Discovery of a Novel Small-Molecule Interleukin-6 Inhibitor through Virtual Screening Using Artificial Intelligence

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Sato ◽  
Ikuo Kashiwakura ◽  
Masaru Yamaguchi ◽  
Hironori Yoshino ◽  
Takeshi Tanaka ◽  
...  

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in various cell functions and diseases. Thus far, several IL-6 inhibitors, such as, humanized monoclonal antibody have been used to block excessive IL-6 signaling causing autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, anti-IL-6 and anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies have some clinical disadvantages, such as a high cost, unfavorable injection route, and tendency to mask infectious diseases. While a small-molecule IL-6 inhibitor would help mitigate these issues, none are currently available. Objective: The present study evaluated the biological activities of identified compounds on IL-6 stimulus. Methods: We virtually screened potential IL-6 binders from a compound library using INTerprotein’s Engine for New Drug Design (INTENDD®) followed by the identification of more potent IL-6 binders with artificial intelligence (AI)-guided INTENDD®. The biological activities of the identified compounds were assessed with the IL-6-dependent cell line 7TD1. Results: The compounds showed the suppression of IL-6-dependent cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the identified compound inhibited expression of IL-6-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our screening compound demonstrated an inhibitory effect on IL-6 stimulus. These findings may serve as a basis for the further development of small-molecule IL-6 inhibitors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Bao ◽  
Ying Xue ◽  
Chao Xia ◽  
Yin Lu ◽  
Ningjing Yang ◽  
...  

Background: Chlamydiae, characterized by a unique biphasic life cycle, are a group of Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens responsible for diseases in a range of hosts including humans. Benzylidene acylhydrazide CF0001 could inhibit chlamydiae independent of iron starvation and T3SS inhibition. This finding promoted us to design and synthesize more benzylidene acylhydrazides to find novel anti-chlamydial agents. Methods: The carboxylic acids 1a-1d were coupled with Boc-hydrazide inpresence of EDCI and DMAP to obtain the intermediate 2a-2d in 60-62% yields. N-Boc deprotections were performed to obtain hydrazide hydrochloride salt 3a-3d. Nextly, the hydrazides were subjected to condensation with aldehydes to obtain benzylidene acylhydrazides 4a-4g in 30-52% yields in two steps. Results: Compound 4d exhibited best inhibitory effect on the formation and growth of chlamydial inclusions. The IC50 value of compound 4d for infectious progenies was 3.55 µM, better than 7.30 µM of CF0001. Conclusion: To find novel anti-chlamydial agents, we have designed and synthesized benzylidene acylhydrazides 4a-4g. Compounds 4a, 4d, 4g showed inhibitory activity on C. muridarum with the IC50 values from 3.55-12 µM. The 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyl substitutes on ring B are critical to keep their anti-chlamydial activity. Compound 4d inhibited C. muridarum in a dose-dependent manner without apparent cytotoxicity.



2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Zhang ◽  
Zengqiang Qu ◽  
Yanqing Zhou ◽  
Jin Zhou ◽  
Junwei Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cornin is a commonly used herb in cardiology for its cardioprotective effect. The effect of herbs on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) can induce adverse drug-drug interaction even treatment failure. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of cornin on the activity of CYP450s, which can provide more guidance for the clinical application of cornin. Methods Cornin (100 μM) was incubated with eight isoforms of CYP450s, including CYP1A2, 2A6, 3A4, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 2E1, in pooled human liver microsomes. The inhibition model and corresponding parameters were also investigated. Results Cornin exerted significant inhibitory effect on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 in a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values of 9.20, 22.91, and 14.28 μM, respectively (p < 0.05). Cornin inhibited the activity of CYP3A4 non-competitively with the Ki value of 4.69 μM, while the inhibition of CYP2C9 and 2E1 by cornin was competitive with the Ki value of 11.31 and 6.54 μM, respectively. Additionally, the inhibition of CYP3A4 by cornin was found to be time-dependent with the KI/Kinact value of 6.40/0.055 min− 1·μM− 1. Conclusions The inhibitory effect of cornin on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 indicated the potential drug-drug interaction between cornin and drugs metabolized by these CYP450s, which needs further investigation and validation.



1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun W. Wong ◽  
Geoffrey O. Regester ◽  
Geoffrey L. Francis ◽  
Dennis L. Watson

SummaryStudies on the immunomodulatory activities of ruminant milk and colostral whey fractions were undertaken. By comparing with boiled colostral whey in a preliminary experiment, a putative heat-labile immunostimulatory factor for antibody responses was found to be present in ovine colostral whey. Studies were then undertaken in sheep in which the efferent prefemoral lymphatic ducts were cannulated bilaterally, and immune responses in the node were measured following subcutaneous injection in the flank fold of whey protein preparations of various purities. A significant sustained decline of efferent lymphocyte output was observed following injection with autologous crude milk whey or colostral whey preparations, but no changes were observed in interferon-gamma levels in lymph plasma. Two bovine milk whey fractions (lactoperoxidase and lactoferrin) of high purity were compared in bilaterally cannulated sheep. A transient decline over the first 6 h was seen in the efferent lymphocyte output and lymph flow rate after injection of both fractions. A significant difference was seen between the two fractions in interferongamma levels in lymph at 6 h after injection. However, no significant changes in the proportion of the various efferent lymphocyte phenotypes were seen following either treatment. Whereas both fractions showed a significant inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner on the proliferative response of T lymphocytes, but not B lymphocytes, to mitogenic stimulation in vitro, no similar changes were seen following in vivo stimulation with these two fractions.



1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1633-1641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvaneh Rafiee ◽  
Christopher O. Matthews ◽  
Joseph C. Bagshaw ◽  
Thomas H. MacRae

Under normal conditions, an encysted Artemia embryo undergoes a developmental process that culminates in the gradual, uninterrupted emergence of the prenauplius from the cyst. The hatching membrane surrounding the emerged organism is then ruptured, usually beginning at the posterior end, and a motile nauplius is released. We have observed this process microscopically in the presence and absence of cadmium and report that cadmium disrupts Artemia development in a dose–dependent manner. At 0.1 μM, cadmium slows emergence but nauplii eventually resume rellatively normal development. Emergence and hatching are either delayed considerably or almost entirely prevented at 1 μM cadmium. Cadmium at 10 μM, completely arrests emergence but development continues at a reduced rate, eventually resulting in hatching of some organisms without need for complete emergence. If organisms exposed to 10 μM cadmium are washed, abnormally shaped emerged forms are released and many of these eventually hatch, although in an unusual manner. Cadmium at 10 μM causes complete, rapid precipitation of purified Artemia tubulin at 0 °C but cadmium at the lower concentrations tested has no apparent inhibitory effect on microtubule assembly. Although we do not know the actual cadmium–induced physiological changes that result in abnormal development of Artemia, our results indicate that we can now examine the interdependence of morphological and molecular aspects of Artemia development in a way not previously possible.



2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 907-913
Author(s):  
Liyan Zhong ◽  
Yi Yi ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Yan Peng

This study intends to discuss the mechanism of MTH1 inhibitor (TH588) in the biological activity of ovarian carcinoma cells. A2780 and SKOV-3 cells were treated with different concentrations of TH588 and assigned into AT group (control), BT group (8 μmol/L TH588), CT group (16 μmol/L), DT group (32 μmol/L), ET group (64 μmol/L) and FT group (128 μmol/L) followed by measuring level of Bcl-2 and Bax by Western blot and PCR, and cell biological activities by MTT, FCM and Transwell chamber assay. The cell proliferative rate was not affected in AT group, but was lower in other groups in a reverse dose-dependent manner. There was significant difference on apoptotic rate and cell invasion among groups with increased apoptosis and reduce invasion after TH588 treatment. FT group showed lowest expression of Bcl-2 and Bax compared to other groups. In conclusion, the biological activity of A2780/SKOV3 cells could be reduced by MTH1 inhibitor which was probably through regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expression.



1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
J P Cazenave ◽  
A Beretz ◽  
A Stierlé ◽  
R Anton

Injury to the endothelium (END) and subsequent platelet (PLAT)interactions with the subEND are important steps in thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Thus,drugs that protect the END from injury and also inhibit PLAT function are of interest. It has been shown that some flavonoids(FLA), a group of compounds found in plants, prevent END desquamation in vivo, inhibit cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases(PDE)and inhibit PLAT function. We have studied the structure-activity relationships of 13 purified FLA on aggregation and secretion of 14c-5HT of prelabeled washed human PLAT induced by ADP, collagen(COLL) and thrombin(THR). All the FLA were inhibitors of the 3 agents tested. Quercetin(Q), was the second best after fisetin. It inhibited secretion and aggregation with I50 of 330µM against 0.1 U/ML.THR, 102µM against 5µM ADP and 40 µM against COLL. This inhibitory effect is in the range of that of other PDE inhibitors like dipyridamole or 3-isobutyl-l- methylxanthine. The aggregation induced by ADP, COLL and THR is at least mediated by 3 mechanisms that can be inhibited by increasing cAMP levels. We next investigated if Q, which is a PDE inhibitor of bovine aortic microsomes,raises PLAT cAMP levels. cAMP was measured by a protein-binding method. ADP- induced aggregation(5µM) was inhibited by PGI2 (0.1 and 0.5 nM) . Inhibition was further potentiated(l.7 and 3.3 times) by lOµM Q, which alone has no effect on aggregation. The basal level of cAMP(2.2 pmol/108PLAT) was not modified by Q (50 to 500µM). Using these concentrations of Q,the rise in cAMP caused by PGI2(0.1 and 0.5nM) was potentiated in a dose dependent manner. Q potentiated the effect of PGI2 on the maximum level of cAMP and retarded its breakdown. Thus Q and possibly other FLA could inhibit the interaction of PLAT with the components of the vessel wall by preventing END damage and by inhibiting PLAT function through a rise in cAMP secondary to PDE inhibition and potentiation of the effect of vascular PGI2 on PLAT adenylate cyclase.



2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Liu ◽  
Ping Chen ◽  
Xiaojun Du ◽  
Junxia Sun ◽  
Shasha Han

Abstract Background Obtusofolin is the major active ingredient of Catsia tora L., which possesses the activity of improving eyesight and protecting the optic nerve. Investigation on the interaction of obtusofolin with cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) could provide a reference for the clinical application of obtusofolin. Methods The effect of obtusofolin on the activity of CYP450s was investigated in the presence of 100 μM obtusofolin in pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) and fitted with the Lineweaver–Burk plots to characterize the specific inhibition model and kinetic parameters. Results Obtusofolin was found to significantly inhibited the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1. In the presence of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μM obtusofolin, the inhibition of these CYP450s showed a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values of 17.1 ± 0.25, 10.8 ± 0.13, and 15.5 ± 0.16 μM, respectively. The inhibition of CYP3A4 was best fitted with the non-competitive inhibition model with the Ki value of 8.82 μM. While the inhibition of CYP2C9 and 2E1 was competitive with the Ki values of 5.54 and 7.79 μM, respectively. After incubating for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min, the inhibition of CYP3A4 was revealed to be time-dependent with the KI value of 4.87 μM− 1 and the Kinact value of 0.0515 min− 1. Conclusions The in vitro inhibitory effect of obtusofolin implying the potential drug-drug interaction between obtusofolin and corresponding substrates, which needs further in vivo validations.



1993 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuyoshi Kokawa ◽  
Mareo Yamoto ◽  
Kenichi Furukawa ◽  
Ryosuke Nakano

We performed partial purification of low molecular weight luteinizing hormone binding inhibitor from porcine follicular fluids and examined its biological activities. Following ultrafiltration, gel filtration and anion exchange of the pooled porcine follicular fluids, low molecular weight fractions (500–10,000 MW) inhibited [125I]hLH binding to porcine granulosa cells in a dose-dependent manner. The binding inhibition kinetics study revealed that the luteinizing hormone binding inhibitor may indicate a non-competitive inhibition with [125I]hLH binding. In vitro bioassay using adult mouse testicular interstitial cells revealed that the partially purified luteinizing hormone binding inhibitor reduced ovine LH-stimulated testosterone and cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the luteinizing hormone binding inhibitor did not affect basal production of testosterone and cAMP. The inhibitory activity was heat stable and did not disappear with activated charcoal adsorption. The results of the present study suggest that the luteinizing hormone binding inhibitor may play an important role as an ovarian non-steroidal regulator modulating the receptor binding of LH and LH-mediated steroidogenesis.



2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (3) ◽  
pp. G746-G752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuan Liao ◽  
Zhao-Shen Li ◽  
Yan Lu ◽  
Wei-Zhong Wang

Previous studies have suggested that somatostatin inhibits pancreatic secretion at a central vagal site, and the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) is involved in central feedback inhibition of the exocrine pancreas. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exogenous somatostatin in the DVC on pancreatic secretion and the somatostatin receptor subtype(s) responsible for the effect. The effects of somatostatin microinjected into the DVC on pancreatic secretion stimulated by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) or 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) were examined in anesthetized rats. To investigate the somatostatin inhibitory action site, a somatostatin receptor antagonist [SRA; cyclo(7-aminoheptanoyl-Phe-d-Trp-Lys-Thr)] was microinjected into the DVC before intravenous infusion of somatostatin and CCK-8/2-DG. The effects of injection of a somatostatin receptor-2 agonist (seglitide) and combined injection of somatostatin and a somatostatin receptor-2 antagonist (CYN 154806) in the DVC on the pancreatic secretion were also investigated. Somatostatin injected into the DVC significantly inhibited pancreatic secretion evoked by CCK-8 or 2-DG in a dose-dependent manner. SRA injected into the DVC completely reversed the inhibitory effect of intravenous administration of somatostatin. Seglitide injected into the DVC also inhibited CCK-8/2-DG-induced pancreatic protein secretion. However, combined injection of somatostatin and CYN 154806 did not affect the CCK-8/2-DG-induced pancreatic secretion. Somatostatin in the DVC inhibits pancreatic secretion via somatostatin receptor-2, and the DVC is the action site of somatostatin for its inhibitory effect.



2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Emelyanova ◽  
Sirisha Gudlawar ◽  
Farhan Rizvi ◽  
Ekhson Holmuhamedov ◽  
Monika Thakur ◽  
...  

Introduction: Dronedarone (DR), a new antiarrhythmic drug, was recently shown to worsen heart failure (HF) and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation and left ventricular dysfunction. However, the mechanism underlying the adverse effect is not known. Since, myocardium depends on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), we hypothesized that DR impairs mitochondrial function, which could further compropmise energetic reserves predisposing to worsening of HF and death in patients with HF. Methods: Mitochondria isolated from rat heart (2 month old, SD) were treated with DR (1, 5, 10, 20, 50 μM), and the effect on oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in State 3 (St 3, ADP stimulated), State 4 (St 4o, oligomycin) and following FCCP addition were determined using Seahorse XF24 Analyzer in the presence of glutamate/malate (complex I substrates) and succinate/rotenone (complex II substrate). Results: DR dose dependently reduced St 3 respiration both in the presence of complex I (Fig). In the presence of glutamate/malate, DR inhibited OCR by 16%, 20%, 25%, 39% and 100% at 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 μM, respectively, when compared to untreated control. At 20 μM, DR uncoupled mitochondria and increased St 4o respiration. DR at 50 μM was toxic with complete inhibition of OCR and loss of membrane potential. Similar results were observed when succinate/rotenone were used to assess complex II activity. Conclusion: DR has dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mitochondrial respiration, inhibiting OXPHOS at low concentration (1-10 μM), uncoupling at higher (20 μM) and toxic effect at 50 μM. Impairment of mitochondrial energetics could explain DR results reported in HF patients in clinical trials.



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