scholarly journals Neuropeptide S receptor 1 is a nonhormonal treatment target in endometriosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (608) ◽  
pp. eabd6469
Author(s):  
Thomas T. Tapmeier ◽  
Nilufer Rahmioglu ◽  
Jianghai Lin ◽  
Bianca De Leo ◽  
Maik Obendorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Inflammatory Cell Infiltrate ◽  
Neuropeptide S ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Chronic Inflammatory Condition

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory condition causing pelvic pain and infertility in women, with limited treatment options and 50% heritability. We leveraged genetic analyses in two species with spontaneous endometriosis, humans and the rhesus macaque, to uncover treatment targets. We sequenced DNA from 32 human families contributing to a genetic linkage signal on chromosome 7p13-15 and observed significant overrepresentation of predicted deleterious low-frequency coding variants in NPSR1, the gene encoding neuropeptide S receptor 1, in cases (predominantly stage III/IV) versus controls (P = 7.8 × 10−4). Significant linkage to the region orthologous to human 7p13-15 was replicated in a pedigree of 849 rhesus macaques (P = 0.0095). Targeted association analyses in 3194 surgically confirmed, unrelated cases and 7060 controls revealed that a common insertion/deletion variant, rs142885915, was significantly associated with stage III/IV endometriosis (P = 5.2 × 10−5; odds ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.39). Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and flow cytometry experiments demonstrated that NPSR1 was expressed in glandular epithelium from eutopic and ectopic endometrium, and on monocytes in peritoneal fluid. The NPSR1 inhibitor SHA 68R blocked NPSR1-mediated signaling, proinflammatory TNF-α release, and monocyte chemotaxis in vitro (P < 0.01), and led to a significant reduction of inflammatory cell infiltrate and abdominal pain (P < 0.05) in a mouse model of peritoneal inflammation as well as in a mouse model of endometriosis. We conclude that the NPSR1/NPS system is a genetically validated, nonhormonal target for the treatment of endometriosis with likely increased relevance to stage III/IV disease.

scholarly journals S(+)-(2E)-N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)-3-Phenylprop-2-Enamide (KM-568): A Novel Cinnamamide Derivative with Anticonvulsant Activity in Animal Models of Seizures and Epilepsy

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4372
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Gunia-Krzyżak ◽  
Ewa Żesławska ◽  
Karolina Słoczyńska ◽  
Dorota Żelaszczyk ◽  
Aleksandra Sowa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Anticonvulsant Activity ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Seizure Threshold ◽  
Base Substitution ◽  
Maximal Electroshock ◽  
Susceptible Mouse ◽  
Acute Seizures ◽  
Seizure Model

Epilepsy is one of the most frequent neurological disorders affecting about 1% of the world’s human population. Despite availability of multiple treatment options including antiseizure drugs, it is estimated that about 30% of seizures still remain resistant to pharmacotherapy. Searching for new antiseizure and antiepileptic agents constitutes an important issue within modern medicinal chemistry. Cinnamamide derivatives were identified in preclinical as well as clinical studies as important drug candidates for the treatment of epilepsy. The cinnamamide derivative presented here: S(+)-(2E)-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (S(+)-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)cinnamamide, compound KM-568) showed anticonvulsant activity in several models of epilepsy and seizures in mice and rats. It was active in a genetic animal model of epilepsy (Frings audiogenic seizure-susceptible mouse model, ED50 = 13.21 mg/kg, i.p.), acute seizures induced electrically (maximal electroshock test ED50 = 44.46 mg/kg mice i.p., ED50 = 86.6 mg/kg mice p.o., ED50 = 27.58 mg/kg rats i.p., ED50 = 30.81 mg/kg rats p.o., 6-Hz psychomotor seizure model 32 mA ED50 = 71.55 mg/kg mice i.p., 44 mA ED50 = 114.4 mg/kg mice i.p.), chronic seizures induced electrically (corneal kindled mouse model ED50 = 79.17 mg/kg i.p., hippocampal kindled rat model ED50 = 24.21 mg/kg i.p., lamotrigine-resistant amygdala kindled seizure model in rats ED50 = 58.59 mg/kg i.p.), acute seizures induced chemically (subcutaneous metrazol seizure threshold test ED50 = 104.29 mg/kg mice i.p., ED50 = 107.27 mg/kg mice p.o., ED50 = 41.72 mg/kg rats i.p., seizures induced by picrotoxin in mice ED50 = 94.11 mg/kg i.p.) and the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model in rats (ED50 = 279.45 mg/kg i.p., ED97 = 498.2 mg/kg i.p.). The chemical structure of the compound including configuration of the chiral center was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, LC/MS spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and crystallography. Compound KM-568 was identified as a moderately stable derivative in an in vitro mouse liver microsome system. According to the Ames microplate format mutagenicity assay performed, KM-568 was not a base substitution or frameshift mutagen. Cytotoxicity evaluation in two cell lines (HepG2 and H9c2) proved the safety of the compound in concentrations up to 100 µM. Based on the results of anticonvulsant activity and safety profile, S(+)-(2E)-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide could be proposed as a new lead compound for further preclinical studies on novel treatment options for epilepsy.

scholarly journals IlvY is an important regulator of Shigella infection in vitro and in vivo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayumi K. Holly ◽  
Mark C. Anderson ◽  
Lesley M. Rabago ◽  
Azadeh Saffarian ◽  
Benoit S. Marteyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Severe Diarrhea ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Enteric Infections

AbstractShigellosis results from oral ingestion of the Gram-negative bacteria Shigella, and symptoms include severe diarrhea and dysentery. In the absence of vaccines, small molecule antibacterial drugs have provided treatment options for shigellosis. However, Shigella drug resistance is rapidly emerging, and Shigella strains with resistance to both third-generation cephalosporins and azithromycin have been identified in Asia. A re-conceptualization is needed regarding the development of therapeutics that target bacterial pathogens in order to reduce resistance development and alteration of gut microbiota, which is depleted upon treatment with wide spectrum antibiotics, thereby increasing susceptibility to subsequent enteric infections. A more organism-specific approach is to develop agents targeting virulence factors such as toxins, adhesins, invasins, quorum sensing, and protein secretion systems. For Shigella, there is interest in targeting transcription factors essential for Shigella infection in vivo rather than specific effectors. Here we describe the importance of the Shigella transcription factor IlvY in Shigella virulence in vitro and in vivo. This work included the development of a novel, oral mouse model of Shigella infection with wild-type adult mice. Unlike previous models, mice do not require antibiotic pretreatment or diet modifications. This mouse model was used to demonstrate the importance of IlvY for Shigella in vivo survival and that deletion of ilvY impacts host responses to infection. These results illustrate that IlvY is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of shigellosis. In addition, the novel mouse model provides an exciting new opportunity to investigate therapeutic efficacy against Shigella infection and host responses to infection.

scholarly journals Combined targeting of PI3K and MEK effector pathways via CED for DIPG therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Chang ◽  
Umberto Tosi ◽  
Julia Voronina ◽  
Oluwaseyi Adeuyan ◽  
Linda Y Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Tumor Model ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Model Combination ◽  
Convection Enhanced Delivery

Abstract Background Midline gliomas like diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) carry poor prognosis and lack effective treatment options. Studies have implicated amplifications in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in tumorigenesis; compensatory activation of parallel pathways (eg, mitogen-activated protein kinase [MEK]) may underlie the resistance to PI3K inhibition observed in the clinic. Methods Three patient-derived cell lines (SU-DIPG-IV, SU-DIPG-XIII, and SF8628) and a mouse-derived brainstem glioma cell line were treated with PI3K (ZSTK474) and MEK (trametinib) inhibitors, alone or in combination. Synergy was analyzed using Chou-Talalay combination index (CI). These agents were also used alone or in combination in a subcutaneous SU-DIPG-XIII tumor model and in an intracranial genetic mouse model of DIPG, given via convection-enhanced delivery (CED). Results We found that these agents abrogate cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Combination treatments were found to be synergistic (CI &lt; 1) across cell lines tested. They also showed significant tumor suppression when given systemically against a subcutaneous DIPG model (alone or in combination) or when given via direct intracranial injection (CED) in a intracranial DIPG mouse model (combination only, median survival 47 vs 35 days post-induction, P = .038). No significant short- or long-term neurotoxicity of ZSTK474 and trametinib delivered via CED was observed. Conclusions Our data indicate that ZSTK474 and trametinib combinatorial treatment inhibits malignant growth of DIPG cells in vitro and in vivo, prolonging survival. These results suggest a promising new combinatorial approach using CED for DIPG therapy, which warrants further investigation.

Treatment Options in COVID-19: The Role of Bioavailable Antiviral Ribonucleoside Analog on NHC in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Bittmann
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Clinical Picture ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
World Health ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

On December 31, 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause by Chinese authorities on January 7, 2020 and was provisionally named "2019-nCoV". This new Coronavirus causes a clinical picture which has received now the name COVID-19. The virus has spread subsequently worldwide and was explained on the 11th of March, 2020 by the World Health Organization to the pandemic.

Are Carbonic Anhydrases Suitable Targets to Fight Protozoan Parasitic Diseases?

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (39) ◽  
pp. 5266-5278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia D'Ambrosio ◽  
Claudiu T. Supuran ◽  
Giuseppina De Simone
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrase ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrases ◽  
Extensive Drug Resistance ◽  
Protozoan Infections

Protozoans belonging to Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma genera provoke widespread parasitic diseases with few treatment options and many of the clinically used drugs experiencing an extensive drug resistance phenomenon. In the last several years, the metalloenzyme Carbonic Anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was cloned and characterized in the genome of these protozoa, with the aim to search for a new drug target for fighting malaria, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. P. falciparum encodes for a CA (PfCA) belonging to a novel genetic family, the η-CA class, L. donovani chagasi for a β-CA (LdcCA), whereas T. cruzi genome contains an α-CA (TcCA). These three enzymes were characterized in detail and a number of in vitro potent and selective inhibitors belonging to the sulfonamide, thiol, dithiocarbamate and hydroxamate classes were discovered. Some of these inhibitors were also effective in cell cultures and animal models of protozoan infections, making them of considerable interest for the development of new antiprotozoan drugs with a novel mechanism of action.

Stew in its Own Juice: Protein Homeostasis Machinery Inhibition Reduces Cell Viability in Multiple Myeloma Cell Lines

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana B. de Oliveira ◽  
Luiz F.G. Sanson ◽  
Angela I.P. Eugenio ◽  
Rebecca S.S. Barbosa-Dantas ◽  
Gisele W.B. Colleoni
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Protein Homeostasis ◽  
Protein Response ◽  
Rpmi 8226

Introduction:Multiple myeloma (MM) cells accumulate in the bone marrow and produce enormous quantities of immunoglobulins, causing endoplasmatic reticulum stress and activation of protein handling machinery, such as heat shock protein response, autophagy and unfolded protein response (UPR).Methods:We evaluated cell lines viability after treatment with bortezomib (B) in combination with HSP70 (VER-15508) and autophagy (SBI-0206965) or UPR (STF- 083010) inhibitors.Results:For RPMI-8226, after 72 hours of treatment with B+VER+STF or B+VER+SBI, we observed 15% of viable cells, but treatment with B alone was better (90% of cell death). For U266, treatment with B+VER+STF or with B+VER+SBI for 72 hours resulted in 20% of cell viability and both treatments were better than treatment with B alone (40% of cell death). After both triplet combinations, RPMI-8226 and U266 presented the overexpression of XBP-1 UPR protein, suggesting that it is acting as a compensatory mechanism, in an attempt of the cell to handle the otherwise lethal large amount of immunoglobulin overload.Conclusion:Our in vitro results provide additional evidence that combinations of protein homeostasis inhibitors might be explored as treatment options for MM.

scholarly journals Mechanism of CK2.3, a Novel Mimetic Peptide of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type IA, Mediated Osteogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vrathasha Vrathasha ◽  
Hilary Weidner ◽  
Anja Nohe
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Molecular Sequence ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Protein Receptor

Background: Osteoporosis is a degenerative skeletal disease with a limited number of treatment options. CK2.3, a novel peptide, may be a potential therapeutic. It induces osteogenesis and bone formation in vitro and in vivo by acting downstream of BMPRIA through releasing CK2 from the receptor. However, the detailed signaling pathways, the time frame of signaling, and genes activated remain largely unknown. Methods: Using a newly developed fluorescent CK2.3 analog, specific inhibitors for the BMP signaling pathways, Western blot, and RT-qPCR, we determined the mechanism of CK2.3 in C2C12 cells. We then confirmed the results in primary BMSCs. Results: Using these methods, we showed that CK2.3 stimulation activated OSX, ALP, and OCN. CK2.3 stimulation induced time dependent release of CK2β from BMPRIA and concurrently CK2.3 colocalized with CK2α. Furthermore, CK2.3 induced BMP signaling depends on ERK1/2 and Smad1/5/8 signaling pathways. Conclusion: CK2.3 is a novel peptide that drives osteogenesis, and we detailed the molecular sequence of events that are triggered from the stimulation of CK2.3 until the induction of mineralization. This knowledge can be applied in the development of future therapeutics for osteoporosis.

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