1
|
Grozdanić M, Sobotič B, Biasizzo M, Sever T, Vidmar R, Vizovišek M, Turk B, Fonović M. Cathepsin L-mediated EGFR cleavage affects intracellular signalling pathways in cancer. Biol Chem 2024; 405:283-296. [PMID: 37889671 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0213] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Proteolytic activity in the tumour microenvironment is an important factor in cancer development since it can also affect intracellular signalling pathways via positive feedback loops that result in either increased tumour growth or resistance to anticancer mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrated extracellular cathepsin L-mediated cleavage of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and identified the cleavage site in the extracellular domain after R224. To further evaluate the relevance of this cleavage, we cloned and expressed a truncated version of EGFR, starting at G225, in HeLa cells. We confirmed the constitutive activation of the truncated protein in the absence of ligand binding and determined possible changes in intracellular signalling. Furthermore, we determined the effect of truncated EGFR protein expression on HeLa cell viability and response to the EGFR inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib and monoclonal antibody (mAb) cetuximab. Our data reveal the nuclear localization and phosphorylation of EGFR and signal trancducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in cells that express the truncated EGFR protein and suggest that these phenomena cause resistance to EGFR inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marija Grozdanić
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Sobotič
- Kymab Ltd, The Bennet Building (B930), Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Monika Biasizzo
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tilen Sever
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- International Postgraduate School Jožef Stefan, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Robert Vidmar
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matej Vizovišek
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Fonović
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin SH, Hsu CY, Li SC. Increased Circulating CD14+ Monocytes in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Presenting Impaired Apoptosis Activity. Biomedicines 2024; 12:775. [PMID: 38672131 PMCID: PMC11048590 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040775] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting peripheral and axial joints. The osteolytic effect in the damaged joint is mediated by osteoclast activation. We aimed to investigate differential gene expression in peripheral CD14+ monocytes between patients with psoriatic arthritis (n = 15) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 15). Circulating CD14+ monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using CD14+ magnetic beads. Cell apoptosis was measured via Annexin V using flow cytometry. The gene expression profiling was analyzed via microarray (available in the NCBI GEO database; accession number GSE261765), and the candidate genes were validated using PCR. The results showed a higher number of peripheral CD14+ monocytes in patients with PsA than in the HCs. By analyzing the microarray data, identifying the differentially expressed genes, and conducting pathway enrichment analysis, we found that the apoptosis signaling pathway in CD14+ cells was significantly impaired in patients with PsA compared to the HCs. Among the candidate genes in the apoptotic signaling pathway, the relative expression level of cathepsin L was confirmed to be significantly lower in the PsAs than in the HCs. We concluded that the numbers of peripheral CD14+ monocytes increased, and their apoptosis activity was impaired in patients with PsA, which could lead to enhanced macrophage maturation and osteoclast activation. The resistance of apoptotic death in peripheral CD14+ monocytes may contribute to active joint inflammation in PsA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Hung Lin
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lianhai Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yuan Hsu
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lianhai Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City 804, Taiwan
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Chou Li
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung 813414, Taiwan
- Department of Dental Technology, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung 821004, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung 912009, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matsuki A, Watanabe Y, Hashimoto S, Hoshino A, Matoba S. Cathepsin L prevents the accumulation of alpha-synuclein fibrils in the cell. Genes Cells 2024; 29:328-336. [PMID: 38366711 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13099] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The deposition of α-synuclein (α-Syn) fibrils in neuronal cells has been implicated as a causative factor in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). α-Syn can be degraded by autophagy, proteasome, and chaperone-mediated autophagy, and previous studies have suggested the potency of certain cathepsins, lysosomal proteases, for α-Syn degradation. However, no studies have comprehensively evaluated all cathepsins. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of all 15 cathepsins using a cell model of α-Syn fibril propagation and found that overexpression of cathepsin L (CTSL) was the most effective in preventing the accumulation of α-Syn aggregates. CTSL-mediated degradation of α-Syn aggregates was dependent on the autophagy machinery, and CTSL itself promoted autophagy flux. Interestingly, CTSL was effective in autophagic degradation of wild-type (WT) α-Syn, but not in the case of A53T and E46K missense mutations, which are causative for familial PD. These results suggest that CTSL is a potential therapeutic strategy for sporadic PD pathology in WT α-Syn.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Matsuki
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Watanabe
- Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sho Hashimoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hoshino
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoaki Matoba
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Reim T, Ehrt C, Graef J, Günther S, Meents A, Rarey M. SiteMine: Large-scale binding site similarity searching in protein structure databases. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024:e2300661. [PMID: 38335311 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300661] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Drug discovery and design challenges, such as drug repurposing, analyzing protein-ligand and protein-protein complexes, ligand promiscuity studies, or function prediction, can be addressed by protein binding site similarity analysis. Although numerous tools exist, they all have individual strengths and drawbacks with regard to run time, provision of structure superpositions, and applicability to diverse application domains. Here, we introduce SiteMine, an all-in-one database-driven, alignment-providing binding site similarity search tool to tackle the most pressing challenges of binding site comparison. The performance of SiteMine is evaluated on the ProSPECCTs benchmark, showing a promising performance on most of the data sets. The method performs convincingly regarding all quality criteria for reliable binding site comparison, offering a novel state-of-the-art approach for structure-based molecular design based on binding site comparisons. In a SiteMine showcase, we discuss the high structural similarity between cathepsin L and calpain 1 binding sites and give an outlook on the impact of this finding on structure-based drug design. SiteMine is available at https://uhh.de/naomi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thorben Reim
- ZBH - Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Ehrt
- ZBH - Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joel Graef
- ZBH - Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Günther
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alke Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Rarey
- ZBH - Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Matveev EV, Ponomarev GV, Kazanov MD. Genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of human protease capacity for proteolytic cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0353023. [PMID: 38189333 PMCID: PMC10846095 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03530-23] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily enters the cell by binding the virus's spike (S) glycoprotein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor on the cell surface, followed by proteolytic cleavage by host proteases. Studies have identified furin and transmembrane protease serine 2 proteases in priming and triggering cleavages of the S glycoprotein, converting it into a fusion-competent form and initiating membrane fusion, respectively. Alternatively, SARS-CoV-2 can enter the cell through the endocytic pathway, where activation is triggered by lysosomal cathepsin L. However, other proteases are also suspected to be involved in both entry routes. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide bioinformatics analysis to explore the capacity of human proteases in hydrolyzing peptide bonds of the S glycoprotein. Predictive models of sequence specificity for 169 human proteases were constructed and applied to the S glycoprotein together with the method for predicting structural susceptibility to proteolysis of protein regions. After validating our approach on extensively studied S2' and S1/S2 cleavage sites, we applied our method to each peptide bond of the S glycoprotein across all 169 proteases. Our results indicate that various members of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type, type II transmembrane family serine protease, and kallikrein families, as well as specific coagulation factors, are capable of cleaving S2' or S1/S2 sites. We have also identified a potential cleavage site of cathepsin L at the K790 position within the S2' loop. Structural analysis suggests that cleavage of this site induces conformational changes similar to the cleavage at the R815 (S2') position, leading to the exposure of the fusion peptide and subsequent fusion with the membrane. Other potential cleavage sites and the influence of mutations in common SARS-CoV-2 variants on proteolytic efficiency are discussed.IMPORTANCEThe entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) into the cell, activated by host proteases, is considerably more complex in coronaviruses than in most other viruses and is not fully understood. There is evidence that other proteases beyond the known furin and transmembrane protease serine 2 can activate the spike protein. Another example of uncertainty is the cleavage site for the alternative endocytic route of SARS-CoV-2 entrance, which is still unknown. Bioinformatics methods, modeling protease specificity and estimating the structural susceptibility of protein regions to proteolysis, can aid in studying this topic by predicting the involved proteases and their cleavage sites, thereby substantially reducing the amount of experimental work. Elucidating the mechanisms of spike protein activation is crucial for preventing possible future coronavirus pandemics and developing antiviral drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii V. Matveev
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, A.A.Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady V. Ponomarev
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, A.A.Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marat D. Kazanov
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, A.A.Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mao L, Shaabani N, Zhang X, Jin C, Xu W, Argent C, Kushnareva Y, Powers C, Stegman K, Liu J, Xie H, Xu C, Bao Y, Xu L, Zhang Y, Yang H, Qian S, Hu Y, Shao J, Zhang C, Li T, Li Y, Liu N, Lin Z, Wang S, Wang C, Shen W, Lin Y, Shu D, Zhu Z, Kotoi O, Kerwin L, Han Q, Chumakova L, Teijaro J, Royal M, Brunswick M, Allen R, Ji H, Lu H, Xu X. Olgotrelvir, a dual inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 M pro and cathepsin L, as a standalone antiviral oral intervention candidate for COVID-19. Med 2024; 5:42-61.e23. [PMID: 38181791 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.12.004] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral antiviral drugs with improved antiviral potency and safety are needed to address current challenges in clinical practice for treatment of COVID-19, including the risks of rebound, drug-drug interactions, and emerging resistance. METHODS Olgotrelvir (STI-1558) is designed as a next-generation antiviral targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), an essential enzyme for SARS-CoV-2 replication, and human cathepsin L (CTSL), a key enzyme for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. FINDINGS Olgotrelvir is a highly bioavailable oral prodrug that is converted in plasma to its active form, AC1115. The dual mechanism of action of olgotrelvir and AC1115 was confirmed by enzyme activity inhibition assays and co-crystal structures of AC1115 with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and human CTSL. AC1115 displayed antiviral activity by inhibiting replication of all tested SARS-CoV-2 variants in cell culture systems. Olgotrelvir also inhibited viral entry into cells using SARS-CoV-2 Spike-mediated pseudotypes by inhibition of host CTSL. In the K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model of SARS-CoV-2-mediated disease, olgotrelvir significantly reduced the virus load in the lungs, prevented body weight loss, and reduced cytokine release and lung pathologies. Olgotrelvir demonstrated potent activity against the nirmatrelvir-resistant Mpro E166 mutants. Olgotrelvir showed enhanced oral bioavailability in animal models and in humans with significant plasma exposure without ritonavir. In phase I studies (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05364840 and NCT05523739), olgotrelvir demonstrated a favorable safety profile and antiviral activity. CONCLUSIONS Olgotrelvir is an oral inhibitor targeting Mpro and CTSL with high antiviral activity and plasma exposure and is a standalone treatment candidate for COVID-19. FUNDING Funded by Sorrento Therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Long Mao
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - Xiaoying Zhang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Can Jin
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Wanhong Xu
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | | | | | - Colin Powers
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Karen Stegman
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Hui Xie
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Changxu Xu
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yimei Bao
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Lijun Xu
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yuren Zhang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Haigang Yang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Shengdian Qian
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yong Hu
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Shao
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Can Zhang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Li
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yi Li
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Na Liu
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Zhenhao Lin
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Shanbo Wang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Chao Wang
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Wei Shen
- ACEA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yuanlong Lin
- Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, SUSTech, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Dan Shu
- Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, SUSTech, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Zhenhong Zhu
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Olivia Kotoi
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Lisa Kerwin
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Qing Han
- Structure Based Design, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - John Teijaro
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mike Royal
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - Robert Allen
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Henry Ji
- Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Hongzhou Lu
- Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, SUSTech, Shenzhen, P.R. China.
| | - Xiao Xu
- ACEA Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Almalki AA, Shafie A, Hazazi A, Banjer HJ, Bakhuraysah MM, Almaghrabi SA, Alsaiari AA, Alsaeedi FA, Ashour AA, Alharthi A, Alharthi NS, Anjum F. Targeting Cathepsin L in Cancer Management: Leveraging Machine Learning, Structure-Based Virtual Screening, and Molecular Dynamics Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17208. [PMID: 38139037 PMCID: PMC10743089 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417208] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin L (CTSL) expression is dysregulated in a variety of cancers. Extensive empirical evidence indicates their direct participation in cancer growth, angiogenic processes, metastatic dissemination, and the development of treatment resistance. Currently, no natural CTSL inhibitors are approved for clinical use. Consequently, the development of novel CTSL inhibition strategies is an urgent necessity. In this study, a combined machine learning (ML) and structure-based virtual screening strategy was employed to identify potential natural CTSL inhibitors. The random forest ML model was trained on IC50 values. The accuracy of the trained model was over 90%. Furthermore, we used this ML model to screen the Biopurify and Targetmol natural compound libraries, yielding 149 hits with prediction scores >0.6. These hits were subsequently selected for virtual screening using a structure-based approach, yielding 13 hits with higher binding affinity compared to the positive control (AZ12878478). Two of these hits, ZINC4097985 and ZINC4098355, have been shown to strongly bind CTSL proteins. In addition to drug-like properties, both compounds demonstrated high affinity, ligand efficiency, and specificity for the CTSL binding pocket. Furthermore, in molecular dynamics simulations spanning 200 ns, these compounds formed stable protein-ligand complexes. ZINC4097985 and ZINC4098355 can be considered promising candidates for CTSL inhibition after experimental validation, with the potential to provide therapeutic benefits in cancer management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulraheem Ali Almalki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Alaa Shafie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Ali Hazazi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Security Forces Hospital Program, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hamsa Jameel Banjer
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Maha M. Bakhuraysah
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Sarah Abdullah Almaghrabi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
- Center of Innovations in Personalized Medicine (CIPM), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahad Amer Alsaiari
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Fouzeyyah Ali Alsaeedi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Amal Adnan Ashour
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Afaf Alharthi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Nahed S. Alharthi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Farah Anjum
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (A.S.); (H.J.B.); (M.M.B.); (A.A.A.); (F.A.A.); (A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Peng Y, He W, Teng S, Jamali MA. The Degradation of Intramuscular Connective Tissue In Vitro with Purified Cathepsin L from Bovine Pancreas. Foods 2023; 12:3517. [PMID: 37761226 PMCID: PMC10529305 DOI: 10.3390/foods12183517] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the possible degradation of the intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) with cathepsin L, isolated IMCTs were incubated with purified cathepsin L in vitro. Here, we prepared purified cathepsin L from bovine pancreas by using DEAE Sephacel, Sephacryl S-100 HR, SP Sepharose FF, and con A-Sepharose affinity chromatography in sequence. An SDS-PAGE analysis of CNBr-digested peptides showed that the degradation of collagen in IMCT could take place on terminal non-helical peptides rather than the triple helix region. Decorin (DCN) was clearly degraded at a pH of 5.0. The TP and TO of intramuscular connective tissue decreased to 41.41 °C and 43.79 °C, respectively. In the cathepsin L treatment of pH 5.0, the decreases in the TP and TO of IMCT were more sensitive than they were at pH 5.5~6.5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingbo Peng
- College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wanhong He
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuang Teng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Muneer Ahmed Jamali
- Department of Animal Products Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chugunov AO, Dvoryakova EA, Dyuzheva MA, Simonyan TR, Tereshchenkova VF, Filippova IY, Efremov RG, Elpidina EN. Fighting Celiac Disease: Improvement of pH Stability of Cathepsin L In Vitro by Computational Design. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12369. [PMID: 37569743 PMCID: PMC10418366 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512369] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Roughly 1% of the global population is susceptible to celiac disease (CD)-inheritable autoimmune inflammation of the small intestine caused by intolerance to gliadin proteins present in wheat, rye, and barley grains, and called gluten in wheat. Classical treatment is a life-long gluten-free diet, which is constraining and costly. An alternative approach is based upon the development and oral reception of effective peptidases that degrade in the stomach immunogenic proline- and glutamine-rich gliadin peptides, which are the cause of the severe reaction in the intestine. In previous research, we have established that the major digestive peptidase of an insect Tribolium castaneum-cathepsin L-hydrolyzes immunogenic prolamins after Gln residues but is unstable in the extremely acidic environment (pH 2-4) of the human stomach and cannot be used as a digestive aid. In this work, using molecular dynamics simulations, we discover the probable cause of the pH instability of cathepsin L-loss of the catalytically competent rotameric state of one of the active site residues, His 275. To "fix" the correct orientation of this residue, we designed a V277A mutant variant, which extends the range of stability of the peptidase in the acidic environment while retaining most of its activity. We suggest this protein as a lead glutenase for the development of oral medical preparation that fights CD and gluten intolerance in susceptible people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton O. Chugunov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.A.D.); (R.G.E.)
- L.D. Landau School of Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Elena A. Dvoryakova
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.D.); (E.N.E.)
| | - Maria A. Dyuzheva
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.A.D.); (R.G.E.)
- Higher Chemical College of the Russian Academy of Sciences, D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, 125047 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatyana R. Simonyan
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (T.R.S.); (V.F.T.); (I.Y.F.)
| | - Valeria F. Tereshchenkova
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (T.R.S.); (V.F.T.); (I.Y.F.)
| | - Irina Yu. Filippova
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (T.R.S.); (V.F.T.); (I.Y.F.)
| | - Roman G. Efremov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.A.D.); (R.G.E.)
- L.D. Landau School of Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Department of Applied Mathematics, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena N. Elpidina
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.D.); (E.N.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liang T, Xiao S, Wu Z, Lv X, Liu S, Hu M, Li G, Li P, Ma X. Phenothiazines Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Entry through Targeting Spike Protein. Viruses 2023; 15:1666. [PMID: 37632009 PMCID: PMC10458444 DOI: 10.3390/v15081666] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has brought an unprecedented public health crisis and continues to threaten humanity due to the persistent emergence of new variants. Therefore, developing more effective and broad-spectrum therapeutic and prophylactic drugs against infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, as well as future emerging CoVs, is urgently needed. In this study, we screened several US FDA-approved drugs and identified phenothiazine derivatives with the ability to potently inhibit the infection of pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 and distinct variants of concern (VOCs), including B.1.617.2 (Delta) and currently circulating Omicron sublineages XBB and BQ.1.1, as well as pseudotyped SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Mechanistic studies suggested that phenothiazines predominantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus (PsV) infection at the early stage and potentially bound to the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2, which may prevent the proteolytic cleavage of the S protein, thereby exhibiting inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In summary, our findings suggest that phenothiazines can serve as a potential broad-spectrum therapeutic drug for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the infection of future emerging human coronaviruses (HCoVs).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taizhen Liang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Shiqi Xiao
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
| | - Ziyao Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China;
| | - Xi Lv
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China;
| | - Sen Liu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Meilin Hu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Guojie Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
| | - Peiwen Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
| | - Xiancai Ma
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China; (T.L.); (S.X.); (S.L.); (M.H.); (G.L.); (P.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gao F, Wang X, Qin N, Zhang M, Liao M, Zeng M, Lu D, Sha O. The analysis of cathepsin L that mediates cellular SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to COVID-19 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1156038. [PMID: 37292206 PMCID: PMC10246451 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1156038] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The vulnerability of the oral cavity to SARS-CoV-2 infection is well-known, and cancer patients are at a higher risk of COVID-19, emphasizing the need to prioritize this patient population. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignant cancers associated with early metastasis and poor prognosis. It has been established that cancerous tissues express Cathepsin L (CTSL), a proteinase that regulates cancer progression and SARS-CoV-2 entry. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the correlation between disease outcomes and CTSL expression in cancer tissues and predict the susceptibility of cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we used transcriptomic and genomic data to profile CTSL expression in HNSCC and developed a CTSL signature that could reflect the response of HNSCC patients to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between CTSL expression and immune cell infiltration and established CTSL as a potential carcinogenic factor for HNSCC patients. These findings could aid in understanding the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of HNSCC patients to SARS-CoV-2 and contribute to the development of therapy for both HNSCC and COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Gao
- School of Dentistry, Institute of Stomatological Research, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nianhong Qin
- Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingfeng Liao
- Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meiqi Zeng
- School of Dentistry, Institute of Stomatological Research, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Desheng Lu
- Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ou Sha
- School of Dentistry, Institute of Stomatological Research, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang C, Ye X, Ding C, Zhou M, Li W, Wang Y, You Q, Zong S, Peng Q, Duanmu D, Chen H, Sun B, Qiao J. Two Resveratrol Oligomers Inhibit Cathepsin L Activity to Suppress SARS-CoV-2 Entry. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:5535-5546. [PMID: 36996017 PMCID: PMC10069644 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) depends on specific host cell proteases, which are the key targets for preventing and treating viral infections. Herein, we describe miyabenol C and trans-ε-viniferin, two resveratrol oligomers that specifically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry by targeting host protease cathepsin L. Several cell-based assays were used to demonstrate the effect of resveratrol oligomers, and their target was identified via screening of antiviral targets. Molecular docking analysis suggested that the oligomers could occupy the active cavity of cathepsin L. The surface plasmon resonance assay showed that the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) values of miyabenol C-cathepsin L and trans-ε-viniferin-cathepsin L were 5.54 and 8.54 μM, respectively, indicating their excellent binding ability for cathepsin L. Our study demonstrated the potential application of resveratrol oligomers as lead compounds in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting cathepsin L.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology,
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiansheng Ye
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Chengchao Ding
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life
Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China
(USTC), Hefei 230026, China
| | - Mengqi Zhou
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Weiling Li
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Yuansong Wang
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Qiang You
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Shan Zong
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Qian Peng
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Deqiang Duanmu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology,
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University,
Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug
Target, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University,
Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Binlian Sun
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
| | - Jialu Qiao
- Wuhan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of
Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056,
China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine
Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000,
China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ribeiro MR, Calado AM, Alves Â, Pereira R, Sousa M, Sá R. Spatial Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Receptors and Proteases in Testicular Cells. J Histochem Cytochem 2023; 71:169-197. [PMID: 37026452 PMCID: PMC10083717 DOI: 10.1369/00221554231168916] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been found in the human testis on occasion, but subgenomic SARS-CoV-2 and infectious SARS-CoV-2 virions have not been found. There is no direct evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of testicular cells. To better understand this, it is necessary to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 receptors and proteases are present in testicular cells. To overcome this limitation, we focused on elucidating with immunohistochemistry the spatial distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), as well as their viral spike protein priming proteases, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsin L (CTSL), required for viral fusion with host cells. At the protein level, human testicular tissue expressed both receptors and proteases studied. Both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were found in interstitial cells (endothelium, Leydig, and myoid peritubular cells) and in the seminiferous epithelium (Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids). The presence of CD147 was observed in all cell types except endothelium and peritubular cells, while CTSL was exclusively observed in Leydig, peritubular, and Sertoli cells. These findings show that the ACE2 receptor and its protease TMPRSS2 are coexpressed in all testicular cells, as well as the CD147 receptor and its protease CTSL in Leydig and Sertoli cells, indicating that testicular SARS-CoV-2 infection cannot be ruled out without further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rita Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UMIB - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine / ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), CECAV - Interdisciplinary Research Center in Animal Health, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Calado
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), CECAV - Interdisciplinary Research Center in Animal Health, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ângela Alves
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UMIB - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine / ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rute Pereira
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UMIB - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine / ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mário Sousa
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UMIB - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine / ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rosália Sá
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, UMIB - Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine / ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Port, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Aufy M, Abdelaziz RF, Hussein AM, Topcagic N, Shamroukh H, Abdel-Maksoud MA, Salem TZ, Studenik CR. Impact of Enniatin B and Beauvericin on Lysosomal Cathepsin B Secretion and Apoptosis Induction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032030. [PMID: 36768354 PMCID: PMC9916760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Enniatin B (ENN B) and Beauvericin (BEA) are cyclohexadepsipeptides that can be isolated from Fusarium and Beauveria bassiana, respectively. Both compounds are cytotoxic and ionophoric. In the present study, the mechanism of cell death induced by these compounds was investigated. Epidermal carcinoma-derived cell line KB-3-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of these compounds. The extracellular secretion of cathepsin B increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and the lysosomal staining by lysotracker red was reduced upon the treatment with any of the compounds. However, the extracellular secretion of cathepsin L and cathepsin D were not affected. Inhibition of cathepsin B with specific inhibitor CA074 significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect of both compounds, while inhibition of cathepsin D or cathepsin L did not influence the cytotoxic activities of both compounds. In vitro labelling of lysosomal cysteine cathepsins with Ethyl (2S, 3S)-epoxysuccinate-Leu-Tyr-Acp-Lys (Biotin)-NH2 (DCG04) was not affected in case of cathepsin L upon the treatment with both compounds, while it was significantly reduced in case of cathepsin B. In conclusion, ENN B and BEA increase lysosomal Ph, which inhibits delivery of cathepsin B from Golgi to lysosomes, thereby inducing cathepsin B release in cytosol, which activates caspases and hence the apoptotic pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Aufy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Ramadan F. Abdelaziz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ahmed M. Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Private Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Nermina Topcagic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hadil Shamroukh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mostafa A. Abdel-Maksoud
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tamer Z. Salem
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12511, Egypt
| | - Christian R. Studenik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jia Q, Li S. Mmp-induced fat body cell dissociation promotes pupal development and moderately averts pupal diapause by activating lipid metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215214120. [PMID: 36574695 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215214120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In Lepidoptera and Diptera, the fat body dissociates into single cells in nondiapause pupae, but it does not dissociate in diapause pupae until diapause termination. Using the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, as a model of pupal diapause insects, we illustrated the catalytic mechanism and physiological importance of fat body cell dissociation in regulating pupal development and diapause. In nondiapause pupae, cathepsin L (CatL) activates matrix metalloproteinases (Mmps) that degrade extracellular matrix proteins and cause fat body cell dissociation. Mmp-induced fat body cell dissociation activates lipid metabolism through transcriptional regulation, and the resulting energetic supplies increase brain metabolic activity (i.e., mitochondria respiration and insulin signaling) and thus promote pupal development. In diapause pupae, low activities of CatL and Mmps prevent fat body cell dissociation and lipid metabolism from occurring, maintaining pupal diapause. Importantly, as demonstrated by chemical inhibitor treatments and CRISPR-mediated gene knockouts, Mmp inhibition delayed pupal development and moderately increased the incidence of pupal diapause, while Mmp stimulation promoted pupal development and moderately averted pupal diapause. This study advances our recent understanding of fat body biology and insect diapause regulation.
Collapse
|
16
|
Chen J, Guo P, Li Y, He W, Chen W, Shen Z, Zhang M, Mao J, Zhang L. Cathepsin L Contributes to Reproductive Diapause by Regulating Lipid Storage and Survival of Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010611. [PMID: 36614060 PMCID: PMC9820742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010611] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin L protease, which belongs to the papain-like cysteine proteases family, is an important player in many physiological and pathological processes. However, little was known about the role of cathepsin L in ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempuctata Linnaeus) during diapause. Here, we analyzed the characteristics of cathepsin L (CsCatL) in the females of C. septempunctata and its role during the diapause of the ladybeetle. CsCatL was cloned and identified from beetle specimens by rapid amplification of cDNA-ends (RACE). The cDNA sequence of CsCatL was 971 bp in length, including an 843 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 280 amino acids. It was identified as the cathepsin L group by phylogenetic analysis. Knockdown of CsCatL by RNA interference led to decreased expression levels of fatty acid synthase 2 (fas 2) genes and suppressed lipid accumulation. Furthermore, silencing the CsCatL gene distinctly reduced diapause-related features and the survival of female C. spetempunctata under diapause-inducing conditions. The results suggested that the CsCatL gene was involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and played a crucial role in the survival of adult C. septempunctata during the diapause preparation stage.
Collapse
|
17
|
Inoue E, Minatozaki S, Katsuta Y, Nonaka S, Nakanishi H. Human β-Defensin 3 Inhibits Porphyromonas Gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Oxidative and Inflammatory Responses of Microglia by Suppression of Cathepsins B and L. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315099. [PMID: 36499428 PMCID: PMC9738813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315099] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the effects of antibacterial peptides are suggested to have therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, systemic treatment of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathological changes in middle-aged mice. Then, we examined whether human β-defensins (hBDs), antimicrobial peptides produced by the oral mucosa and salivary glands, can suppress Pg LPS-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses by microglia. hBD3 (1 μM) significantly suppressed Pg LPS-induced production of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by MG6 cells, a mouse microglial cell line. hBD3 (1 μM) also significantly inhibited Pg LPS-induced expression of IL-6 by HMC3 cells, a human microglial cell line. In contrast, neither hBD1, hBD2 nor hBD4 failed to inhibit their productions. Furthermore, hBD3 suppressed Pg LPS-induced p65 nuclear translocation through the IκBα degradation. Pg LPS-induced expression of IL-6 was significantly suppressed by E64d, a cysteine protease inhibitor, and CA-074Me, a known specific inhibitor for cathepsin B, but not by pepstatin A, an aspartic protease inhibitor. Interestingly, hBD3 significantly inhibited enzymatic activities of recombinant human cathepsins B and L, lysosomal cysteine proteases, and their intracellular activities in MG6 cells. Therefore, hBD3 suppressed oxidative and inflammatory responses of microglia through the inhibition of cathepsins B and L, which enzymatic activities are necessary for the NF-κB activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Inoue
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan
| | - Shiyo Minatozaki
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan
| | - Yui Katsuta
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan
| | - Saori Nonaka
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nakanishi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women’s University, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Qian F, Xu H, Zhang Y, Li L, Yu R. Methionine deprivation inhibits glioma growth through downregulation of CTSL. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:5004-5018. [PMID: 36504894 PMCID: PMC9729907] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of tumor cells is characterized by the regulation of demand, nutrient supply and metabolic enzymes, which are different in cancer tissues from those in corresponding healthy tissues. There is growing evidence that dietary composition influences biological processes that contribute to tumor incidence and progression as much as genetic status. One possibility for specific dietary interventions in cancer patients is to limit methionine intake. The role of methionine metabolism in tumors suggests that interference with the methionine metabolism network by either drug or environmental effects may show substantial therapeutic effects, but the molecular mechanism is not completely clear. In this study, methionine deprivation was found to downregulate cathepsin L (CTSL) and induce proliferation inhibition in glioma cells. We also demonstrated that CTSL is a tumor-related gene, and promotes the proliferation and invasion of glioma. Our results showed that the treatment of methionine metabolism and CTSL related genes in glioma cells may be a novel strategy for glioma therapy in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Qian
- Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The First People’s Hospital of ChangzhouChangzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haoyue Xu
- Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongkang Zhang
- Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linfeng Li
- Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rutong Yu
- Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China,Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical UniversityXuzhou 221002, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Shen J, Zhang W, Jiang Q, Gao P, Xu Y, Xia W. The role of cathepsin L on structural changes of collagen fibers involved in textural deterioration of chilled grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fillets. J Sci Food Agric 2022; 102:5858-5866. [PMID: 35426126 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Textural deterioration is a serious problem in chilled fish flesh. Cysteine proteinases are proposed to participate in disintegration of collagen fibers during this process, while its mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, a cysteine proteinase was purified from grass carp muscle and identified by mass spectrometry, and its effect on structural changes of collagen fibers was investigated. RESULTS During storage at 4 °C, cysteine proteinase activity in fillets increased to 1.53-fold at day 5 and maintained a high level later, and this variable was related to a decline in shear force and an increase in drip loss. A 29 kDa cysteine proteinase was purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography, and identified as cathepsin L. Cathepsin L caused collagen fibers to partly disintegrate into fibril bundles and individual fibrils at 48 h, while the triple helical structure of collagen molecules remained stable. Release of soluble proteins and glycosaminoglycans from cathepsin L-treated collagen fibers was time dependent, coinciding with a release of 4.12 ± 0.13% and 8.57 ± 0.03% at 48 h respectively. However, 0.85 ± 0.02% of hydroxyproline was freed from cathepsin L-treated collagen fibers at 48 h. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed that the inhibitory effect of cathepsin L could retard the destruction of intramuscular connective tissues (IMCTs). CONCLUSION These results indicated that cathepsin L might be involved in collagen fiber breakdown by degrading collagen-associated proteoglycans during textural deterioration of grass carp. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiandong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qixing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanshun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenshui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lauko A, Volovetz J, Turaga SM, Bayik D, Silver DJ, Mitchell K, Mulkearns-Hubert EE, Watson DC, Desai K, Midha M, Hao J, McCortney K, Steffens A, Naik U, Ahluwalia MS, Bao S, Horbinski C, Yu JS, Lathia JD. SerpinB3 drives cancer stem cell survival in glioblastoma. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111348. [PMID: 36103817 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite therapeutic interventions for glioblastoma (GBM), cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive recurrence. The precise mechanisms underlying CSC resistance, namely inhibition of cell death, are unclear. We built on previous observations that the high cell surface expression of junctional adhesion molecule-A drives CSC maintenance and identified downstream signaling networks, including the cysteine protease inhibitor SerpinB3. Using genetic depletion approaches, we found that SerpinB3 is necessary for CSC maintenance, survival, and tumor growth, as well as CSC pathway activation. Knockdown of SerpinB3 also increased apoptosis and susceptibility to radiation therapy. SerpinB3 was essential to buffer cathepsin L-mediated cell death, which was enhanced with radiation. Finally, we found that SerpinB3 knockdown increased the efficacy of radiation in pre-clinical models. Taken together, our findings identify a GBM CSC-specific survival mechanism involving a cysteine protease inhibitor, SerpinB3, and provide a potential target to improve the efficacy of GBM therapies against therapeutically resistant CSCs. Lauko et al. identify SerpinB3 as an inhibitor of lysosomal-mediated cell death in glioblastoma cancer stem cells. The authors demonstrate that SerpinB3 inhibition of cathepsin L released from lysosomes leads to radiation resistance. This axis may be targeted to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in glioblastoma and other cancers. This study did not generate new unique reagents.
Collapse
|
21
|
Liu RD, Meng XY, Li CL, Long SR, Cui J, Wang ZQ. Molecular characterization and determination of the biochemical properties of cathepsin L of Trichinella spiralis. Vet Res 2022; 53:48. [PMID: 35739604 PMCID: PMC9229914 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01065-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin L is an important cysteine protease, but its function in T. spiralis remains unclear. The aim of this research was to explore the biological characteristics of T. spiralis cathepsin L (TsCatL) and its role in T. spiralis-host interactions. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of the cysteine protease active site residues Gln, Cys, His and Asn in mature TsCatL, as well as specific motifs of cathepsin L similar to ERFNIN and GYLND in the prepeptide of TsCatL. Molecular docking of mature TsCatL and E64 revealed hydrophobic effects and hydrogen bonding interactions. Two domains of TsCatL (TsCatL2) were cloned and expressed, and recombinant TsCatL2 (rTsCatL2) was autocatalytically cleaved under acidic conditions to form mature TsCatL. TsCatL was transcribed and expressed in larvae and adults and located in the stichosome, gut and embryo. Enzyme kinetic tests showed that rTsCatL2 degraded the substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC under acidic conditions, which was inhibited by E64 and PMSF and enhanced by EDTA, L-cysteine and DTT. The kinetic parameters of rTsCatL2 were a Km value of 48.82 μM and Vmax of 374.4 nM/min at pH 4.5, 37 °C and 5 mM DTT. In addition, it was shown that rTsCatL2 degraded haemoglobin, serum albumin, immunoglobulins (mouse IgG, human IgG and IgM) and extracellular matrix components (fibronectin, collagen I and laminin). The proteolytic activity of rTsCatL2 was host specific and significantly inhibited by E64. rTsCatL2 possesses the natural activity of a sulfhydryl-containing cysteine protease, and TsCatL is an important digestive enzyme that seems to be important for the nutrient acquisition, immune evasion and invasion of Trichinella in the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Dan Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xiang Yu Meng
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Chen Le Li
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shao Rong Long
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jing Cui
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Zhong Quan Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Following initial infection of airway epithelia, SARS-CoV-2 invades a wide range of cells in multiple organs, including pancreatic islet cells. Diabetes is now recognised as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalisation and death. Additionally, COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of new-onset diabetes and metabolic complications of diabetes. One mechanism by which these deleterious outcomes may occur is via the destruction of insulin-producing islet β cells, either directly by SARS-CoV-2 entry into β cells or indirectly due to inflammation and fibrosis in the surrounding microenvironment. While the canonical pathway of viral entry via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been established as a major route of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung, it may not be solely responsible for viral entry into the endocrine pancreas. This is likely due to the divergent expression of viral entry factors among different tissues. For example, expression of ACE2 has not been unequivocally demonstrated in β cells. Thus, it is important to understand how other proteins known to be highly expressed in pancreatic endocrine cells may be involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry, with the view that these could be targeted to prevent the demise of the β cell in COVID-19. To that end, this review discusses alternate receptors of SARS-CoV-2 (CD147 and GRP78), as well as mediators (furin, TMPRSS2, cathepsin L, ADAM17, neuropilin-1, and heparan sulphate) that may facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry into pancreatic islets independent of or in conjunction with ACE2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rohita Rangu
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Pandora L. Wander
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Breanne M. Barrow
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
| | - Sakeneh Zraika
- Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Meewan I, Kattoula J, Kattoula JY, Skinner D, Fajtová P, Giardini MA, Woodworth B, McKerrow JH, Lage de Siqueira-Neto J, O'Donoghue AJ, Abagyan R. Discovery of Triple Inhibitors of Both SARS-CoV-2 Proteases and Human Cathepsin L. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:744. [PMID: 35745663 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One inhibitor of the main SARS-CoV-2 protease has been approved recently by the FDA, yet it targets only SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Here, we discovered inhibitors containing thiuram disulfide or dithiobis-(thioformate) tested against three key proteases involved in SARS-CoV-2 replication, including Mpro, SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro), and human cathepsin L. The use of thiuram disulfide and dithiobis-(thioformate) covalent inhibitor warheads was inspired by an idea to find a better alternative than disulfiram, an approved treatment for chronic alcoholism that is currently in phase 2 clinical trials against SARS-CoV-2. Our goal was to find more potent inhibitors that target both viral proteases and one essential human protease to reduce the dosage, improve the efficacy, and minimize the adverse effects associated with these agents. We found that compounds coded as RI175, RI173, and RI172 were the most potent inhibitors in an enzymatic assay against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, and human cathepsin L, with IC50s of 300, 200, and 200 nM, which is about 5-, 19-, and 11-fold more potent than disulfiram, respectively. In addition, RI173 was tested against SARS-CoV-2 in a cell-based and toxicity assay and was shown to have a greater antiviral effect than disulfiram. The identified compounds demonstrated the promising potential of thiuram disulfide or dithiobis-(thioformate) as a reactive functional group in small molecules that could be further developed for treatment of the COVID-19 virus or related variants.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ma K, Li R, Song G, Guo F, Wu M, Lu Q, Li X, Chen G. Djhsp60 Is Required for Planarian Regeneration and Homeostasis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:808. [PMID: 35740934 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HSP60, a well-known mitochondrial chaperone, is essential for mitochondrial homeostasis. HSP60 deficiency causes dysfunction of the mitochondria and is lethal to animal survival. Here, we used freshwater planarian as a model system to investigate and uncover the roles of HSP60 in tissue regeneration and homeostasis. HSP60 protein is present in all types of cells in planarians, but it is relatively rich in stem cells and head neural cells. Knockdown of HSP60 by RNAi causes head regression and the loss of regenerating abilities, which is related to decrease in mitotic cells and inhibition of stem cell-related genes. RNAi-HSP60 disrupts the structure of the mitochondria and inhibits the mitochondrial-related genes, which mainly occur in intestinal tissues. RNAi-HSP60 also damages the integrity of intestinal tissues and downregulates intestine-expressed genes. More interestingly, RNAi-HSP60 upregulates the expression of the cathepsin L-like gene, which may be the reason for head regression and necrotic-like cell death. Taking these points together, we propose a model illustrating the relationship between neoblasts and intestinal cells, and also highlight the essential role of the intestinal system in planarian regeneration and tissue homeostasis.
Collapse
|
25
|
Liao MC, Miyata KN, Chang SY, Zhao XP, Lo CS, El-Mortada MA, Peng J, Chenier I, Yamashita M, Ingelfinger JR, Chan JSD, Zhang SL. Angiotensin II type-2-receptor stimulation ameliorates focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in mice. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:715-31. [PMID: 35502764 DOI: 10.1042/CS20220188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Podocyte damage and loss are the early event in the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Podocytes express angiotensin II type-2-receptor (AT2R), which may play a key role in maintaining kidney integrity and function. Here, we examined the effects of AT2R deletion and AT2R agonist compound 21 (C21) on the evolution of FSGS. FSGS was induced by adriamycin (ADR) injection in both male wild-type (WT) and AT2R knockout (KO) mice. C21 was administered to WT-FSGS mice either one day before or 7 days after ADR (Pre-C21 or Post-C21), using two doses of C21 at either 0.3 (low dose, LD) or 1.0 (high dose, HD) mg/kg/day. ADR-induced FSGS was more severe in AT2RKO mice compared with WT-FSGS mice, and included profound podocyte loss, glomerular fibrosis, and albuminuria. Glomerular cathepsin L expression increased more in AT2RKO-FSGS than in WT-FSGS mice. C21 treatment ameliorated podocyte injury, most significantly in the Pre C21-HD group, and inhibited glomerular cathepsin L expression. In vitro, Agtr2 knock-down in mouse podocyte cell line given ADR confirmed the in vivo data. Mechanistically, C21 inhibited cathepsin L expression, which protected synaptopodin from destruction and stabilized actin cytoskeleton. C21 also prevented podocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, AT2R activation by C21 ameliorated ADR-induced podocyte injury in mice by the inhibition of glomerular cathepsin L leading to the maintenance of podocyte integrity and prevention of podocyte apoptosis.
Collapse
|
26
|
Zulkipli M, Mahbub N, Fatima A, Wan-Lin SL, Khoo TJ, Mahboob T, Rajagopal M, Samudi C, Kathirvalu G, Abdullah NH, Pinho AR, Oliveira SMR, Pereira MDL, Rahmatullah M, Hasan A, Paul AK, Butler MS, Nawaz M, Wilairatana P, Nissapatorn V, Wiart C. Isolation and Characterization of Werneria Chromene and Dihydroxyacidissimol from Burkillanthus malaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:1388. [PMID: 35684161 PMCID: PMC9182682 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111388] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The secondary metabolites of endemic plants from the Rutaceae family, such as Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle from the rainforest of Malaysia, has not been studied. Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle may produce antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiating secondary metabolites. Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts of leaves, bark, wood, pericarps, and endocarps were tested against bacteria by broth microdilution assay and their antibiotic-potentiating activities. Chromatographic separations of hexane extracts of seeds were conducted to investigate effective phytochemicals and their antibacterial activities. Molecular docking studies of werneria chromene and dihydroxyacidissiminol against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection were conducted using AutoDock Vina. The methanol extract of bark inhibited the growth of Staphylococcusaureus, Escherichiacoli, and Pseudomonasaeruginosa with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 250, 500, and 250 µg/mL, respectively. The chloroform extract of endocarps potentiated the activity of imipenem against imipenem-resistant Acinetobacterbaumannii. The hexane extract of seeds increased the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa against ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The hexane extract of seeds and chloroform extract of endocarps were chromatographed, yielding werneria chromene and dihydroxyacidissiminol. Werneria chromene was bacteriostatic for P.aeruginosa and P.putida, with MIC/MBC values of 1000 > 1000 µg/mL. Dihydroxyacidissiminol showed the predicted binding energies of −8.1, −7.6, −7.0, and −7.5 kcal/mol with cathepsin L, nsp13 helicase, SARS-CoV-2 main protease, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain S-RBD. Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle can be a potential source of natural products with antibiotic-potentiating activity and that are anti-SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masyitah Zulkipli
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia; (M.Z.); (N.M.); (S.L.W.-L.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Nuzum Mahbub
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia; (M.Z.); (N.M.); (S.L.W.-L.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Ayesha Fatima
- Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34093, Turkey;
| | - Stefanie Lim Wan-Lin
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia; (M.Z.); (N.M.); (S.L.W.-L.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Teng-Jin Khoo
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia; (M.Z.); (N.M.); (S.L.W.-L.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Tooba Mahboob
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (T.M.); (C.S.); (G.K.)
| | - Mogana Rajagopal
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Chandramathi Samudi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (T.M.); (C.S.); (G.K.)
| | - Gheetanjali Kathirvalu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (T.M.); (C.S.); (G.K.)
| | - Nor Hayati Abdullah
- Natural Product Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong 52109, Malaysia;
| | - Ana Rita Pinho
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.d.L.P.)
- Neuroscience and Signaling Laboratory, Institute of Biomedicine-IBIMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sonia M. R. Oliveira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
- Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Maria de Lourdes Pereira
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (A.R.P.); (M.d.L.P.)
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Mohammed Rahmatullah
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (M.R.); (A.H.)
| | - Anamul Hasan
- Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; (M.R.); (A.H.)
| | - Alok K. Paul
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia;
| | - Mark S. Butler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Muhammad Nawaz
- Department of Nano-Medicine, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRM), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Veeranoot Nissapatorn
- School of Allied Health Sciences, World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery (WUHeDD), Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products (RECIHP), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Christophe Wiart
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Yu F, Pan T, Huang F, Ying R, Liu J, Fan H, Zhang J, Liu W, Lin Y, Yuan Y, Yang T, Li R, Zhang X, Lv X, Chen Q, Liang A, Zou F, Liu B, Hu F, Tang X, Li L, Deng K, He X, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Ma X. Glycopeptide Antibiotic Teicoplanin Inhibits Cell Entry of SARS-CoV-2 by Suppressing the Proteolytic Activity of Cathepsin L. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:884034. [PMID: 35572668 PMCID: PMC9096618 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.884034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), public health worldwide has been greatly threatened. The development of an effective treatment for this infection is crucial and urgent but is hampered by the incomplete understanding of the viral infection mechanisms and the lack of specific antiviral agents. We previously reported that teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic that has been commonly used in the clinic to treat bacterial infection, significantly restrained the cell entry of Ebola virus, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV by specifically inhibiting the activity of cathepsin L (CTSL). Here, we found that the cleavage sites of CTSL on the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were highly conserved among all the variants. The treatment with teicoplanin suppressed the proteolytic activity of CTSL on spike and prevented the cellular infection of different pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Teicoplanin potently prevented the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cellular cytoplasm with an IC50 of 2.038 μM for the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference strain and an IC50 of 2.116 μM for the SARS-CoV-2 (D614G) variant. The pre-treatment of teicoplanin also prevented SARS-CoV-2 infection in hACE2 mice. In summary, our data reveal that CTSL is required for both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of teicoplanin for universal anti-CoVs intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Infection and Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruosu Ying
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Infection and Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huimin Fan
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junsong Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingtong Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaochang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Lv
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianyu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anqi Liang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Zou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengyu Hu
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Tang
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linghua Li
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Deng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin He
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,National Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-Island, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiancai Ma
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry Education, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Antimicrobial Agent and Immunotechnology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,National Guangzhou Laboratory, Bio-Island, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cui B, Guo X, Zhang Y, Meng X. Effect of Lysosomal Cathepsin L on Proteolysis of Beef Myofibrillar Proteins In Vivo and In Vitro. Foods 2022; 11:613. [PMID: 35206088 DOI: 10.3390/foods11040613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of cathepsin L on proteolysis of beef myofibrillar proteins in vivo and in vitro. Results indicated that cathepsin L affected the degradation of desmin and troponin-T during postmortem aging, and the extent of degradation increased from 1 d to 14 d postmortem. No detectable degradation of titin, nebulin, and α-actinin in the presence of cathepsin L inhibitor was observed during postmortem aging. In vitro, cathepsin L affected the degradation of titin, nebulin, and troponin-T, and the extent of degradation increased with increasing incubation time. Nevertheless, cathepsin L did not cause the degradation of α-actinin and desmin, regardless of incubation temperature. The different results between in vitro and in vivo experiments might mainly depend on different treatment temperatures. Overall, these results indicated that cathepsin L participated in the degradation of myofibrillar proteins and meat tenderization.
Collapse
|
29
|
Goc A, Niedzwiecki A, Ivanov V, Ivanova S, Rath M. Inhibitory effects of specific combination of natural compounds against SARS-CoV-2 and its Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa, and Mu variants. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2022; 11:87-94. [PMID: 35060921 PMCID: PMC8830412 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2021.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite vaccine availability, the global spread of COVID-19 continues, largely facilitated by emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Our earlier research documented that a specific combination of plant-derived compounds can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 binding to its ACE2 receptor and controlling key cellular mechanisms of viral infectivity. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a defined mixture of plant extracts and micronutrients against original SARS-CoV-2 and its Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa, and Mu variants. The composition containing vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine, resveratrol, theaflavin, curcumin, quercetin, naringenin, baicalin, and broccoli extract demonstrated a highest efficacy by inhibiting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) binding of SARS-CoV-2 to its cellular ACE2 receptor by 90%. In vitro exposure of test pseudo-typed variants to this formula for 1 h before or simultaneously administrated to human pulmonary cells resulted in up to 60% inhibition in their cellular entry. Additionally, this composition significantly inhibited other cellular mechanisms of viral infectivity, including the activity of viral RdRp, furin, and cathepsin L. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of natural compounds against SARS-CoV-2 including its mutated forms through pleiotropic mechanisms. Our results imply that simultaneous inhibition of multiple mechanisms of viral infection of host cells could be an effective strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Goc
- Dr. Rath Research Institute, 5941 Optical Ct., San Jose, CA 95138,USA
| | | | - Vadim Ivanov
- Dr. Rath Research Institute, 5941 Optical Ct., San Jose, CA 95138,USA
| | - Svetlana Ivanova
- Dr. Rath Research Institute, 5941 Optical Ct., San Jose, CA 95138,USA
| | - Matthias Rath
- Dr. Rath Research Institute, 5941 Optical Ct., San Jose, CA 95138,USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ripamonti M, Cerone L, Abbà S, Rossi M, Ottati S, Palmano S, Marzachì C, Galetto L. Silencing of ATP Synthase β Impairs Egg Development in the Leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, Vector of the Phytoplasma Associated with Grapevine Flavescence Dorée. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:765. [PMID: 35054956 PMCID: PMC8775575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020765] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the natural vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, a quarantine pest of grapevine with severe impact on European viticulture. RNA interference (RNAi) machinery components are present in S. titanus transcriptome and injection of ATP synthase β dsRNAs into adults caused gene silencing, starting three days post injection (dpi) up to 20 dpi, leading to decrease cognate protein. Silencing of this gene in the closely related leafhopper Euscelidiusvariegatus previously showed female sterility and lack of mature eggs in ovaries. Here, alteration of developing egg morphology in S. titanus ovaries as well as overexpression of hexamerin transcript (amino acid storage protein) and cathepsin L protein (lysosome proteinase) were observed in dsATP-injected females. To evaluate RNAi-specificity, E.variegatus was used as dsRNA-receiving model-species. Different doses of two sets of dsRNA-constructs targeting distinct portions of ATP synthase β gene of both species induced silencing, lack of egg development, and female sterility in E. variegatus, indicating that off-target effects must be evaluated case by case. The effectiveness of RNAi in S. titanus provides a powerful tool for functional genomics of this non-model species and paves the way toward RNAi-based strategies to limit vector population, despite several technical and regulatory constraints that still need to be overcome to allow open field application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Ripamonti
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department (ERIN), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 41 Rue du Brill, 4422 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Luca Cerone
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali ed Alimentari DISAFA, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Abbà
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Marika Rossi
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Sara Ottati
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali ed Alimentari DISAFA, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Sabrina Palmano
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Marzachì
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Luciana Galetto
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile Delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, IPSP-CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy; (M.R.); (L.C.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (S.O.); (S.P.); (C.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Barbour T, Cwiklinski K, Lalor R, Dalton JP, De Marco Verissimo C. The Zoonotic Helminth Parasite Fasciola hepatica: Virulence-Associated Cathepsin B and Cathepsin L Cysteine Peptidases Secreted by Infective Newly Excysted Juveniles (NEJ). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123495. [PMID: 34944270 PMCID: PMC8698070 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Fasciolosis, caused by the worm parasite Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke), is a global disease of farm animals and a neglected disease of humans. Infection arises from the ingestion of resistant metacercariae that contaminate vegetation. Within the intestine, the parasite excysts as an active larvae, the newly excysted juvenile (NEJ), that borrows through the intestinal wall to infect the host and migrates to the liver. NEJ release, tissue penetration and migration are facilitated by enzymes secreted by the parasite, namely, cathepsin B1 (FhCB1), cathepsin B2 (FhCB2), cathepsin B3 (FhCB3) and cathepsin L3 (FhCL3). While our knowledge of these enzymes is growing, we have yet to understand why the parasites require all four of them to invade the host. In this study, we produced functional recombinant forms of these enzymes and demonstrated that they vary greatly in terms of activity, optimal pH and substrate specificity, suggesting that, combined, these enzymes provide the parasite with an efficient digestion system for different host tissues and molecules. We also identified several compounds that inhibited the activity of these enzymes, but did not affect the ability of the larvae to excyst or survive. However, this does not exclude these enzymes as targets for development of drugs or vaccines. Abstract Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a major global disease of livestock and an important neglected helminthiasis of humans. Infection arises when encysted metacercariae are ingested by the mammalian host. Within the intestine, the parasite excysts as a newly excysted juvenile (NEJ) that penetrates the intestinal wall and migrates to the liver. NEJ excystment and tissue penetration are facilitated by the secretion of cysteine peptidases, namely, cathepsin B1 (FhCB1), cathepsin B2 (FhCB2), cathepsin B3 (FhCB3) and cathepsin L3 (FhCL3). While our knowledge of these peptidases is growing, we have yet to understand why multiple enzymes are required for parasite invasion. Here, we produced functional recombinant forms of these four peptidases and compared their physio-biochemical characteristics. Our studies show great variation of their pH optima for activity, substrate specificity and inhibitory profile. Carboxy-dipeptidase activity was exhibited exclusively by FhCB1. Our studies suggest that, combined, these peptidases create a powerful hydrolytic cocktail capable of digesting the various host tissues, cells and macromolecules. Although we found several inhibitors of these enzymes, they did not show potent inhibition of metacercarial excystment or NEJ viability in vitro. However, this does not exclude these peptidases as targets for future drug or vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tara Barbour
- School of Biological Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.B.); (K.C.); (J.P.D.)
| | - Krystyna Cwiklinski
- School of Biological Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.B.); (K.C.); (J.P.D.)
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Richard Lalor
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - John Pius Dalton
- School of Biological Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.B.); (K.C.); (J.P.D.)
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Carolina De Marco Verissimo
- School of Biological Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.B.); (K.C.); (J.P.D.)
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Linhares DDC, Faria F, Kodama RT, Amorim AMXP, Portaro FCV, Trevisan-Silva D, Ferraz KF, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM. Novel Cysteine Protease Inhibitor Derived from the Haementeria vizottoi Leech: Recombinant Expression, Purification, and Characterization. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:857. [PMID: 34941695 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13120857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin L (CatL) is a lysosomal cysteine protease primarily involved in the terminal degradation of intracellular and endocytosed proteins. More specifically, in humans, CatL has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis, as well as coronary artery diseases and others. Given this, the search for potent CatL inhibitors is of great importance. In the search for new molecules to perform proteolytic activity regulation, salivary secretions from hematophagous animals have been an important source, as they present protease inhibitors that evolved to disable host proteases. Based on the transcriptome of the Haementeria vizzotoi leech, the cDNA of Cystatin-Hv was selected for this study. Cystatin-Hv was expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified by two chromatographic steps. The kinetic results using human CatL indicated that Cystatin-Hv, in its recombinant form, is a potent inhibitor of this protease, with a Ki value of 7.9 nM. Consequently, the present study describes, for the first time, the attainment and the biochemical characterization of a recombinant cystatin from leeches as a potent CatL inhibitor. While searching out for new molecules of therapeutic interest, this leech cystatin opens up possibilities for the future use of this molecule in studies involving cellular and in vivo models.
Collapse
|
33
|
Bai Y, Ma KN, Sun XY, Dan Liu R, Long SR, Jiang P, Wang ZQ, Cui J. Molecular characterization of a novel cathepsin L from Trichinella spiralis and its participation in invasion, development and reproduction. Acta Trop 2021; 224:106112. [PMID: 34453915 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsin L is one member of cysteine protease superfamily and widely distributed in parasitic organisms, it plays the important roles in worm invasion, migration, nutrient intake, molting and immune evasion. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological characteristics of a novel cathepsin L from Trichinella spiralis (TsCL) and its role in larval invasion, development and reproduction. TsCL has a functional domain of C1 peptidase, which belongs to cathepsin L family. The complete TsCL sequence was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The rTsCL has good immunogenicity. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that TsCL was transcribed and expressed at different T. spiralis phases (e.g., muscle larvae, intestinal infectious larvae, adult worms and newborn larvae). Immunofluorescence test revealed that TsCL was principally localized in the cuticle, stichosome, midgut and female intrauterine embryos of the nematode. rTsCL has the capacity to specially bind with intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the binding sites was located in the cytoplasm. rTsCL promoted larval penetration into IEC, while anti-rTsCL antibodies inhibited the invasion. The silencing of TsCL gene by specific dsRNA significantly reduced the TsCL expression and enzyme activity, and also reduced larval invasive ability, development and female reproduction. The results showed that TsCL is an obligatory protease in T. spiralis lifecycle. TsCL participates in worm invasion, development and reproduction, and may be regarded as a potential candidate vaccine/drug target against T. spiralis infection.
Collapse
|
34
|
Wang F, Dai Y, Huang M, Zhang C, Huang L, Wang H, Ye L, Wu Q, Zhang X, Zhu Q. Glomerular Damage in Trichloroethylene-Sensitized Mice: Targeting Cathepsin L-Induced Hyperactive mTOR Signaling. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:639878. [PMID: 34393767 PMCID: PMC8358928 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.639878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a serious health hazard for workers with daily exposure, causing occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis due to TCE (OMDT) and glomerular damage. Recent studies suggest that mTORC1 signaling is activated in various glomerular disorders; however, the role of mTORC1 signaling in TCE-induced glomerular damage remains to be explored. In the present study, 6 OMDT patients were enrolled and a TCE-sensitized mouse model was established to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying the glomerular damage associated with OMDT. Glomerular damage was assessed by levels of urine nephrin, H&E staining, and renal function test. Ultrastructural change of podocyte was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The podocyte-related molecules including nephrin, α-actinin-4, and integrin β1 were visualized by immunofluorescence. The activation of mTORC1 signaling was confirmed by Western blot. Glomerular apoptosis was examined by the TUNEL test and Western blotting. Expression and location of cathepsin L (CTSL) were assessed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Our results showed that TCE sensitization caused damage to glomerular structural integrity and also increased the activation of mTORC1 signaling, which was accompanied by podocyte loss, hypertrophy, and glomerular apoptosis. Importantly, we also found that over-expressed CTSL was mainly located in podocyte and CTSL inhibition could partially block the activation of mTORC1 signaling. Thus, our findings suggested a novel mechanism whereby hyperactive mTOR signaling contributes to TCE sensitization–induced and immune-mediated glomerular damage via CTSL activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuying Dai
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Meng Huang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liping Huang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liangping Ye
- Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qifeng Wu
- Poison Control Center, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qixing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Dermatology, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Müller P, Maus H, Hammerschmidt SJ, Knaff P, Mailänder V, Schirmeister T, Kersten C. Interfering with Host Proteases in SARS-CoV-2 Entry as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:635-665. [PMID: 34042026 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210526111318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to its fast international spread and substantial mortality, the coronavirus disease COVID-19 evolved to a global threat. Since currently, there is no causative drug against this viral infection available, science is striving for new drugs and approaches to treat the new disease. Studies have shown that the cell entry of coronaviruses into host cells takes place through the binding of the viral spike (S) protein to cell receptors. Priming of the S protein occurs via hydrolysis by different host proteases. The inhibition of these proteases could impair the processing of the S protein, thereby affecting the interaction with the host-cell receptors and preventing virus cell entry. Hence, inhibition of these proteases could be a promising strategy for treatment against SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we discuss the current state of the art of developing inhibitors against the entry proteases furin, the transmembrane serine protease type-II (TMPRSS2), trypsin, and cathepsin L.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Müller
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hannah Maus
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Josef Hammerschmidt
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Philip Knaff
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Volker Mailänder
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Christian Kersten
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Liu L, Doray B. Elevated mRNA expression and defective processing of cathepsin D in HeLa cells lacking the mannose 6-phosphate pathway. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:1695-1703. [PMID: 33932147 PMCID: PMC8167872 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of the mannose 6‐phosphate (M‐6‐P) pathway in HeLa cells by inactivation of the GNPTAB gene, which encodes the α/β subunits of GlcNAc‐1‐phosphotransferase, results in missorting of newly synthesized lysosomal acid hydrolases to the cell culture media instead of transport to the endolysosomal system. We previously demonstrated that the majority of the lysosomal aspartyl protease, cathepsin D, is secreted in these GNPTAB−/− HeLa cells. However, the intracellular content of cathepsin D in these cells was still greater than that of WT HeLa cells which retained most of the protease, indicating a marked elevation of cathepsin D expression in response to abrogation of the M‐6‐P pathway. Here, we demonstrate that HeLa cells lacking GlcNAc‐1‐phosphotransferase show a fivefold increase in cathepsin D mRNA expression over control cells, accounting for the increase in cathepsin D at the protein level. Further, we show that this increase at the mRNA level occurs independent of the transcription factors TFEB and TFE3. The intracellular cathepsin D can still be trafficked to lysosomes in the absence of the M‐6‐P pathway, but fails to undergo proteolytic processing into the fully mature heavy and light chains. Uptake experiments performed by feeding GNPTAB−/− HeLa cells with various phosphorylated cathepsins reveal that only cathepsin B is capable of partially restoring cleavage, providing evidence for a role for cathepsin B in the proteolytic processing of cathepsin D.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Balraj Doray
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Kwon CW, Chang PS. Role of Endogenous Cathepsin L in Muscle Protein Degradation in Olive Flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus) Surimi Gel. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26071901. [PMID: 33800606 PMCID: PMC8037396 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of endogenous cathepsin L on surimi gel produced from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The amino acid sequences of six proteins predicted or identified as cathepsin L were obtained from the olive flounder genome database, and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted. Next, cathepsin L activity toward N-α-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanyl-l-arginine-(7-amino-4-methylcoumarin) (Z-F-R-AMC) was detected in crude olive flounder extract and a crude enzyme preparation. A considerable decrease in the level of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in surimi occurred during autolysis at 60 °C. In contrast, the levels of actin, troponin-T, and tropomyosin decreased only slightly. To prevent protein degradation by cathepsin L, a protease inhibitor was added to surimi. In the presence of 1.0% protease inhibitor, the autolysis of olive flounder surimi at 60 °C was inhibited by 12.2%; the degree of inhibition increased to 44.2% as the inhibitor concentration increased to 3.0%. In addition, the deformation and hardness of modori gel increased as the inhibitor concentration increased to 2.0%. Therefore, cathepsin L plays an important role in protein degradation in surimi, and the quality of surimi gel could be enhanced by inhibiting its activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Woo Kwon
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
| | - Pahn-Shick Chang
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Center for Agricultural Microorganism and Enzyme, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-880-4852
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Henriques BS, Gomes B, Oliveira PL, Garcia EDS, Azambuja P, Genta FA. Characterization of the Temporal Pattern of Blood Protein Digestion in Rhodnius prolixus: First Description of Early and Late Gut Cathepsins. Front Physiol 2021; 11:509310. [PMID: 33519496 PMCID: PMC7838648 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.509310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodnius prolixus is one important vector for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in Latin America, where Chagas disease is a significant health issue. Although R. prolixus is a model for investigations of vector–parasite interaction and transmission, not much has been done recently to further comprehend its protein digestion. In this work, gut proteolysis was characterized using new fluorogenic substrates, including optimum pH, inhibition profiles, and tissue and temporal expression patterns. Each protease possessed a particular tissue prevalence and activity cycle after feeding. Cathepsin L had a higher activity in the posterior midgut lumen, being characterized by a plateau of high activities during several days in the intermediate phase of digestion. Cathepsin D showed high activity levels in the tissue homogenates and in the luminal content of the posterior midgut, with a single peak 5 days after blood feeding. Aminopeptidases are highly associated with the midgut wall, where the highest activity is located. Assays with proteinaceous substrates as casein, hemoglobin, and serum albumin revealed different activity profiles, with some evidence of biphasic temporal proteolytic patterns. Cathepsin D genes are preferentially expressed in the anterior midgut, while cathepsin L genes are mainly located in the posterior portion of the midgut, with specific sets of genes being differently expressed in the initial, intermediate, or late phases of blood digestion. Significance Statement This is the first description in a non-dipteran hematophagous species of a sequential protease secretion system based on midgut cathepsins instead of the most common insect digestive serine proteases (trypsins and chymotrypsins). The midgut of R. prolixus (Hemiptera) shows a different temporal expression of proteases in the initial, intermediate, and late stages of blood digestion. In this respect, a different timing in protease secretion may be an example of adaptative convergence in blood-sucking vectors from different orders. Expanding the knowledge about gut physiology in triatomine vectors may contribute to the development of new control strategies, aiming the blocking of parasite transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Santos Henriques
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro Lagerblad Oliveira
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elói de Souza Garcia
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Azambuja
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernando Ariel Genta
- Laboratory of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Oswaldo Cruz Institute - Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jiang S, Xiong Y, Zhang W, Zhu J, Cheng D, Gong Y, Wu Y, Qiao H, Fu H. Molecular Characterization of a Novel Cathepsin L in Macrobrachium nipponense and Its Function in Ovary Maturation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:816813. [PMID: 35082760 PMCID: PMC8784880 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.816813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin L genes, which belonged to cysteine proteases, were a series of multifunctional protease and played important roles in a lot of pathological and physiological processes. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics a cathepsin L (named Mn-CL2) in the female oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense which was involved in ovary maturation. The Mn-CL2 was1,582 bp in length, including a 978 bp open reading frame that encoded 326 amino acids. The Mn-CL2 was classified into the cathepsin L group by phylogenetic analysis. Real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis indicated that Mn-CL2 was highly expressed in the hepatopancreas and ovaries of female prawns. During the different ovarian stages, Mn-CL2 expression in the hepatopancreas and ovaries peaked before ovarian maturation. In situ hybridization studies revealed that Mn-CL2 was localized in the oocyte of the ovary. Injection of Mn-CL2 dsRNA significantly reduced the expression of vitellogenin. Changes in the gonad somatic index also confirmed the inhibitory effects of Mn-CL2 dsRNA on ovary maturation. These results suggest that Mn-CL2 has a key role in promoting ovary maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sufei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Yiwei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Junpeng Zhu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, China
| | - Dan Cheng
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yongsheng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Hui Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtuo Fu, ; Hui Qiao,
| | - Hongtuo Fu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Hongtuo Fu, ; Hui Qiao,
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Cianni L, Rocho FDR, Bonatto V, Martins FCP, Lameira J, Leitão A, Montanari CA, Shamim A. Design, synthesis and stepwise optimization of nitrile-based inhibitors of cathepsins B and L. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 29:115827. [PMID: 33254069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human cathepsin B (CatB) is an important biological target in cancer therapy. In this work, we performed a knowledge-based design approach and the synthesis of a new set of 19 peptide-like nitrile-based cathepsin inhibitors. Reported compounds were assayed against a panel of human cysteine proteases: CatB, CatL, CatK, and CatS. Three compounds (7h, 7i, and 7j) displayed nanomolar inhibition of CatB and selectivity over CatK and CatL. The selectivity was achieved by using the combination of a para biphenyl ring at P3, halogenated phenylalanine in P2 and Thr-O-Bz group at P1. Likewise, compounds 7i and 7j showed selective CatB inhibition among the panel of enzymes studied. We have also described a successful example of bioisosteric replacement of the amide bond for a sulfonamide one [7e → 6b], where we observed an increase in affinity and selectivity for CatB while lowering the compound lipophilicity (ilogP). Our knowledge-based design approach and the respective structure-activity relationships provide insights into the specific ligand-target interactions for therapeutically relevant cathepsins.
Collapse
|
41
|
Gomes CP, Fernandes DE, Casimiro F, da Mata GF, Passos MT, Varela P, Mastroianni-Kirsztajn G, Pesquero JB. Cathepsin L in COVID-19: From Pharmacological Evidences to Genetics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:589505. [PMID: 33364201 PMCID: PMC7753008 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.589505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [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: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemics is a challenge without precedent for the modern science. Acute Respiratory Discomfort Syndrome (ARDS) is the most common immunopathological event in SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV infections. Fast lung deterioration results of cytokine storm determined by a robust immunological response leading to ARDS and multiple organ failure. Here, we show cysteine protease Cathepsin L (CatL) involvement with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19 from different points of view. CatL is a lysosomal enzyme that participates in numerous physiological processes, including apoptosis, antigen processing, and extracellular matrix remodeling. CatL is implicated in pathological conditions like invasion and metastasis of tumors, inflammatory status, atherosclerosis, renal disease, diabetes, bone diseases, viral infection, and other diseases. CatL expression is up-regulated during chronic inflammation and is involved in degrading extracellular matrix, an important process for SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells. In addition, CatL is probably involved in processing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. As its inhibition is detrimental to SARS-CoV-2 infection and possibly exit from cells during late stages of infection, CatL could have been considered a valuable therapeutic target. Therefore, we describe here some drugs already in the market with potential CatL inhibiting capacity that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients. In addition, we discuss the possible role of host genetics in the etiology and spreading of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caio P. Gomes
- Center for Research and Molecular Diagnostic of Genetic Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo E. Fernandes
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Casimiro
- Center for Research and Molecular Diagnostic of Genetic Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gustavo F. da Mata
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michelle T. Passos
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Varela
- Center for Research and Molecular Diagnostic of Genetic Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - João Bosco Pesquero
- Center for Research and Molecular Diagnostic of Genetic Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Fonseca Lameiro RD, Shamim A, Rosini F, Cendron R, Jatai Batista PH, Montanari CA. Synthesis, biochemical evaluation and molecular modeling studies of nonpeptidic nitrile-based fluorinated compounds. Future Med Chem 2021; 13:25-43. [PMID: 33289603 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Compounds that block enzyme activity can kill pathogens and help develop effective and safe drugs for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Materials & methods: A library of nonpeptidic nitrile-based compounds was synthesized and had their inhibitory affinity tested against cruzain, Leishmania mexicana cysteine protease B and cathepsin L. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments and molecular simulations were performed for selected compounds to obtain thermodynamic fingerprints and identify main interactions and putative modes of binding with cruzain. Results: The derivatives provided increased affinity against all enzymes compared with the lead, and thermodynamic and computational studies showed improved thermodynamic properties and a possible different mode of binding. Conclusion: Our studies culminated in 1b, a compound 60-fold more potent in cruzain than its lead that also showed entropic and enthalpic contributions favorable to Gibbs binding energy.
Collapse
|
43
|
Filippova IY, Dvoryakova EA, Sokolenko NI, Simonyan TR, Tereshchenkova VF, Zhiganov NI, Dunaevsky YE, Belozersky MA, Oppert B, Elpidina EN. New Glutamine-Containing Substrates for the Assay of Cysteine Peptidases From the C1 Papain Family. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:578758. [PMID: 33195423 PMCID: PMC7643032 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.578758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
New substrates with glutamine in the P1-position are introduced for the assay of peptidases from the C1 papain family, with a general formula of Glp-Phe-Gln-X, where Glp is pyroglutamyl and X is pNA (p-nitroanilide) or AMC (4-amino-7-methylcoumaride). The substrates have a simple structure, and C1 cysteine peptidases of various origins cleave them with high efficiency. The main advantage of the substrates is their selectivity for cysteine peptidases of the C1 family. Peptidases of other clans, including serine trypsin-like peptidases, do not cleave glutamine-containing substrates. We demonstrate that using Glp-Phe-Gln-pNA in combination with a commercially available substrate, Z-Arg-Arg-pNA, provided differential determination of cathepsins L and B. In terms of specific activity and kinetic parameters, the proposed substrates offer improvement over the previously described alanine-containing prototypes. The efficiency and selectivity of the substrates was demonstrated by the example of chromatographic and electrophoretic analysis of a multi-enzyme digestive complex of stored product pests from the Tenebrionidae family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Y Filippova
- Division of Natural Compounds, Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena A Dvoryakova
- Department of Plant Proteins, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay I Sokolenko
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry, Institute of Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana R Simonyan
- Division of Natural Compounds, Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Nikita I Zhiganov
- Division of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yakov E Dunaevsky
- Department of Plant Proteins, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Belozersky
- Department of Plant Proteins, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Brenda Oppert
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Elena N Elpidina
- Department of Plant Proteins, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Vivek-Ananth RP, Rana A, Rajan N, Biswal HS, Samal A. In Silico Identification of Potential Natural Product Inhibitors of Human Proteases Key to SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Molecules 2020; 25:E3822. [PMID: 32842606 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Presently, there are no approved drugs or vaccines to treat COVID-19, which has spread to over 200 countries and at the time of writing was responsible for over 650,000 deaths worldwide. Recent studies have shown that two human proteases, TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L, play a key role in host cell entry of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, inhibitors of these proteases were shown to block SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we perform virtual screening of 14,011 phytochemicals produced by Indian medicinal plants to identify natural product inhibitors of TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L. AutoDock Vina was used to perform molecular docking of phytochemicals against TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L. Potential phytochemical inhibitors were filtered by comparing their docked binding energies with those of known inhibitors of TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L. Further, the ligand binding site residues and non-covalent interactions between protein and ligand were used as an additional filter to identify phytochemical inhibitors that either bind to or form interactions with residues important for the specificity of the target proteases. This led to the identification of 96 inhibitors of TMPRSS2 and 9 inhibitors of cathepsin L among phytochemicals of Indian medicinal plants. Further, we have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze the stability of the protein-ligand complexes for the three top inhibitors of TMPRSS2 namely, qingdainone, edgeworoside C and adlumidine, and of cathepsin L namely, ararobinol, (+)-oxoturkiyenine and 3α,17α-cinchophylline. Interestingly, several herbal sources of identified phytochemical inhibitors have antiviral or anti-inflammatory use in traditional medicine. Further in vitro and in vivo testing is needed before clinical trials of the promising phytochemical inhibitors identified here.
Collapse
|
45
|
Zwicker JD, Smith D, Guerra AJ, Hitchens JR, Haug N, Vander Roest S, Lee P, Wen B, Sun D, Wang L, Keep RF, Xiang J, Carruthers VB, Larsen SD. Discovery and Optimization of Triazine Nitrile Inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii Cathepsin L for the Potential Treatment of Chronic Toxoplasmosis in the CNS. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2450-2463. [PMID: 32027110 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
With roughly 2 billion people infected, the neurotropic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii remains one of the most pervasive and infectious parasites. Toxoplasma infection is the second leading cause of death due to foodborne illness in the United States, causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients, and is correlated with several cognitive and neurological disorders. Currently, no therapies exist that are capable of eliminating the persistent infection in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study we report the identification of triazine nitrile inhibitors of Toxoplasma cathepsin L (TgCPL) from a high throughput screen and their subsequent optimization. Through rational design, we improved inhibitor potency to as low as 5 nM, identified pharmacophore features that can be exploited for isoform selectivity (up to 7-fold for TgCPL versus human isoform), and improved metabolic stability (t1/2 > 60 min in mouse liver microsomes) guided by a metabolite ID study. We demonstrated that this class of compounds is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier in mice (1:1 brain/plasma at 2 h). Importantly, we also show for the first time that treatment of T. gondii bradyzoite cysts in vitro with triazine nitrile inhibitors reduces parasite viability with efficacy equivalent to a TgCPL genetic knockout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery D. Zwicker
- Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - David Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Alfredo J. Guerra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jacob R. Hitchens
- Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Nicole Haug
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Steve Vander Roest
- Center for Chemical Genomics, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Pil Lee
- Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Bo Wen
- Pharmacokinetics Core, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Duxin Sun
- Pharmacokinetics Core, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Lu Wang
- Pharmacokinetics Core, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Richard F. Keep
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jianming Xiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Vern B. Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Scott D. Larsen
- Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Toman NP, Kamenik AS, Santos LH, Hofer F, Liedl KR, Ferreira RS. Profiling selectivity of chagasin mutants towards cysteine proteases cruzain or cathepsin L through molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:5940-5952. [PMID: 32715978 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1796797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Chagasin, an endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor from Trypanosoma cruzi, can control the activity of the parasitic cruzain and its homologous human cathepsin L. While chagasin inhibits both enzymes with similar potency, mutations have different effects on binding to these enzymes. Mutants T31A and T31A/T32A bind well to cathepsin L, but their affinity for cruzain drops ∼40 to 140-fold. On the other hand, the mutant W93A binds well to cruzain, but it loses potency against cathepsin L. Here, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to understand the selectivity in inhibition of cruzain or cathepsin L by chagasin mutants W93A, T31A, and T31A/T32A. Our results allowed profiling the nonbonded interactions in the interfaces of each mutant with these cysteine proteases. Additionally, we observed differences in the binding conformation of the chagasin loops L2 and L6 of the W93A mutant, favoring interactions with cruzain and reducing interactions with cathepsin L. These differences are associated with a partial dissociation of the W93A-cathepsin L complex, providing a likely cause for the selectivity of the mutant W93A towards cruzain.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Núbia Prates Toman
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Planejamento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anna Sophia Kamenik
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lucianna Helene Santos
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Planejamento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Florian Hofer
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus R Liedl
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rafaela Salgado Ferreira
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Planejamento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a cysteine protease involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Potent inhibitors against CTSL have long been sought for drug development. Due to insufficient specificity and suboptimal pharmacological properties for current CTSL inhibitors, novel agents are still required for selectively blocking CTSL activity. Here we generated a humanized antibody inhibitor of CTSL by genetically fusing the inhibitory propeptide of procathepsin L to the N-terminus of the light chain of a humanized antibody. The resulting antibody fusion could be stably expressed and displays highly potent inhibition activity and specificity toward CTSL. This work demonstrates a new approach for the rapid generation of antibody inhibitors of CTSL. It can possibly be extended to create inhibitory antibodies targeting other cathepsin proteases, providing novel research and therapeutic tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Shi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Research Center for Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Blaess M, Kaiser L, Sauer M, Csuk R, Deigner HP. COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Lysosomes and Lysosomotropism Implicate New Treatment Strategies and Personal Risks. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4953. [PMID: 32668803 PMCID: PMC7404102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In line with SARS and MERS, the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic is one of the largest challenges in medicine and health care worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 provides numerous therapeutic targets, each of them promising, but not leading to the success of therapy to date. Neither an antiviral nor an immunomodulatory therapy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection/COVID-19 or pre-exposure prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 has proved to be effective. In this review, we try to close the gap and point out the likely relationships among lysosomotropism, increasing lysosomal pH, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and disease process, and we deduce an approach for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS)/cytokine storm triggered by bacteria or viruses. Lysosomotropic compounds affect prominent inflammatory messengers (e.g., IL-1B, CCL4, CCL20, and IL-6), cathepsin-L-dependent viral entry of host cells, and products of lysosomal enzymes that promote endothelial stress response in systemic inflammation. As supported by recent clinical data, patients who have already taken lysosomotropic drugs for other pre-existing conditions likely benefit from this treatment in the COVID-19 pandemic. The early administration of a combination of antivirals such as remdesivir and lysosomotropic drugs, such as the antibiotics teicoplanin or dalbavancin, seems to be able to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and transition to COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Blaess
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany; (M.B.); (L.K.)
| | - Lars Kaiser
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany; (M.B.); (L.K.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Sauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Rostock, Schillingallee 35, D-18057 Rostock, Germany;
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Hospital of Magdeburg, Birkenallee 34, D-39130 Magdeburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute IZI, Leipzig, EXIM Department, Schillingallee 68, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - René Csuk
- Organic Chemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 2, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Hans-Peter Deigner
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany; (M.B.); (L.K.)
- Fraunhofer Institute IZI, Leipzig, EXIM Department, Schillingallee 68, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
- Associated Member, Faculty of Science, Tuebingen University, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Klibi J, Benlagha K. Cortical Thymocytes Along With Their Selecting Ligands Are Required for the Further Thymic Maturation of NKT Cells in Mice. Front Immunol 2020; 11:815. [PMID: 32457751 PMCID: PMC7221135 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Following positive selection, NKT cell precursors enter an “NK-like” program and progress from an NK– to an NK+ maturational stage to give rise to NKT1 cells. Maturation takes place in the thymus or after emigration of NK– NKT cells to the periphery. In this study, we followed the fate of injected NKT cells at the NK– stage of their development in the thymus of a series of mice with differential CD1d expression. Our results indicate that CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes, and not epithelial cells, macrophages, or dendritic cells, are necessary and sufficient to promote the maturation of thymic NKT1 cells. Migration out of the thymus of NK– NKT cells occurred in the absence of CD1d expression, however, CD1d expression is required for maturation in peripheral organs. We also found that the natural ligand Isoglobotriosylceramide (iGb3), and the cysteine protease Cathepsin L, both localizing with CD1d in the endosomal compartment and crucial for NKT cell positive selection, are also required for NK– to NK+ NKT cell transition. Overall, our study indicates that the maturational transition of NKT cells require continuous TCR/CD1d interactions and suggest that these interactions occur in the thymic cortex where DP cortical thymocytes are located. We thus concluded that key components necessary for positive selection of NKT cells are also required for subsequent maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jihene Klibi
- Université de Paris Diderot, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis (IRSL), Inserm U1160, Paris, France
| | - Kamel Benlagha
- Université de Paris Diderot, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis (IRSL), Inserm U1160, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Mahiddine K, Hassel C, Murat C, Girard M, Guerder S. Tissue-Specific Factors Differentially Regulate the Expression of Antigen-Processing Enzymes During Dendritic Cell Ontogeny. Front Immunol 2020; 11:453. [PMID: 32296417 PMCID: PMC7136460 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) form a collection of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that are distributed throughout the body. Conventional DCs (cDCs), which include the cDC1 and cDC2 subsets, and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) constitute the two major ontogenically distinct DC populations. The pDCs complete their differentiation in the bone marrow (BM), whereas the cDC subsets derive from pre-committed BM precursors, the pre-cDC, that seed lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues where they further differentiate into mature cDC1 and cDC2. Within different tissues, cDCs express distinct phenotype and function. Notably, cDCs in the thymus are exquisitely efficient at processing and presenting antigens in the class II pathway, whereas in the spleen they do so only upon maturation induced by danger signals. To appraise this functional heterogeneity, we examined the regulation of the expression of distinct antigen-processing enzymes during DC ontogeny. We analyzed the expression of cathepsin S (CTSS), cathepsin L (CTSL), and thymus-specific serine protease (TSSP), three major antigen-processing enzymes regulating class II presentation in cDC, by DC BM precursors and immature and mature cDCs from the spleen and thymus. We found that pre-cDCs in the BM express relatively high levels of these different proteases. Then, their expression is modulated in a tissue-specific and subset-specific manner with immature and mature thymic cDCs expressing overall higher levels than immature splenic cDCs. On the other hand, the TSSP expression level is selectively down-regulated in spleen pDCs, whereas CTSS and CTSL are both increased in thymic and splenic pDCs. Hence, tissue-specific factors program the expression levels of these different proteases during DC differentiation, thus conferring tissue-specific function to the different DC subsets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karim Mahiddine
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Chervin Hassel
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Claire Murat
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Maeva Girard
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Sylvie Guerder
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|