Small molecule scavenger receptor BI antagonists are potent HCV entry inhibitors

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

ITX 5061 is a clinical stage small molecule compound that promotes high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in animals and patients by targeting the scavenger receptor BI protein pathway. Since SR-BI is a known co-receptor for HCV infection, we evaluated these compounds for their effects on HCV entry.

METHODS

We obtained ITX 5061 and related compounds to characterize their interaction with SR-BI and effects on HCV entry and infection.

RESULTS

We confirmed that a tritium-labeled compound analog (ITX 7650) binds cells expressing SR-BI, and both ITX 5061 and ITX 7650 compete for HDL-mediated lipid transfer in an SR-BI dependent manner. Both molecules inhibit HCVcc and HCVpp infection of primary human hepatocytes and/or human hepatoma cell lines and have minimal effects on HCV RNA replication. Kinetic studies suggest that the compounds act at an early post-binding step.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the ITX compounds inhibit HCV infection with a mechanism of action distinct from other HCV therapies under development. Since ITX 5061 has already been evaluated in over 280 patients with good pharmacokinetic and safety profiles, it warrants proof-of-concept clinical studies in HCV infected patients.

An aminopeptidase from bovine brain which catalyzes the hydrolysis of enkephalin

An aminopeptidase from bovine brain which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the tyrosyl1-glycine2 bond of methionine5-enkephalin has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme also catalyzes the hydrolysis of dipeptides, tripeptides, and amino acid beta-naphthylamides. The enzyme can be inactivated by dialysis against EDTA, and reconstituted with divalent metal ions. Inhibition of the enzyme is observed in the presence of p-chloromercuribenzoate and puromycin, the latter compound not being hydrolyzed by the enzyme. The enzyme is composed of a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight approx. 100,000. The properties of this enzyme are similar to those reported for other brain aminopeptidases active on enkephalin, although distinct differences are observed.

Enzymes involved in the degradation of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) in bovine brain

As part of an investigation of neuropeptide inactivation mechanisms, we have resolved an enzymatic activity in bovine brain which catalyzes the deamidation of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and the hydrolysis of the Pro9--Gly10--NH2 bond of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) from a second LH-RH degrading activity which does not degrade TRH. The former activity is similar, if not identical to, the post-proline cleaving enzyme in kidney as it is active toward the post-proline cleaving enzyme substrate CbzGly--Pro--Leu--Gly and inhibited by CbzPro--Phe and diisopropylfluorophosphate. In addition, products derived from the degradation of TRH and LH-RH by this activity show a specific cleavage on the carboxyl side of a proline residue. The latter activity has not yet been characterized with respect to its site of cleavage of the LH-RH molecule due to the presence of other contaminating peptidases.

Demonstration of glucocorticoid receptor-like immunoreactivity in glucocorticoid-sensitive vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing factor neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Many parvocellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus express high levels of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) or vasopressin following adrenalectomy. To determine whether glucocorticoids feed back directly on these neurons, a mouse monoclonal antibody directed against the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor was used in combination with polyclonal antisera directed against either vasopressin or CRF to permit simultaneous visualization of either peptide with glucocorticoid receptor-like immunoreactivity (IR). Rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) for 2 weeks to optimize numbers of vasopressin - and CRF-IR neurons. Six hours prior to sacrifice, a separate group of adrenalectomized rats was treated with corticosterone (40 mg/kg). This short-term replacement resulted in nuclear localization of glucocorticoid receptor-like-IR but did not attenuate the increased numbers of CRF- and vasopressin-IR neurons observed after adrenalectomy. It was therefore possible to visualize vasopressin- or CFR-IR and nuclear glucocorticoid receptor-like-IR simultaneously. Cell counts of double-labeled neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) demonstrated that glucocorticoid receptor-like-IR is colocalized in virtually all the CRF and vasopressin immunoreactive parvocellular neurons studied, which respond to adrenalectomy by increased peptide expression. These data suggest that a major feedback effect of glucocorticoids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is exerted directly within nuclei of CRF and vasopressin neurons.

The distribution of substance P in turtle nervous system: a radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemical study

The distribution of a substance P-like material in turtle brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, and retina was determined using radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemistry. High levels of a substance P-like material were found in turtle neural tissue, particularly in basal telencephalon, hypothalamus, and tegmentum. In many regions, the concentration of a substance P-like material in turtle nervous tissue was found to be similar, in a region-to-region comparison, to that previously reported for birds and mammals, particularly for the more "phylogenetically conservative" parts of the nervous system (such as the basal ganglia, tegmentum, and hypothalamus). The slopes of substance P RIA dose-response curves for tissue extracts from nearly all regions of the turtle nervous system examined were parallel to a standard dose-response curve for synthetic substance P (SP). The immunohistochemical results, with anti-substance P antisera from guinea pig or rabbit, or with a monoclonal antibody, were consistent with the RIA data. Regions showing high concentration of an SP-like material by RIA were observed to contain numerous neurons and/or fibers containing an SP-like material. The immunohistochemical results provide evidence for the presence in turtle of numerous SP-containing pathways, several of which (e.g., an SP-containing strionigral pathway, an SP-containing striopallidal pathway and an SP-containing dorsal root ganglia-spinal dorsal horn pathway), have been described in birds and mammals. The present results thus suggest that the neuropeptide SP has had a largely stable evolutionary history as a transmitter or modulatory agent during amniote brain evolution.

Adjunctive treatment of partial seizures with tiagabine: a placebo-controlled trial

Tiagabine is a new antiepileptic drug which acts by a novel mechanism, inhibiting the reuptake of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) into neurons and glia. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was undertaken, based upon a response-dependent design. Ninety-four patients with complex partial seizures with or without secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures were recruited into an open screening phase and tiagabine was added to their existing drug therapy in doses titrated to reduce seizure frequency by > or = 25% or to the limit of tolerance. Forty-six responders were subsequently randomised to a double-blind crossover trial in which tiagabine was compared with placebo. Forty-two patients completed the trial. A significant reduction in the frequency of complex partial and secondary generalised tonic clonic seizures was seen. Twenty-six percent had a reduction of > or = 50% in the frequency of their complex partial seizures, and of the 27 patients who also had secondary generalised tonic clonic seizures, 63% experienced a reduction of > or = 50%. No interactions with baseline antiepileptic drugs were detected and no serious adverse reactions occurred. The commonest adverse events were tiredness, dizziness and headache. We conclude that tiagabine has promising antiepileptic effects. Further trials are underway.

Preliminary analysis of 1H and 13C spectral and relaxation behavior in methionine-enkephalin

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the conformational dynamics of the pentapeptide H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-OH are reported. This peptide, for which the generic trivial name "methionine-enkephalin" has been suggested, is pharmacologically active as a ligand for the mammalian opiate receptor(s). The studies reported are parallel investigations in two solvents (dimethylsulfoxide and water) of: 1H and 13C high resolution spectral assignments; 1H and 13C spin-lattice relaxation times, temperature dependence of amide proton chemical shifts, and half-times for chemical exchange or amide protons. From these data we conclude that the tyrosine side chain of methionine-enkephalin exhibits restricted motion with respect to the main peptide backbone of the molecule. On the other hand both the phenylalanyl and methionyl side chains are undergoing intramolecular reorientation with relatively high frequency.

Evaluation of ITX 5061, a scavenger receptor B1 antagonist: resistance selection and activity in combination with other hepatitis C virus antivirals

ITX 5061 is a scavenger receptor B1 antagonist that has entered phase 1 clinical trials in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected humans. We evaluated ITX 5061 in combination with interferon-α, ribavirin, and HCV protease and polymerase inhibitors in a genotype 2a infectious virus system. ITX 5061 is a potent inhibitor of HCV replication and is additive to synergistic with interferon-α, ribavirin, BILN2061, VX950, VX1, and 2'-C-methyladenosine. Resistance selection experiments were performed using a Jc1-FEO virus co-culture system and intermittent ITX 5061 exposure under neomycin selection. We identified a mutant virus with a substitution of aspartic acid for asparagine at the highly conserved position 415 in E2 (N415D). Introduction of this mutation into wild-type virus conferred high-level resistance to ITX 5061. There was no cross-resistance between ITX 5061 and HCV protease inhibitors or interferon-α. These results suggest that ITX 5061 is a promising compound for study in combination with other HCV inhibitors.

Effects of spinal lesions on substance P levels in the rat sympathetic preganglionic cell column: evidence for local spinal regulation

Substance P has been localized to the neuropil of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in light and electron microscopic studies. Two recent reports have suggested that the majority of substance P in the rat intermediolateral cell column was contained in synaptic terminals of bulbospinal axons. However, previous investigations in our laboratory indicated the presence of major substance P spinal-sympathetic preganglionic neuron circuitry in pigeon. The present study used radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry to examine substance P levels in rat intermediolateral cell column following various spinal lesions in order to assess the relative contributions of bulbospinal and intraspinal substance P neurons to the substance P content of the intermediolateral cell column. The results from these experiments support the existence of both bulbospinal and intraspinal substance P-containing projections to the rat intermediolateral cell column. In addition, characterization of spinal cord substance P-like immunoreactivity by combined high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, revealed that substance P in rat intermediolateral cell column was indistinguishable from synthetic substance P. Following transection of thoracic spinal cord, substance P-immunoreactive staining was still evident in the intermediolateral cell column caudal to the lesion. These substance P-positive fibers were studded with bouton-like swellings and appeared normal. Following high cervical hemisection, depletion of substance P (radioimmunoassay measurements) was bilateral and equal in the intermediolateral cell column: 25% depletion was observed after 7 days and 35% depletion after 14 days. However, rats which were hemisected at low cervical and/or mid-thoracic levels contained normal or elevated amounts of substance P in the intermediolateral cell column. Since substance P remains in the intermediolateral cell column following total transection, substance P spinal-sympathetic preganglionic neuron circuitry must exist. Additionally, depletion of substance P following high cervical hemisection suggests the existence of a substance P-containing, bilateral bulbospinal pathway to the intermediolateral cell column. The observation that substance P levels were normal or elevated following low cervical lesions raises the possibility that intraspinal substance P neurons can compensate for loss of substance P in the spinal cord. Sprouting or altered substance P metabolism and/or release by intraspinal substance P neurons could be responsible, suggesting an important homeostatic mechanism for maintaining substance P content within the intermediolateral cell column.

Depolarization regulates adrenal preproenkephalin mRNA

The regulation of neuropeptide gene expression has been investigated by using rat adrenal medullae grown in explant culture. After 3 days in culture the (now denervated) explants exhibited a 10-fold increase in leucine-enkephalin (leu-EK) content. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide completely blocked the rise, whereas inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D or alpha-amanitin inhibited the increase by 50%. Inhibition of DNA synthesis with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (cytosine arabinoside) had no discernible effect. To determine whether the rise in leu-EK was associated with an increase in specific mRNA coding for the opiate peptide precursor, blot hybridization analysis was performed. A single species of preproenkephalin mRNA was detected after various culture periods. The amount of mRNA increased 34-fold after 2 days in culture and 74-fold after 4 days. Consequently, the rise in mRNA levels preceded the increase in the amount of leu-EK. Depolarization of the adrenal medullae with either elevated potassium or veratridine, which prevents leu-EK accumulation, inhibited the increase in the amount of preproenkephalin mRNA. Moreover, the effect of veratridine was blocked by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that transmembrane sodium ion influx affects the increase in the amount of message. Our studies suggest that elevation of leu-EK in explanted (denervated) medullae is associated with increased amounts of mRNA coding for the peptide precursor and that these processes can be regulated by depolarization.

Biosynthesis of precursor corticotropin/endorphin-, corticotropin-, alpha-melanotropin-, beta-lipotropin-, and beta-endorphin-like material by cultured neonatal rat hypothalamic neurons

Enzymatically dispersed hypothalamic cells derived from 15-day-old female rats were maintained in tissue culture for 4 days and then incubated for 2 hr in the presence of [35S]methionine. After such incubation, cell extracts contained multiple forms of 35S-labeled products that were specifically bound by immobilized affinity-purified antisera to corticotropin and beta-endorphin. Sequential use of these immobilized antisera revealed two molecular species (apparent Mr of 33,000 and 36,500) that contained both corticotropin and beta-endorphin antigenic determinants within the same molecule. Substances containing only one of these determinants were also present and co-eluted with corticotropin, alpha-melanotropin, beta-lipotropin, or beta-endorphin upon Sephadex G-50 gel filtration. Extracts of similarly labeled rat anterior and intermediate pituitary lobe cells contained two forms of the common precursor molecule corresponding to the same molecular weights estimated for the hypothalamic material and similar to it with respect to other physicochemical parameters. These data suggest that rat hypothalamus synthesizes corticotropin-related and beta-endorphin-related products via sequential cleavage of a larger common precursor molecule in a manner similar to the processing pathway demonstrated for the intermediate lobe of the pituitary.

Hormonal regulation of rat hypothalamic neuropeptide mRNAs: effect of hypophysectomy and hormone replacement on growth-hormone-releasing factor, somatostatin and the insulin-like growth factors

Hormonal feedback regulation of hypothalamic peptides putatively involved in growth hormone (GH) regulation has been studied by measurement of steady-state mRNA levels in male hypophysectomized rats with or without thyroid hormone, corticosterone, testosterone or GH replacement. Hypothalamic GH-releasing factor (GRF) mRNA levels increased progressively following hypophysectomy to 420% of sham levels after 15 days while hypothalamic insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) mRNA levels decreased to less than 40% of sham levels. Whole hypothalamic somatostatin mRNA levels were not significantly different from sham. One week of continuous GH infusion restored hypothalamic IGF-I mRNA to levels (95%) indistinguishable from those in sham-operated controls but had no effect on either IGF-II or GRF mRNA. Thyroid hormone, corticosterone and testosterone treatment without GH had no effect on the hypophysectomy-induced reduction of either IGF-I or IGF-II mRNA levels but reversed the elevation of GRF mRNA. We conclude that hypothalamic IGF-I may be involved in GH feedback regulation and thus may function as a hypothalamic modulator of GH. In contrast, IGF-II may be regulated by one of the pituitary trophic hormones but not by GH or the target hormones tested. Finally, hypothalamic GRF mRNA regulation appears to be complex and may include target hormone feedback.