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Alberga D, Lamanna G, Graziano G, Delre P, Lomuscio MC, Corriero N, Ligresti A, Siliqi D, Saviano M, Contino M, Stefanachi A, Mangiatordi GF. DeLA-DrugSelf: Empowering multi-objective de novo design through SELFIES molecular representation. Comput Biol Med 2024; 175:108486. [PMID: 38653065 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we introduce DeLA-DrugSelf, an upgraded version of DeLA-Drug [J. Chem. Inf. Model. 62 (2022) 1411-1424], which incorporates essential advancements for automated multi-objective de novo design. Unlike its predecessor, which relies on SMILES notation for molecular representation, DeLA-DrugSelf employs a novel and robust molecular representation string named SELFIES (SELF-referencing Embedded String). The generation process in DeLA-DrugSelf not only involves substitutions to the initial string representing the starting query molecule but also incorporates insertions and deletions. This enhancement makes DeLA-DrugSelf significantly more adept at executing data-driven scaffold decoration and lead optimization strategies. Remarkably, DeLA-DrugSelf explicitly addresses the SELFIES-related collapse issue, considering only collapse-free compounds during generation. These compounds undergo a rigorous quality metrics evaluation, highlighting substantial advancements in terms of drug-likeness, uniqueness, and novelty compared to the molecules generated by the previous version of the algorithm. To evaluate the potential of DeLA-DrugSelf as a mutational operator within a genetic algorithm framework for multi-objective optimization, we employed a fitness function based on Pareto dominance. Our objectives focused on target-oriented properties aimed at optimizing known cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) ligands. The results obtained indicate that DeLA-DrugSelf, available as a user-friendly web platform (https://www.ba.ic.cnr.it/softwareic/delaself/), can effectively contribute to the data-driven optimization of starting bioactive molecules based on user-defined parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Alberga
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lamanna
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Graziano
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Pietro Delre
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Corriero
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- CNR - Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Dritan Siliqi
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Amendola 122/o, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Saviano
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Stefanachi
- Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125, Bari, Italy
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2
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Di Micco S, Ciaglia T, Salviati E, Michela P, Kostrzewa M, Musella S, Schiano Moriello A, Di Sarno V, Smaldone G, Di Matteo F, Capolupo I, Infantino R, Bifulco G, Pepe G, Sommella EM, Kumar P, Basilicata MG, Allarà M, Sánchez-Fernández N, Aso E, Gomez-Monterrey IM, Campiglia P, Ostacolo C, Maione S, Ligresti A, Bertamino A. Novel pyrrole based CB2 agonists: New insights on CB2 receptor role in regulating neurotransmitters' tone. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 269:116298. [PMID: 38493727 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116298] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The cannabinoid system is one of the most investigated neuromodulatory systems because of its involvement in multiple pathologies such as cancer, inflammation, and psychiatric diseases. Recently, the CB2 receptor has gained increased attention considering its crucial role in modulating neuroinflammation in several pathological conditions like neurodegenerative diseases. Here we describe the rational design of pyrrole-based analogues, which led to a potent and pharmacokinetically suitable CB2 full agonist particularly effective in improving cognitive functions in a scopolamine-induced amnesia murine model. Therefore, we extended our study by investigating the interconnection between CB2 activation and neurotransmission in this experimental paradigm. To this purpose, we performed a MALDI imaging analysis on mice brains, observing that the administration of our lead compound was able to revert the effect of scopolamine on different neurotransmitter tones, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, and GABA, shedding light on important networks not fully explored, so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Di Micco
- European Biomedical Research Institute (EBRIS), Via S. De Renzi 50, 84125, Salerno, Italy
| | - Tania Ciaglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Emanuela Salviati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Perrone Michela
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Musella
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Di Sarno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Gerardina Smaldone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Matteo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Ilaria Capolupo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rosmara Infantino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bifulco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pepe
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Eduardo M Sommella
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Marco Allarà
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Nuria Sánchez-Fernández
- Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy; Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Ester Aso
- Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy; Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Isabel M Gomez-Monterrey
- Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Carmine Ostacolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
| | - Alessia Bertamino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
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3
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Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Paolino M, Scarselli E, Castelli R, de Candia M, Gambacorta N, Nicolotti O, Kostrzewa M, Kumar P, Mahmoud AM, Borgonetti V, Iannotta M, Morace A, Galeotti N, Maione S, Altomare CD, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Novel Dual-Acting Hybrids Targeting Type-2 Cannabinoid Receptors and Cholinesterase Activity Show Neuroprotective Effects In Vitro and Amelioration of Cognitive Impairment In Vivo. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:955-971. [PMID: 38372253 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00656] [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] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative form of dementia characterized by the loss of synapses and a progressive decline in cognitive abilities. Among current treatments for AD, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have efficacy limited to symptom relief, with significant side effects and poor compliance. Pharmacological agents that modulate the activity of type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB2R) of the endocannabinoid system by activating or blocking them have also been shown to be effective against neuroinflammation. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and pharmacological effects in vitro and in vivo of dual-acting compounds that inhibit AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and target CB2R. Within the investigated series, compound 4g proved to be the most promising. It achieved IC50 values in the low micromolar to submicromolar range against both human cholinesterase isoforms while antagonizing CB2R with Ki of 31 nM. Interestingly, 4g showed neuroprotective effects on the SH-SY5Y cell line thanks to its ability to prevent oxidative stress-induced cell toxicity and reverse scopolamine-induced amnesia in the Y-maze forced alternation test in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Paolino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Enrico Scarselli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Gambacorta
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples ,Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples ,Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples ,Italy
| | - Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Iannotta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli″, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Morace
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli″, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli″, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Cosimo D Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples ,Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Butini S, Grether U, Jung KM, Ligresti A, Allarà M, Postmus AGJ, Maramai S, Brogi S, Papa A, Carullo G, Sykes D, Veprintsev D, Federico S, Grillo A, Di Guglielmo B, Ramunno A, Stevens AF, Heer D, Lamponi S, Gemma S, Benz J, Di Marzo V, van der Stelt M, Piomelli D, Campiani G. Development of Potent and Selective Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors. SARs, Structural Analysis, and Biological Characterization. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1758-1782. [PMID: 38241614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
New potent, selective monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors based on the azetidin-2-one scaffold ((±)-5a-v, (±)-6a-j, and (±)-7a-d) were developed as irreversible ligands, as demonstrated by enzymatic and crystallographic studies for (±)-5d, (±)-5l, and (±)-5r. X-ray analyses combined with extensive computational studies allowed us to clarify the binding mode of the compounds. 5v was identified as selective for MAGL when compared with other serine hydrolases. Solubility, in vitro metabolic stability, cytotoxicity, and absence of mutagenicity were determined for selected analogues. The most promising compounds ((±)-5c, (±)-5d, and (±)-5v) were used for in vivo studies in mice, showing a decrease in MAGL activity and increased 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol levels in forebrain tissue. In particular, 5v is characterized by a high eudysmic ratio and (3R,4S)-5v is one of the most potent irreversible inhibitors of h/mMAGL identified thus far. These results suggest that the new MAGL inhibitors have therapeutic potential for different central and peripheral pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Uwe Grether
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Annemarieke G J Postmus
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Samuele Maramai
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Papa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - David Sykes
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Dmitry Veprintsev
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grillo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Bruno Di Guglielmo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Department of Pharmacy/DIFARMA, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Salerno 84084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Anna Floor Stevens
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dominik Heer
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Jörg Benz
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institut sur La Nutrition Et Les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), École de Nutrition, Université Laval, 2440 Boulevard Hochelaga, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
- Canada Excellence Research Chair in the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, PO Box 2325, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Département de Médecine, Université Laval, PO Box 2725, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada
- Unité Mixte Internationale en Recherche Chimique et Biomoléculaire sur le Microbiome et Son Impact Sur la Santé Métabolique et la Nutrition (UMI-MicroMeNu), Université Laval, PO Box 2325, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University and Oncode Institute, 2300 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Bioinformatics Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-7346, Iran
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Bouma J, Broekhuis JD, van der Horst C, Kumar P, Ligresti A, van der Stelt M, Heitman LH. Dual allosteric and orthosteric pharmacology of synthetic analog cannabidiol-dimethylheptyl, but not cannabidiol, on the cannabinoid CB 2 receptor. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115924. [PMID: 37972874 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115924] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R) is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in a broad spectrum of physiological processes and pathological conditions. For that reason, targeting CB2R might provide therapeutic opportunities in neurodegenerative disorders, neuropathic pain, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. The main components from Cannabis sativa, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have been therapeutically exploited and synthetically-derived analogs have been generated. One example is cannabidiol-dimethylheptyl (CBD-DMH), which exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, its pharmacological mechanism of action is not yet fully understood and is hypothesized for multiple targets, including CB2R. The aim of this study was to further investigate the molecular pharmacology of CBD-DMH on CB2R while CBD was taken along as control. These compounds were screened in equilibrium and kinetic radioligand binding studies and various functional assays, including G protein activation, inhibition of cAMP production and ß-arrestin-2 recruitment. In dissociation studies, CBD-DMH allosterically modulated the radioligand binding. Furthermore, CBD-DMH negatively modulated the G protein activation of reference agonists CP55,940, AEA and 2-AG, but not the agonist-induced ß-arrestin-2 recruitment. Nevertheless, CBD-DMH also displayed competitive binding to CB2R and partial agonism on G protein activation, inhibition of cAMP production and ß-arrestin-2 recruitment. CBD did not exhibit such allosteric behavior and only very weakly bound CB2R without activation. This study shows a dual binding mode of CBD-DMH, but not CBD, to CB2R with the suggestion of two different binding sites. Altogether, it encourages further research into this dual mechanism which might provide a new class of molecules targeting CB2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jara Bouma
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, LACDR, Leiden University & Oncode Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Jeremy D Broekhuis
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, LACDR, Leiden University & Oncode Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Cas van der Horst
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, LACDR, Leiden University & Oncode Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Poulami Kumar
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Italy
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, LIC, Leiden University & Oncode Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, LACDR, Leiden University & Oncode Institute, the Netherlands.
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6
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Cho AYH, Chung H, Romero-Parra J, Kumar P, Allarà M, Ligresti A, Gallardo-Garrido C, Pessoa-Mahana H, Faúndez M, Pessoa-Mahana CD. Motifs in Natural Products as Useful Scaffolds to Obtain Novel Benzo[ d]imidazole-Based Cannabinoid Type 2 (CB2) Receptor Agonists. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10918. [PMID: 37446093 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310918] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) constitutes a broad-spectrum modulator of homeostasis in mammals, providing therapeutic opportunities for several pathologies. Its two main receptors, cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (CB2) receptors, mediate anti-inflammatory responses; however, their differing patterns of expression make the development of CB2-selective ligands therapeutically more attractive. The benzo[d]imidazole ring is considered to be a privileged scaffold in drug discovery and has demonstrated its versatility in the development of molecules with varied pharmacologic properties. On the other hand, the main psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can be structurally described as an aliphatic terpenoid motif fused to an aromatic polyphenolic (resorcinol) structure. Inspired by the structure of this phytocannabinoid, we combined different natural product motifs with a benzo[d]imidazole scaffold to obtain a new library of compounds targeting the CB2 receptor. Here, we synthesized 26 new compounds, out of which 15 presented CB2 binding and 3 showed potent agonist activity. SAR analysis indicated that the presence of bulky aliphatic or aromatic natural product motifs at position 2 of the benzo[d]imidazoles ring linked by an electronegative atom is essential for receptor recognition, while substituents with moderate bulkiness at position 1 of the heterocyclic core also participate in receptor recognition. Compounds 5, 6, and 16 were further characterized through in vitro cAMP functional assay, showing potent EC50 values between 20 and 3 nM, and compound 6 presented a significant difference between the EC50 of pharmacologic activity (3.36 nM) and IC50 of toxicity (30-38 µM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Analia Young Hwa Cho
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Hery Chung
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Javier Romero-Parra
- Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Olivos 1007, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Poulami Kumar
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Carlos Gallardo-Garrido
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Hernán Pessoa-Mahana
- Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Olivos 1007, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Mario Faúndez
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Carlos David Pessoa-Mahana
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
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7
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Casini M, Kumar P, Catallo V, Allarà M, Guastaferro L, Brizzi A, Paolino M, Tafi A, Kapatais C, Giorgi G, Vacondio F, Mor M, Corelli F, Ligresti A. Systematic Modification of the Substitution Pattern of the 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Scaffold Enabled the Discovery of New Ligands with High Affinity and Selectivity for the Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor. Molecules 2023; 28:4958. [PMID: 37446625 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28134958] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective ligands of the CB2 receptor are receiving considerable attention due to their potential as therapeutic agents for a variety of diseases. Recently, 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamide derivatives were shown to act at the CB2 receptor either as agonists or as inverse agonists/antagonists in vitro and to have anti-osteoarthritic activity in vivo. In this article, we report the synthesis, pharmacological profile, and molecular modeling of a series of twenty-three new 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamides with the aim of further developing this new class of selective CB2 ligands. In addition to these compounds, seven other analogs that had been previously synthesized were included in this study to better define the structure-activity relationship (SAR). Ten of the new compounds studied were found to be potent and selective ligands of the CB2 receptor, with Ki values ranging from 48.46 to 0.45 nM and CB1/CB2 selectivity indices (SI) ranging from >206 to >4739. In particular, compounds 54 and 55 were found to be high-affinity CB2 inverse agonists that were not active at all at the CB1 receptor, whereas 57 acted as an agonist. The functional activity profile of the compounds within this structural class depends mainly on the substitution pattern of the pyrazole ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marta Casini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Catallo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Laura Guastaferro
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Paolino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Tafi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Christelos Kapatais
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giorgi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
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8
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Graziano G, Stefanachi A, Contino M, Prieto-Díaz R, Ligresti A, Kumar P, Scilimati A, Sotelo E, Leonetti F. Multicomponent Reaction-Assisted Drug Discovery: A Time- and Cost-Effective Green Approach Speeding Up Identification and Optimization of Anticancer Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076581. [PMID: 37047554 PMCID: PMC10095429 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have emerged as a powerful strategy in synthetic organic chemistry due to their widespread applications in drug discovery and development. MCRs are flexible transformations in which three or more substrates react to form structurally complex products with high atomic efficiency. They are being increasingly appreciated as a highly exploratory and evolutionary tool by the medicinal chemistry community, opening the door to more sustainable, cost-effective and rapid synthesis of biologically active molecules. In recent years, MCR-based synthetic strategies have found extensive application in the field of drug discovery, and several anticancer drugs have been synthesized through MCRs. In this review, we present an overview of representative and recent literature examples documenting different approaches and applications of MCRs in the development of new anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Graziano
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Angela Stefanachi
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Rubén Prieto-Díaz
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Antonio Scilimati
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy
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9
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Maccarinelli F, Coltrini D, Mussi S, Bugatti M, Turati M, Chiodelli P, Giacomini A, De Cillis F, Cattane N, Cattaneo A, Ligresti A, Asperti M, Poli M, Vermi W, Presta M, Ronca R. Iron supplementation enhances RSL3-induced ferroptosis to treat naïve and prevent castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:81. [PMID: 36872341 PMCID: PMC9986230 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01383-4] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of death in the male population commonly treated with androgen deprivation therapy that often relapses as androgen-independent and aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Ferroptosis is a recently described form of cell death that requires abundant cytosolic labile iron to promote membrane lipid peroxidation and which can be induced by agents that inhibit the glutathione peroxidase-4 activity such as RSL3. Exploiting in vitro and in vivo human and murine PCa models and the multistage transgenic TRAMP model of PCa we show that RSL3 induces ferroptosis in PCa cells and demonstrate for the first time that iron supplementation significantly increases the effect of RSL3 triggering lipid peroxidation, enhanced intracellular stress and leading to cancer cell death. Moreover, the combination with the second generation anti-androgen drug enzalutamide potentiates the effect of the RSL3 + iron combination leading to superior inhibition of PCa and preventing the onset of CRPC in the TRAMP mouse model. These data open new perspectives in the use of pro-ferroptotic approaches alone or in combination with enzalutamide for the treatment of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Maccarinelli
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Coltrini
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Mussi
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Turati
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Giacomini
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Floriana De Cillis
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nadia Cattane
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Michela Asperti
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maura Poli
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - William Vermi
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy.
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10
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Graziano G, Delre P, Carofiglio F, Brea J, Ligresti A, Kostrzewa M, Riganti C, Gioè-Gallo C, Majellaro M, Nicolotti O, Colabufo NA, Abate C, Loza MI, Sotelo E, Mangiatordi GF, Contino M, Stefanachi A, Leonetti F. N-adamantyl-anthranil amide derivatives: New selective ligands for the cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB2R). Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115109. [PMID: 36657299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115109] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that, together with Cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R), endogenous cannabinoids and enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation, forms the EndoCannabinoid System (ECS). In the last decade, several studies have shown that CB2R is overexpressed in activated central nervous system (CNS) microglia cells, in disorders based on an inflammatory state, such as neurodegenerative diseases, neuropathic pain, and cancer. For this reason, the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory potentials of CB2R ligands are emerging as a novel therapeutic approach. The design of selective ligands is however hampered by the high sequence homology of transmembrane domains of CB1R and CB2R. Based on a recent three-arm pharmacophore hypothesis and latest CB2R crystal structures, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of new N-adamantyl-anthranil amide derivatives as CB2R selective ligands. Interestingly, this new class of compounds displayed a high affinity for human CB2R along with an excellent selectivity respect to CB1R. In this respect, compounds exhibiting the best pharmacodynamic profile in terms of CB2R affinity were also evaluated for the functional behavior and molecular docking simulations provided a sound rationale by highlighting the relevance of the arm 1 substitution to prompt CB2R action. Moreover, the modulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production was also investigated to exert the ability of the best compounds to modulate the inflammatory cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Graziano
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Pietro Delre
- CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Giovanni Amendola, 122/O, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Carofiglio
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Josè Brea
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Barcelona, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Gioè-Gallo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Spain
| | - Maria Majellaro
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Spain
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Antonio Colabufo
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Carmen Abate
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy; CNR - Institute of Crystallography, Via Giovanni Amendola, 122/O, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Isabel Loza
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Barcelona, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Spain
| | | | - Marialessandra Contino
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Angela Stefanachi
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Studies of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via E.Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
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11
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Intranuovo F, Brunetti L, DelRe P, Mangiatordi GF, Stefanachi A, Laghezza A, Niso M, Leonetti F, Loiodice F, Ligresti A, Kostrzewa M, Brea J, Loza MI, Sotelo E, Saviano M, Colabufo NA, Riganti C, Abate C, Contino M. Development of N-(1-Adamantyl)benzamides as Novel Anti-Inflammatory Multitarget Agents Acting as Dual Modulators of the Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase. J Med Chem 2023; 66:235-250. [PMID: 36542836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), belonging to the endocannabinoid system, is overexpressed in pathologies characterized by inflammation, and its activation counteracts inflammatory states. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the main endocannabinoid anandamide; thus, the simultaneous CB2R activation and FAAH inhibition may be a synergistic anti-inflammatory strategy. Encouraged by principal component analysis (PCA) data identifying a wide chemical space shared by CB2R and FAAH ligands, we designed a small library of adamantyl-benzamides, as potential dual agents, CB2R agonists, and FAAH inhibitors. The new compounds were tested for their CB2R affinity/selectivity and CB2R and FAAH activity. Derivatives 13, 26, and 27, displaying the best pharmacodynamic profile as CB2R full agonists and FAAH inhibitors, decreased pro-inflammatory and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines production. Molecular docking simulations complemented the experimental findings by providing a molecular rationale behind the observed activities. These multitarget ligands constitute promising anti-inflammatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Intranuovo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Leonardo Brunetti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Pietro DelRe
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council of Italy, Via Amendola, 122/o, Bari 70126, Italy
| | | | - Angela Stefanachi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Antonio Laghezza
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Mauro Niso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Fulvio Loiodice
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Jose Brea
- Innopharma Screening Platform, BioFarma Research Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology. School of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Loza
- Innopharma Screening Platform, BioFarma Research Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology. School of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- ComBioMed Research Group, Centro de Química Biológica y Materiales Moleculares (CIQUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain
| | - Michele Saviano
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council of Italy, Via Vivaldi, 43, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Nicola Antonio Colabufo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Dipartimento di Oncologia, Università Degli Studi di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy
| | - Carmen Abate
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy.,Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council of Italy, Via Amendola, 122/o, Bari 70126, Italy
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze Del Farmaco, Università Degli Studi di Bari ALDO MORO, Via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
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12
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Gianquinto E, Sodano F, Rolando B, Kostrzewa M, Allarà M, Mahmoud AM, Kumar P, Spyrakis F, Ligresti A, Chegaev K. N-[1,3-Dialkyl(aryl)-2-oxoimidazolidin-4-ylidene]-aryl(alkyl)sulphonamides as Novel Selective Human Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor (hCB2R) Ligands; Insights into the Mechanism of Receptor Activation/Deactivation. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27238152. [PMID: 36500256 PMCID: PMC9738591 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238152] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid type 1 (hCB1) and type 2 (hCB2) receptors are pleiotropic and crucial targets whose signaling contributes to physiological homeostasis and its restoration after injury. Being predominantly expressed in peripheral tissues, hCB2R represents a safer therapeutic target than hCB1R, which is highly expressed in the brain, where it regulates processes related to cognition, memory, and motor control. The development of hCB2R ligands represents a therapeutic opportunity for treating diseases such as pain, inflammation and cancer. Identifying new selective scaffolds for cannabinoids and determining the structural determinants responsible for agonism and antagonism are priorities in drug design. In this work, a series of N-[1,3-dialkyl(aryl)-2-oxoimidazolidin-4-ylidene]-aryl(alkyl)sulfonamides is designed and synthesized and their affinity for human hCB1R and hCB2R is determined. Starting with a scaffold selected from the NIH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program Repository, through a combination of molecular modeling and structure-activity relationship studies, we were able to identify the chemical features leading to finely tuned hCB2R selectivity. In addition, an in silico model capable of predicting the functional activity of hCB2R ligands was proposed and validated. The proposed receptor activation/deactivation model enabled the identification of four pure hCB2R-selective agonists that can be used as a starting point for the development of more potent ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Gianquinto
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Sodano
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, “Federico II” University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Barbara Rolando
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.L.); (K.C.); Tel.: +39-0818675093 (A.L.); +39-0116707140 (K.C.)
| | - Konstantin Chegaev
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.L.); (K.C.); Tel.: +39-0818675093 (A.L.); +39-0116707140 (K.C.)
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13
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Chiodelli P, Coltrini D, Turati M, Cerasuolo M, Maccarinelli F, Rezzola S, Grillo E, Giacomini A, Taranto S, Mussi S, Ligresti A, Presta M, Ronca R. FGFR blockade by pemigatinib treats naïve and castration resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Lett 2022; 526:217-224. [PMID: 34861311 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.11.030] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the male population commonly treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and relapsing as aggressive and androgen-independent castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In PCa the FGF/FGFR family of growth factors and receptors represents a relevant mediator of cancer growth, tumor-stroma interaction, and a driver of resistance and relapse to ADT. In the present work, we validate the therapeutic efficacy the FDA-approved FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib, in an integrated platform consisting of human and murine PCa cells, and the transgenic multistage TRAMP model of PCa that recapitulates both androgen-dependent and CRPC settings. Our results show for the first time that pemigatinib causes intracellular stress and cell death in PCa cells and prevents tumor growth in vivo and in the multistage model. In addition, the combination of pemigatinib with enzalutamide resulted in long-lasting tumor inhibition and prevention of CRPC relapse in TRAMP mice. These data are confirmed by the implementation of a stochastic mathematical model and in silico simulation. Pemigatinib represents a promising FDA-approved FGFR inhibitor for the treatment of PCa and CRPC alone and in combination with enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Chiodelli
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Coltrini
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Turati
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marianna Cerasuolo
- University of Portsmouth, School of Mathematics and Physics, Hampshire, PO1 3HF, UK
| | - Federica Maccarinelli
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Rezzola
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Grillo
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Giacomini
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Taranto
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Mussi
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- University of Brescia, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Brescia, Italy.
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Archambault AS, Tinto F, Dumais É, Rakotoarivelo V, Kostrzewa M, Plante PL, Martin C, Simard M, Silvestri C, Pouliot R, Laviolette M, Boulet LP, Vitale RM, Ligresti A, Di Marzo V, Flamand N. Biosynthesis of the Novel Endogenous 15-Lipoxygenase Metabolites N-13-Hydroxy-octodecadienoyl-ethanolamine and 13-Hydroxy-octodecadienoyl-glycerol by Human Neutrophils and Eosinophils. Cells 2021; 10:2322. [PMID: 34571971 PMCID: PMC8470279 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol and N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine are lipids regulating many physiological processes, notably inflammation. Endocannabinoid hydrolysis inhibitors are now being investigated as potential anti-inflammatory agents. In addition to 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol and N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine, the endocannabinoidome also includes other monoacylglycerols and N-acyl-ethanolamines such as 1-linoleoyl-glycerol (1-LG) and N-linoleoyl-ethanolamine (LEA). By increasing monoacylglycerols and/or N-acyl-ethanolamine levels, endocannabinoid hydrolysis inhibitors will likely increase the levels of their metabolites. Herein, we investigated whether 1-LG and LEA were substrates for the 15-lipoxygenase pathway, given that both possess a 1Z,4Z-pentadiene motif, near their omega end. We thus assessed how human eosinophils and neutrophils biosynthesized the 15-lipoxygenase metabolites of 1-LG and LEA. Linoleic acid (LA), a well-documented substrate of 15-lipoxygenases, was used as positive control. N-13-hydroxy-octodecadienoyl-ethanolamine (13-HODE-EA) and 13-hydroxy-octodecadienoyl-glycerol (13-HODE-G), the 15-lipoxygenase metabolites of LEA and 1-LG, were synthesized using Novozym 435 and soybean lipoxygenase. Eosinophils, which express the 15-lipoxygenase-1, metabolized LA, 1-LG, and LEA into their 13-hydroxy derivatives. This was almost complete after five minutes. Substrate preference of eosinophils was LA > LEA > 1-LG in presence of 13-HODE-G hydrolysis inhibition with methyl-arachidonoyl-fluorophosphonate. Human neutrophils also metabolized LA, 1-LG, and LEA into their 13-hydroxy derivatives. This was maximal after 15-30 s. Substrate preference was LA ≫ 1-LG > LEA. Importantly, 13-HODE-G was found in humans and mouse tissue samples. In conclusion, our data show that human eosinophils and neutrophils metabolize 1-LG and LEA into the novel endogenous 15-lipoxygenase metabolites 13-HODE-G and 13-HODE-EA. The full biological importance of 13-HODE-G and 13-HODE-EA remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Archambault
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Francesco Tinto
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Élizabeth Dumais
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Volatiana Rakotoarivelo
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.K.); (R.M.V.); (A.L.)
| | - Pier-Luc Plante
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, École de Nutrition, Faculté des Sciences de L’agriculture et de L’alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Cyril Martin
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mélissa Simard
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Faculté de Pharmacie de l’Université Laval and Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l’Université Laval/LOEX, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Cristoforo Silvestri
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Roxane Pouliot
- Faculté de Pharmacie de l’Université Laval and Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l’Université Laval/LOEX, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Michel Laviolette
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
| | - Louis-Philippe Boulet
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
| | - Rosa Maria Vitale
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.K.); (R.M.V.); (A.L.)
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.K.); (R.M.V.); (A.L.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.K.); (R.M.V.); (A.L.)
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, École de Nutrition, Faculté des Sciences de L’agriculture et de L’alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- Joint International Unit between the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Canada on Chemical and Biomolecular Research on the Microbiome and Its Impact on Metabolic Health and Nutrition (UMI-MicroMeNu), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Nicolas Flamand
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; (A.-S.A.); (F.T.); (É.D.); (V.R.); (C.M.); (M.S.); (C.S.); (M.L.); (L.-P.B.); (V.D.)
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Montanari S, Allarà M, Scalvini L, Kostrzewa M, Belluti F, Gobbi S, Naldi M, Rivara S, Bartolini M, Ligresti A, Bisi A, Rampa A. New Coumarin Derivatives as Cholinergic and Cannabinoid System Modulators. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113254. [PMID: 34071439 PMCID: PMC8198714 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113254] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last years, the connection between the endocannabinoid system (eCS) and neuroprotection has been discovered, and evidence indicates that eCS signaling is involved in the regulation of cognitive processes and in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, pharmacotherapy targeting eCS could represent a valuable contribution in fighting a multifaceted disease such as AD, opening a new perspective for the development of active agents with multitarget potential. In this paper, a series of coumarin-based carbamic and amide derivatives were designed and synthesized as multipotent compounds acting on cholinergic system and eCS-related targets. Indeed, they were tested with appropriate enzymatic assays on acetyl and butyryl-cholinesterases and on fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and also evaluated as cannabinoid receptor (CB1 and CB2) ligands. Moreover, their ability to reduce the self-aggregation of beta amyloid protein (Aβ42) was assessed. Compounds 2 and 3, bearing a carbamate function, emerged as promising inhibitors of hAChE, hBuChE, FAAH and Aβ42 self-aggregation, albeit with moderate potencies, while the amide 6 also appears a promising CB1/CB2 receptors ligand. These data prove for the new compounds an encouraging multitarget profile, deserving further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Montanari
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.A.); (M.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (L.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.A.); (M.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Federica Belluti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
| | - Silvia Gobbi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
| | - Marina Naldi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (L.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.A.); (M.K.); (A.L.)
| | - Alessandra Bisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (A.R.)
| | - Angela Rampa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (F.B.); (S.G.); (M.N.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (A.R.)
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16
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Tinto F, Archambault AS, Dumais É, Rakotoarivelo V, Kostrzewa M, Martin C, Plante PL, Desjardins Y, Simard M, Pouliot R, De Petrocellis L, Ligresti A, Di Marzo V, Flamand N. Synthesis and molecular targets of N-13-hydroxy-octadienoyl-ethanolamine, a novel endogenous bioactive 15-lipoxygenase-derived metabolite of N-linoleoyl-ethanolamine found in the skin and saliva. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:158954. [PMID: 33915294 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158954] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
N-Arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (AEA) is an endocannabinoid (eCB) and endogenous lipid mimicking many of the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, notably on brain functions, appetite, pain and inflammation. The eCBs and eCB-like compounds contain fatty acids, the main classes being the monoacylglycerols and the N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs). Thus, each long chain fatty acid likely exists under the form of a monoacylglycerol and NAE, as it is the case for arachidonic acid (AA) and linoleic acid (LA). Following their biosynthesis, AA and AEA can be further metabolized into additional eicosanoids, notably by the 15-lipoxygenase pathway. Thus, we postulated that NAEs possessing a 1Z,4Z-pentadiene motif, near their omega end, would be transformed into their 15-lipoxygenase metabolites. As a proof of concept, we investigated N-linoleoyl-ethanolamine (LAE). We successfully synthesized LEA and LEA-d4 as well as their 15-lipoxygenase-derived derivatives, namely 13-hydroxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoyl-N-ethanolamine (13-HODE-EA) and 13-HODE-EA-d4, using Novozyme 435 immobilized on acrylic resin and soybean lipoxygenase respectively. We also show that both human 15-lipoxygenase-1 and -2 can biosynthesize 13-HODE-EA. Co-incubation of LEA and LA with either human 15-lipoxygenase led to the biosynthesis of 13-HODE-EA and 13-HODE in a ratio equal to or greater than 3:1, indicating that LEA is preferred to LA by these enzymes. Finally, we show that 13-HODE-EA is found in human saliva and skin and is a weak although selective TRPV1 agonist. The full biological importance of 13-HODE-EA remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tinto
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Anne-Sophie Archambault
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Élizabeth Dumais
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Volatiana Rakotoarivelo
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Cyril Martin
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Pier-Luc Plante
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, École de nutrition, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Yves Desjardins
- Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, École de nutrition, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Mélissa Simard
- Faculté de pharmacie de l'Université Laval, Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Roxane Pouliot
- Faculté de pharmacie de l'Université Laval, Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy; Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels, Centre NUTRISS, École de nutrition, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada; Joint International Unit between the CNR of Italy and Université Laval on Chemical and Biomolecular Research on the Microbiome and its Impact on Metabolic Health and Nutrition (UMI-MicroMeNu), Italy; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Nicolas Flamand
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada; Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health (CERC-MEND), Université Laval, Québec City, Canada.
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17
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Bryk M, Mahmoud AM, Brizzi A, Lamponi S, Giorgi G, Ferlenghi F, Vacondio F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mor M, Starowicz K, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Correction to Design, Synthesis, and Physicochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Antiosteoarthritic Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2020; 63:11303. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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18
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Tinto F, Villano R, Kostrzewa M, Ligresti A, Straker H, Manzo E. Synthesis of the Major Mammalian Metabolites of THCV. J Nat Prod 2020; 83:2060-2065. [PMID: 32649196 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A simple synthesis of the major oxidized metabolites in mammalian tissues of (-)-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) (1) has been accomplished by kinetic studies of allylic oxidation using SeO2 on botanically derived THCV with the aim to yield primary and secondary allylic alcohols concurrently. This synthetic approach led to the preparation of numerous THCV derivatives, including two new compounds, 8α-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (2) and 8β-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (3), and the known compounds 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (4) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin-11-oic acid (5), without affecting the C-10a stereogenic center in the natural precursor and without formation of tricyclic dibenzopyran derivatives. This simple synthetic methodology could be useful to investigate the pharmacological role of THCV metabolites at, among others, the endocannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors for which THCV reportedly acts as respectively a neutral antagonist and partial agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tinto
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Rosaria Villano
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Naples 80078, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
| | - Hannah Straker
- GW Pharmaceuticals, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8AG, United Kingdom
| | - Emiliano Manzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy
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19
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Bryk M, Mahmoud AM, Brizzi A, Lamponi S, Giorgi G, Ferlenghi F, Vacondio F, Maccioni P, Colombo G, Mor M, Starowicz K, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Design, Synthesis, and Physicochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Antiosteoarthritic Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7369-7391. [PMID: 32515588 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The hallmark of joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA), is pain, originating from both inflammatory and neuropathic components, and compounds able to modulate the signal transduction pathways of the cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2R) can represent a helpful option in the treatment of OA. In this perspective, a set of 18 cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2R) ligands was developed based on an unprecedented structure. With the aim of improving the physicochemical properties of previously reported 4-hydroxy-2-quinolone-3-carboxamides, a structural optimization program led to the discovery of isosteric 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamide derivatives. These new compounds are endowed with high affinity for the CB2R and moderate to good selectivity over the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R), associated with good physicochemical characteristics. As to the functional activity at the CB2R, compounds able to act either as agonists or as inverse agonists/antagonists were discovered. Among them, compound 51 emerged as a potent CB2R agonist able to reduce pain in rats carrying OA induced by injection of monoiodoacetic acid (MIA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy.,Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Marta Bryk
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giorgi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferlenghi
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Maccioni
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Starowicz
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Smetna 12, 31-343 Cracow, Poland
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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20
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Brizzi A, Aiello F, Boccella S, Cascio MG, De Petrocellis L, Frosini M, Gado F, Ligresti A, Luongo L, Marini P, Mugnaini C, Pessina F, Corelli F, Maione S, Manera C, Pertwee RG, Di Marzo V. Synthetic bioactive olivetol-related amides: The influence of the phenolic group in cannabinoid receptor activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115513. [PMID: 32340793 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115513] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Focusing on the importance of the free phenolic hydroxyl moiety, a family of 23 alkylresorcinol-based compounds were developed and evaluated for their cannabinoid receptor binding properties. The non-symmetrical hexylresorcinol derivative 29 turned out to be a CB2-selective competitive antagonist/inverse agonist endowed with good potency. Both the olivetol- and 5-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)resorcinol-based derivatives 23 and 24 exhibited a significant antinociceptive activity. Interestingly, compound 24 proved to be able to activate both cannabinoid and TRPV1 receptors. Even if cannabinoid receptor subtype selectivity remained a goal only partially achieved, results confirm the validity of the alkylresorcinol nucleus as skeleton for the identification of potent cannabinoid receptor modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Brizzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Francesca Aiello
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Serena Boccella
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Divisione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cascio
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB252ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Maria Frosini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Gado
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Livio Luongo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Divisione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Pietro Marini
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB252ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Pessina
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e dello Sviluppo, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Divisione di Farmacologia, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Clementina Manera
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roger G Pertwee
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB252ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
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21
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Archambault AS, Tinto F, Martin C, Dumais E, Rakotoarivelo V, Laviolette M, Silvestri C, Kostrzewa M, Ligresti A, Boulet LP, Di Marzo V, Flamand N. Human eosinophils and neutrophils biosynthesize novel 15-lipoxygenase metabolites from 1-linoleoyl-glycerol and N-linoleoyl-ethanolamine. The Journal of Immunology 2020. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.220.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The endocannabinoids 2-AG and AEA are lipids regulating many physiological processes, notably inflammation. The endocannabinoidome includes other monoacylglycerols (MAG) and N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAE) such as 1-linoleoyl-glycerol (1-LG) and N-linoleoyl-ethanolamine (LEA). Endocannabinoid hydrolysis inhibitors are now being tested as potential anti-inflammatory agents. By increasing MAG and/or NAE levels, these inhibitors will likely increase the levels of their metabolites. Herein we investigated whether 1-LG and LEA were substrates for the 15-lipoxygenase pathway, which is strongly involved in asthma and its severity. We thus assessed how human eosinophils and neutrophils biosynthesized the 15-lipoxygenase metabolites of 1-LG and LEA. Linoleic acid (LA), a well-documented substrate of 15-lipoxygenases, was used as positive control.
RESULTS
We synthesized the putative 15-lipoxygenase metabolites of 1-LG and LEA using Novozym435 and soybean lipoxygenase. Eosinophils, which express the 15-lipoxygenase-1, metabolized LA, 1-LG, and LEA into their 13-hydroxy derivatives. This was almost complete after 5 minutes. Substrate preference of eosinophils was LA>LEA>1-LG. Human neutrophils, which express the 15-lipoxygenase-2, also metabolized LA, 1-LG, and LEA into their 13-hydroxy derivatives. This was maximal after 30 seconds. Substrate preference was LA≫1-LG>LEA. Importantly, the new 15-lipoxygenase metabolites we disclose were found in tissues from humans and mice.
CONCLUSIONS
We successfully showed that human eosinophils and neutrophils transforms 1-LG and LEA into novel 15-lipoxygenase metabolites. How these new metabolites modulate the inflammatory cascade is now being explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesco Tinto
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Cyril Martin
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Dumais
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | | | - Michel Laviolette
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Cristoforo Silvestri
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- 3National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- 3National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Napoli, Italy
| | - Louis-Philippe Boulet
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
| | - Nicolas Flamand
- 1Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Canada
- 2Laval University, School of Medicine, Canada
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22
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Cerasuolo M, Maccarinelli F, Coltrini D, Mahmoud AM, Marolda V, Ghedini GC, Rezzola S, Giacomini A, Triggiani L, Kostrzewa M, Verde R, Paris D, Melck D, Presta M, Ligresti A, Ronca R. Modeling Acquired Resistance to the Second-Generation Androgen Receptor Antagonist Enzalutamide in the TRAMP Model of Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 2020; 80:1564-1577. [PMID: 32029552 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Enzalutamide (MDV3100) is a potent second-generation androgen receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in chemotherapy-naïve as well as in patients previously exposed to chemotherapy. However, resistance to enzalutamide and enzalutamide withdrawal syndrome have been reported. Thus, reliable and integrated preclinical models are required to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance and to assess therapeutic settings that may delay or prevent the onset of resistance. In this study, the prostate cancer multistage murine model TRAMP and TRAMP-derived cells have been used to extensively characterize in vitro and in vivo the response and resistance to enzalutamide. The therapeutic profile as well as the resistance onset were characterized and a multiscale stochastic mathematical model was proposed to link the in vitro and in vivo evolution of prostate cancer. The model showed that all therapeutic strategies that use enzalutamide result in the onset of resistance. The model also showed that combination therapies can delay the onset of resistance to enzalutamide, and in the best scenario, can eliminate the disease. These results set the basis for the exploitation of this "TRAMP-based platform" to test novel therapeutic approaches and build further mathematical models of combination therapies to treat prostate cancer and CRPC.Significance: Merging mathematical modeling with experimental data, this study presents the "TRAMP-based platform" as a novel experimental tool to study the in vitro and in vivo evolution of prostate cancer resistance to enzalutamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Cerasuolo
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Maccarinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Coltrini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Viviana Marolda
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Gaia Cristina Ghedini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Rezzola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Giacomini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Triggiani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University and Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Verde
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Debora Paris
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Dominique Melck
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy.
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Petrosino S, Schiano Moriello A, Verde R, Allarà M, Imperatore R, Ligresti A, Mahmoud AM, Peritore AF, Iannotti FA, Di Marzo V. Palmitoylethanolamide counteracts substance P-induced mast cell activation in vitro by stimulating diacylglycerol lipase activity. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:274. [PMID: 31878942 PMCID: PMC6933707 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1671-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a pleiotropic endogenous lipid mediator currently used as a "dietary food for special medical purposes" against neuropathic pain and neuro-inflammatory conditions. Several mechanisms underlie PEA actions, among which the "entourage" effect, consisting of PEA potentiation of endocannabinoid signaling at either cannabinoid receptors or transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channels. Here, we report novel molecular mechanisms through which PEA controls mast cell degranulation and substance P (SP)-induced histamine release in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells, a mast cell model. METHODS RBL-2H3 cells stimulated with SP were treated with PEA in the presence and absence of a cannabinoid type-2 (CB2) receptor antagonist (AM630), or a diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) enzyme inhibitor (OMDM188) to inhibit the biosynthesis of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The release of histamine was measured by ELISA and β-hexosaminidase release and toluidine blue staining were used as indices of degranulation. 2-AG levels were measured by LC-MS. The mRNA expression of proposed PEA targets (Cnr1, Cnr2, Trpv1, Ppara and Gpr55), and of PEA and endocannabinoid biosynthetic (Napepld, Dagla and Daglb) and catabolic (Faah, Naaa and Mgl) enzymes were also measured. The effects of PEA on the activity of DAGL-α or -β enzymes were assessed in COS-7 cells overexpressing the human recombinant enzyme or in RBL-2H3 cells, respectively. RESULTS SP increased the number of degranulated RBL-2H3 cells and triggered the release of histamine. PEA counteracted these effects in a manner antagonized by AM630. PEA concomitantly increased the levels of 2-AG in SP-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, and this effect was reversed by OMDM188. PEA significantly stimulated DAGL-α and -β activity and, consequently, 2-AG biosynthesis in cell-free systems. Co-treatment with PEA and 2-AG at per se ineffective concentrations downmodulated SP-induced release of histamine and degranulation, and this effect was reversed by OMDM188. CONCLUSIONS Activation of CB2 underlies the inhibitory effects on SP-induced RBL-2H3 cell degranulation by PEA alone. We demonstrate for the first time that the effects in RBL-2H3 cells of PEA are due to the stimulation of 2-AG biosynthesis by DAGLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Petrosino
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
- Epitech Group SpA, Via Einaudi 13, 35030, Saccolongo (Padova), Italy.
| | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
- Epitech Group SpA, Via Einaudi 13, 35030, Saccolongo (Padova), Italy
| | - Roberta Verde
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
- Epitech Group SpA, Via Einaudi 13, 35030, Saccolongo (Padova), Italy
| | - Roberta Imperatore
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Ali Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Alessio Filippo Peritore
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Fabio Arturo Iannotti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, CRIUCPQ and INAF, Faculties of Medicine and Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebéc City, Canada.
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24
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Ghonim AE, Ligresti A, Rabbito A, Mahmoud AM, Di Marzo V, Osman NA, Abadi AH. Structure-activity relationships of thiazole and benzothiazole derivatives as selective cannabinoid CB2 agonists with in vivo anti-inflammatory properties. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:154-170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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25
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Montanari S, Mahmoud AM, Pruccoli L, Rabbito A, Naldi M, Petralla S, Moraleda I, Bartolini M, Monti B, Iriepa I, Belluti F, Gobbi S, Di Marzo V, Bisi A, Tarozzi A, Ligresti A, Rampa A. Discovery of novel benzofuran-based compounds with neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 178:243-258. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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26
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Ben Haj Yahia I, Zaouali Y, Ciavatta ML, Ligresti A, Jaouadi R, Boussaid M, Cutignano A. Polyphenolic Profiling, Quantitative Assessment and Biological Activities of Tunisian Native Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24132351. [PMID: 31247911 PMCID: PMC6650961 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenolic profiling of ten plant samples of Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. collected from different bioclimatic areas of Tunisia, was for the first time carried out by using a fast ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) method on a Q Exactive platform equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. An intraspecific, interpopulation variability was evidenced and a total of 17 polyphenolic metabolites were identified and quantified by using the UHPLC-HRESIMS/MS method, here validated for specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy and precision. The quantitative method resulted sensitive at the nM level and reliable for rapid polyphenol quantification in vegetal matrices. The metabolomic study allowed us to identify a new compound, named salvianolic acid W, which was isolated and characterized mainly by NMR and MS analysis. A statistical correlation of the phenolic composition with antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities was provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ben Haj Yahia
- Department of Biology, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, B.P. 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia
| | - Yosr Zaouali
- Department of Biology, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, B.P. 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia
| | - Maria Letizia Ciavatta
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), National Research Council (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), National Research Council (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - Rym Jaouadi
- Department of Biology, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, B.P. 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Boussaid
- Department of Biology, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, B.P. 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia
| | - Adele Cutignano
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), National Research Council (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy.
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27
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Bisi A, Mokhtar Mahmoud A, Allará M, Naldi M, Belluti F, Gobbi S, Ligresti A, Rampa A. Polycyclic Maleimide-based Scaffold as New Privileged Structure for Navigating the Cannabinoid System Opportunities. ACS Med Chem Lett 2019; 10:596-600. [PMID: 30996802 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the relevant role played by a dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system in several pathological conditions has prompted an extensive research in this field. In this Letter, a series of cannabinoid receptor ligands bearing a previously unexplored polycyclic scaffold was designed and synthesized, in order to evaluate the potential of a new easily affordable privileged structure. The new compounds showed an appreciable affinity and a significant selectivity for the CB2 receptor and are endowed with an intriguing noncompetitive antagonist behavior. Due to the ability of the polycyclic structure to be easily modified in different ways, these compounds could represent convenient chemical tools to be exploited in order to better understand the endocannabinoid system impact on physiopathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alì Mokhtar Mahmoud
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Marco Allará
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Marina Naldi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Belluti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Gobbi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Angela Rampa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Ligresti A, Silvestri C, Vitale RM, Martos JL, Piscitelli F, Wang JW, Allarà M, Carling RW, Luongo L, Guida F, Illiano A, Amoresano A, Maione S, Amodeo P, Woodward DF, Di Marzo V, Marino G. FAAH-Catalyzed C-C Bond Cleavage of a New Multitarget Analgesic Drug. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:424-437. [PMID: 30226747 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of extended catalytic versatilities is of great importance in both the chemistry and biotechnology fields. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) belongs to the amidase signature superfamily and is a major endocannabinoid inactivating enzyme using an atypical catalytic mechanism involving hydrolysis of amide and occasionally ester bonds. FAAH inhibitors are efficacious in experimental models of neuropathic pain, inflammation, and anxiety, among others. We report a new multitarget drug, AGN220653, containing a carboxyamide-4-oxazole moiety and endowed with efficacious analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, which are partly due to its capability of achieving inhibition of FAAH, and subsequently increasing the tissue concentrations of the endocannabinoid anandamide. This inhibitor behaves as a noncompetitive, slowly reversible inhibitor. Autoradiography of purified FAAH incubated with AGN220653, opportunely radiolabeled, indicated covalent binding followed by fragmentation of the molecule. Molecular docking suggested a possible nucleophilic attack by FAAH-Ser241 on the carbonyl group of the carboxyamide-4-oxazole moiety, resulting in the cleavage of the C-C bond between the oxazole and the carboxyamide moieties, instead of either of the two available amide bonds. MRM-MS analyses only detected the Ser241-assisted formation of the carbamate intermediate, thus confirming the cleavage of the aforementioned C-C bond. Quantum mechanics calculations were fully consistent with this mechanism. The study exemplifies how FAAH structural features and mechanism of action may override the binding and reactivity propensities of substrates. This unpredicted mechanism could pave the way to the future development of a completely new class of amidase inhibitors, of potential use against pain, inflammation, and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Cristoforo Silvestri
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Vitale
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Jose L. Martos
- Discovery Department, Selcia Limited, Ongar CM5 0GS, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - Jenny W. Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Allergan Inc., Irvine, California 92623, United States
| | - Marco Allarà
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | | | - Livio Luongo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Francesca Guida
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Anna Illiano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacology Division, University of Campania, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Pietro Amodeo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
| | - David F. Woodward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Allergan Inc., Irvine, California 92623, United States
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Endocannabinoid Research Group, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, Universitè Laval, Quebec City G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Gennaro Marino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples 80126, Italy
- University “Suor Orsola Benincasa”, Naples 80132, Italy
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29
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Mugnaini C, Rabbito A, Brizzi A, Palombi N, Petrosino S, Verde R, Di Marzo V, Ligresti A, Corelli F. Synthesis of novel 2-(1-adamantanylcarboxamido)thiophene derivatives. Selective cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor agonists as potential agents for the treatment of skin inflammatory disease. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 161:239-251. [PMID: 30359820 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.09.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A set of CB2R ligands, based on the thiophene scaffold, was synthesized and evaluated in in vitro assays. Compounds 8c-i, k, l, bearing the 3-carboxylate and 2-(adamantan-1-yl)carboxamido groups together with apolar alkyl/aryl substituents at 5-position or at 4- and 5-positions of the thiophene ring possess high CB2R affinity at low nanomolar concentration, good receptor selectivity, and agonistic functional activity. The full agonist 8g, showing the best balance between receptor affinity and selectivity, was tested in vitro in an experimental model of allergic contact dermatitis and proved to be able to block the release of MCP-2 in HaCaT cells at 10 μM concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Rabbito
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Nastasja Palombi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Petrosino
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Roberta Verde
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
| | - Federico Corelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Tonelli M, Cichero E, Mahmoud AM, Rabbito A, Tasso B, Fossa P, Ligresti A. Exploring the effectiveness of novel benzimidazoles as CB2 ligands: synthesis, biological evaluation, molecular docking studies and ADMET prediction. Medchemcomm 2018; 9:2045-2054. [PMID: 30647880 DOI: 10.1039/c8md00461g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Herein we continued our previous work on the development of CB2 ligands, reporting the design and synthesis of a series of benzimidazole-containing derivatives that were explored as selective CB2 ligands with binding affinity towards both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Seven out of eighteen compounds exhibited preferential binding ability to CB2 over CB1 receptors with potencies in the sub-micromolar or low micromolar range. In particular, we identified two promising hit compounds, the agonist 1-[2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl]-2-(4-ethoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole (3) (CB2: K i = 0.42 μM) and the inverse agonist/antagonist 1-butyl-2-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole (11) (CB2: K i = 0.37 μM). Docking studies also performed on other benzimidazoles reported in the literature supported the structure-activity relationship observed in this series of compounds and allowed the key contacts involved in the agonist and/or inverse agonist behaviour displayed by these derivatives to be determined. The in silico evaluation of ADMET properties suggested a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile, promoting the drug-likeness of these compounds towards a further optimization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Tonelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Genova , V.le Benedetto XV, 3 , 16132 Genova , Italy .
| | - Elena Cichero
- Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Genova , V.le Benedetto XV, 3 , 16132 Genova , Italy .
| | - Alì Mokhtar Mahmoud
- National Research Council of Italy , Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry , Endocannabinoid Research Group , Via Campi Flegrei 34 , 80078 Pozzuoli , (Na) , Italy
| | - Alessandro Rabbito
- National Research Council of Italy , Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry , Endocannabinoid Research Group , Via Campi Flegrei 34 , 80078 Pozzuoli , (Na) , Italy
| | - Bruno Tasso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Genova , V.le Benedetto XV, 3 , 16132 Genova , Italy .
| | - Paola Fossa
- Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università degli Studi di Genova , V.le Benedetto XV, 3 , 16132 Genova , Italy .
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy , Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry , Endocannabinoid Research Group , Via Campi Flegrei 34 , 80078 Pozzuoli , (Na) , Italy
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31
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Brindisi M, Borrelli G, Brogi S, Grillo A, Maramai S, Paolino M, Benedusi M, Pecorelli A, Valacchi G, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Ghelardini C, Allarà M, Ligresti A, Minetti P, Campiani G, di Marzo V, Butini S, Gemma S. Development of Potent Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Useful for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:2090-2103. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Brindisi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borrelli
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Alessandro Grillo
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Samuele Maramai
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Marco Paolino
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Mascia Benedusi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology; University of Ferrara; Via Borsari 46 441212 Ferrara Italy
| | - Alessandra Pecorelli
- Department of Animal Science; North Carolina State University; NC Research Campus, PHHI Building, 600 Laureate Way Kannapolis NC 28081 USA
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology; University of Ferrara; Via Borsari 46 441212 Ferrara Italy
- Department of Animal Science; North Carolina State University; NC Research Campus, PHHI Building, 600 Laureate Way Kannapolis NC 28081 USA
| | - Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology; Drug Research and Child Health; Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology (NEUROFARBA); University of Florence; Viale G. Pieraccini, 6 50139 Firenze Italy
| | - Carla Ghelardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology; Drug Research and Child Health; Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology (NEUROFARBA); University of Florence; Viale G. Pieraccini, 6 50139 Firenze Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry; CNR; Via Campi Flegrei 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli) Italy
- EPITECH Group SpA; Via Egadi 7 20144 Milano Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry; CNR; Via Campi Flegrei 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli) Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Campiani
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Vincenzo di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry; CNR; Via Campi Flegrei 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli) Italy
- Département de Médecine; Université Laval; 1050, Avenue de la Médecine Québec City QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Stefania Butini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs); Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy (DoE 2018-2020); University of Siena; Via Aldo Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
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32
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Fiore D, Proto MC, Pisanti S, Picardi P, Pagano Zottola AC, Butini S, Gemma S, Casagni A, Laezza C, Vitale M, Ligresti A, Di Marzo V, Zisterer DM, Nathwani S, Williams DC, Campiani G, Gazzerro P, Bifulco M. Antitumor effect of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine-15 and its synergistic effect with Oxaliplatin and 5-FU in colorectal cancer cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2017; 17:849-58. [PMID: 26392056 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1078028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Some compounds of a series of novel pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxa(thia)zepine, a well-known group of tubulin targeting agents, display anti-tumor effects mainly inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several human cancer models. A member of this family, pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine-15 (PBOX-15), has previously shown potent pro-apoptotic activity in a variety of human tumor cell types, with minimal toxicity toward normal blood and bone marrow cells. In this study, we evaluated the PBOX-15-mediated effects in human colorectal cancer cell (CRC) lines, DLD-1 and HT-29. The compound, used at concentrations equal to or greater than 1 μM, inhibited the proliferation of human CRC cells, inducing a significant cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. In DLD-1 cells, treatments prolonged over 48 h triggered a strong activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway as indicated by activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. Moreover, nanomolar concentrations of PBOX-15, significantly improved the oxaliplatin and 5-fluouracil-induced anti-proliferative effects in DLD1 cell line. The observed synergistic interaction of both PBOX-15/Oxaliplatin and PBOX-15/5FU may involve activation of p38 MAPK and JNK pathway, which in turn significantly increased caspase-3 cleavage in DLD-1 cells, treated with PBOX-5/Oxaliplatin but not with PBOX-15/5FU. Moreover, PBOX-15/5FU-treated cells showed an increase in expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Taken together, these results show that PBOX-15 could represent a promising compound for the treatment of human CRC and a strong candidate for novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Fiore
- a Department of Pharmacy , University of Salerno , Fisciano (SA) , Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Proto
- a Department of Pharmacy , University of Salerno , Fisciano (SA) , Italy
| | - Simona Pisanti
- a Department of Pharmacy , University of Salerno , Fisciano (SA) , Italy
| | - Paola Picardi
- a Department of Pharmacy , University of Salerno , Fisciano (SA) , Italy
| | | | - Stefania Butini
- b European Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs) and Dip. di Biotecnologie , Chimica e Farmacia, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- b European Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs) and Dip. di Biotecnologie , Chimica e Farmacia, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Alice Casagni
- b European Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs) and Dip. di Biotecnologie , Chimica e Farmacia, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Chiara Laezza
- c Institute of Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology, IEOS CNR , Naples , Italy
| | - Mario Vitale
- d Department of Medicine and Surgery , University of Salerno , Baronissi (SA) , Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- e Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, C.N.R. , Pozzuoli (Naples) , Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- e Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, C.N.R. , Pozzuoli (Naples) , Italy
| | - Daniela M Zisterer
- f School of Biochemistry and Immunology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Seema Nathwani
- f School of Biochemistry and Immunology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - D Clive Williams
- f School of Biochemistry and Immunology , Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- b European Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs) and Dip. di Biotecnologie , Chimica e Farmacia, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Patrizia Gazzerro
- a Department of Pharmacy , University of Salerno , Fisciano (SA) , Italy
| | - Maurizio Bifulco
- d Department of Medicine and Surgery , University of Salerno , Baronissi (SA) , Italy
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33
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Aubert E, Abboud M, Doudouh A, Durand P, Peluso P, Ligresti A, Vigolo B, Cossu S, Pale P, Mamane V. Silver(i) coordination polymers with 3,3′,5,5′-tetrasubstituted 4,4′-bipyridine ligands: towards new porous chiral materials. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra28197d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The first homochiral metal–organic framework (MOF) based on an atropisomeric 4,4′-bipyridine ligand is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Aubert
- Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique et Modélisations (CRM2). UMR CNRS 7036
- Université de Lorraine
- France
| | - M. Abboud
- Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique et Modélisations (CRM2). UMR CNRS 7036
- Université de Lorraine
- France
- Laboratoire SRSMC
- UMR CNRS 7565
| | - A. Doudouh
- Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique et Modélisations (CRM2). UMR CNRS 7036
- Université de Lorraine
- France
| | - P. Durand
- Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique et Modélisations (CRM2). UMR CNRS 7036
- Université de Lorraine
- France
| | - P. Peluso
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare ICB CNR – Sede secondaria di Sassari
- Regione Baldinca
- Italy
| | - A. Ligresti
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare ICB CNR – Via Campi Flegrei 34
- I-80078 Pozzuoli (Na)
- Italy
| | - B. Vigolo
- Institut Jean Lamour
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine
- France
| | - S. Cossu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi
- Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia
- Italy
| | - P. Pale
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg
- UMR 7177, Equipe LASYROC
- 1 rue Blaise Pascal
- France
| | - V. Mamane
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg
- UMR 7177, Equipe LASYROC
- 1 rue Blaise Pascal
- France
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34
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Ligresti A, De Petrocellis L, Di Marzo V. From Phytocannabinoids to Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids: Pleiotropic Physiological and Pathological Roles Through Complex Pharmacology. Physiol Rev 2016; 96:1593-659. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00002.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apart from having been used and misused for at least four millennia for, among others, recreational and medicinal purposes, the cannabis plant and its most peculiar chemical components, the plant cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids), have the merit to have led humanity to discover one of the most intriguing and pleiotropic endogenous signaling systems, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This review article aims to describe and critically discuss, in the most comprehensive possible manner, the multifaceted aspects of 1) the pharmacology and potential impact on mammalian physiology of all major phytocannabinoids, and not only of the most famous one Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and 2) the adaptive pro-homeostatic physiological, or maladaptive pathological, roles of the ECS in mammalian cells, tissues, and organs. In doing so, we have respected the chronological order of the milestones of the millennial route from medicinal/recreational cannabis to the ECS and beyond, as it is now clear that some of the early steps in this long path, which were originally neglected, are becoming important again. The emerging picture is rather complex, but still supports the belief that more important discoveries on human physiology, and new therapies, might come in the future from new knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
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35
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Haider A, Müller Herde A, Slavik R, Weber M, Mugnaini C, Ligresti A, Schibli R, Mu L, Mensah Ametamey S. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Thiophene-Based Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Radiotracers for PET Imaging. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:350. [PMID: 27512365 PMCID: PMC4961704 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, our understanding of the endocannabinoid system has greatly improved due to the wealth of results obtained from exploratory studies. Currently, two cannabinoid receptor subtypes have been well-characterized. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) is widely expressed in the central nervous system, while the levels of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) in the brain and spinal cord of healthy individuals are relatively low. However, recent studies demonstrated a CB2 upregulation on activated microglia upon neuroinflammation, an indicator of neurodegeneration. Our research group aims to develop a suitable positron emission tomography (PET) tracer to visualize the CB2 receptor in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Herein we report two novel thiophene-based (11)C-labeled PET ligands designated [(11)C]AAT-015 and [(11)C]AAT-778. The reference compounds were synthesized using Gewald reaction conditions to obtain the aminothiophene intermediates, followed by amide formation. Saponification of the esters provided their corresponding precursors. Binding affinity studies revealed Ki-values of 3.3 ± 0.5 nM (CB2) and 1.0 ± 0.2 μM (CB1) for AAT-015. AAT-778 showed similar Ki-values of 4.3 ± 0.7 nM (CB2) and 1.1 ± 0.1 μM (CB1). Radiosynthesis was carried out under basic conditions using [(11)C]iodomethane as methylating agent. After semi-preparative HPLC purification both radiolabeled compounds were obtained in 99% radiochemical purity and the radiochemical yields ranged from 12 to 37%. Specific activity was between 96 and 449 GBq/μmol for both tracers. In order to demonstrate CB2 specificity of [(11)C]AAT-015 and [(11)C]AAT-778, we carried out autoradiography studies using CB2-positive mouse/rat spleen tissues. The obtained results revealed unspecific binding in spleen tissue that was not blocked by an excess of CB2-specific ligand GW402833. For in vivo analysis, [(11)C]AAT-015 was administered to healthy rats via tail-vein injection. Evaluation of the CB2-positive spleen, however, showed no accumulation of the radiotracer. Despite the promising in vitro binding affinities, specific binding of [(11)C]AAT-015, and [(11)C]AAT-778 could not be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Haider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adrienne Müller Herde
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Slavik
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Markus Weber
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonsspital St. Gallen St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena Siena, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Counsil of Italy Naples, Italy
| | - Roger Schibli
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linjing Mu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Mensah Ametamey
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Osman NA, Ligresti A, Klein CD, Allarà M, Rabbito A, Di Marzo V, Abouzid KA, Abadi AH. Discovery of novel Tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene and pyrrole based scaffolds as potent and selective CB2 receptor ligands: The structural elements controlling binding affinity, selectivity and functionality. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 122:619-634. [PMID: 27448919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
CB2-based therapeutics show strong potential in the treatment of diverse diseases such as inflammation, multiple sclerosis, pain, immune-related disorders, osteoporosis and cancer, without eliciting the typical neurobehavioral side effects of CB1 ligands. For this reason, research activities are currently directed towards the development of CB2 selective ligands. Herein, the synthesis of novel heterocyclic-based CB2 selective compounds is reported. A set of 2,5-dialkyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamides, 5-subtituted-2-(acylamino)/(2-sulphonylamino)-thiophene-3-carboxylates and 2-(acylamino)/(2-sulphonylamino)-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylates were synthesized. Biological results revealed compounds with remarkably high CB2 binding affinity and CB2/CB1 subtype selectivity. Compound 19a and 19b from the pyrrole series exhibited the highest CB2 receptor affinity (Ki = 7.59 and 6.15 nM, respectively), as well as the highest CB2/CB1 subtype selectivity (∼70 and ∼200-fold, respectively). In addition, compound 6b from the tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene series presented the most potent and selective CB2 ligand in this series (Ki = 2.15 nM and CB2 subtype selectivity of almost 500-fold over CB1). Compound 6b showed a full agonism, while compounds 19a and 19b acted as inverse agonists when tested in an adenylate cyclase assay. The present findings thus pave the way to the design and optimization of heterocyclic-based scaffolds with lipophilic carboxamide and/or retroamide substituent that can be exploited as potential CB2 receptor activity modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A Osman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Christian D Klein
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rabbito
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Khaled A Abouzid
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
| | - Ashraf H Abadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt
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37
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Montanari S, Scalvini L, Bartolini M, Belluti F, Gobbi S, Andrisano V, Ligresti A, Di Marzo V, Rivara S, Mor M, Bisi A, Rampa A. Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE): Networked Targets for the Development of Carbamates as Potential Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Agents. J Med Chem 2016; 59:6387-406. [PMID: 27309570 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The modulation of the endocannabinoid system is emerging as a viable avenue for the treatment of neurodegeneration, being involved in neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory processes. In particular, indirectly enhancing endocannabinoid signaling to therapeutic levels through FAAH inhibition might be beneficial for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, effectively preventing or slowing the progression of the disease. Hence, in the search for a more effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, in this paper, the multitarget-directed ligand paradigm was applied to the design of carbamates able to simultaneously target the recently proposed endocannabinoid system and the classic cholinesterase system, and achieve effective dual FAAH/cholinesterase inhibitors. Among the two series of synthesized compounds, while some derivatives proved to be extremely potent on a single target, compounds 9 and 19 were identified as effective dual FAAH/ChE inhibitors, with well-balanced nanomolar activities. Thus, 9 and 19 might be considered as new promising candidates for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Montanari
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Belluti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Gobbi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council , Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council , Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela Rampa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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38
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Aiello F, Badolato M, Pessina F, Sticozzi C, Maestrini V, Aldinucci C, Luongo L, Guida F, Ligresti A, Artese A, Allarà M, Costa G, Frosini M, Schiano Moriello A, De Petrocellis L, Valacchi G, Alcaro S, Maione S, Di Marzo V, Corelli F, Brizzi A. Design and Synthesis of New Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type-1 (TRPV1) Channel Modulators: Identification, Molecular Modeling Analysis, and Pharmacological Characterization of the N-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)butanamide, a Small Molecule Endowed with Agonist TRPV1 Activity and Protective Effects against Oxidative Stress. ACS Chem Neurosci 2016; 7:737-48. [PMID: 26942555 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
4-(Thiophen-2-yl)butanoic acid was identified as a cyclic substitute of the unsaturated alkyl chain of the natural ligand, capsaicin. Accordingly, a new class of amides was synthesized in good yield and high purity and their molecular recognition against the target was investigated by means of docking experiments followed by molecular dynamics simulations, in order to rationalize their geometrical and thermodynamic profiles. The pharmacological properties of these new compounds were expressed as activation (EC50) and desensitization (IC50) potencies. Several compounds were found to activate TRPV1 channels, and in particular, derivatives 1 and 10 behaved as TRPV1 agonists endowed with good efficacy as compared to capsaicin. The most promising compound 1 was also evaluated for its protective role against oxidative stress on keratinocytes and differentiated human neuroblastoma cell lines expressing the TRPV1 receptor as well as for its cytotoxicity and analgesic activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Aiello
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia e Scienza della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Badolato
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia e Scienza della Salute e della Nutrizione, Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sticozzi
- Dipartimento
Scienza della Vita e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | - Livio Luongo
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Farmacologia “L. Donatelli”, Seconda Università di Napoli, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Guida
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Farmacologia “L. Donatelli”, Seconda Università di Napoli, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Istituto
di Chimica Biomolecolare, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Artese
- Dipartimento
di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi “Magna Graecia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Istituto
di Chimica Biomolecolare, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giosué Costa
- Dipartimento
di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi “Magna Graecia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Istituto
di Chimica Biomolecolare, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Istituto
di Chimica Biomolecolare, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Dipartimento
Scienza della Vita e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento
di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi “Magna Graecia” di Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Farmacologia “L. Donatelli”, Seconda Università di Napoli, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Istituto
di Chimica Biomolecolare, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
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39
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Brindisi M, Maramai S, Gemma S, Brogi S, Grillo A, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Gabellieri E, Lamponi S, Saponara S, Gorelli B, Tedesco D, Bonfiglio T, Landry C, Jung KM, Armirotti A, Luongo L, Ligresti A, Piscitelli F, Bertucci C, Dehouck MP, Campiani G, Maione S, Ghelardini C, Pittaluga A, Piomelli D, Di Marzo V, Butini S. Development and Pharmacological Characterization of Selective Blockers of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol Degradation with Efficacy in Rodent Models of Multiple Sclerosis and Pain. J Med Chem 2016; 59:2612-32. [PMID: 26888301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We report the discovery of compound 4a, a potent β-lactam-based monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) inhibitor characterized by an irreversible and stereoselective mechanism of action, high membrane permeability, high brain penetration evaluated using a human in vitro blood-brain barrier model, high selectivity in binding and affinity-based proteomic profiling assays, and low in vitro toxicity. Mode-of-action studies demonstrate that 4a, by blocking MGL, increases 2-arachidonoylglycerol and behaves as a cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) receptor indirect agonist. Administration of 4a in mice suffering from experimental autoimmune encephalitis ameliorates the severity of the clinical symptoms in a CB1/CB2-dependent manner. Moreover, 4a produced analgesic effects in a rodent model of acute inflammatory pain, which was antagonized by CB1 and CB2 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists. 4a also relieves the neuropathic hypersensitivity induced by oxaliplatin. Given these evidence, 4a, as MGL selective inhibitor, could represent a valuable lead for the future development of therapeutic options for multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Brindisi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Samuele Maramai
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Brogi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grillo
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Firenze , V.le G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Emanuele Gabellieri
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Saponara
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Gorelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniele Tedesco
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bonfiglio
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genova , Viale Cembrano 4, Genova, 16148, Italy
| | - Christophe Landry
- Laboratoire de la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique (LBHE), University of Artois , EA 2465, F62300 Lens, France
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California , Irvine, California 92617, United States
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Livio Luongo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology "L. Donatelli", Second University of Napoli , 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR , 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR , 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Carlo Bertucci
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marie-Pierre Dehouck
- Laboratoire de la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique (LBHE), University of Artois , EA 2465, F62300 Lens, France
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology "L. Donatelli", Second University of Napoli , 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carla Ghelardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Firenze , V.le G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Anna Pittaluga
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genova , Viale Cembrano 4, Genova, 16148, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova , Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California , Irvine, California 92617, United States
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR , 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery and Development (NatSynDrugs), University of Siena , via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
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40
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Javid FA, Phillips RM, Afshinjavid S, Verde R, Ligresti A. Cannabinoid pharmacology in cancer research: A new hope for cancer patients? Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 775:1-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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41
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Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Ligresti A, Allarà M, Lamponi S, Vacondio F, Silva C, Mor M, Di Marzo V, Corelli F. Investigations on the 4-Quinolone-3-carboxylic Acid Motif. 7. Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of 4-Quinolone-3-carboxamides and 4-Hydroxy-2-quinolone-3-carboxamides as High Affinity Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2R) Ligands with Improved Aqueous Solubility. J Med Chem 2016; 59:1052-67. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento
di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Dipartimento
di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid
Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid
Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Dipartimento
di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area
delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Silva
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area
delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area
delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid
Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Dipartimento
di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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42
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Brindisi M, Brogi S, Maramai S, Grillo A, Borrelli G, Butini S, Novellino E, Allarà M, Ligresti A, Campiani G, Di Marzo V, Gemma S. Harnessing the pyrroloquinoxaline scaffold for FAAH and MAGL interaction: definition of the structural determinants for enzyme inhibition. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra12524g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The pharmacogenic pyrroloquinoxaline scaffold has been exploited for developing piperazine and 4-aminopiperidine carboxamides/carbamates as inhibitors of the endocannabinoids’ catabolic enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase.
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43
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Cerasuolo M, Paris D, Iannotti FA, Melck D, Verde R, Mazzarella E, Motta A, Ligresti A. Neuroendocrine Transdifferentiation in Human Prostate Cancer Cells: An Integrated Approach. Cancer Res 2015; 75:2975-86. [PMID: 26069250 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is highly sensitive to hormone therapy because androgens are essential for prostate cancer cell growth. However, with the nearly invariable progression of this disease to androgen independence, endocrine therapy ultimately fails to control prostate cancer in most patients. Androgen-independent acquisition may involve neuroendocrine transdifferentiation, but there is little knowledge about this process, which is presently controversial. In this study, we investigated this question in a novel model of human androgen-dependent LNCaP cells cultured for long periods in hormone-deprived conditions. Strikingly, characterization of the neuroendocrine phenotype by transcriptomic, metabolomic, and other statistically integrated analyses showed how hormone-deprived LNCaP cells could transdifferentiate to a nonmalignantneuroendocrine phenotype. Notably, conditioned media from neuroendocrine-like cells affected LNCaP cell proliferation. Predictive in silico models illustrated how after an initial period, when LNCaP cell survival was compromised by an arising population of neuroendocrine-like cells, a sudden trend reversal occurred in which the neuroendocrine-like cells functioned to sustain the remaining androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. Our findings provide direct biologic and molecular support for the concept that neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in prostate cancer cell populations influences the progression to androgen independence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Cerasuolo
- University of Portsmouth, Department of Mathematics, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Debora Paris
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Fabio A Iannotti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Dominique Melck
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Verde
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Enrico Mazzarella
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Motta
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council of Italy, Pozzuoli, Italy.
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44
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Manera C, Malfitano AM, Parkkari T, Lucchesi V, Carpi S, Fogli S, Bertini S, Laezza C, Ligresti A, Saccomanni G, Savinainen JR, Ciaglia E, Pisanti S, Gazzerro P, Di Marzo V, Nieri P, Macchia M, Bifulco M. New quinolone- and 1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamides as selective CB2 receptor agonists with anticancer and immuno–modulatory activity. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 97:10-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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45
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Bertini S, Parkkari T, Savinainen JR, Arena C, Saccomanni G, Saguto S, Ligresti A, Allarà M, Bruno A, Marinelli L, Di Marzo V, Novellino E, Manera C, Macchia M. Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modeling of new biphenylic carboxamides as potent and selective CB2 receptor ligands. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 90:526-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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46
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Lucchesi V, Hurst DP, Shore DM, Bertini S, Ehrmann BM, Allarà M, Lawrence L, Ligresti A, Minutolo F, Saccomanni G, Sharir H, Macchia M, Di Marzo V, Abood ME, Reggio PH, Manera C. CB2-selective cannabinoid receptor ligands: synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and molecular modeling investigation of 1,8-Naphthyridin-2(1H)-one-3-carboxamides. J Med Chem 2014; 57:8777-91. [PMID: 25272206 PMCID: PMC4234427 DOI: 10.1021/jm500807e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
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We
have recently identified 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one-3-carboxamide
as a new scaffold very suitable for the development
of new CB2 receptor potent and selective ligands. In this paper we
describe a number of additional derivatives in which the same central
scaffold has been variously functionalized in position 1 or 6. All
new compounds showed high selectivity and affinity in the nanomolar
range for the CB2 receptor. Furthermore, we found that their functional
activity is controlled by the presence of the substituents at position
C-6 of the naphthyridine scaffold. In fact, the introduction of substituents
in this position determined a functionality switch from agonist to
antagonists/inverse agonists. Finally, docking studies showed that
the difference between the pharmacology of these ligands may be in
the ability/inability to block the Toggle Switch W6.48(258) (χ1 g+ → trans) transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Lucchesi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa , Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Rubino T, Prini P, Piscitelli F, Zamberletti E, Trusel M, Melis M, Sagheddu C, Ligresti A, Tonini R, Di Marzo V, Parolaro D. Adolescent exposure to THC in female rats disrupts developmental changes in the prefrontal cortex. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 73:60-9. [PMID: 25281318 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Current concepts suggest that exposure to THC during adolescence may act as a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. However, the molecular underpinnings of this vulnerability are still poorly understood. To analyze this, we investigated whether and how THC exposure in female rats interferes with different maturational events occurring in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence through biochemical, pharmacological and electrophysiological means. We found that the endocannabinoid system undergoes maturational processes during adolescence and that THC exposure disrupts them, leading to impairment of both endocannabinoid signaling and endocannabinoid-mediated LTD in the adult prefrontal cortex. THC also altered the maturational fluctuations of NMDA subunits, leading to larger amounts of gluN2B at adulthood. Adult animals exposed to THC during adolescence also showed increased AMPA gluA1 with no changes in gluA2 subunits. Finally, adolescent THC exposure altered cognition at adulthood. All these effects seem to be triggered by the disruption of the physiological role played by the endocannabinoid system during adolescence. Indeed, blockade of CB1 receptors from early to late adolescence seems to prevent the occurrence of pruning at glutamatergic synapses. These results suggest that vulnerability of adolescent female rats to long-lasting THC adverse effects might partly reside in disruption of the pivotal role played by the endocannabinoid system in the prefrontal cortex maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Rubino
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, Biomedical Research Division, and Neuroscience Center, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy.
| | - Pamela Prini
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, Biomedical Research Division, and Neuroscience Center, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Erica Zamberletti
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, Biomedical Research Division, and Neuroscience Center, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy
| | - Massimo Trusel
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Miriam Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tonini
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Daniela Parolaro
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, Biomedical Research Division, and Neuroscience Center, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy; Zardi Gori Foundation, 21100 Milan, Italy
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48
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Janssen FJ, Deng H, Baggelaar MP, Allarà M, van der Wel T, den Dulk H, Ligresti A, van Esbroeck ACM, McGuire R, Di Marzo V, Overkleeft HS, van der Stelt M. Discovery of Glycine Sulfonamides as Dual Inhibitors of sn-1-Diacylglycerol Lipase α and α/β-Hydrolase Domain 6. J Med Chem 2014; 57:6610-22. [DOI: 10.1021/jm500681z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Freek J. Janssen
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hui Deng
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marc P. Baggelaar
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Tom van der Wel
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans den Dulk
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Annelot C. M. van Esbroeck
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ross McGuire
- Bioaxis Research, 5351 SL Berghem, The Netherlands
| | | | - Herman S. Overkleeft
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department
of Bio-Organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
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49
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Ligresti A, Martos J, Wang J, Guida F, Allarà M, Palmieri V, Luongo L, Woodward D, Di Marzo V. Prostamide F(2) α receptor antagonism combined with inhibition of FAAH may block the pro-inflammatory mediators formed following selective FAAH inhibition. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:1408-19. [PMID: 24102214 PMCID: PMC3954481 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prostamides are lipid mediators formed by COX-2-catalysed oxidation of the endocannabinoid anandamide and eliciting effects often opposed to those caused by anandamide. Prostamides may be formed when hydrolysis of anandamide by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is physiologically, pathologically or pharmacologically decreased. Thus, therapeutic benefits of FAAH inhibitors might be attenuated by concomitant production of prostamide F2 α . This loss of benefit might be minimized by compounds designed to selectively antagonize prostamide receptors and also inhibiting FAAH. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Inhibition of FAAH by a series of selective antagonists of prostamide receptors, including AGN 204396, AGN 211335 and AGN 211336, was assessed using rat, mouse and human FAAH in vitro, together with affinity for human recombinant CB1 and CB2 receptors. Effects in vivo were measured in a model of formalin-induced inflammatory pain in mice. KEY RESULTS The prostamide F2 α receptor antagonists were active against mouse and rat FAAH in the low μM range and behaved as non-competitive and plasma membrane-permeant inhibitors. AGN 211335, the most potent inhibitor of rat FAAH (IC50 = 1.2 μM), raised exogenous anandamide levels in intact cells and also bound to cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Both AGN 211335 and AGN 211336 (0.25-1 mg·kg(-1) , i.p.) inhibited the formalin-induced nociceptive response in mice. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Synthetic compounds with indirect agonist activity at cannabinoid receptors and antagonist activity at prostamide receptors can be developed. Such compounds could be used as alternatives to selective FAAH inhibitors to prevent the possibility of prostamide F2 α -induced inflammation and pain. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids 2013. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle RicerchePozzuoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Guida
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine – Division of Pharmacology ‘L. Donatelli’, Second University of NaplesNaples, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle RicerchePozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vittoria Palmieri
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle RicerchePozzuoli, Italy
| | - Livio Luongo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine – Division of Pharmacology ‘L. Donatelli’, Second University of NaplesNaples, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle RicerchePozzuoli, Italy
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50
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De Petrocellis L, Ligresti A, Schiano Moriello A, Iappelli M, Verde R, Stott CG, Cristino L, Orlando P, Di Marzo V. Non-THC cannabinoids inhibit prostate carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo: pro-apoptotic effects and underlying mechanisms. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 168:79-102. [PMID: 22594963 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02027.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cannabinoid receptor activation induces prostate carcinoma cell (PCC) apoptosis, but cannabinoids other than Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which lack potency at cannabinoid receptors, have not been investigated. Some of these compounds antagonize transient receptor potential melastatin type-8 (TRPM8) channels, the expression of which is necessary for androgen receptor (AR)-dependent PCC survival. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We tested pure cannabinoids and extracts from Cannabis strains enriched in particular cannabinoids (BDS), on AR-positive (LNCaP and 22RV1) and -negative (DU-145 and PC-3) cells, by evaluating cell viability (MTT test), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction, by FACS scans, caspase 3/7 assays, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL, and size of xenograft tumours induced by LNCaP and DU-145 cells. KEY RESULTS Cannabidiol (CBD) significantly inhibited cell viability. Other compounds became effective in cells deprived of serum for 24 h. Several BDS were more potent than the pure compounds in the presence of serum. CBD-BDS (i.p.) potentiated the effects of bicalutamide and docetaxel against LNCaP and DU-145 xenograft tumours and, given alone, reduced LNCaP xenograft size. CBD (1-10 µM) induced apoptosis and induced markers of intrinsic apoptotic pathways (PUMA and CHOP expression and intracellular Ca(2+)). In LNCaP cells, the pro-apoptotic effect of CBD was only partly due to TRPM8 antagonism and was accompanied by down-regulation of AR, p53 activation and elevation of reactive oxygen species. LNCaP cells differentiated to androgen-insensitive neuroendocrine-like cells were more sensitive to CBD-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data support the clinical testing of CBD against prostate carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano De Petrocellis
- Istituto di Cibernetica, Endocannabinoid Research Group, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli, Italy.
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