9-Nitrocamptothecin inhibits HIV-1 replication in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: a potential alternative for HIV-infection/AIDS therapy

The Antifungal Itraconazole Is a Potent Inhibitor of Chikungunya Virus Replication

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is the causative agent of chikungunya fever, a disabling disease that can cause long-term severe arthritis. Since the last large CHIKV outbreak in 2015, the reemergence of the virus represents a serious public health concern. The morbidity associated with viral infection emphasizes the need for the development of specific anti-CHIKV drugs. Herein, we describe the development and characterization of a CHIKV reporter replicon cell line and its use in replicon-based screenings. We tested 960 compounds from MMV/DNDi Open Box libraries and identified four candidates with interesting antiviral activities, which were confirmed in viral infection assays employing CHIKV-nanoluc and BHK-21 cells. The most noteworthy compound identified was itraconazole (ITZ), an orally available, safe, and cheap antifungal, that showed high selectivity indexes of >312 and >294 in both replicon-based and viral infection assays, respectively. The antiviral activity of this molecule has been described against positive-sense single stranded RNA viruses (+ssRNA) and was related to cholesterol metabolism that could affect the formation of the replication organelles. Although its precise mechanism of action against CHIKV still needs to be elucidated, our results demonstrate that ITZ is a potent inhibitor of the viral replication that could be repurposed as a broad-spectrum antiviral.

Enhanced production of camptothecin by immobilized callus of Ophiorrhiza mungos and a bioinformatic insight into its potential antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2

Camptothetin (CPT) is a quinoline alkaloid originally isolated from the Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata Decne. CPT was found to have anticancerous and antiviral properties. Derivatives of natural CPT, including topothecan and irinotecan are used clinically to treat a variety of cancers. Apart from Camptotheca acuminata Decne, CPT production was also found in the perennial plant Ophiorrhiza mungos. In this study we attempted the immobilization of the tissue culture grown callus of Ophiorrhiza mungos for the continuous production of a higher concentration of CPT. As evident from previous studies about the antiviral effects of CPT, we wanted to bioinformatically analyze the binding potential of CPT towards two important proteins of SARS-CoV-2, protease (M^pro) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Further docking analysis of the CPT against the exterior spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 was also done to determine their potential interaction. The immobilized callus of Ophiorrhiza mungos produced CPT at a concentration of 420 µg/l by the end of 12 days of growth. The HPLC analysis was done to determine the purity of the CPT synthesized by the immobilization technique. The bioinformatic analysis revealed a higher binding efficiency of CPT and its derivatives, toptecan and irinotecan against M^pro and RdRp. The docking analysis of CPT against the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 showed hydrogen bonding with the amino acids at K466 with a bond distance of 2.56A° and K355 with a bond distance of 2.40A°. This finding was of particular importance that other compounds including hydroxychloroquine sulphate, lopinavir and ivermectin could bind with the spike protein only by weak Vander wall bonds and no hydrogen bond formation was noticed. Our studies hence evaluate the efficiency of CPT against SARS-CoV-2, by potentially blocking the interaction of the spike glycoprotein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor found on host cells.

Topoisomerase 1B poisons: Over a half-century of drug leads, clinical candidates, and serendipitous discoveries

Topoisomerases are DNA processing enzymes that relieve supercoiling (torsional strain) in DNA, are necessary for normal cellular division, and act by nicking (and then religating) DNA strands. Type 1B topoisomerase (Top1) is overexpressed in certain tumors, and the enzyme has been extensively investigated as a target for cancer chemotherapy. Various chemical agents can act as "poisons" of the enzyme's religation step, leading to Top1-DNA lesions, DNA breakage, and eventual cellular death. In this review, agents that poison Top1 (and have thus been investigated for their anticancer properties) are surveyed, including natural products (such as camptothecins and indolocarbazoles), semisynthetic camptothecin and luotonin derivatives, and synthetic compounds (such as benzonaphthyridines, aromathecins, and indenoisoquinolines), as well as targeted therapies and conjugates. Top1 has also been investigated as a therapeutic target in certain viral and parasitic infections, as well as autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurological disorders, and a summary of literature describing alternative indications is also provided. This review should provide both a reference for the medicinal chemist and potentially offer clues to aid in the development of new Top1 poisons.

The anti-HIV actions of 7- and 10-substituted camptothecins

Camptothecin (CPT), a traditional anti-tumor drug, has been shown to possess anti-HIV-1 activity. To increase the antiviral potency, the anti-HIV activities of two CPT derivatives, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT, were evaluated in vitro. The therapy index (TI) of CPT, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT against HIV-1_IIIB in C8166 were 24.2, 4.2 and 198.1, and against clinical isolated strain HIV-1_KM018 in PBMC were 10.3, 3.5 and 66.0, respectively. While the TI of CPT, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT against HIV-2_CBL-20 were 34.5, 10.7 and 317.0, respectively, and the TI of the three compounds against HIV-2_ROD showed the similar values. However, when the antiviral mechanisms were considered, we found there was no inhibition of 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT on viral cell-to-cell transmission, and was no inhibition on reverse transcriptase, protease or integrase in cell-free systems. 7-Hydroxymethyl-CPT showed no selective killing of chronically infected cells after 3 days of incubation. In conclusion, 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT showed more potent anti-HIV activity, while 10-hydroxy-CPT had less efficient activity, compared with the parent CPT. Though the antiviral mechanisms remain to be further elucidated; the modification of -OH residues at C-7 of CPT could enhance the antiviral activity, while of -OH residues at C-10 of CPT had decreased the antiviral activity, which provides the preliminary modification strategy for anti-viral activities enhancement of this compound.

9-nitrocamptothecin polymeric nanoparticles: cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetic studies of lactone and total forms of drug in rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of total and lactone forms of 9-nitrocamptothecin (9-NC), an effective antineoplastic drug, after intravenous injection of drug incorporated into poly (DL-lactic-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs). Drug-loaded NPs (9-NC.NP) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and examined for particle characteristics and in-vitro release in phosphate buffered saline. The best formulation showed a narrow size with an average diameter of 207+/-26 nm and a drug loading of more than 33.5%. The drug release profile showed a sustained 9-NC release up to 160 h. For a pharmacokinetic study, the concentration of 9-NC as the lactone form (9-NC.lac) and as the total of the lactone and carboxylate forms (9-NC.tot) in plasma was determined by using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography after intravenous administration of 9-NC.NP and a control solution to cannulated Wistar rats. In-vitro cytotoxic activity of 9-NC.NP and control solution was evaluated on the human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780sn) by MTT cell cytotoxicity assay. Results of in-vivo studies showed that NP encapsulation markedly increased the plasma concentration of both lactone and total forms of 9-NC compared with free drug. In comparison with free drug, NPs resulted in 3.63-fold and 5.40-fold increases in area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) for lactone and total forms of 9-NC, respectively. The values of mean residence time and elimination half-life (T(1/2)) were also significantly higher for NPs than for free drug. The in-vitro cytotoxicity study revealed that the IC50 value of NPs decreased 10-fold compared with the drug solution. Prepared NPs described here were considered potentially useful in both stabilizing and delivering 9-NC and enhancing the efficacy of this drug for cancer treatment for which high drug retention in the body, protection from the drug-active lactone form, and gradual drug release appeared to be related.

The benzamide derivative N-[1-(7-tert-Butyl-1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-2-(4-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-4-nitro-benzamide (SP-10) reduces HIV-1 infectivity in vitro by modifying actin dynamics

Current treatments for patients infected with HIV are suboptimal. There is a need for new HIV therapies that act through different mechanisms than current treatments. We investigated the in vitro efficacy, safety and mechanism of action of the benzamide derivative N-[1-(7-tert-Butyl-1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-2-(4-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-4-nitro-benzamide (SP-10), a potential new HIV treatment. When HIV-1-responsive engineered HeLa cells were pre-incubated for 48 h with either SP-10 or zidovudine (AZT), SP-10 was able to inhibit viral replication at much lower concentrations (IC50 = 0.036 nM) than AZT (IC50 = 27.4 nM). In contrast to AZT, SP-10 also inhibited replication of the multidrug-resistant HIV-1 strain MDR-769 in the HeLa cell model. In co-incubation experiments, SP-10 also inhibited the CCR5-sensitive HIV-1 BaL virus replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. SP-10 displayed very low toxicity compared with current antiviral treatments. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunoprecipitation studies showed that SP-10 reduced the expression of CD4 and CCR5 on the surface of the host cell. SP-10 also reduced the level of gp120 binding to the cell surface. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies showed that SP-10 blocked the formation of actin filaments (F-actin) and altered actin accumulation near the cell surface. These promising results suggest that SP-10 has a novel mechanism of action that enables effective inhibition of HIV-1 binding and cell entry. Further development of SP-10 as a new HIV treatment appears warranted.

Pharmacokinetics of lactone, carboxylate and total 9-nitrocamptothecin with different doses and administration routes in rats

9-Nitrocamptothecin (9-NC) is a newly developed poorly soluble derivative of camptothecin and has a wide spectrum of anticancer activity in preclinical evaluation. The effects of the dose and administration route on pharmacokinetics and lactone/carboxylate equilibrium of 9-NC were studied in rats. A single intravenous dose of 1.5, 3 or 6 mg/kg of 9-NC solution was given to male rats (n = 6 per dose level). In another study, a single dose of 6 mg/kg 9-NC solution was given orally to rats (n = 6). Plasma samples were drawn at predetermined intervals and the concentrations of lactone, carboxylate and total 9-NC were determined by a validated HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using non-compartmental analysis. Analysis of variance showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of lactone, carboxylate and total 9-NC were all independent of dose (p > 0.05). Based on the AUC measurements, the lactone 9-NC constituted 52% +/- 4%, 49% +/- 6% and 55% +/- 6% of the circulating total 9-NC in rats after intravenous administration of 1.5, 3, 6 mg/kg 9-NC solution, respectively. After oral administration of 6 mg/kg, the pharmacokinetics parameters were significantly different from those of intravenous administration at the same dose (p < 0.05). The lactone ratio was 60% +/- 14%. The absolute bioavailability of lactone and total 9-NC were calculated to be 23.4% and 22.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics of lactone, carboxylate and total 9-NC are not dose-dependent. Lactone, carboxylate and total 9-NC are poorly absorbed following oral administration. Both the dose and the route of administration have little effect on the lactone/carboxylate equilibrium of 9-NC in rats in vivo. But the route of administration plays an important part on the pharmacokinetics of 9-NC.

Effect of phospholipid composition on characterization of liposomes containing 9-nitrocamptothecin

9-Nitrocamptothecin (9-NC), a newly developed camptothecin derivative, had poor solubility in any pharmaceutically acceptable solvents. One way of improving the solubility is to formulate the drug into liposomes. However, 9-NC has low affinity to lipid membranes resulting in a very low drug-to-liposome entrapment. We developed a novel liposome-based 9-NC formulation which was composed of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC), and cholesterol. Compared with conventional liposomes composed of only SPC and cholesterol, 9-NC/lipid molar ratio increased from 1:72 to 1:18 while incorporation efficiency was still maintained about 80%. In addition, after 9-NC was encapsulated into novel liposomes, pharmacokinetic results revealed an increase in area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and a decrease in distribution volume of 9-NC following intravenous administration to rats. Increased stability in plasma may account for the improved pharmacokinetic behavior of the novel liposomes. Effect of HSPC/SPC molar ratio on characterization of the novel liposomes was also investigated. Except for drug/lipid molar ratio and encapsulation efficiency, HSPC/SPC molar ratio had only a little effect on other properties of novel liposomes. In conclusion, the study suggests that the novel liposomes can act as promising carriers for hydrophobic substances such as 9-NC.

Improvement of growth and camptothecin yield by altering nitrogen source supply in cell suspension cultures of Camptotheca acuminata

Nitrate at 70 mM gave the highest biomass of Camptotheca acuminata in suspension culture in MS medium, but a NH4+/NO3- molar ratio of 5:1 (giving a total of 40 mM N) gave the maximum camptothecin yield. A two-stage flask culture system was established to improve culture efficiency; cell dry weight, camptothecin content and yield was increased by 30%, 280% and 340%, respectively when compared with those of control, reaching up to 36 g l(-1), 0.36 mg g(-1), and 12.8 mg l(-1), respectively.