|
1
|
Chang Y, Zhang W, Liu X, Luo L, Chen J, Zhao Y, Chen X, Ji M, Sheng L. Interspecies comparison on the O-methylation metabolism of LJR003, a novel immunomodulator targeting acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2025; 262:116894. [PMID: 40222303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2025.116894] [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: 12/17/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2025] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
Catechol structures are essential for drug activity and can undergo meta- or para-methylation, which affects their pharmacological properties. The regioselectivity and species differences in O-methylation metabolism significantly influence drug efficacy and toxicity, requiring further study. LJR003, an immunomodulator with a catechol structure, targets acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. This study investigated the activity, methylation regioselectivity, and species differences of LJR003 and its methylated metabolites. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats, mice, and dogs, and methylation regioselectivity was analyzed in liver, kidney, and erythrocytes from these species and humans after LJR003 incubation. Results showed that meta-methylated LJR003 had weaker ACAT1 inhibitory activity and higher systemic exposure than LJR003 in rats, mice, and dogs. Erythrocytes exhibited the lowest methylation activity in vitro, while liver catalytic efficiency in rats, mice, and dogs was at least twice that of the kidney. In humans, liver and kidney showed similar catalytic activity. LJR003 favored meta-methylation in mice, dogs, and humans in vitro, with consistent in vivo results in mice and dogs. Rats displayed a unique metabolic pattern, suggesting species-specific differences. In conclusion, LJR003 is predicted to undergo meta-methylation in humans, contributing to its pharmacological effects alongside the parent compound. These findings improve understanding of methylation metabolism and provide insights for developing catechol-based drugs, emphasizing the importance of species-specific metabolic pathways in drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongchun Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Weilin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Lijun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Jieyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Yanshi Zhao
- Longivitron (Suzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, China.
| | - Xiaoguang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Ming Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Li Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Drug Metabolism, Beijing Key Laboratory of Non-Clinical Drug Metabolism and PK/PD study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Lei K, Zhou L, Dan M, Yang F, Jian T, Xin J, Yu Z, Wang Y. Trojan Horse Delivery Strategies of Natural Medicine Monomers: Challenges and Limitations in Improving Brain Targeting. Pharmaceutics 2025; 17:280. [PMID: 40142943 PMCID: PMC11945504 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17030280] [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: 01/23/2025] [Revised: 02/13/2025] [Accepted: 02/19/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, significantly impact patients' quality of life and impose substantial economic burdens on society. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the effective delivery of most therapeutic drugs, especially natural products, despite their potential therapeutic effects. The Trojan Horse strategy, using nanotechnology to disguise drugs as "cargo", enables them to bypass the BBB, enhancing targeting and therapeutic efficacy. This review explores the applications of natural products in the treatment of CNS diseases, discusses the challenges posed by the BBB, and analyzes the advantages and limitations of the Trojan Horse strategy. Despite the existing technical challenges, future research is expected to enhance the application of natural drugs in CNS treatment by integrating nanotechnology, improving delivery mechanisms, and optimizing targeting characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelu Lei
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Lanyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-Di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Min Dan
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Tiantian Jian
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Juan Xin
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Zhigang Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Ya’an People’s Hospital-West China Ya’an Hospital, Sichuan University, Ya’an 625000, China; (K.L.); (M.D.); (F.Y.); (T.J.); (J.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Xu J, Chen L, Wang S, Zhang W, Liang J, Ran L, Deng Z, Zhou Y. Chemoproteomic Profiling Reveals Chlorogenic Acid as a Covalent Inhibitor of Arabidopsis Dehydroascorbate Reductase 1. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2025; 73:908-918. [PMID: 39704675 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2024]
Abstract
Chlorogenic acid (CA) is an abundant plant secondary metabolite with promising allelopathic effects on weed growth. However, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of CA in plants remain elusive. Here, we report the employment of a clickable photoaffinity probe in identifying the protein targets of CA in Arabidopsis seedling proteomes. CA specifically binds Arabidopsis dehydroascorbate reductase 1 (AtDHAR1), an enzyme responsible for ascorbate regeneration in plants, by covalent alkylating Cys20 within the catalytic center, thereby inhibiting its activity. In vivo application of CA reduced the pool size and redox state of ascorbate, leading to H2O2 accumulation in Arabidopsis seedlings. In agreement with these results, CA significantly induced the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and downregulation of proteins involved in water transport and photosynthesis, as evidenced by quantitative proteomics. Taken together, this study revealed DHAR1 as a functional target underlying CA's allelopathic activity in plants, which opens new opportunities for the development of novel herbicides from naturally existing resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Xu
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Suzhou 215500, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianjia Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Lu Ran
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Zhangshuang Deng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yiqing Zhou
- School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Suzhou 215500, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| |
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Yu X, Li Y, Yang X, He J, Tang W, Chai Y, Duan Z, Li W, Zhao D, Wang X, Huang A, Li H, Shi Y. Chlorogenic Acid: A Promising Strategy for Milk Preservation by Inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus Growth and Biofilm Formation. Foods 2024; 13:4104. [PMID: 39767046 PMCID: PMC11675857 DOI: 10.3390/foods13244104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2024] [Revised: 12/07/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyhydroxy phenolic acid, has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) threatens food safety by forming biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of CGA against S. aureus and its biofilm. The anti-bacterial activity of CGA was assessed using crystal violet staining, TEM, SEM, a CLSM, and using metabolomics and molecular docking to elucidate the mechanism. The results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration of CGA against S. aureus was 2.5 mg/mL. CGA disrupts the integrity of bacterial cell membranes, leading to increased hydrophobicity, morphological changes, scattering, and reduced spreading. This disruption decreases biofilm adhesion and bacterial count. Metabolomics and molecular docking analyses revealed that CGA down-regulates key amino acids. It forms hydrogen bonds with penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4), Amidase, glutamate synthetase B, and glutamate synthetase A. By inhibiting amino acid metabolism, CGA prevents biofilm formation. CGA interacts with amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamine, and glutamate through hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (-C=O) groups. This interaction reduces cell viability and biofilm cohesion. The novel findings of this study, particularly the extension of the shelf life of pasteurized milk by inhibiting S. aureus growth, highlight the potential of CGA as a promising anti-biofilm strategy and preservative in the dairy industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Yu
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Yufang Li
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Xue Yang
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Jinze He
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Wenhuan Tang
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Yunmei Chai
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Zuyan Duan
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Wenjie Li
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Dan Zhao
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Aixiang Huang
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| | - Hong Li
- Yunnan College of Modern Coffee Industry, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Yanan Shi
- College of Food Science &Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; (X.Y.); (Y.L.); (X.Y.); (J.H.); (W.T.); (Y.C.); (Z.D.); (W.L.); (D.Z.); (X.W.); (A.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
|
5
|
Zhang W, Wu W, Wang T, Wu Z, Li Y, Ding T, Fang Z, Tian D, He X, Huang F. Novel Supramolecular Hydrogel for Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2402092. [PMID: 39225408 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202402092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Multifunctional responsive hydrogels hold significant promise for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) treatment, though their complex design and manufacturing present challenges. This study introduces a novel supramolecular guanosine-phenylboronic-chlorogenic acid (GBC) hydrogel developed using a dynamic covalent strategy. The hydrogel forms through guanosine quadruplex assembly in the presence of potassium ions and chlorogenic acid (CA) linkage via dynamic borate bonds. GBC hydrogels exhibit pH and glucose responsiveness, releasing more chlorogenic acid under acidic and high glucose conditions due to borate bond dissociation and G-quadruplex (G4) hydrogel disintegration. Experimental results indicate that GBC hydrogels exhibit good self-healing, shear-thinning, injectability, and swelling properties. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate the GBC hydrogel's good biocompatibility, ability to eliminate bacteria and reactive oxygen species (ROS), facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype (decreasing CD86 expression and increasing CD206 expression), exhibit anti-inflammatory effects (reducing TNF-α expression and increasing IL-10 expression), and promote angiogenesis (increasing VEGF, CD31, and α-SMA expression). Thus, GBC hydrogels accelerate DFU healing and enhance tissue remodeling and collagen deposition. This work provides a new approach to developing responsive hydrogels to expedite DFU healing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbiao Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Weiwei Wu
- Department of Anaesthesia, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University North district, Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230011, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Zhiwei Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Zhennan Fang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Dasheng Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| | - Xiaoyan He
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Fei Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230601, China
| |
Collapse
|