Niclosamide-loaded nanoparticles (Ncl-NPs) reverse pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening interstitial lung disease, is characterized by excessive activation and proliferation of fibroblasts and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) accompanied by a large amount of extracellular matrix aggregation. There are no therapies to reverse pulmonary fibrosis, and nintedanib and pirfenidone could only slow down the decline of lung function of IPF patients and delay their survival time. Niclosamide (Ncl) is an antihelminthic drug approved by FDA, which has been reported to have pleiotropic pharmacological activities in recent years, but it's almost complete insolubility in water limits its clinical application.

OBJECTIVES

To improve the water solubility of Ncl, explore its ability to reverse BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and its specific mechanism of action.

METHODS

The Niclosamide-loaded nanoparticles (Ncl-NPs) were formed by emulsification solvent evaporation method. A mouse model induced by bleomycin (BLM) was established to evaluate its effects and mechanisms of inhibiting and reversing fibrosis in vivo. The cell models treated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were used to examine the mechanism of Ncl-NPs inhibiting fibrosis in vitro. Flow cytometry, IHC, IL-4-induced macrophage model and co-culture system were used to assess the effect of Ncl-NPs on M2 polarization of macrophages.

RESULTS

The Ncl-NPs improved the poor water solubility of Ncl. The lower dose of Ncl-NPs (2.5 mg/kg) showed the same effect of reversing established pulmonary fibrosis as free Ncl (5 mg/kg). Mechanistic studies revealed that Ncl-NPs blocked TGF-β/Smad and signaling transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling pathways and inhibited the M2 polarization of macrophages. Additionally, H&E staining of the tissues initially showed the safety of Ncl-NPs.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate Ncl-NPs may serve as a new idea for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

A phase I study of niclosamide in combination with enzalutamide in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Niclosamide, an FDA-approved anti-helminthic drug, has activity in preclinical models of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Potential mechanisms of action include degrading constitutively active androgen receptor splice variants (AR-Vs) or inhibiting other drug-resistance pathways (e.g., Wnt-signaling). Published pharmacokinetics data suggests that niclosamide has poor oral bioavailability, potentially limiting its use as a cancer drug. Therefore, we launched a Phase I study testing oral niclosamide in combination with enzalutamide, for longer and at higher doses than those used to treat helminthic infections.

METHODS

We conducted a Phase I dose-escalation study testing oral niclosamide plus standard-dose enzalutamide in men with metastatic CRPC previously treated with abiraterone. Niclosamide was given three-times-daily (TID) at the following dose-levels: 500, 1000 or 1500mg. The primary objective was to assess safety. Secondary objectives, included measuring AR-V expression from circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using the AdnaTest assay, evaluating PSA changes and determining niclosamide's pharmacokinetic profile.

RESULTS

20 patients screened and 5 enrolled after passing all screening procedures. 13(65%) patients had detectable CTCs, but only one was AR-V+. There were no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in 3 patients on the 500mg TID cohort; however, both (N = 2) subjects on the 1000mg TID cohort experienced DLTs (prolonged grade 3 nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; and colitis). The maximum plasma concentration ranged from 35.7 to 182 ng/mL and was not consistently above the minimum effective concentration in preclinical studies. There were no PSA declines in any enrolled subject. Because plasma concentrations at the maximum tolerated dose (500mg TID) were not consistently above the expected therapeutic threshold, the Data Safety Monitoring Board closed the study for futility.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral niclosamide could not be escalated above 500mg TID, and plasma concentrations were not consistently above the threshold shown to inhibit growth in CRPC models. Oral niclosamide is not a viable compound for repurposing as a CRPC treatment.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02532114.

The anthelmintic drug niclosamide induces apoptosis, impairs metastasis and reduces immunosuppressive cells in breast cancer model

Breast carcinoma is the most common female cancer with considerable metastatic potential. Discovery of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of metastatic breast cancer is still needed. Here, we reported our finding with niclosamide, an FDA approved anthelmintic drug. The potency of niclosamide on breast cancer was assessed in vitro and in vivo. In this investigation, we found that niclosamide showed a dramatic growth inhibition against breast cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis of 4T1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further, Western blot analysis demonstrated the occurrence of its apoptosis was associated with activation of Cleaved caspases-3, down-regulation of Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Survivin. Moreover, niclosamide blocked breast cancer cells migration and invasion, and the reduction of phosphorylated STAT3(Tyr705), phosphorylated FAK(Tyr925) and phosphorylated Src(Tyr416) were also observed. Furthermore, in our animal experiments, intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg/d niclosamide suppressed 4T1 tumor growth without detectable toxicity. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a decrease in Ki67-positive cells, VEGF-positive cells and microvessel density (MVD) and an increase in Cleaved caspase-3-positive cells upon niclosamide. Notably, niclosamide reduced the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in tumor tissues and blocked formation of pulmonary metastases. Taken together, these results demonstrated that niclosamide may be a promising candidate for breast cancer.

Impact of certain plants and synthetic molluscicides on some fresh water snails and fish

The LC50 (78, 85 ppm) and LC90 (88, 135 ppm) of Anagalis arvensis and Calendula micrantha respectively against Biomphalaria alexandrina were higher than those of the non-target snails, Physa acuta, Planorbis planorbis, Helisoma duryi and Melanoides tuberculata. In contrast, the LC50 of Niclosamide (0.11 ppm) and Copper sulphate (CuSO4) (0.42 ppm) against B. alexandrina were lower than those of the non-target snails. The mortalities percentage among non-target snails ranged between 0.0 & 20% when sublethal concentrations of CuSO4 against B. alexandrina mixed with those of C. micrantha and between 0.0 & 40% when mixed with A. arvensis. Mortalities ranged between 0.0 & 50% when Niclosamide was mixed with each of A. arvensis and C. micrantha. A. arvensis induced 100% mortality on Oreochromis niloticus after 48 hrs exposure and after 24 hrs for Gambusia affinis. C. micrantha was non-toxic to the fish. The survival rate of O. niloticus and G. affinis after 48 hrs exposure to 0.11 ppm of Niclosamide were 83.3% & 100% respectively. These rates were 91.7% & 93.3% respectively when each of the two fish species was exposed to 0.42 ppm of CuSO4. Mixture of sub-lethal concentrations of A. arvensis against B. alexandrina and those of Niclosamide or CuSO4 at ratios 10:40 & 25:25 induced 66.6% mortalities on O. niloticus and 83.3% at 40:10. These mixtures caused 100% mortalities on G. affinis at all ratios. A. arvensis CuSO4 mixtures at 10:40 induced 83.3% & 40% mortalities on O. niloticus and G. affinis respectively and 100% mortalities on both fish species at ratios 25:25 & 40:10. A mixture of sub-lethal concentrations of C. micrantha against B. alexandrina and of Niclosamide or CuSO4 caused mortalities of O. niloticus between 0.0 & 33.3% and between 5% & 35% of G. affinis. The residue of Cu in O. niloticus were 4.69, 19.06 & 25.37 mg/1kgm fish after 24, 48 & 72 hrs exposure to LC0 of CuSO4 against B. alexandrina respectively.

Effect of niclosamide on the marketable fish Liza ramada (Risso, 1826) concerning accumulation in muscles and activities of three metabolic liver enzymes

The accumulation in muscles and the effect of different concentrations of niclosamide (Bayluscide) on the metabolic enzymes; succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the liver of the Thin-lip grey mullet after 1, 2 & 3 weeks were studied. The molluscicide residues were detected in the muscles. The residues increased with the increase of concentrations of niclosamide as well as the time of exposure. On the other hand, LDH showed significant increase. But, SDH and PDH showed significant decrease. No doubt, this disturbance in the three liver enzymes cause disturbance in the process of metabolism. The important point is what about man who consumes a fish with niclosamide accumulated in its muscles.