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Brogi S, Maramai S, Brindisi M, Chemi G, Porcari V, Corallo C, Gennari L, Novellino E, Ramunno A, Butini S, Campiani G, Gemma S. Activation of the Wnt Pathway by Small Peptides: Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:2074-2085. [PMID: 29131552 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A computational analysis of the X-ray structure of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) with the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) C-terminal fragment has allowed us to rationally design a small set of decapeptides. These compounds behave as agonists of the canonical Wnt pathway in the micromolar range when tested on a dual luciferase Wnt functional assay in glioblastoma cells. Two of the oligopeptides showed a lack of cytotoxicity in human primary osteoblasts isolated from sponge bone tissue (femoral heads or knees of elderly patients). According to the mechanism of action, the studies revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in the viability of human osteoblasts. These results may indicate a potential therapeutic application of this class of compounds in the treatment of bone diseases related to aging, such as osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Brogi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Samuele Maramai
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Chemi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Valentina Porcari
- Siena Biotech S.p.A., Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Claudio Corallo
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, S. Maria alle Scotte Hospital Siena, University of Siena, viale Mario Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Luigi Gennari
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, S. Maria alle Scotte Hospital Siena, University of Siena, viale Mario Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, NatSynDrugs and Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
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