochemical Flux. Methods Enzymol 2015; 561:331-58. [PMID: 26358910 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Stable isotope tracers are widely used to quantify metabolic rates, and yet a limited number of studies have considered the impact of analytical error on estimates of flux. For example, when estimating the contribution of de novo lipogenesis, one typically measures a minimum of four isotope ratios, i.e., the precursor and product labeling pre- and posttracer administration. This seemingly simple problem has 1 correct solution and 80 erroneous outcomes. In this report, we outline a methodology for evaluating the effect of error propagation on apparent physiological endpoints. We demonstrate examples of how to evaluate the influence of analytical error in case studies concerning lipid and protein synthesis; we have focused on (2)H2O as a tracer and contrast different mass spectrometry platforms including GC-quadrupole-MS, GC-pyrolysis-IRMS, LC-quadrupole-MS, and high-resolution FT-ICR-MS. The method outlined herein can be used to determine how to minimize variations in the apparent biology by altering the dose and/or the type of tracer. Likewise, one can facilitate biological studies by estimating the reduction in the noise of an outcome that is expected for a given increase in the number of replicate injections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ablatt Mahsut
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Haihong Zhou
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Vinit Shah
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rory J Rohm
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Steven J Stout
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Wendy Zhong
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Thomas P Roddy
- Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
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20
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Hirano K, Chen WS, Chueng ALW, Dunne AA, Seredenina T, Filippova A, Ramachandran S, Bridges A, Chaudry L, Pettman G, Allan C, Duncan S, Lee KC, Lim J, Ma MT, Ong AB, Ye NY, Nasir S, Mulyanidewi S, Aw CC, Oon PP, Liao S, Li D, Johns DG, Miller ND, Davies CH, Browne ER, Matsuoka Y, Chen DW, Jaquet V, Rutter AR. Discovery of GSK2795039, a Novel Small Molecule NADPH Oxidase 2 Inhibitor. Antioxid Redox Signal 2015; 23:358-74. [PMID: 26135714 PMCID: PMC4545375 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2014.6202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The NADPH oxidase (NOX) family of enzymes catalyzes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX enzymes not only have a key role in a variety of physiological processes but also contribute to oxidative stress in certain disease states. To date, while numerous small molecule inhibitors have been reported (in particular for NOX2), none have demonstrated inhibitory activity in vivo. As such, there is a need for the identification of improved NOX inhibitors to enable further evaluation of the biological functions of NOX enzymes in vivo as well as the therapeutic potential of NOX inhibition. In this study, both the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profiles of GSK2795039, a novel NOX2 inhibitor, were characterized in comparison with other published NOX inhibitors. RESULTS GSK2795039 inhibited both the formation of ROS and the utilization of the enzyme substrates, NADPH and oxygen, in a variety of semirecombinant cell-free and cell-based NOX2 assays. It inhibited NOX2 in an NADPH competitive manner and was selective over other NOX isoforms, xanthine oxidase, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzymes. Following systemic administration in mice, GSK2795039 abolished the production of ROS by activated NOX2 enzyme in a paw inflammation model. Furthermore, GSK2795039 showed activity in a murine model of acute pancreatitis, reducing the levels of serum amylase triggered by systemic injection of cerulein. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSIONS GSK2795039 is a novel NOX2 inhibitor that is the first small molecule to demonstrate inhibition of the NOX2 enzyme in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazufumi Hirano
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Woei Shin Chen
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Adeline L W Chueng
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Angela A Dunne
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Tamara Seredenina
- 2 Department of Pathology and Immunology, Medical School, Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva , Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Filippova
- 2 Department of Pathology and Immunology, Medical School, Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva , Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sumitra Ramachandran
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Angela Bridges
- 3 Platform Technology & Sciences Department, GlaxoSmithKline , Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Laiq Chaudry
- 3 Platform Technology & Sciences Department, GlaxoSmithKline , Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Pettman
- 3 Platform Technology & Sciences Department, GlaxoSmithKline , Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Craig Allan
- 3 Platform Technology & Sciences Department, GlaxoSmithKline , Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Duncan
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Kiew Ching Lee
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Jean Lim
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - May Thu Ma
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Agnes B Ong
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Nicole Y Ye
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Shabina Nasir
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Sri Mulyanidewi
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Chiu Cheong Aw
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Pamela P Oon
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Shihua Liao
- 4 Neuroimmunology Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Shanghai, China
| | - Dizheng Li
- 4 Neuroimmunology Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Shanghai, China
| | - Douglas G Johns
- 5 Metabolic Pathways and Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
| | - Neil D Miller
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Ceri H Davies
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Edward R Browne
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Yasuji Matsuoka
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Deborah W Chen
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
| | - Vincent Jaquet
- 2 Department of Pathology and Immunology, Medical School, Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva , Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Richard Rutter
- 1 Neural Pathways Discovery Performance Unit, Neurosciences Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Biopolis, Singapore
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21
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Johns DG, Chen Y, Wang SP, Castro-Perez J, Previs SF, Roddy TP. Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein increases cholesteryl ester content of large HDL independently of HDL-to-HDL homotypic transfer: in vitro vs in vivo comparison using anacetrapib and dalcetrapib. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 762:256-62. [PMID: 26049012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol observed with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibition is commonly attributed to blockade of cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer from HDL to low density lipoprotein particles. In vitro, it has been observed that CETP can mediate transfer of CE between HDL particles ("homotypic transfer"), and it is postulated that this contributes to HDL remodeling and generation of anti-atherogenic pre-beta HDL. Inhibition of CETP could limit this beneficial remodeling and reduce pre-beta HDL levels. We observed that anacetrapib does not reduce pre-beta HDL in vivo, but the role of HDL homotypic transfer was not examined. This study evaluated the effects of anacetrapib on homotypic transfer from HDL3 to HDL2 in vivo using deuterium-labeled HDL3, and compared this to in vitro settings, where homotypic transfer was previously described. In vitro, both anacetrapib and dalcetrapib inhibited transfer of CE from HDL3 to HDL2 particles. In CETP transgenic mice, anacetrapib did not inhibit the appearance of labeled CE derived from HDL3 in HDL2 particles, but rather promoted the appearance of labeled CE in HDL2. We concluded that inhibition of CETP by anacetrapib promoted HDL particle remodeling, and does not impair the flux of cholesterol ester into larger HDL particles when studied in vivo, which is not consistent with in vitro observations. We further conclude, therefore, that the in vitro conditions used to examine HDL-to-HDL homotypic transfer may not recapitulate the in vivo condition, where multiple mechanisms contribute to cholesteryl ester flux into and out of the HDL pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas G Johns
- Departments of Cardiovascular Diseases/Atherosclerosis, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
| | - Ying Chen
- Departments of Cardiovascular Diseases/Atherosclerosis, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Departments of Cardiovascular Diseases/Atherosclerosis, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
| | - Jose Castro-Perez
- Departments of Analytical Biochemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
| | - Stephen F Previs
- Departments of Analytical Biochemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
| | - Thomas P Roddy
- Departments of Analytical Biochemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
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22
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Zhang M, Charles R, Tong H, Zhang L, Patel M, Wang F, Rames MJ, Ren A, Rye KA, Qiu X, Johns DG, Charles MA, Ren G. HDL surface lipids mediate CETP binding as revealed by electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8741. [PMID: 25737239 PMCID: PMC4348656 DOI: 10.1038/srep08741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesterol esters (CE) from atheroprotective high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to atherogenic low-density lipoproteins (LDL). CETP inhibition has been regarded as a promising strategy for increasing HDL levels and subsequently reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although the crystal structure of CETP is known, little is known regarding how CETP binds to HDL. Here, we investigated how various HDL-like particles interact with CETP by electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that CETP binds to HDL via hydrophobic interactions rather than protein-protein interactions. The HDL surface lipid curvature generates a hydrophobic environment, leading to CETP hydrophobic distal end interaction. This interaction is independent of other HDL components, such as apolipoproteins, cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Thus, disrupting these hydrophobic interactions could be a new therapeutic strategy for attenuating the interaction of CETP with HDL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - River Charles
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Huimin Tong
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Lei Zhang
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Mili Patel
- Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Francis Wang
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Matthew J Rames
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Amy Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Kerry-Anne Rye
- Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | | | - M Arthur Charles
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115, USA
| | - Gang Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
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Tadin-Strapps M, Robinson M, Le Voci L, Andrews L, Yendluri S, Williams S, Bartz S, Johns DG. Development of Lipoprotein(a) siRNAs for Mechanism of Action Studies in Non-Human Primate Models of Atherosclerosis. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2015; 8:44-53. [DOI: 10.1007/s12265-014-9605-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Castro-Perez J, Hatcher N, Kofi Karikari N, Wang SP, Mendoza V, Shion H, Millar A, Shockcor J, Towers M, McLaren D, Shah V, Previs S, Akinsanya K, Cleary M, Roddy TP, Johns DG. In vivo isotopically labeled atherosclerotic aorta plaques in ApoE KO mice and molecular profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2014; 28:2471-2479. [PMID: 25303476 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The ability to quantify rates of formation, regression and/or remodeling of atherosclerotic plaque should facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis and management of cardiovascular disease. In the current study, we coupled a stable isotope labeled tracer protocol with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) to examine spatial and temporal lipid dynamics in atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS To promote plaque formation in the aorta region, ApoE KO mice were fed a high cholesterol diet (0.15% cholesterol) and orally dosed with (2,2,3,4,4,6-d(6))-cholesterol over several weeks. Tissue sections of ~10 µm thickness were analyzed by MALDI-MSI using matrix deposition by either chemical sublimation or acoustic droplet ejection. RESULTS MALDI-MSI yielded distinct spatial distribution information for a variety of lipid classes including specific lysophosphatidylcholines typically associated with atherosclerosis-related tissue damage such as phospholipase 2 (Lp-PLA(2)) that mediate chemotactic responses to inflammation (e.g. LPC 16:0, LPC 18:0 and LPC 18:1) as well as free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters that contribute to atheroma formation. MALDI mass spectra acquired from aorta tissue sections clearly distinguished non-esterified and esterified versions of (2,2,3,4,4,6-d(6))-cholesterol within aortic plaque regions and showed distinct spatial accumulation of the cholesterol tracer. CONCLUSIONS The ability to couple stable isotope based protocols with MALDI-MSI enables a novel strategy to characterize the effects of therapeutic treatments on atherosclerotic plaque formation, regression and potential remodeling of the complex lipid components with high chemical specificity and spatiotemporal information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Castro-Perez
- Merck & Co., Inc, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
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25
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Roddy TP, McLaren DG, Chen Y, Xie D, Dunn K, Kulick A, Szeto D, Forrest G, Albanese K, Donnelly M, Gai C, Gewain A, Lederman H, Jensen KK, Ai X, Vachal P, Akinsanya KO, Cleary MA, Previs SF, Dansky HM, Johns DG. Effects of anacetrapib on plasma lipids, apolipoproteins and PCSK9 in healthy, lean rhesus macaques. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 740:410-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Briand F, Thieblemont Q, Muzotte E, Burr N, Urbain I, Sulpice T, Johns DG. Anacetrapib and dalcetrapib differentially alters HDL metabolism and macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport at similar levels of CETP inhibition in hamsters. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 740:135-43. [PMID: 25008069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors dalcetrapib and anacetrapib differentially alter LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels, which might be related to the potency of each drug to inhibit CETP activity. We evaluated the effects of both drugs at similar levels of CETP inhibition on macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in hamsters. In normolipidemic hamsters, both anacetrapib 30 mg/kg QD and dalcetrapib 200 mg/kg BID inhibited CETP activity by ~60%. After injection of 3H-cholesteryl oleate labeled HDL, anacetrapib and dalcetrapib reduced HDL-cholesteryl esters fractional catabolic rate (FCR) by 30% and 26% (both P<0.001 vs. vehicle) respectively, but only dalcetrapib increased HDL-derived 3H-tracer fecal excretion by 30% (P<0.05 vs. vehicle). After 3H-cholesterol labeled macrophage intraperitoneal injection, anacetrapib stimulated 3H-tracer appearance in HDL, but both drugs did not promote macrophage-derived 3H-tracer fecal excretion. In dyslipidemic hamsters, both anacetrapib 1 mg/kg QD and dalcetrapib 200 mg/kg BID inhibited CETP activity by ~65% and reduced HDL-cholesteryl ester FCR by 36% (both P<0.001 vs. vehicle), but only anacetrapib increased HDL-derived 3H-tracer fecal excretion significantly by 39%. After 3H-cholesterol labeled macrophage injection, only anacetrapib 1 mg/kg QD stimulated macrophage-derived 3H-tracer appearance in HDL. These effects remained weaker than those observed with anacetrapib 60 mg/kg QD, which induced a maximal inhibition of CETP and stimulation of macrophage-derived 3H-tracer fecal excretion. In contrast, dalcetrapib 200 mg/kg BID reduced macrophage-derived 3H-tracer fecal excretion by 23% (P<0.05 vs. vehicle). In conclusion, anacetrapib and dalcetrapib differentially alter HDL metabolism and RCT in hamsters. A stronger inhibition of CETP may be required to promote macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport in dyslipidemic hamsters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Noémie Burr
- Physiogenex SAS, Prologue Biotech, Labège, France
| | | | | | - Douglas G Johns
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ, USA.
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27
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Herath KB, Zhong W, Yang J, Mahsut A, Rohm RJ, Shah V, Castro-Perez J, Zhou H, Attygalle AB, Kang L, Singh S, Johns DG, Cleary MA, Hubbard BK, Previs SF, Roddy TP. Determination of low levels of 2H-labeling using high-resolution mass spectrometry: application in studies of lipid flux and beyond. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2014; 28:239-244. [PMID: 24375874 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The ability to measure low levels of (2)H-labeling is important in studies of metabolic flux, e.g. one can estimate lipid synthesis by administering (2)H2O and then measuring the incorporation of (2)H into fatty acids. Unfortunately, the analyses are complicated by the presence of more abundant naturally occurring stable isotopes, e.g. (13)C. Conventional approaches rely on coupling gas chromatographic separation of lipids with either quadrupole-mass spectrometry (q-MS) and/or pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The former is limited by high background labeling (primarily from (13)C) whereas the latter is not suitable for routine high-throughput analyses. METHODS We have contrasted the use of continuous flow-pyrolysis-IRMS against high-resolution mass spectrometry (i.e. Qq-FT-ICR MS) for measuring the (2)H-enrichment of fatty acids and peptides. RESULTS In contrast to IRMS, which requires ~30 min per analysis, it is possible to measure the (2)H-enrichment of palmitate via direct infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in ~3 min per sample. In addition, Qq-FT-ICR MS enabled measurements of the (2)H-enrichment of peptides (which is not possible using IRMS). CONCLUSIONS High-resolution mass spectrometry can be used to measure low levels of (2)H-labeling so we expect that this approach will enhance studies of metabolic flux that rely on (2)H-labeled tracers, e.g. (2)H2O. However, since the high-resolution analyses require greater amounts of a given analyte one potential limitation centers on the overall sensitivity. Presumably, future advances can overcome this barrier.
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28
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Hentze H, Jensen KK, Chia SM, Johns DG, Shaw RJ, Davis HR, Shih SJ, Wong KK. Inverse relationship between LDL cholesterol and PCSK9 plasma levels in dyslipidemic cynomolgus monkeys: Effects of LDL lowering by ezetimibe in the absence of statins. Atherosclerosis 2013; 231:84-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wang SP, Daniels E, Chen Y, Castro-Perez J, Zhou H, Akinsanya KO, Previs SF, Roddy TP, Johns DG. In vivo effects of anacetrapib on preβ HDL: improvement in HDL remodeling without effects on cholesterol absorption. J Lipid Res 2013; 54:2858-65. [PMID: 23898048 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m041541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester and triglyceride between HDL and apoB-containing lipoproteins. Anacetrapib (ANA), a reversible inhibitor of CETP, raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol in dyslipidemic patients. We previously demonstrated that ANA increases macrophage-to-feces reverse cholesterol transport and fecal cholesterol excretion in hamsters, and increased preβ HDL-dependent cholesterol efflux via ABCA1 in vitro. However, the effects of ANA on in vivo preβ HDL have not been characterized. In vitro, ANA inhibited the formation of preβ, however in ANA-treated dyslipidemic hamsters, preβ HDL levels (measured by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) were increased, in contrast to in vitro findings. Because changes in plasma preβ HDL have been proposed to potentially affect markers of cholesterol absorption with other CETP inhibitors, a dual stable isotope method was used to directly measure cholesterol absorption in hamsters. ANA treatment of hamsters (on either dyslipidemic or normal diet) had no effect on cholesterol absorption, while dalcetrapib-treated hamsters displayed an increase in cholesterol absorption. Taken together, these data support the notion that ANA promotes preβ HDL functionality in vivo, with no effects on cholesterol absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Ping Wang
- Department of Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065
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30
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McLaren DG, Cardasis HL, Stout SJ, Wang SP, Mendoza V, Castro-Perez JM, Miller PL, Murphy BA, Cumiskey AM, Cleary MA, Johns DG, Previs SF, Roddy TP. Use of [13C18] oleic acid and mass isotopomer distribution analysis to study synthesis of plasma triglycerides in vivo: analytical and experimental considerations. Anal Chem 2013; 85:6287-94. [PMID: 23668715 DOI: 10.1021/ac400363k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported on a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to determine the disposition of [(13)C18]-oleic acid following intravenous and oral administration in vivo. This approach has enabled us to study a variety of aspects of lipid metabolism including a quantitative assessment of triglyceride synthesis. Here we present a more rigorous evaluation of the constraints imposed upon the analytical method in order to generate accurate data using this stable-isotope tracer approach along with more detail on relevant analytical figures of merit including limits of quantitation, precision, and accuracy. The use of mass isotopomer distribution analysis (MIDA) to quantify plasma triglyceride synthesis is specifically highlighted, and a re-evaluation of the underlying mathematics has enabled us to present a simplified series of equations. The derivation of this MIDA model and the significance of all underlying assumptions are explored in detail, and examples are given of how it can successfully be applied to detect differences in plasma triglyceride synthesis in lean and high-fat diet fed mouse models. More work is necessary to evaluate the applicability of this approach to triglyceride stores with slower rates of turnover such as in adipose or muscle tissue; however, the present report provides investigators with the tools necessary to conduct such studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G McLaren
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, USA.
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31
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Previs SF, McLaren DG, Wang SP, Stout SJ, Zhou H, Herath K, Shah V, Miller PL, Wilsie L, Castro-Perez J, Johns DG, Cleary MA, Roddy TP. New methodologies for studying lipid synthesis and turnover: looking backwards to enable moving forwards. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1842:402-13. [PMID: 23707557 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Our ability to understand the pathogenesis of problems surrounding lipid accretion requires attention towards quantifying lipid kinetics. In addition, studies of metabolic flux should also help unravel mechanisms that lead to imbalances in inter-organ lipid trafficking which contribute to dyslipidemia and/or peripheral lipid accumulation (e.g. hepatic fat deposits). This review aims to outline the development and use of novel methods for studying lipid kinetics in vivo. Although our focus is directed towards some of the approaches that are currently reported in the literature, we include a discussion of the older literature in order to put "new" methods in better perspective and inform readers of valuable historical research. Presumably, future advances in understanding lipid dynamics will benefit from a careful consideration of the past efforts, where possible we have tried to identify seminal papers or those that provide clear data to emphasize essential points. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Modulation of Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Previs
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
| | - David G McLaren
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Steven J Stout
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Haihong Zhou
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Kithsiri Herath
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Vinit Shah
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Paul L Miller
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Larissa Wilsie
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Jose Castro-Perez
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Douglas G Johns
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Michele A Cleary
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Thomas P Roddy
- Molecular Biomarkers, Merck, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
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Murphy BA, Metzger D, Gollapudi A, Cumiskey AM, Johns DG. Characterization of LPS‐Induced Inflammation in Mice Expressing Human Cholestyl Ester Transfer Protein. FASEB J 2013. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.lb678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Han S, Levoci L, Fischer P, Wang SP, Gagen K, Chen Y, Xie D, Fisher T, Ehrhardt AG, Peier AM, Johns DG. Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein by anacetrapib does not impair the anti-inflammatory properties of high density lipoprotein. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2012; 1831:825-33. [PMID: 23269286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a target of therapeutic intervention for coronary heart disease. Anacetrapib, a potent inhibitor of CETP, has been shown to reduce LDL-cholesterol by 40% and increase HDL-cholesterol by 140% in patients, and is currently being evaluated in a phase III cardiovascular outcomes trial. HDL is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties, however with such large increases in HDL-cholesterol, it is unclear whether CETP inhibition perturbs HDL functionality such as anti-inflammatory effects on endothelial cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether CETP inhibition by anacetrapib affects the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL. HDL was isolated from either hamsters treated with vehicle or anacetrapib for 2weeks, or from normal human subjects treated either placebo, 20mg, or 150mg anacetrapib daily for 2weeks. Anacetrapib treatment increased plasma HDL cholesterol levels by 65% and between 48 and 82% in hamsters and humans, respectively. Pre-incubation of human aortic endothelial cells with HDL isolated from both control and anacetrapib treated hamsters suppressed TNFα induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. Similar results were obtained with human HDL samples pre and post treatment with placebo or anacetrapib. Further, HDL inhibited TNFα-induced MCP-1 secretion, monocyte adhesion and NF-κB activation in endothelial cells, and the inhibition was similar between control and anacetrapib treated groups. These studies demonstrate that anacetrapib treatment does not impair the ability of HDL to suppress an inflammatory response in endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongah Han
- Department of Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, 126 E. Lincoln Ave, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
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34
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McLaren DG, Wang SP, Stout SJ, Xie D, Miller PL, Mendoza V, Rosa R, Castro-Perez J, Previs SF, Johns DG, Roddy TP. Tracking fatty acid kinetics in distinct lipoprotein fractions in vivo: a novel high-throughput approach for studying dyslipidemia in rodent models. J Lipid Res 2012; 54:276-81. [PMID: 23042787 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d030791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Isotopic tracers have been used to examine lipid trafficking for many years, and data from those studies have typically yielded novel insight regarding the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia. Previous experimental designs were suitable for studies in humans because relatively large volumes of plasma could be regularly sampled. We have expanded on the earlier logic by applying high-throughput analytical methods that require reduced sample volumes. Specifically, we have examined the possibility of coupling gel-based separations of lipoproteins (e.g., lipoprint) with LC-MS/MS analyses of complex lipid mixtures as a way to routinely measure the labeling profiles of distinct lipids in discrete lipoprotein subfractions. We demonstrate the ability to measure the incorporation of [U-(13)C]oleate into triglycerides (TG), PLs (PL), and cholesterol esters (CE) in VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles in mice. Although rodent models of dyslipidemia are inherently different from humans because of alterations in enzyme activities and underlying metabolism, rodent models can be used to screen novel compounds for efficacy in altering a given biochemical pathway and therein enable studies of target engagement in vivo. We expect that it is possible to translate our approach for application in other systems, including studies in humans.
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Johns DG, Chen Y, Daniels ED, Castro-Perez J, Wang SP, Akinsanya KO. Abstract 168: Effects of the CETP Inhibitor Anacetrapib on HDL3-to-HDL2 Transfer: Comparison of in Vitro and in Vivo Methodologies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2012. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.32.suppl_1.a168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a target for the treatment of dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease. In addition to the well-known effect of CETP to transfer CE from HDL to LDL and to VLDL,
in vitro
, CETP has been reported to transfer CE between small and large HDL particles (HDL2 and HDL3, respectively). We sought to understand how the CETP inhibitor anacetrapib (ANA) affects HDL3-to-HDL2 transfer under both
in vitro
and
in vivo
conditions.
In vitro
, ANA dose-dependently inhibited transfer of
3
H-CE from total HDL to LDL (IC50 30nM), and from isolated HDL3 to HDL2 particles (IC50 200nM). In human CETP transgenic mice, animals treated with a single dose of ANA (100mg/kg) displayed 80% maximal reduction in plasma CETP activity and a 22% increase in total HDL cholesterol. In animals treated with either vehicle or ANA,
3
H-CE-labeled HDL3 was injected intravenously and
3
H-tracer was monitored in lipoprotein fractions following injection. Animals treated with ANA showed an increase in the amount
3
H-tracer present in HDL2 compared to vehicle over time (20-70% increase across 6 hrs post
3
H-CE-HDL3 injection, P<0.05 vs vehicle). The HDL2 CE pool was also increased with ANA treatment, and
3
H-cholesterol flux into HDL2 was increased with ANA treatment when adjusted to the change in pool size (at 2 and 4 hrs post 3H-CE-HDL3 injection). No change in HDL2
3
H-tracer was seen in C57BL6 mice (lacking CETP) treated with ANA. These results indicate that in contrast to
in vitro
findings, ANA increases flux of CE into HDL2
in vivo
, a process which likely involves multiple pathways. Therefore, the
in vitro
phenomena of 1) HDL3-to-HDL2 transfer by CETP and 2) inhibition of this transfer by CETP inhibitors are not recapitulated
in vivo
. It is clear that
in vivo
approaches are necessary to understand the relevance of HDL3-to-HDL2 transfer
in vivo
, and to accurately study the effects of CETP inhibition on lipoprotein metabolism.
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Chen Z, Wang SP, Krsmanovic ML, Castro-Perez J, Gagen K, Mendoza V, Rosa R, Shah V, He T, Stout SJ, Geoghagen NS, Lee SH, McLaren DG, Wang L, Roddy TP, Plump AS, Hubbard BK, Sinz CJ, Johns DG. Small molecule activation of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase modulates lipoprotein metabolism in mice and hamsters. Metabolism 2012; 61:470-81. [PMID: 22001333 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2011] [Revised: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to assess whether pharmacological activation of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) could exert beneficial effects on lipoprotein metabolism. A putative small molecule activator (compound A) was used as a tool compound in in vitro and in vivo studies. Compound A increased LCAT activity in vitro in plasma from mouse, hamster, rhesus monkey, and human. To assess the acute pharmacodynamic effects of compound A, C57Bl/6 mice and hamsters received a single dose (20 mg/kg) of compound A. Both species displayed a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and a significant decrease in non-HDLc and triglycerides acutely after dosing; these changes tracked with ex vivo plasma LCAT activity. To examine compound A's chronic effect on lipoprotein metabolism, hamsters received a daily dosing of vehicle or of 20 or 60 mg/kg of compound A for 2 weeks. At study termination, compound treatment resulted in a significant increase in HDLc, HDL particle size, plasma apolipoprotein A-I level, and plasma cholesteryl ester (CE) to free cholesterol ratio, and a significant reduction in very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The increase in plasma CE mirrored the increase in HDL CE. Triglycerides trended toward a dose-dependent decrease in very low-density lipoprotein and HDL, with multiple triglyceride species reaching statistical significance. Gallbladder bile acids content displayed a significant and more than 2-fold increase with the 60 mg/kg treatment. We characterized pharmacological activation of LCAT by a small molecule extensively for the first time, and our findings support the potential of this approach in treating dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis; our analyses also provide mechanistic insight on LCAT's role in lipoprotein metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Chen
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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37
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Zhou H, Li W, Wang SP, Mendoza V, Rosa R, Hubert J, Herath K, McLaughlin T, Rohm RJ, Lassman ME, Wong KK, Johns DG, Previs SF, Hubbard BK, Roddy TP. Quantifying apoprotein synthesis in rodents: coupling LC-MS/MS analyses with the administration of labeled water. J Lipid Res 2012; 53:1223-31. [PMID: 22389331 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d021295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable isotope tracer studies of apoprotein flux in rodent models present difficulties as they require working with small volumes of plasma. We demonstrate the ability to measure apoprotein flux by administering either (2)H- or (18)O-labeled water to mice and then subjecting samples to LC-MS/MS analyses; we were able to simultaneously determine the labeling of several proteolytic peptides representing multiple apoproteins. Consistent with relative differences reported in the literature regarding apoprotein flux in humans, we found that the fractional synthetic rate of apoB is greater than apoA1 in mice. In addition, the method is suitable for quantifying acute changes in protein flux: we observed a stimulation of apoB production in mice following an intravenous injection of Intralipid and a decrease in apoB production in mice treated with an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. In summary, we demonstrate a high-throughput method for studying apoprotein kinetics in rodent models. Although notable differences exist between lipoprotein profiles that are observed in rodents and humans, we expect that the method reported here has merit in studies of dyslipidemia as i) rodent models can be used to probe target engagement in cases where one aims to modulate apoprotein production and ii) the approach should be adaptable to studies in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Zhou
- Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
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38
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39
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Conway JP, Johns DG, Wang SP, Walker ND, McAvoy TA, Zhou H, Zhao X, Previs SF, Roddy TP, Hubbard BK, Yates NA, Hendrickson RC. Measuring H218O Tracer Incorporation on a QQQ-MS Platform Provides a Rapid, Transferable Screening Tool for Relative Protein Synthesis. J Proteome Res 2012; 11:1591-7. [DOI: 10.1021/pr2007494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Conway
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Nykia D. Walker
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Thomas A. McAvoy
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Haihong Zhou
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Xuemei Zhao
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Stephen F. Previs
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Thomas P. Roddy
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Brian K. Hubbard
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Nathan A. Yates
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
| | - Ronald C. Hendrickson
- Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey
07065, United States
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40
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Zhang L, McCabe T, Condra JH, Ni YG, Peterson LB, Wang W, Strack AM, Wang F, Pandit S, Hammond H, Wood D, Lewis D, Rosa R, Mendoza V, Cumiskey AM, Johns DG, Hansen BC, Shen X, Geoghagen N, Jensen K, Zhu L, Wietecha K, Wisniewski D, Huang L, Zhao JZ, Ernst R, Hampton R, Haytko P, Ansbro F, Chilewski S, Chin J, Mitnaul LJ, Pellacani A, Sparrow CP, An Z, Strohl W, Hubbard B, Plump AS, Blom D, Sitlani A. An anti-PCSK9 antibody reduces LDL-cholesterol on top of a statin and suppresses hepatocyte SREBP-regulated genes. Int J Biol Sci 2012; 8:310-27. [PMID: 22355267 PMCID: PMC3282994 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.3524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a promising therapeutic target for treating coronary heart disease. We report a novel antibody 1B20 that binds to PCSK9 with sub-nanomolar affinity and antagonizes PCSK9 function in-vitro. In CETP/LDLR-hemi mice two successive doses of 1B20, administered 14 days apart at 3 or 10 mpk, induced dose dependent reductions in LDL-cholesterol (≥ 25% for 7-14 days) that correlated well with the extent of PCSK9 occupancy by the antibody. In addition, 1B20 induces increases in total plasma antibody-bound PCSK9 levels and decreases in liver mRNA levels of SREBP-regulated genes PCSK9 and LDLR, with a time course that parallels decreases in plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). Consistent with this observation in mice, in statin-responsive human primary hepatocytes, 1B20 lowers PCSK9 and LDLR mRNA levels and raises serum steady-state levels of antibody-bound PCSK9. In addition, mRNA levels of several SREBP regulated genes involved in cholesterol and fatty-acid synthesis including ACSS2, FDPS, IDI1, MVD, HMGCR, and CYP51A1 were decreased significantly with antibody treatment of primary human hepatocytes. In rhesus monkeys, subcutaneous (SC) dosing of 1B20 dose-dependently induces robust LDL-C lowering (maximal ~70%), which is correlated with increases in target engagement and total antibody-bound PCSK9 levels. Importantly, a combination of 1B20 and Simvastatin in dyslipidemic rhesus monkeys reduced LDL-C more than either agent alone, consistent with a mechanism of action that predicts additive effects of anti-PCSK9 agents with statins. Our results suggest that antibodies targeting PCSK9 could provide patients powerful LDL lowering efficacy on top of statins, and lower cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Zhang
- Department of Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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41
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Jensen KK, Previs SF, Zhu L, Herath K, Wang SP, Bhat G, Hu G, Miller PL, McLaren DG, Shin MK, Vogt TF, Wang L, Wong KK, Roddy TP, Johns DG, Hubbard BK. Demonstration of diet-induced decoupling of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis by combining gene expression array and 2H2O quantification. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2012; 302:E209-17. [PMID: 22045313 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00436.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The liver is a crossroad for metabolism of lipid and carbohydrates, with acetyl-CoA serving as an important metabolic intermediate and a precursor for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. A better understanding of the regulation of these pathways requires an experimental approach that provides both quantitative metabolic flux measurements and mechanistic insight. Under conditions of high carbohydrate availability, excess carbon is converted into free fatty acids and triglyceride for storage, but it is not clear how excessive carbohydrate availability affects cholesterol biosynthesis. To address this, C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet or a high-fat, carbohydrate-free diet. At the end of the dietary intervention, the two groups received (2)H(2)O to trace de novo fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, and livers were collected for gene expression analysis. Expression of lipid and glucose metabolism genes was determined using a custom-designed pathway focused PCR-based gene expression array. The expression analysis showed downregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes and upregulation of fatty acid synthesis genes in mice receiving the high-carbohydrate diet compared with the carbohydrate-free diet. In support of these findings, (2)H(2)O tracer data showed that fatty acid synthesis was increased 10-fold and cholesterol synthesis was reduced by 1.6-fold in mice fed the respective diets. In conclusion, by applying gene expression analysis and tracer methodology, we show that fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis are differentially regulated when the carbohydrate intake in mice is altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian K Jensen
- Department of Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Labs., Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave., Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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42
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Owens AP, Passam FH, Antoniak S, Marshall SM, McDaniel AL, Rudel L, Williams JC, Hubbard BK, Dutton JA, Wang J, Tobias PS, Curtiss LK, Daugherty A, Kirchhofer D, Luyendyk JP, Moriarty PM, Nagarajan S, Furie BC, Furie B, Johns DG, Temel RE, Mackman N. Monocyte tissue factor-dependent activation of coagulation in hypercholesterolemic mice and monkeys is inhibited by simvastatin. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:558-68. [PMID: 22214850 DOI: 10.1172/jci58969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. It also is associated with platelet hyperactivity, which increases morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms by which hypercholesterolemia produces a procoagulant state remain undefined. Atherosclerosis is associated with accumulation of oxidized lipoproteins within atherosclerotic lesions. Small quantities of oxidized lipoproteins are also present in the circulation of patients with coronary artery disease. We therefore hypothesized that hypercholesterolemia leads to elevated levels of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) in plasma and that this induces expression of the procoagulant protein tissue factor (TF) in monocytes. In support of this hypothesis, we report here that oxLDL induced TF expression in human monocytic cells and monocytes. In addition, patients with familial hypercholesterolemia had elevated levels of plasma microparticle (MP) TF activity. Furthermore, a high-fat diet induced a time-dependent increase in plasma MP TF activity and activation of coagulation in both LDL receptor-deficient mice and African green monkeys. Genetic deficiency of TF in bone marrow cells reduced coagulation in hypercholesterolemic mice, consistent with a major role for monocyte-derived TF in the activation of coagulation. Similarly, a deficiency of either TLR4 or TLR6 reduced levels of MP TF activity. Simvastatin treatment of hypercholesterolemic mice and monkeys reduced oxLDL, monocyte TF expression, MP TF activity, activation of coagulation, and inflammation, without affecting total cholesterol levels. Our results suggest that the prothrombotic state associated with hypercholesterolemia is caused by oxLDL-mediated induction of TF expression in monocytes via engagement of a TLR4/TLR6 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Phillip Owens
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Gatto GJ, Ao Z, Kearse MG, Zhou M, Morales CR, Daniels E, Bradley BT, Goserud MT, Goodman KB, Douglas SA, Harpel MR, Johns DG. NADPH oxidase-dependent and -independent mechanisms of reported inhibitors of reactive oxygen generation. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2011; 28:95-104. [PMID: 22136506 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2011.636360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
NADPH oxidase isoform-2 (NOX2) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to neurodegenerative and cardiovascular pathologies. However, validation of NOX2 as a pharmacotherapeutic target has been hampered by a lack of mechanistically-defined inhibitors. Using cellular and biochemical assays, we explored previously reported inhibitors of ROS production (perhexiline, suramin, VAS2870 and two Shionogi patent compounds) as direct NOX2 inhibitors. All but suramin, which presumably lacks cell penetrance, inhibit cellular ROS production. However, only perhexiline and suramin inhibit biochemical NOX2 activity. Indeed, our data suggest that NOX2 inhibition by perhexiline may contribute significantly to its demonstrated cardioprotective effects. Inhibition of protein kinase CβII explains the cellular activity of the Shionogi compounds, whereas VAS2870 inhibits by an as-yet unidentified mechanism unrelated to direct NOX2 function or subunit assembly. These data delineate the mechanisms of action of these compounds and highlight their strengths and limitations for use in future target validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Gatto
- Metabolic Pathways and Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area Unit, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA.
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Chen Z, O'Neill EA, Meurer RD, Gagen K, Luell S, Wang SP, Ichetovkin M, Frantz-Wattley B, Eveland S, Strack AM, Fisher TS, Johns DG, Sparrow CP, Wright SD, Hubbard BK, Carballo-Jane E. Reconstituted HDL Elicits Marked Changes in Plasma Lipids Following Single-Dose Injection in C57Bl/6 Mice. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 2011; 17:315-23. [DOI: 10.1177/1074248411426144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Chen
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Edward A. O'Neill
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Roger D. Meurer
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Karen Gagen
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Silvi Luell
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Marina Ichetovkin
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | | | - Suzanne Eveland
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Alison M. Strack
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Timothy S. Fisher
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Carl P. Sparrow
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | | | - Brian K. Hubbard
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
| | - Ester Carballo-Jane
- Cardiovascular Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
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Castro-Perez J, Briand F, Gagen K, Wang SP, Chen Y, McLaren DG, Shah V, Vreeken RJ, Hankemeier T, Sulpice T, Roddy TP, Hubbard BK, Johns DG. Anacetrapib promotes reverse cholesterol transport and bulk cholesterol excretion in Syrian golden hamsters. J Lipid Res 2011; 52:1965-73. [PMID: 21841206 PMCID: PMC3196228 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m016410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglyceride between HDL and apoB-containing lipoproteins. Anacetrapib (ANA), a reversible inhibitor of CETP, raises HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowers LDL cholesterol in dyslipidemic patients; however, the effects of ANA on cholesterol/lipoprotein metabolism in a dyslipidemic hamster model have not been demonstrated. To test whether ANA (60 mg/kg/day, 2 weeks) promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), ³H-cholesterol-loaded macrophages were injected and (3)H-tracer levels were measured in HDL, liver, and feces. Compared to controls, ANA inhibited CETP (94%) and increased HDL-C (47%). ³H-tracer in HDL increased by 69% in hamsters treated with ANA, suggesting increased cholesterol efflux from macrophages to HDL. ³H-tracer in fecal cholesterol and bile acids increased by 90% and 57%, respectively, indicating increased macrophage-to-feces RCT. Mass spectrometry analysis of HDL from ANA-treated hamsters revealed an increase in free unlabeled cholesterol and CE. Furthermore, bulk cholesterol and cholic acid were increased in feces from ANA-treated hamsters. Using two independent approaches to assess cholesterol metabolism, the current study demonstrates that CETP inhibition with ANA promotes macrophage-to-feces RCT and results in increased fecal cholesterol/bile acid excretion, further supporting its development as a novel lipid therapy for the treatment of dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Castro-Perez
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - François Briand
- Physiogenex, Prologue Biotech, Labege-Innopole cedex, France
| | - Karen Gagen
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - David G. McLaren
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Vinit Shah
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Rob J. Vreeken
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- LACDR, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- LACDR, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thierry Sulpice
- Physiogenex, Prologue Biotech, Labege-Innopole cedex, France
| | - Thomas P. Roddy
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Brian K. Hubbard
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ
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46
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Puig O, Yuan J, Stepaniants S, Zieba R, Zycband E, Morris M, Coulter S, Yu X, Menke J, Woods J, Chen F, Ramey DR, He X, O'Neill EA, Hailman E, Johns DG, Hubbard BK, Yee Lum P, Wright SD, Desouza MM, Plump A, Reiser V. A gene expression signature that classifies human atherosclerotic plaque by relative inflammation status. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 4:595-604. [PMID: 22010137 DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.111.960773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is a complex disease requiring improvements in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic treatments. Both improvements will be facilitated by greater exploration of the biology of atherosclerotic plaque. To this end, we carried out large-scale gene expression analysis of human atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS Whole genome expression analysis of 101 plaques from patients with peripheral artery disease identified a robust gene signature (1514 genes) that is dominated by processes related to Toll-like receptor signaling, T-cell activation, cholesterol efflux, oxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine production, vasoconstriction, and lysosomal activity. Further analysis of gene expression in microdissected carotid plaque samples revealed that this signature is differentially expressed in macrophage-rich and smooth muscle cell-containing regions. A quantitative PCR gene expression panel and inflammatory composite score were developed on the basis of the atherosclerotic plaque gene signature. When applied to serial sections of carotid plaque, the inflammatory composite score was observed to correlate with histological and morphological features related to plaque vulnerability. CONCLUSIONS The robust mRNA expression signature identified in the present report is associated with pathological features of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and may be useful as a source of biomarkers and targets of novel antiatherosclerotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Puig
- Department of Molecular Profiling,, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07033, USA.
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47
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Castro-Perez J, Roddy TP, Nibbering NMM, Shah V, McLaren DG, Previs S, Attygalle AB, Herath K, Chen Z, Wang SP, Mitnaul L, Hubbard BK, Vreeken RJ, Johns DG, Hankemeier T. Localization of fatty acyl and double bond positions in phosphatidylcholines using a dual stage CID fragmentation coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2011; 22:1552-67. [PMID: 21953258 PMCID: PMC3158848 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-011-0172-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2011] [Revised: 05/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A high content molecular fragmentation for the analysis of phosphatidylcholines (PC) was achieved utilizing a two-stage [trap (first generation fragmentation) and transfer (second generation fragmentation)] collision-induced dissociation (CID) in combination with travelling-wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS). The novel aspects of this work reside in the fact that a TWIMS arrangement was used to obtain a high level structural information including location of fatty acyl substituents and double bonds for PCs in plasma, and the presence of alkali metal adduct ions such as [M + Li](+) was not required to obtain double bond positions. Elemental compositions for fragment ions were confirmed by accurate mass measurements. A very specific first generation fragment ion m/z 577 (M-phosphoryl choline) from the PC [16:0/18:1 (9Z)] was produced, which by further CID generated acylium ions containing either the fatty acyl 16:0 (C(15)H(31)CO(+), m/z 239) or 18:1 (9Z) (C(17)H(33)CO(+), m/z 265) substituent. Subsequent water loss from these acylium ions was key in producing hydrocarbon fragment ions mainly from the α-proximal position of the carbonyl group such as the hydrocarbon ion m/z 67 (+H(2)C-HC = CH-CH = CH(2)). Formation of these ions was of important significance for determining double bonds in the fatty acyl chains. In addition to this, and with the aid of (13)C labeled lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:1 (9Z) in the ω-position (methyl) TAP fragmentation produced the ion at m/z 57. And was proven to be derived from the α-proximal (carboxylate) or distant ω-position (methyl) in the LPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Castro-Perez
- Department of Atherosclerosis Exploratory Biomarkers, Merck Research Laboratories, 126 E. Lincoln Ave, 80Y-2D7, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
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48
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Castro-Perez JM, Roddy TP, Shah V, Wang SP, Ouyang X, Ogawa A, McLaren DG, Tadin-Strapps M, Robinson MJ, Bartz SR, Ason B, Chen Y, Previs SF, Wong KK, Vreeken RJ, Johns DG, Hubbard BK, Hankemeier T, Mitnaul L. Attenuation of Slc27a5 gene expression followed by LC-MS measurement of bile acid reconjugation using metabolomics and a stable isotope tracer strategy. J Proteome Res 2011; 10:4683-91. [PMID: 21819150 DOI: 10.1021/pr200475g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of high resolution LC-MS together with metabolomics and D(4)-cholic acid (D(4)-CA) as a metabolic tracer to measure the metabolism and reconjugation of bile acids (BAs) in vitro and in vivo. Metabolic tracers are very important because they allow for the direct detection (substrate-to-product) of small and significant biological perturbations that may not be apparent when monitoring "static" endogenous levels of particular metabolites. Slc27a5, also known as fatty acid transport protein 5 (FATP5), is the hepatic BA-CoA ligase involved in reconjugating BAs during enterohepatic BA recycling. Using Slc27a5-cKD mice, silencing of ∼90% gene expression was achieved followed by reduction in the reconjugation of D(4)-CA to D(4)-taurocholic acid (D(4)-TCA), as well as other conjugated BA metabolites in plasma (p = 0.0031). The method described allowed a rapid measure of many D(4) and endogenous BA. Analysis of bile resulted in the detection of 39 BA metabolites from a 13 min analytical run. Finally, the utilization of a novel high resolution mass spectrometry method in combination with metabolomics and a stable isotope metabolic tracer allowed for the detection of targeted and untargeted BAs following silencing of the Slc27a5 gene in primary hepatocytes and in mice.
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49
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Castro-Perez JM, Roddy TP, Shah V, McLaren DG, Wang SP, Jensen K, Vreeken RJ, Hankemeier T, Johns DG, Previs SF, Hubbard BK. Identifying Static and Kinetic Lipid Phenotypes by High Resolution UPLC–MS: Unraveling Diet-Induced Changes in Lipid Homeostasis by Coupling Metabolomics and Fluxomics. J Proteome Res 2011; 10:4281-90. [DOI: 10.1021/pr200480g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. Castro-Perez
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas P. Roddy
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Vinit Shah
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - David G. McLaren
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Kristian Jensen
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Rob J. Vreeken
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Douglas G. Johns
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Stephen F. Previs
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Brian K. Hubbard
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases − Atherosclerosis Rahway, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey 07065, United States
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50
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Herath K, Bhat G, Miller PL, Wang SP, Kulick A, Andrews-Kelly G, Johnson C, Rohm RJ, Lassman ME, Previs SF, Johns DG, Hubbard BK, Roddy TP. Equilibration of (2)H labeling between body water and free amino acids: enabling studies of proteome synthesis. Anal Biochem 2011; 415:197-9. [PMID: 21596013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2010] [Revised: 04/02/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Protein synthesis can be estimated by measuring the incorporation of a labeled amino acid into a proteolytic peptide. Although prelabeled amino acids are typically administered, recent studies have tested (2)H(2)O; the assumption is that there is rapid equilibration of (2)H (in body water) with the carbon-bound hydrogens of amino acids before those amino acids are incorporated into a protein(s). We have determined the temporal changes in (2)H labeling of body water and amino acids which should build confidence in (2)H(2)O-based studies of protein synthesis when one aims to measure the (2)H labeling of proteolytic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kithsiri Herath
- Atherosclerosis, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
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