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de Haan LR, van Golen RF, Heger M. Molecular Pathways Governing the Termination of Liver Regeneration. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:500-558. [PMID: 38697856 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.000955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver has the unique capacity to regenerate, and up to 70% of the liver can be removed without detrimental consequences to the organism. Liver regeneration is a complex process involving multiple signaling networks and organs. Liver regeneration proceeds through three phases: the initiation phase, the growth phase, and the termination phase. Termination of liver regeneration occurs when the liver reaches a liver-to-body weight that is required for homeostasis, the so-called "hepatostat." The initiation and growth phases have been the subject of many studies. The molecular pathways that govern the termination phase, however, remain to be fully elucidated. This review summarizes the pathways and molecules that signal the cessation of liver regrowth after partial hepatectomy and answers the question, "What factors drive the hepatostat?" SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Unraveling the pathways underlying the cessation of liver regeneration enables the identification of druggable targets that will allow us to gain pharmacological control over liver regeneration. For these purposes, it would be useful to understand why the regenerative capacity of the liver is hampered under certain pathological circumstances so as to artificially modulate the regenerative processes (e.g., by blocking the cessation pathways) to improve clinical outcomes and safeguard the patient's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne R de Haan
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
| | - Rowan F van Golen
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
| | - Michal Heger
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China (L.R.d.H., M.H.); Department of Internal Medicine, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands (L.R.d.H.); Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands (R.F.v.G.); Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.); and Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (M.H.)
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Tang L, Li M, Bai C, Feng X, Hu H, Yao Y, Li B, Li H, Qin G, Xi N, Lv G, Zhang L. Discovery of benzoheterocyclic-substituted amide derivatives as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:856-873. [PMID: 38516590 PMCID: PMC10953477 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00663h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Three series of benzoheterocyclic-substituted amide derivatives were designed and synthesized as potent ASK1 inhibitors in this work. After undergoing continuous structural optimization, compound 17a was discovered to be a novel inhibitor of ASK1 with good potency (kinase, IC50 = 26 nM), noteworthy liver microsomal stability (human, T1/2 = 340.4 min), good pharmacokinetic parameters (rat, T1/2 p.o. = 2.11 h, AUClast p.o. = 10 900 h ng mL-1) and high oral bioavailability (rat, F = 97.9%), while also being inactive towards hERG (IC50 > 10 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Tang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P.R. China
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
- Shaoguan HEC Technology R & D Co., Ltd Shaoguan 512000 P.R. China
| | - Minxiong Li
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Changlin Bai
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Xuejin Feng
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Haiyang Hu
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Yufen Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University 510006 Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Baiqing Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory Guangzhou 510005 P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Li
- Guangdong Yuchuang Electronics Co., Ltd. Shaoguan 512721 P.R. China
| | - Guohong Qin
- Guangdong Yuchuang Electronics Co., Ltd. Shaoguan 512721 P.R. China
| | - Ning Xi
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University Ningbo 315211 P.R. China
| | - Genpin Lv
- Shaoguan HEC Technology R & D Co., Ltd Shaoguan 512000 P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P.R. China
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Choi YJ, Johnson JD, Lee JJ, Song J, Matthews M, Hellerstein MK, McWherter CA. Seladelpar combined with complementary therapies improves fibrosis, inflammation, and liver injury in a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 326:G120-G132. [PMID: 38014444 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00158.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Seladelpar, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist, improves markers of hepatic injury in human liver diseases, but histological improvement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis has been challenging with any single agent. To discover how complementary agents could work with seladelpar to achieve optimal outcomes, this study evaluated a variety of therapeutics (alone and in combination) in a mouse model of NASH. Mice on a high-fat amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet were treated for 12 wk with seladelpar, GLP-1-R (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonist liraglutide, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) inhibitor selonsertib, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid, and with seladelpar in combination with liraglutide or selonsertib. Seladelpar treatment markedly improved plasma markers of liver function. Seladelpar alone or in combination resulted in stark reductions in liver fibrosis (hydroxyproline, new collagen synthesis rate, mRNA indices of fibrosis, and fibrosis staining) compared with vehicle and the other single agents. Robust reductions in liver steatosis were also observed. Seladelpar produced a reorganization of metabolic gene expression, particularly for those genes promoting peroxisomal and mitochondrial lipid oxidation. In summary, substantial improvements in NASH and NASH-induced fibrosis were observed with seladelpar alone and in combination with liraglutide in this model. Broad gene expression analysis suggests seladelpar should be effective in concert with diverse mechanisms of action.NEW & NOTEWORTHY NASH is a chronic, progressive, and increasingly problematic liver disease that has been resistant to treatment with individual therapeutics. In this study using a diet-induced mouse model of NASH, we found that the PPARδ agonist seladelpar reduced fibrosis and NASH pathology alone and in combinations with a GLP-1-R agonist (liraglutide) or an ASK1 inhibitor (selonsertib). Liver transcriptome analysis comparing each agent and coadministration suggests seladelpar should be effective in combination with a variety of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Jung Choi
- CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc., Fremont, California, United States
| | - Jeff D Johnson
- CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc., Fremont, California, United States
| | - Jin-Ju Lee
- CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc., Fremont, California, United States
| | - Jiangao Song
- CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc., Fremont, California, United States
| | - Marcy Matthews
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Marc K Hellerstein
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
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Zaky YA, Rashad MW, Zaater MA, El Kerdawy AM. Discovery of dual rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) inhibitors as a novel approach for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) treatment. BMC Chem 2024; 18:2. [PMID: 38172941 PMCID: PMC10765837 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-023-01081-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In the current study we suggest a novel approach to curb non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression, and we suggest privileged scaffolds for the design of novel compounds for this aim. NASH is an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that can further progress into fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a widely emerging disease affecting 25% of the global population and has no current approved treatments. Protein kinases are key regulators of cellular pathways, of which, Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) play an important role in the progression of NASH and they stand out as promising targets for NASH therapy. Interestingly, their kinase domains are found to be similar in sequence and topology; therefore, dual inhibition of ROCK1 and ASK1 is expected to be amenable and could achieve a more favourable outcome. To reach this goal, a training set of ROCK1 and ASK1 protein structures co-crystalized with type 1 (ATP-competitive) inhibitors was constructed to manually generate receptor-based pharmacophore models representing ROCK1 and ASK1 inhibitors' common pharmacophoric features. The models produced were assessed using a test set of both ROCK1 and ASK1 actives and decoys, and their performance was evaluated using different assessment metrics. The best pharmacophore model obtained, showing a Mathew's correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.71, was then used to screen the ZINC purchasable database retrieving 6178 hits that were filtered accordingly using several medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics filters returning 407 promising compounds. To confirm that these compounds are capable of binding to the target kinases, they were subjected to molecular docking simulations at both protein structures. The results were then assessed individually and filtered, setting the spotlight on various privileged scaffolds that could be exploited as the nucleus for designing novel ROCK1/ASK1 dual inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara A Zaky
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mai W Rashad
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa A Zaater
- Master Postgraduate Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M El Kerdawy
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- School of Pharmacy, College of Science, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK
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Ogbodo UC, Balogun TA, Omoboyede V. Integrated computational approach identifies potential inhibitors of ASK1-(JNK/P38) interaction signaling: new insights into cancer therapeutics. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:696-709. [PMID: 37021478 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2196699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancers are characterized by the aberrant expression of certain genes that trigger a cascade of molecular events that culminate in dysregulated cell division. Consequently, the inhibition of the products of these expressedgenes has emerged as a rational approach in cancer therapy. The apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) protein, encoded by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5 (MAP3K5) gene, plays pertinent roles in the mediation of cell death induced by stress and inflammation, andis often found at elevated levels in cancer. Consequently, it has emerged as a molecular target for the development of potential chemotherapeutics through identification of selective inhibitors. However, there is still dearth of ASK1 inhibitors in clinical use. Hence, molecular modelling approaches were employed in this study to discover potential ASK1 inhibitors from phytochemicals. Twenty-five phytocompounds from four medicinal plants were tested for their inhibitory prowess via molecular docking. Interestingly, all the compounds exhibited promising inhibitory potentials for ASK1. However, further subjection to filtering procedures via different pipelines including drug-likeness evaluation, pharmacokinetics screening, toxicity profiling, and better affinities compared to the approved inhibitor resulted in three hit compounds namely ellagic acid, luteolin, and kaempferol with suitable properties. Profiling of the interactions formed between the hit\compounds and the targets revealed several interactions that were not present in that of the approved inhibitor, while molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed the complexes formed as stable. Conclusively, this study identified three compounds with ASK1 inhibitory potentials that are worthy of further exploration in in vitro and in vivo studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uchechukwu C Ogbodo
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Toheeb A Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | - Victor Omoboyede
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences (SLS), Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
- Computer-Aided Therapeutics Laboratory (CATL), School of Life Sciences (SLS), Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria
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Saha S, Singh P, Dutta A, Vaidya H, Negi PC, Sengupta S, Seth S, Basak T. A Comprehensive Insight and Mechanistic Understanding of the Lipidomic Alterations Associated With DCM. JACC. ASIA 2023; 3:539-555. [PMID: 37614533 PMCID: PMC10442885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2023.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the major causes of heart failure characterized by the enlargement of the left ventricular cavity and contractile dysfunction of the myocardium. Lipids are the major sources of energy for the myocardium. Impairment of lipid homeostasis has a potential role in the pathogenesis of DCM. In this review, we have summarized the role of different lipids in the progression of DCM that can be considered as potential biomarkers. Further, we have also explained the mechanistic pathways followed by the lipid molecules in disease progression along with the cardioprotective role of certain lipids. As the global epidemiological status of DCM is alarming, it is high time to define some disease-specific biomarkers with greater prognostic value. We are proposing an adaptation of a system lipidomics-based approach to profile DCM patients in order to achieve a better diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Saha
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering. IIT-Mandi, Mandi, India
- BioX Center, Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi, Mandi, India
| | - Praveen Singh
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Abhi Dutta
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering. IIT-Mandi, Mandi, India
- BioX Center, Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi, Mandi, India
| | - Hiteshi Vaidya
- Department of Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Shimla, India
| | - Prakash Chand Negi
- Department of Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Shimla, India
| | - Shantanu Sengupta
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sandeep Seth
- Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Trayambak Basak
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering. IIT-Mandi, Mandi, India
- BioX Center, Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi, Mandi, India
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Chen H, Zhou H, Yang J, Wan H, He Y. Guhong injection mitigates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by activating GST P to inhibit ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 109:154603. [PMID: 36610111 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guhong injection (GHI), a novel compound preparation that is composed of a chemical drug, namely aceglutamide, and the aqueous extract of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), exhibits extreme antioxidative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Since oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory response are all the dominant mechanisms of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, we probe into the protective mechanism of GHI on MI/R injury for the first time. METHODS In this research, we first employed molecular docking to determine whether three active ingredients in GHI, acetylglutamine (NAG), hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), and syringin, possessed the potential activity to modulate the protein, glutathione S-transferase P (GST P). We further identified the protective effect of GHI on myocardial tissue with TTC staining, HE staining, TUNEL staining, and ELISA, and on H9c2 with flow cytometry and ELISA. We next explored whether the cardioprotective effect of GHI on left anterior descending ligation-reperfusion in rats and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in H9c2 cells was related to activate GST P to inhibit ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway via approaches of qRT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS Results of molecular docking indicated that all three compounds spontaneously docked to GST P, among them the binding affinities of both HSYA and syringin to GST P were higher than NAG. In vivo, GHI reduced myocardial infarction size and mitigated myocardial pathological injury. In vitro, GHI enhanced cell viability and extenuated depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, the results of in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the cardioprotection of GHI was associated with improving the mRNA and protein expression levels of GST P to modulate oxidative stress, and inhibiting the levels of mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation of ASK1, JNK, and p38. However, the suppressed effect of GHI on ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway was reversed by ethacrynic acid (EA, a GST inhibitor), indicating that the regulation of GHI on ASK1-JNK/p38 was related to the activity of GST P. Besides, the in vitro results of qRT-PCR and western-blot also certified that the inhibited JNK and p38 further reduced Bax expression and elevated Bcl-2 expression to reduce the expression of caspase-3 to exert anti-apoptosis effects. CONCLUSION Taken together, the cardioprotection of GHI mainly incarnated in activating GST P to relieve oxidation properties, thereby inhibiting ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway to suppress apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Huifen Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Jiehong Yang
- School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China
| | - Haitong Wan
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
| | - Yu He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
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Li H, Yang Q, Huang Z, Liang C, Zhang DH, Shi HT, Du JQ, Du BB, Zhang YZ. Dual-specificity phosphatase 12 attenuates oxidative stress injury and apoptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy via the ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 192:13-24. [PMID: 36108935 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is ventricular dysfunction that occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), independent of recognized risk factors, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and valvular heart disease. Dual-specificity phosphatase 12 (DUSP12) is a dual-specificity phosphatase expressed in all tissues. Genome-wide linkage studies have found an association between DUSP12 and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the role of DUSP12 in DCM remains largely unknown. Ubiquitously expressed DUSP12 is involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, bacterial infection, and myocardial hypertrophy and plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Herein, we observed an increased expression of DUSP12 in a hyperglycemia cell model and a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model. Heart-specific DUSP12-deficient mice showed severe cardiac dysfunction and remodeling induced by an HFD. DUSP12 deficiency exacerbated oxidative stress injury and apoptosis, whereas DUSP12 overexpression had the opposite effect. At the molecular level, DUSP12 physically bound to apoptotic signal-regulated kinase 1 (ASK1), promoted its dephosphorylation, and inhibited its action on c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Rescue experiments have shown that oxidative stress injury and apoptosis, exacerbated by DUSP12 deficiency, are alleviated by ASK1 inhibition. Therefore, we consider DUSP12 an important signaling pathway in DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Qin Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Huanggang Central Hospital, Huanggang, 438021, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Cui Liang
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Dian-Hong Zhang
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Hui-Ting Shi
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jia-Qi Du
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Bin-Bin Du
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Yan-Zhou Zhang
- Cardiovascular Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Thioredoxin-interacting protein deficiency protects against severe acute pancreatitis by suppressing apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:914. [PMID: 36316322 PMCID: PMC9622726 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05355-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis is a common acute inflammatory abdominal disease. When acute pancreatitis progresses to severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), it can lead to systemic inflammation and even multiple organ failure. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is an important protein involved in redox reactions of the inflammatory response. However, the specific role of TXNIP in SAP remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) in acute pancreatitis when induced by high doses of arginine. We found that pancreatic damage and the inflammatory response associated with acute pancreatitis were largely restrained in TXNIP knock-out mice but were enhanced in mice overexpressing TXNIP. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ASK1 diminished in TXNIP-KO mice with pancreatitis in comparison with wild-type mice. The role of oxidative stress in SAP was explored in two models: TXNIP and AVV-TXNIP. TXNIP knockdown or the inhibition of ASK1 by gs-4997 abrogated the increase in p-p38, p-JNK, and p-ASK1 in AR42J cells incubated with L-Arg. The administration of gs-4997 to mice with pancreatitis largely reduced the upregulation of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1. Systemic inflammatory reactions and injury in the lungs and kidneys were assessed in TXNIP-KO and AVV-TXNIP mice with expected outcomes. In conclusion, TXNIP is a novel mediator of SAP and exerts action by regulating inflammatory responses and oxidative stress via the ASK1-dependent activation of the JNK/p38 pathways. Thus, targeting TXNIP may represent a promising approach to protect against SAP.
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Catalytic activity in vitro of the human protein kinase ASK1 mutants: Experimental and molecular simulation study. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 99:107712. [PMID: 35689994 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Kinases have become an important class of targets for drug discovery since the milestone approval of imatinib in 2001. Although a great success has been achieved for targeting kinases with over 70 inhibitors approved by the FDA, it is inevitable that drug resistance would emerge during treatment. Thus, assessment of the kinase mutations is an essential issue for the development of the next generation inhibitors. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a crucial regulator of classical mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade that is being explored under several clinical trials as a promising target. Herein, we investigate the catalytic activity in vitro of ASK1 by constructing two mutants: M754T and H729L, from gatekeeper and αC-helix, respectively. Compared to wild type, the mutation of M754T and H729L results in a roughly 3-fold and 2-fold decrease in binding affinity experimentally. In addition, their binding modes with substrate are theoretically predicted and compared by molecular dynamics. Trajectory analyses of simulations indicate that the decrease of binding affinity should be attributed to the loss of H-bond interaction with gatekeeper methionine. Unexpectedly, the conformation of αC-helix in H729L mutant did not alter significantly during the simulations, although the putatively important H-bond with H729 is lost. These simulations showed the regulatory role of H729 in αC-helix is maintained by leucine residue through the interaction with non-polar residues around H729 site.
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de Klerk DJ, de Keijzer MJ, Dias LM, Heemskerk J, de Haan LR, Kleijn TG, Franchi LP, Heger M. Strategies for Improving Photodynamic Therapy Through Pharmacological Modulation of the Immediate Early Stress Response. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2451:405-480. [PMID: 35505025 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2099-1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally to noninvasive treatment modality that has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional cancer treatments. PDT induces hyperoxidative stress and disrupts cellular homeostasis in photosensitized cancer cells, resulting in cell death and ultimately removal of the tumor. However, various survival pathways can be activated in sublethally afflicted cancer cells following PDT. The acute stress response is one of the known survival pathways in PDT, which is activated by reactive oxygen species and signals via ASK-1 (directly) or via TNFR (indirectly). The acute stress response can activate various other survival pathways that may entail antioxidant, pro-inflammatory, angiogenic, and proteotoxic stress responses that culminate in the cancer cell's ability to cope with redox stress and oxidative damage. This review provides an overview of the immediate early stress response in the context of PDT, mechanisms of activation by PDT, and molecular intervention strategies aimed at inhibiting survival signaling and improving PDT outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J de Klerk
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark J de Keijzer
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lionel M Dias
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde (FCS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Jordi Heemskerk
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lianne R de Haan
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tony G Kleijn
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leonardo P Franchi
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB) 2, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil
- Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Chemistry, Center of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering-Photobiology and Photomedicine Research Group, Sciences, and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michal Heger
- Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Photonanomedicine and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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12
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Lee HM, Choi JW, Choi MS. Role of Nitric Oxide and Protein S-Nitrosylation in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:57. [PMID: 35052559 PMCID: PMC8772765 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a process in which damage is induced in hypoxic tissue when oxygen supply is resumed after ischemia. During IRI, restoration of reduced nitric oxide (NO) levels may alleviate reperfusion injury in ischemic organs. The protective mechanism of NO is due to anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant effects, and the regulation of cell signaling pathways. On the other hand, it is generally known that S-nitrosylation (SNO) mediates the detrimental or protective effect of NO depending on the action of the nitrosylated target protein, and this is also applied in the IRI process. In this review, the effect of each change of NO and SNO during the IRI process was investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyang-Mi Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul 02748, Korea;
| | - Ji Woong Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Korea
| | - Min Sik Choi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul 02748, Korea
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13
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Obsilova V, Honzejkova K, Obsil T. Structural Insights Support Targeting ASK1 Kinase for Therapeutic Interventions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413395. [PMID: 34948191 PMCID: PMC8705584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 1, a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, modulates diverse responses to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and calcium influx. As a crucial cellular stress sensor, ASK1 activates c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38 MAPKs. Their excessive and sustained activation leads to cell death, inflammation and fibrosis in various tissues and is implicated in the development of many neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in addition to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. However, currently available inhibitors of JNK and p38 kinases either lack efficacy or have undesirable side effects. Therefore, targeted inhibition of their upstream activator, ASK1, stands out as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating such severe pathological conditions. This review summarizes recent structural findings on ASK1 regulation and its role in various diseases, highlighting prospects for ASK1 inhibition in the treatment of these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Obsilova
- Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (V.O.); (T.O.); Tel.: +420-325-87-3513 (V.O.); +420-22-195-1303 (T.O.)
| | - Karolina Honzejkova
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12843 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Tomas Obsil
- Department of Structural Biology of Signaling Proteins, Division BIOCEV, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12843 Prague, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence: (V.O.); (T.O.); Tel.: +420-325-87-3513 (V.O.); +420-22-195-1303 (T.O.)
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14
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Volynets GP, Pletnova LV, Sapelkin VM, Savytskyi OV, Yarmoluk SM. A computational analysis of the binding free energies of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 inhibitors from different chemotypes. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2021.1922686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Galyna P. Volynets
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Scientific Services Company Otava Ltd., Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Larysa V. Pletnova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Vladislav M. Sapelkin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr V. Savytskyi
- Department of Protein Engineering and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Sergiy M. Yarmoluk
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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15
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Lu Z, Zhu X, Ye Y, Fu H, Mao J. PP2A protects podocytes against Adriamycin-induced injury and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via suppressing JIP4/p38-MAPK pathway. Cytotechnology 2021; 73:697-713. [PMID: 34629746 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-021-00484-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is one of the major protein serine/threonine phosphatases (PPPs) with regulatory effects on several cellular processes, but its role and function in Adriamycin (ADR)-treated podocytes injury needs to be further explored. Mice podocytes were treated with ADR and PP2A inhibitor (okadaic acid, OA). After transfection, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Expressions of podocytes injury-, apoptosis- and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)- and JNK-interacting protein 4/p38-Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (JIP4/p38-MAPK) pathway-related factors were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot as needed. Interaction between PP2A and JIP4/MAPK pathway was confirmed using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-Ip) assay. In podocytes, ADR inhibited PP2A, Nephrin and Wilms' tumor (WT) 1 expressions yet upregulated apoptosis and Desmin expression, and suppressing PP2A expressionenhanced the effects. PP2A overexpression reversed the effects of ADR on PP2A and podocyte injury-related factors expressions and apoptosis of podocytes. JIP4 was the candidate gene interacting with both PP2A and p38-MAPK pathway, and PP2A overexpression alleviated the effects of ADR on p38-MAPK pathway-related factors expressions. Additionally, in ADR-treated podocytes, PP2A suppression enhanced the effects of ADR, yet silencing of JIP4 reversed the effects of PP2A suppression on regulating p38-MAPK pathway-, apoptosis- and EMT-related factors expressions and apoptosis, with upregulations of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and E-cadherin and down-regulations of Bcl-2 associated protein X (Bax), cleaved (C)-casapse-3, N-cadherin, Vimentin and Snail. PP2A protects ADR-treated podocytes against injury and EMT by suppressing JIP4/p38-MAPK pathway, showing their interaction in podocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Lu
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310052 Zhejiang China
| | - Xiujuan Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310052 Zhejiang China
| | - Yuhong Ye
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310052 Zhejiang China
| | - Haidong Fu
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310052 Zhejiang China
| | - Jianhua Mao
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3333 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310052 Zhejiang China
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16
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Giraud F, Pereira E, Anizon F, Moreau P. Recent Advances in Pain Management: Relevant Protein Kinases and Their Inhibitors. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092696. [PMID: 34064521 PMCID: PMC8124620 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to underline the protein kinases that have been established, either in fundamental approach or clinical trials, as potential biological targets in pain management. Protein kinases are presented according to their group in the human kinome: TK (Trk, RET, EGFR, JAK, VEGFR, SFK, BCR-Abl), CMGC (p38 MAPK, MEK, ERK, JNK, ASK1, CDK, CLK2, DYRK1A, GSK3, CK2), AGC (PKA, PKB, PKC, PKMζ, PKG, ROCK), CAMK, CK1 and atypical/other protein kinases (IKK, mTOR). Examples of small molecule inhibitors of these biological targets, demonstrating an analgesic effect, are described. Altogether, this review demonstrates the fundamental role that protein kinase inhibitors could play in the development of new pain treatments.
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17
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Lee Y, Jang J, Bibi M, Duggirala KB, Ji SH, Lee JH, Ahn S, Song JS, Chae CH, Kim SH, Lee K. Rational Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel
C6
‐Bicycloalkaneimidazole Containing Imidazo[1,2‐
b
]pyridazines for
ASK1
Inhibition. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Lee
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon 34113 South Korea
| | - Jiyoon Jang
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Department of Chemistry Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 South Korea
| | - Maimoona Bibi
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon 34113 South Korea
| | - Krishna Babu Duggirala
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon 34113 South Korea
| | - Sang Hee Ji
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development Chungnam National University Daejeon 34134 South Korea
| | - Ji Hun Lee
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
| | - Sunjoo Ahn
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon 34113 South Korea
| | - Jin Sook Song
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
| | - Chong Hak Chae
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
| | - Seong Hwan Kim
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development Chungnam National University Daejeon 34134 South Korea
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Bio and Drug Discovery Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology University of Science & Technology Daejeon 34113 South Korea
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18
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Hou S, Yang X, Tong Y, Yang Y, Chen Q, Wan B, Wei R, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Kong B, Huang J, Chen Y, Lu T, Hu Q, Du D. Structure-based discovery of 1H-indole-2-carboxamide derivatives as potent ASK1 inhibitors for potential treatment of ulcerative colitis. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 211:113114. [PMID: 33360793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, is implicated in many human diseases. Here, we describe the structural optimization of hit compound 7 and conduct further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies that result in the development of compound 19 with a novel indole-2-carboxamide hinge scaffold. Compound 19 displays potent anti-ASK1 kinase activity and stronger inhibitory effect on ASK1 in AP1-HEK293 cells than previously described ASK1 inhibitor GS-4997. Besides improved in vitro activity, compound 19 also exhibits an appropriate in vivo PK profile. In a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC), compound 19 shows significant anti-UC efficacy and markedly attenuates DSS-induced body weight loss, colonic shortening, elevation in disease activity index (DAI) and inflammatory cell infiltration in colon tissues. Mechanistically, compound 19 represses the phosphorylation of ASK1-p38/JNK signaling pathways and suppresses the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines. Together, these findings suggest that ASK1 inhibitors can potentially be used as a therapeutic strategy for UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Hou
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Xiping Yang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yu Tong
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yuejing Yang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Quanwei Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Boheng Wan
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Ran Wei
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Bo Kong
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Jianhang Huang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Qinghua Hu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
| | - Ding Du
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
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