1
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Khatkar P, Mensah G, Ning S, Cowen M, Kim Y, Williams A, Abulwerdi FA, Zhao Y, Zeng C, Le Grice SFJ, Kashanchi F. HIV-1 Transcription Inhibition Using Small RNA-Binding Molecules. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 17:33. [PMID: 38256867 PMCID: PMC10819208 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010033] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 transactivator protein Tat interacts with the transactivation response element (TAR) at the three-nucleotide UCU bulge to facilitate the recruitment of transcription elongation factor-b (P-TEFb) and induce the transcription of the integrated proviral genome. Therefore, the Tat-TAR interaction, unique to the virus, is a promising target for developing antiviral therapeutics. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs against HIV-1 transcription, suggesting the need to develop novel inhibitors that specifically target HIV-1 transcription. We have identified potential candidates that effectively inhibit viral transcription in myeloid and T cells without apparent toxicity. Among these candidates, two molecules showed inhibition of viral protein expression. A molecular docking and simulation approach was used to determine the binding dynamics of these small molecules on TAR RNA in the presence of the P-TEFb complex, which was further validated by a biotinylated RNA pulldown assay. Furthermore, we examined the effect of these molecules on transcription factors, including the SWI/SNF complex (BAF or PBAF), which plays an important role in chromatin remodeling near the transcription start site and hence regulates virus transcription. The top candidates showed significant viral transcription inhibition in primary cells infected with HIV-1 (98.6). Collectively, our study identified potential transcription inhibitors that can potentially complement existing cART drugs to address the current therapeutic gap in current regimens. Additionally, shifting of the TAR RNA loop towards Cyclin T1 upon molecule binding during molecular simulation studies suggested that targeting the TAR loop and Tat-binding UCU bulge together should be an essential feature of TAR-binding molecules/inhibitors to achieve complete viral transcription inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Khatkar
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
| | - Gifty Mensah
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
| | - Shangbo Ning
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Maria Cowen
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
| | - Yuriy Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
| | - Anastasia Williams
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
| | | | - Yunjie Zhao
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Chen Zeng
- Physics Department, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | | | - Fatah Kashanchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (P.K.)
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2
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Mediouni S, Lyu S, Schader SM, Valente ST. Forging a Functional Cure for HIV: Transcription Regulators and Inhibitors. Viruses 2022; 14:1980. [PMID: 36146786 PMCID: PMC9502519 DOI: 10.3390/v14091980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the survival of HIV-infected individuals, yet it is not curative. The major barrier to finding a definitive cure for HIV is our inability to identify and eliminate long-lived cells containing the dormant provirus, termed viral reservoir. When ART is interrupted, the viral reservoir ensures heterogenous and stochastic HIV viral gene expression, which can reseed infection back to pre-ART levels. While strategies to permanently eradicate the virus have not yet provided significant success, recent work has focused on the management of this residual viral reservoir to effectively limit comorbidities associated with the ongoing viral transcription still observed during suppressive ART, as well as limit the need for daily ART. Our group has been at the forefront of exploring the viability of the block-and-lock remission approach, focused on the long-lasting epigenetic block of viral transcription such that without daily ART, there is no risk of viral rebound, transmission, or progression to AIDS. Numerous studies have reported inhibitors of both viral and host factors required for HIV transcriptional activation. Here, we highlight and review some of the latest HIV transcriptional inhibitor discoveries that may be leveraged for the clinical exploration of block-and-lock and revolutionize the way we treat HIV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mediouni
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Shuang Lyu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Susan M. Schader
- Department of Infectious Disease Research, Drug Development Division, Southern Research, 431 Aviation Way, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Susana T. Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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3
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Ning S, Wang H, Zeng C, Zhao Y. Prediction of allosteric druggable pockets of cyclin-dependent kinases. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6643454. [PMID: 35830869 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac290] [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: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) proteins play crucial roles in the cell cycle progression and are thus attractive drug targets for therapy against such aberrant cell cycle processes as cancer. Since most of the available Cdk inhibitors target the highly conserved catalytic ATP pocket and their lack of specificity often lead to side effects, it is imperative to identify and characterize less conserved non-catalytic pockets capable of interfering with the kinase activity allosterically. However, a systematic analysis of these allosteric druggable pockets is still in its infancy. Here, we summarize the existing Cdk pockets and their selectivity. Then, we outline a network-based pocket prediction approach (NetPocket) and illustrate its utility for systematically identifying the allosteric druggable pockets with case studies. Finally, we discuss potential future directions and their challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangbo Ning
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Huiwen Wang
- School of Physics and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Chen Zeng
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Yunjie Zhao
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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4
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Mori L, Valente ST. Cure and Long-Term Remission Strategies. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2407:391-428. [PMID: 34985678 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1871-4_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The majority of virally suppressed individuals will experience rapid viral rebound upon antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption, providing a strong rationale for the development of cure strategies. Moreover, despite ART virological control, HIV infection is still associated with chronic immune activation, inflammation, comorbidities, and accelerated aging. These effects are believed to be due, in part, to low-grade persistent transcription and trickling production of viral proteins from the pool of latent proviruses constituting the viral reservoir. In recent years there has been an increasing interest in developing what has been termed a functional cure for HIV. This approach entails the long-term, durable control of viral expression in the absence of therapy, preventing disease progression and transmission, despite the presence of detectable integrated proviruses. One such strategy, the block-and-lock approach for a functional cure, proposes the epigenetic silencing of proviral expression, locking the virus in a profound latent state, from which reactivation is very unlikely. The proof-of-concept for this approach was demonstrated with the use of a specific small molecule targeting HIV transcription. Here we review the principles behind the block-and-lock approach and some of the additional strategies proposed to silence HIV expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Mori
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Susana T Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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5
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Ning S, Zeng C, Zeng C, Zhao Y. The TAR binding dynamics and its implication in Tat degradation mechanism. Biophys J 2021; 120:5158-5168. [PMID: 34762866 PMCID: PMC8715215 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that progressively attacks the human immune system. It is known that the HIV viral protein Tat recruits the host elongation factor, positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), onto the nascent HIV viral transactivation response element (TAR) RNA to overcome the elongation pause for active transcription of the entire viral genome. Interestingly, there exists an amplifying feedback loop between Tat and TAR-a reduction in Tat increases the elongation pause, resulting in more TAR RNA fragments instead of the entire viral genome transcript, and the TAR fragments as a scaffold for PRC2 complex in turn promote Tat ubiquitination and degradation. In this study, the structural ensembles and binding dynamics of various interfaces in the Tat/TAR/P-TEFb complex are probed by all-atom accelerated sampling molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that a protein-binding inhibitor F07#13 targeting the Tat/P-TEFb interface initiates the above feedback loop and shuts down the active transcription. Another RNA binding inhibitor, JB181, targeting the Tat/TAR interface, can prevent TAR from pulling down the Tat from P-TEFb protein and further reducing Tat degradation. The detailed mechanism of the complex dynamics helps elucidate how Tat and TAR coordinate the regulation between HIV genome transcription versus possible HIV latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangbo Ning
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengwei Zeng
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Zeng
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Yunjie Zhao
- Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
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6
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Pinto DO, DeMarino C, Vo TT, Cowen M, Kim Y, Pleet ML, Barclay RA, Noren Hooten N, Evans MK, Heredia A, Batrakova EV, Iordanskiy S, Kashanchi F. Low-Level Ionizing Radiation Induces Selective Killing of HIV-1-Infected Cells with Reversal of Cytokine Induction Using mTOR Inhibitors. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080885. [PMID: 32823598 PMCID: PMC7472203 DOI: 10.3390/v12080885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infects 39.5 million people worldwide, and cART is effective in preventing viral spread by reducing HIV-1 plasma viral loads to undetectable levels. However, viral reservoirs persist by mechanisms, including the inhibition of autophagy by HIV-1 proteins (i.e., Nef and Tat). HIV-1 reservoirs can be targeted by the “shock and kill” strategy, which utilizes latency-reversing agents (LRAs) to activate latent proviruses and immunotarget the virus-producing cells. Yet, limitations include reduced LRA permeability across anatomical barriers and immune hyper-activation. Ionizing radiation (IR) induces effective viral activation across anatomical barriers. Like other LRAs, IR may cause inflammation and modulate the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). We and others have shown that cells may secrete cytokines and viral proteins in EVs and, therefore, LRAs may contribute to inflammatory EVs. In the present study, we mitigated the effects of IR-induced inflammatory EVs (i.e., TNF-α), through the use of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi; Rapamycin and INK128). Further, mTORi were found to enhance the selective killing of HIV-1-infected myeloid and T-cell reservoirs at the exclusion of uninfected cells, potentially via inhibition of viral transcription/translation and induction of autophagy. Collectively, the proposed regimen using cART, IR, and mTORi presents a novel approach allowing for the targeting of viral reservoirs, prevention of immune hyper-activation, and selectively killing latently infected HIV-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel O. Pinto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Catherine DeMarino
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Thy T. Vo
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Maria Cowen
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Yuriy Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Michelle L. Pleet
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Robert A. Barclay
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
| | - Nicole Noren Hooten
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (N.N.H.); (M.K.E.)
| | - Michele K. Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; (N.N.H.); (M.K.E.)
| | - Alonso Heredia
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Elena V. Batrakova
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Sergey Iordanskiy
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Fatah Kashanchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA; (D.O.P.); (C.D.); (T.T.V.); (M.C.); (Y.K.); (M.L.P.); (R.A.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +703-993-9160; Fax: +703-993-7022
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7
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DeMarino C, Cowen M, Pleet ML, Pinto DO, Khatkar P, Erickson J, Docken SS, Russell N, Reichmuth B, Phan T, Kuang Y, Anderson DM, Emelianenko M, Kashanchi F. Differences in Transcriptional Dynamics Between T-cells and Macrophages as Determined by a Three-State Mathematical Model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2227. [PMID: 32042107 PMCID: PMC7010665 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 viral transcription persists in patients despite antiretroviral treatment, potentially due to intermittent HIV-1 LTR activation. While several mathematical models have been explored in the context of LTR-protein interactions, in this work for the first time HIV-1 LTR model featuring repressed, intermediate, and activated LTR states is integrated with generation of long (env) and short (TAR) RNAs and proteins (Tat, Pr55, and p24) in T-cells and macrophages using both cell lines and infected primary cells. This type of extended modeling framework allows us to compare and contrast behavior of these two cell types. We demonstrate that they exhibit unique LTR dynamics, which ultimately results in differences in the magnitude of viral products generated. One of the distinctive features of this work is that it relies on experimental data in reaction rate computations. Two RNA transcription rates from the activated promoter states are fit by comparison of experimental data to model predictions. Fitting to the data also provides estimates for the degradation/exit rates for long and short viral RNA. Our experimentally generated data is in reasonable agreement for the T-cell as well macrophage population and gives strong evidence in support of using the proposed integrated modeling paradigm. Sensitivity analysis performed using Latin hypercube sampling method confirms robustness of the model with respect to small parameter perturbations. Finally, incorporation of a transcription inhibitor (F07#13) into the governing equations demonstrates how the model can be used to assess drug efficacy. Collectively, our model indicates transcriptional differences between latently HIV-1 infected T-cells and macrophages and provides a novel platform to study various transcriptional dynamics leading to latency or activation in numerous cell types and physiological conditions.
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MESH Headings
- Anti-HIV Agents/pharmacology
- Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use
- Cell Line
- Drug Resistance, Viral/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics
- Drug Resistance, Viral/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/immunology
- HIV Infections/blood
- HIV Infections/drug therapy
- HIV Infections/immunology
- HIV Long Terminal Repeat/genetics
- HIV-1/drug effects
- HIV-1/genetics
- HIV-1/immunology
- Humans
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/virology
- Models, Genetic
- Models, Immunological
- Primary Cell Culture
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- RNA, Viral/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/virology
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transcription, Genetic/immunology
- Virus Replication/drug effects
- Virus Replication/genetics
- Virus Replication/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine DeMarino
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Maria Cowen
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Michelle L Pleet
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Daniel O Pinto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Pooja Khatkar
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - James Erickson
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Steffen S Docken
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Russell
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Blake Reichmuth
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Tin Phan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Yang Kuang
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel M Anderson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Maria Emelianenko
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Fatah Kashanchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA.
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8
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Schwarzer R, Gramatica A, Greene WC. Reduce and Control: A Combinatorial Strategy for Achieving Sustained HIV Remissions in the Absence of Antiretroviral Therapy. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020188. [PMID: 32046251 PMCID: PMC7077203 DOI: 10.3390/v12020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) indefinitely persists, despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), within a small pool of latently infected cells. These cells often display markers of immunologic memory and harbor both replication-competent and -incompetent proviruses at approximately a 1:100 ratio. Although complete HIV eradication is a highly desirable goal, this likely represents a bridge too far for our current and foreseeable technologies. A more tractable goal involves engineering a sustained viral remission in the absence of ART––a “functional cure.” In this setting, HIV remains detectable during remission, but the size of the reservoir is small and the residual virus is effectively controlled by an engineered immune response or other intervention. Biological precedence for such an approach is found in the post-treatment controllers (PTCs), a rare group of HIV-infected individuals who, following ART withdrawal, do not experience viral rebound. PTCs are characterized by a small reservoir, greatly reduced inflammation, and the presence of a poorly understood immune response that limits viral rebound. Our goal is to devise a safe and effective means for replicating durable post-treatment control on a global scale. This requires devising methods to reduce the size of the reservoir and to control replication of this residual virus. In the following sections, we will review many of the approaches and tools that likely will be important for implementing such a “reduce and control” strategy and for achieving a PTC-like sustained HIV remission in the absence of ART.
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9
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Pinto DO, Scott TA, DeMarino C, Pleet ML, Vo TT, Saifuddin M, Kovalskyy D, Erickson J, Cowen M, Barclay RA, Zeng C, Weinberg MS, Kashanchi F. Effect of transcription inhibition and generation of suppressive viral non-coding RNAs. Retrovirology 2019; 16:13. [PMID: 31036006 PMCID: PMC6489247 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-019-0475-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-1 patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) survive infection but require life-long adherence at high expense. In chronic cART-treated patients with undetectable viral titers, cell-associated viral RNA is still detectable, pointing to low-level viral transcriptional leakiness. To date, there are no FDA-approved drugs against HIV-1 transcription. We have previously shown that F07#13, a third generation Tat peptide mimetic with competitive activity against Cdk9/T1-Tat binding sites, inhibits HIV-1 transcription in vitro and in vivo. Results Here, we demonstrate that increasing concentrations of F07#13 (0.01, 0.1, 1 µM) cause a decrease in Tat levels in a dose-dependent manner by inhibiting the Cdk9/T1-Tat complex formation and subsequent ubiquitin-mediated Tat sequestration and degradation. Our data indicate that complexes I and IV contain distinct patterns of ubiquitinated Tat and that transcriptional inhibition induced by F07#13 causes an overall reduction in Tat levels. This reduction may be triggered by F07#13 but ultimately is mediated by TAR-gag viral RNAs that bind suppressive transcription factors (similar to 7SK, NRON, HOTAIR, and Xist lncRNAs) to enhance transcriptional gene silencing and latency. These RNAs complex with PRC2, Sin3A, and Cul4B, resulting in epigenetic modifications. Finally, we observed an F07#13-mediated decrease of viral burden by targeting the R region of the long terminal repeat (HIV-1 promoter region, LTR), promoting both paused polymerases and increased efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 editing in infected cells. This implies that gene editing may be best performed under a repressed transcriptional state. Conclusions Collectively, our results indicate that F07#13, which can terminate RNA Polymerase II at distinct sites, can generate scaffold RNAs, which may assemble into specific sets of “RNA Machines” that contribute to gene regulation. It remains to be seen whether these effects can also be seen in various clades that have varying promoter strength, mutant LTRs, and in patient samples. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12977-019-0475-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel O Pinto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Tristan A Scott
- Center for Gene Therapy, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Catherine DeMarino
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Michelle L Pleet
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Thy T Vo
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Mohammed Saifuddin
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Dmytro Kovalskyy
- Protein Engineering Department, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, UAS, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - James Erickson
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Maria Cowen
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Robert A Barclay
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Chen Zeng
- Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marc S Weinberg
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Wits/SA MRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Fatah Kashanchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA. .,Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Discovery Hall Room 182, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
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10
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Aguilera LU, Rodríguez-González J. Modeling the effect of tat inhibitors on HIV latency. J Theor Biol 2019; 473:20-27. [PMID: 31004612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Even in the presence of a successful combination therapy stalling the progress of AIDS, developing a cure for this disease is still an open question. One of the major steps towards a cure would be to be able to eradicate latent HIV reservoirs present in patients. During the last decade, multiple findings point to the dominant role of the viral protein Tat in the establishment of latency. Here we present a mathematical study to understand the potential role of Tat inhibitors as virus-suppressing agents. For this aim, we implemented a computational model that reproduces intracellular dynamics. Simulating an HIV-infected cell and its intracellular feedback we observed that removing Tat protein from the system via inhibitors resulted in a temporary and reversible viral suppression. In contrast, we observed that compounds that interact with Tat protein and disrupt the integrated viral genome produced a more permanent viral suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis U Aguilera
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg / Bioquant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Colorado State University
| | - Jesús Rodríguez-González
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Monterrey, Via del Conocimiento 201, Parque PIIT, Apodaca CP 66600 NL, México.
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11
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Jean MJ, Fiches G, Hayashi T, Zhu J. Current Strategies for Elimination of HIV-1 Latent Reservoirs Using Chemical Compounds Targeting Host and Viral Factors. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2019; 35:1-24. [PMID: 30351168 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2018.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the implementation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), rates of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) mortality, morbidity, and newly acquired infections have decreased dramatically. In fact, HIV-1-infected individuals under effective suppressive cART approach normal life span and quality of life. However, long-term therapy is required because the virus establish a reversible state of latency in memory CD4+ T cells. Two principle strategies, namely "shock and kill" approach and "block and lock" approach, are currently being investigated for the eradication of these HIV-1 latent reservoirs. Actually, both of these contrasting approaches are based on the use of small-molecule compounds to achieve the cure for HIV-1. In this review, we discuss the recent progress that has been made in designing and developing small-molecule compounds for both strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime J. Jean
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Guillaume Fiches
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Tsuyoshi Hayashi
- National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
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12
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Lin X, Ammosova T, Kumari N, Nekhai S. Protein Phosphatase-1 -targeted Small Molecules, Iron Chelators and Curcumin Analogs as HIV-1 Antivirals. Curr Pharm Des 2018; 23:4122-4132. [PMID: 28677499 DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170704123620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite efficient suppression of HIV-1 replication, current antiviral drugs are not able to eradicate HIV-1 infection. Permanent HIV-1 suppression or complete eradication requires novel biological approaches and therapeutic strategies. Our previous studies showed that HIV-1 transcription is regulated by host cell protein phosphatase-1. We also showed that HIV-1 transcription is sensitive to the reduction of intracellular iron that affects cell cycle-dependent kinase 2. We developed protein phosphatase 1-targeting small molecules that inhibited HIV-1 transcription. We also found an additional class of protein phosphatase-1-targeting molecules that activated HIV-1 transcription and reported HIV-1 inhibitory iron chelators and novel curcumin analogs that inhibit HIV-1. Here, we review HIV-1 transcription and replication with focus on its regulation by protein phosphatase 1 and cell cycle dependent kinase 2 and describe novel small molecules that can serve as future leads for anti-HIV drug development. RESULTS Our review describes in a non-exhaustive manner studies in which HIV-1 transcription and replication are targeted with small molecules. Previously, published studies show that HIV-1 can be inhibited with protein phosphatase-1-targeting and iron chelating compounds and curcumin analogs. These results are significant in light of the current efforts to eradicate HIV-1 through permanent inhibition. Also, HIV-1 activating compounds can be useful for "kick and kill" therapy in which the virus is reactivated prior to its inhibition by the combination antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSION The studies described in our review point to protein phosphatase-1 as a new drug target, intracellular iron as subject for iron chelation and novel curcumin analogs that can be developed for novel HIV-1 transcription- targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xionghao Lin
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, 1840 7th Street, N.W. HURB1, Suite 202, Washington DC 20001. United States
| | - Tatyana Ammosova
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, 1840 7th Street, N.W. HURB1, Suite 202, Washington DC 20001. United States
| | - Namita Kumari
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, 1840 7th Street, N.W. HURB1, Suite 202, Washington DC 20001. United States
| | - Sergei Nekhai
- Center for Sickle Cell Disease, 1840 7th Street, N.W. HURB1, Suite 202, Washington DC 20001. United States
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14
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Fujimoto KJ, Nema D, Ninomiya M, Koketsu M, Sadanari H, Takemoto M, Daikoku T, Murayama T. An in silico-designed flavone derivative, 6-fluoro-4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimetoxyflavone, has a greater anti-human cytomegalovirus effect than ganciclovir in infected cells. Antiviral Res 2018; 154:10-16. [PMID: 29559264 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A novel type of antiviral agent for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is required, because the appearance of ganciclovir (GCV) resistant viruses has been reported. Tricin (4',5,7-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone) has been shown to suppress significantly HCMV replication in human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cells. Recently, we revealed that the action of tricin is different from that of GCV and cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is one of the target proteins of tricin. These results suggested that tricin is considered as a novel type of anti-HCMV agent. However, its anti-HCMV potency is not greater than that of GCV. This study tried to develop novel compounds with much greater anti-HCMV activity than GCV. We first made modifications to tricin by introducing fluorine atom, and then performed molecular docking simulations using the designed compounds and CDK9. The calculated binding energies showed that 6F-tricin (6-fluoro-4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimetoxyflavone) binds to CDK9 much stronger than tricin. Based on these results, 6F-tricin was synthesized, and then its anti-HCMV effect was analyzed in HEL cell cultures. As a result, 6F-tricin strongly suppressed HCMV replication in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-HCMV activity with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) was 0.126 nM, corresponding to about 1/200 and 1/400 of EC50 of GCV (27.5 nM) and tricin (54.3 nM), respectively. Moreover, 6F-tricin had no cytotoxicity against HEL cells at concentrations up to 10 μM. We further performed detailed analysis on the amino acid contributions to the binding energies and found that the strong binding affinity for 6F-tricin to CDK9 is attributed to the specific binding orientation of 6F-tricin in the ATP-binding site. These results suggest that 6F-tricin is a promising candidate for anti-HCMV drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro J Fujimoto
- Center for Basic Education, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan
| | - Daiki Nema
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan
| | - Masayuki Ninomiya
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Mamoru Koketsu
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Sadanari
- Center for Basic Education, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan
| | - Masaya Takemoto
- Center for Basic Education, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan
| | - Tohru Daikoku
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan
| | - Tsugiya Murayama
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3 Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan.
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15
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Sadanari H, Fujimoto KJ, Sugihara Y, Ishida T, Takemoto M, Daikoku T, Murayama T. The anti-human cytomegalovirus drug tricin inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase 9. FEBS Open Bio 2018; 8:646-654. [PMID: 29632816 PMCID: PMC5881553 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
4′,5,7‐trihydroxy‐3′,5′‐dimethoxyflavone (tricin), derived from Sasa albo‐marginata, has been reported to suppress significantly human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cells. However, the target protein of tricin remains unclear. This study focused on the anti‐HCMV activity of tricin in terms of its binding affinity to cyclin‐dependent kinase 9 (CDK9). A molecular docking study predicted that tricin binds well to the ATP‐binding site of CDK9. Experimental measurements then revealed that tricin inhibits the kinase activity of CDK9 and affects the phosphorylation of the carboxy‐terminal domain of RNA polymerase II. Based on these results, we conclude that CDK9 is one of the target proteins of tricin. We also found that tricin possesses anti‐HCMV activity with no cytotoxicity against HEL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetaka Sadanari
- Center for Basic Education Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Kazuhiro J Fujimoto
- Center for Basic Education Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Yuto Sugihara
- Center for Basic Education Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Tomoki Ishida
- Center for Basic Education Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Masaya Takemoto
- Center for Basic Education Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Tohru Daikoku
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Tsugiya Murayama
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Hokuriku University Kanazawa Japan
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Medina-Moreno S, Dowling TC, Zapata JC, Le NM, Sausville E, Bryant J, Redfield RR, Heredia A. Targeting of CDK9 with indirubin 3'-monoxime safely and durably reduces HIV viremia in chronically infected humanized mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183425. [PMID: 28817720 PMCID: PMC5560554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful propagation of HIV in the human host requires entry into a permissive cell, reverse transcription of viral RNA, integration into the human genome, transcription of the integrated provirus, and assembly/release of new virus particles. Currently, there are antiretrovirals against each of these viral steps, except for provirus transcription. An inhibitor of HIV transcription could both increase potency of treatment and suppress drug-resistant strains. Cellular cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) serves as a cofactor for the HIV Tat protein and is required for effective transcription of the provirus. Previous studies have shown that the CDK9 inhibitor Indirubin 3’-monoxime (IM) inhibits HIV transcription in vitro and in short-term in vivo studies of HIV acute infection in humanized mice (PBMC-NSG model), suggesting a therapeutic potential. The objective of this study is to evaluate the toxicity, pharmacokinetics and long-term antiviral activity of IM during chronic HIV infection in humanized mice (HSC-NSG model). We show that IM concentrations above EC50 values are rapidly achieved and sustained for > 3 h in plasma, and that non-toxic concentrations durably reduce HIV RNA levels. In addition, IM enhanced the antiviral activity of antiretrovirals from the reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase inhibitor classes in in vitro infectivity assays. In summary, IM may enhance current antiretroviral treatments and could help achieve a “functional cure” in HIV patients by preventing expression of proviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Medina-Moreno
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. Dowling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Juan C. Zapata
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nhut M. Le
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Edward Sausville
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph Bryant
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert R. Redfield
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alonso Heredia
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Inhibition of HIV-1 infection in humanized mice and metabolic stability of protein phosphatase-1-targeting small molecule 1E7-03. Oncotarget 2017; 8:76749-76769. [PMID: 29100346 PMCID: PMC5652740 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently identified the protein phosphatase-1 - targeting compound, 1E7-03 which inhibited HIV-1 in vitro. Here, we investigated the effect of 1E7-03 on HIV-1 infection in vivo by analyzing its metabolic stability and antiviral activity of 1E7-03 and its metabolites in HIV-1 infected NSG-humanized mice. 1E7-03 was degraded in serum and formed two major degradation products, DP1 and DP3, which bound protein phosphatase-1 in vitro. However, their anti-viral activities were significantly reduced due to inefficient cell permeability. In cultured cells, 1E7-03 reduced expression of several protein phosphatase-1 regulatory subunits including Sds22 as determined by a label free quantitative proteomics analysis. In HIV-1-infected humanized mice, 1E7-03 significantly reduced plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, similar to the previously described HIV-1 transcription inhibitor F07#13. We synthesized a DP1 analog, DP1-07 with a truncated side chain, which showed improved cell permeability and longer pharmacokinetic retention in mice. But DP1-07 was less efficient than 1E7-03 as a HIV-1 inhibitor both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that the full side chain of 1E7-03 was essential for its anti-HIV activity. Analysis of 1E7-03 stability in plasma and liver microsomes showed that the compound was stable in human, primate and ferret plasma but not in rodent plasma. However, 1E7-03 was not stable in human liver microsomes. Our findings suggest that 1E7-03 is a good candidate for future development of HIV-1 transcription inhibitors. Further structural modification and advanced formulations are needed to improve its metabolic stability and enhance its antiviral activity in non-human primate animals and humans.
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18
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Tutone M, Almerico AM. Recent advances on CDK inhibitors: An insight by means of in silico methods. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 142:300-315. [PMID: 28802482 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) are a small family of serine/threonine protein kinases that can act as a potential therapeutic target in several proliferative diseases, including cancer. This short review is a survey on the more recent research progresses in the field achieved by using in silico methods. All the "armamentarium" available to the medicinal chemists (docking protocols and molecular dynamics, fragment-based, de novo design, virtual screening, and QSAR) has been employed to the discovery of new, potent, and selective inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases. The results cited herein can be useful to understand the nature of the inhibitor-target interactions, and furnish an insight on the structural/molecular requirements necessary to achieve the required selectivity against cyclin dependent kinases over other types of kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Tutone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Almerico
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
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19
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How to win the HIV-1 drug resistance hurdle race: running faster or jumping higher? Biochem J 2017; 474:1559-1577. [PMID: 28446620 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infections by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are still totaling an appalling 36.7 millions worldwide, with 1.1 million AIDS deaths/year and a similar number of yearly new infections. All this, in spite of the discovery of HIV-1 as the AIDS etiological agent more than 30 years ago and the introduction of an effective combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART), able to control disease progression, more than 20 years ago. Although very effective, current cART is plagued by the emergence of drug-resistant viral variants and most of the efforts in the development of novel direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) against HIV-1 have been devoted toward the fighting of resistance. In this review, rather than providing a detailed listing of all the drugs and the corresponding resistance mutations, we aim, through relevant examples, at presenting to the general reader the conceptual shift in the approaches that are being taken to overcome the viral resistance hurdle. From the classic 'running faster' strategy, based on the development of novel DAAs active against the mutant viruses selected by the previous drugs and/or presenting to the virus a high genetic barrier toward the development of resilience, to a 'jumping higher' approach, which looks at the cell, rather than the virus, as a source of valuable drug targets, in order to make the cellular environment non-permissive toward the replication of both wild-type and mutated viruses.
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20
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Abstract
CDK9 is a protein in constant development in cancer therapy. Herein we present an overview of the enzyme as a target for cancer therapy. We provide data on its characteristics and mechanism of action. In recent years, CDK9 inhibitors that have been designed with molecular modeling have demonstrated good antitumoral activity in vitro. Clinical studies of the drugs flavopiridol, dinaciclib, seliciclib, SNS-032 and RGB-286638 used as CDK9 inhibitors are also reviewed, with their additional targets and their relative IC50 values. Unfortunately, treatment with these drugs remains unsuccessful and involves many adverse effects. We could conclude that there are many small molecules that bind to CDK9, but their lack of selectivity against other CDKs do not allow them to get to the clinical use. However, drug designers currently have the tools needed to improve the selectivity of CDK9 inhibitors and to make successful treatment available to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Morales
- a Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- a Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Department of Medicine , Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
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21
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Xu M, Lee EM, Wen Z, Cheng Y, Huang WK, Qian X, Tcw J, Kouznetsova J, Ogden SC, Hammack C, Jacob F, Nguyen HN, Itkin M, Hanna C, Shinn P, Allen C, Michael SG, Simeonov A, Huang W, Christian KM, Goate A, Brennand KJ, Huang R, Xia M, Ming GL, Zheng W, Song H, Tang H. Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of Zika virus infection and induced neural cell death via a drug repurposing screen. Nat Med 2016; 22:1101-1107. [PMID: 27571349 PMCID: PMC5386783 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 506] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In response to the current global health emergency posed by the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and its link to microcephaly and other neurological conditions, we performed a drug repurposing screen of ∼6,000 compounds that included approved drugs, clinical trial drug candidates and pharmacologically active compounds; we identified compounds that either inhibit ZIKV infection or suppress infection-induced caspase-3 activity in different neural cells. A pan-caspase inhibitor, emricasan, inhibited ZIKV-induced increases in caspase-3 activity and protected human cortical neural progenitors in both monolayer and three-dimensional organoid cultures. Ten structurally unrelated inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibited ZIKV replication. Niclosamide, a category B anthelmintic drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, also inhibited ZIKV replication. Finally, combination treatments using one compound from each category (neuroprotective and antiviral) further increased protection of human neural progenitors and astrocytes from ZIKV-induced cell death. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of this screening strategy and identify lead compounds for anti-ZIKV drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Emily M Lee
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Zhexing Wen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yichen Cheng
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Wei-Kai Huang
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xuyu Qian
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Julia Tcw
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer Kouznetsova
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah C Ogden
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Christy Hammack
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Fadi Jacob
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ha Nam Nguyen
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Misha Itkin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Catherine Hanna
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chase Allen
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Samuel G Michael
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Wenwei Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberly M Christian
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen J Brennand
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hengli Tang
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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22
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Le Douce V, Ait-Amar A, Forouzan Far F, Fahmi F, Quiel J, El Mekdad H, Daouad F, Marban C, Rohr O, Schwartz C. Improving combination antiretroviral therapy by targeting HIV-1 gene transcription. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 20:1311-1324. [PMID: 27266557 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2016.1198777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) has not allowed the cure of HIV. The main obstacle to HIV eradication is the existence of quiescent reservoirs. Several other limitations of cART have been described, such as strict life-long treatment and high costs, restricting it to Western countries, as well as the development of multidrug resistance. Given these limitations and the impetus to find a cure, the development of new treatments is necessary. Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the current status of several efficient molecules able to suppress HIV gene transcription, including NF-kB and Tat inhibitors. We also assess the potential of new proteins belonging to the intriguing DING family, which have been reported to have potential anti-HIV-1 activity by inhibiting HIV gene transcription. Expert opinion: Targeting HIV-1 gene transcription is an alternative approach, which could overcome cART-related issues, such as the emergence of multidrug resistance. Improving cART will rely on the identification and characterization of new actors inhibiting HIV-1 transcription. Combining such efforts with the use of new technologies, the development of new models for preclinical studies, and improvement in drug delivery will considerably reduce drug toxicity and thus increase patient adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Le Douce
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France.,b IUT de Schiltigheim , Schiltigheim , France.,c UCD Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) School of Medicine and Medical Science , University College Dublin , Dublin 4 , Ireland
| | - Amina Ait-Amar
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Faezeh Forouzan Far
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Faiza Fahmi
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Jose Quiel
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Hala El Mekdad
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Fadoua Daouad
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Céline Marban
- d Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire , Inserm UMR 1121 , Strasbourg , France
| | - Olivier Rohr
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France.,b IUT de Schiltigheim , Schiltigheim , France.,e Institut Universitaire de France , Paris , France
| | - Christian Schwartz
- a Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, EA7292 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France.,b IUT de Schiltigheim , Schiltigheim , France
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23
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Recent advances in the identification of Tat-mediated transactivation inhibitors: progressing toward a functional cure of HIV. Future Med Chem 2016; 8:421-42. [PMID: 26933891 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.16.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The current anti-HIV combination therapy does not eradicate the virus that persists mainly in quiescent infected CD4(+) T cells as a latent integrated provirus that resumes after therapy interruption. The Tat-mediated transactivation (TMT) is a critical step in the HIV replication cycle that could give the opportunity to reduce the size of latent reservoirs. More than two decades of research led to the identification of various TMT inhibitors. While none of them met the criteria to reach the market, the search for a suitable TMT inhibitor is still actively pursued. Really promising compounds, including one in a Phase III clinical trial, have been recently identified, thus warranting an update.
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24
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Akkina R, Allam A, Balazs AB, Blankson JN, Burnett JC, Casares S, Garcia JV, Hasenkrug KJ, Kashanchi F, Kitchen SG, Klein F, Kumar P, Luster AD, Poluektova LY, Rao M, Sanders-Beer BE, Shultz LD, Zack JA. Improvements and Limitations of Humanized Mouse Models for HIV Research: NIH/NIAID "Meet the Experts" 2015 Workshop Summary. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2016; 32:109-19. [PMID: 26670361 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of humanized mouse models for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other infectious diseases has expanded rapidly over the past 8 years. Highly immunodeficient mouse strains, such as NOD/SCID/gamma chain(null) (NSG, NOG), support better human hematopoietic cell engraftment. Another improvement is the derivation of highly immunodeficient mice, transgenic with human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and cytokines that supported development of HLA-restricted human T cells and heightened human myeloid cell engraftment. Humanized mice are also used to study the HIV reservoir using new imaging techniques. Despite these advances, there are still limitations in HIV immune responses and deficits in lymphoid structures in these models in addition to xenogeneic graft-versus-host responses. To understand and disseminate the improvements and limitations of humanized mouse models to the scientific community, the NIH sponsored and convened a meeting on April 15, 2015 to discuss the state of knowledge concerning these questions and best practices for selecting a humanized mouse model for a particular scientific investigation. This report summarizes the findings of the NIH meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Akkina
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Atef Allam
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Silver Spring, Maryland
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | | | - Joel N. Blankson
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - John C. Burnett
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California
| | - Sofia Casares
- U.S. Military Malaria Vaccine Program, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - J. Victor Garcia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UNC Center for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kim J. Hasenkrug
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, Montana
| | - Fatah Kashanchi
- School of Systems Biology, National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia
| | - Scott G. Kitchen
- Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Florian Klein
- First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Priti Kumar
- School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases/Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Andrew D. Luster
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Larisa Y. Poluektova
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Mangala Rao
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Brigitte E. Sanders-Beer
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Jerome A. Zack
- Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, California
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25
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Sampey GC, Saifuddin M, Schwab A, Barclay R, Punya S, Chung MC, Hakami RM, Zadeh MA, Lepene B, Klase ZA, El-Hage N, Young M, Iordanskiy S, Kashanchi F. Exosomes from HIV-1-infected Cells Stimulate Production of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines through Trans-activating Response (TAR) RNA. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:1251-66. [PMID: 26553869 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.662171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection results in a chronic illness because long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy can lower viral titers to an undetectable level. However, discontinuation of therapy rapidly increases virus burden. Moreover, patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy frequently develop various metabolic disorders, neurocognitive abnormalities, and cardiovascular diseases. We have previously shown that exosomes containing trans-activating response (TAR) element RNA enhance susceptibility of undifferentiated naive cells to HIV-1 infection. This study indicates that exosomes from HIV-1-infected primary cells are highly abundant with TAR RNA as detected by RT-real time PCR. Interestingly, up to a million copies of TAR RNA/μl were also detected in the serum from HIV-1-infected humanized mice suggesting that TAR RNA may be stable in vivo. Incubation of exosomes from HIV-1-infected cells with primary macrophages resulted in a dramatic increase of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF-β, indicating that exosomes containing TAR RNA could play a direct role in control of cytokine gene expression. The intact TAR molecule was able to bind to PKR and TLR3 effectively, whereas the 5' and 3' stems (TAR microRNAs) bound best to TLR7 and -8 and none to PKR. Binding of TAR to PKR did not result in its phosphorylation, and therefore, TAR may be a dominant negative decoy molecule in cells. The TLR binding through either TAR RNA or TAR microRNA potentially can activate the NF-κB pathway and regulate cytokine expression. Collectively, these results imply that exosomes containing TAR RNA could directly affect the proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and may explain a possible mechanism of inflammation observed in HIV-1-infected patients under cART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin C Sampey
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Mohammed Saifuddin
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Angela Schwab
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Robert Barclay
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Shreya Punya
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Myung-Chul Chung
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Ramin M Hakami
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Mohammad Asad Zadeh
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | | | - Zachary A Klase
- the Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Nazira El-Hage
- the Department of Immunology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33199, and
| | - Mary Young
- the Department of Medicine, Women's Intra-Agency HIV Study, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. 20007
| | - Sergey Iordanskiy
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110,
| | - Fatah Kashanchi
- From the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110,
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26
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Ross CT, Roodgar M, Smith DG. Evolutionary distance of amino acid sequence orthologs across macaque subspecies: identifying candidate genes for SIV resistance in Chinese rhesus macaques. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123624. [PMID: 25884674 PMCID: PMC4401517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We use the Reciprocal Smallest Distance (RSD) algorithm to identify amino acid sequence orthologs in the Chinese and Indian rhesus macaque draft sequences and estimate the evolutionary distance between such orthologs. We then use GOanna to map gene function annotations and human gene identifiers to the rhesus macaque amino acid sequences. We conclude methodologically by cross-tabulating a list of amino acid orthologs with large divergence scores with a list of genes known to be involved in SIV or HIV pathogenesis. We find that many of the amino acid sequences with large evolutionary divergence scores, as calculated by the RSD algorithm, have been shown to be related to HIV pathogenesis in previous laboratory studies. Four of the strongest candidate genes for SIVmac resistance in Chinese rhesus macaques identified in this study are CDK9, CXCL12, TRIM21, and TRIM32. Additionally, ANKRD30A, CTSZ, GORASP2, GTF2H1, IL13RA1, MUC16, NMDAR1, Notch1, NT5M, PDCD5, RAD50, and TM9SF2 were identified as possible candidates, among others. We failed to find many laboratory experiments contrasting the effects of Indian and Chinese orthologs at these sites on SIVmac pathogenesis, but future comparative studies might hold fertile ground for research into the biological mechanisms underlying innate resistance to SIVmac in Chinese rhesus macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody T. Ross
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
- Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
| | - Morteza Roodgar
- Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
- Graduate Group of Comparative Pathology, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
| | - David Glenn Smith
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
- Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis. Davis, United States of America
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27
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Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) potently suppresses HIV-1 replication, but the virus persists in quiescent infected CD4(+)T cells as a latent integrated provirus, and patients must indefinitely remain on therapy. If ART is terminated, these integrated proviruses can reactivate, driving new rounds of infection. A functional cure for HIV requires eliminating low-level ongoing viral replication that persists in certain tissue sanctuaries and preventing viral reactivation. The HIV Tat protein plays an essential role in HIV transcription by recruiting the kinase activity of the P-TEFb complex to the viral mRNA's stem-bulge-loop structure, TAR, activating transcriptional elongation. Because the Tat-mediated transactivation cascade is critical for robust HIV replication, the Tat/TAR/P-TEFb complex is one of the most attractive targets for drug development. Importantly, compounds that interfere with transcription could impair viral reactivation, low-level ongoing replication, and replenishment of the latent reservoir, thereby reducing the size of the latent reservoir pool. Here, we discuss the potential importance of transcriptional inhibitors in the treatment of latent HIV-1 disease and review recent findings on targeting Tat, TAR, and P-TEFb individually or as part of a complex. Finally, we discuss the impact of extracellular Tat in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and cancers.
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28
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Cicenas J, Kalyan K, Sorokinas A, Jatulyte A, Valiunas D, Kaupinis A, Valius M. Highlights of the Latest Advances in Research on CDK Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2014; 6:2224-42. [PMID: 25349887 PMCID: PMC4276963 DOI: 10.3390/cancers6042224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled proliferation is the hallmark of cancer and other proliferative disorders and abnormal cell cycle regulation is, therefore, common in these diseases. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play a crucial role in the control of the cell cycle and proliferation. These kinases are frequently deregulated in various cancers, viral infections, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia and some proliferative disorders. This led to a rigorous pursuit for small-molecule CDK inhibitors for therapeutic uses. Early efforts to block CDKs with nonselective CDK inhibitors led to little specificity and efficacy but apparent toxicity, but the recent advance of selective CDK inhibitors allowed the first successful efforts to target these kinases for the therapies of several diseases. Major ongoing efforts are to develop CDK inhibitors as monotherapies and rational combinations with chemotherapy and other targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cicenas
- CALIPHO Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CMU-1, rue Michel Servet' Geneva 4 CH-1211, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | | | - Algirdas Kaupinis
- Proteomics Centre, Vilnius University Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius LT-08662, Lithuania.
| | - Mindaugas Valius
- Proteomics Centre, Vilnius University Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius LT-08662, Lithuania.
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29
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Yamamoto M, Onogi H, Kii I, Yoshida S, Iida K, Sakai H, Abe M, Tsubota T, Ito N, Hosoya T, Hagiwara M. CDK9 inhibitor FIT-039 prevents replication of multiple DNA viruses. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:3479-88. [PMID: 25003190 DOI: 10.1172/jci73805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide range of antiviral drugs is currently available; however, drug-resistant viruses have begun to emerge and represent a potential public health risk. Here, we explored the use of compounds that inhibit or interfere with the action of essential host factors to prevent virus replication. In particular, we focused on the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitor, FIT-039, which suppressed replication of a broad spectrum of DNA viruses through inhibition of mRNA transcription. Specifically, FIT-039 inhibited replication of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, human adenovirus, and human cytomegalovirus in cultured cells, and topical application of FIT-039 ointment suppressed skin legion formation in a murine HSV-1 infection model. FIT-039 did not affect cell cycle progression or cellular proliferation in host cells. Compared with the general CDK inhibitor flavopiridol, transcriptome analyses of FIT-039-treated cells revealed that FIT-039 specifically inhibited CDK9. Given at concentrations above the inhibitory concentration, FIT-039 did not have a cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells. Importantly, administration of FIT-039 ameliorated the severity of skin lesion formation in mice infected with an acyclovir-resistant HSV-1, without noticeable adverse effects. Together, these data indicate that FIT-039 has potential as an antiviral agent for clinical therapeutics.
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MESH Headings
- Acyclovir/pharmacology
- Adenoviruses, Human/drug effects
- Adenoviruses, Human/physiology
- Animals
- Antiviral Agents/chemistry
- Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
- Antiviral Agents/toxicity
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cytomegalovirus/drug effects
- Cytomegalovirus/physiology
- DNA Viruses/drug effects
- DNA Viruses/genetics
- DNA Viruses/physiology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Resistance, Viral
- Flavonoids/pharmacology
- HEK293 Cells
- HeLa Cells
- Herpes Simplex/drug therapy
- Herpes Simplex/pathology
- Herpes Simplex/virology
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/drug effects
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology
- Herpesvirus 2, Human/drug effects
- Herpesvirus 2, Human/physiology
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Piperidines/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/toxicity
- Pyridines/chemistry
- Pyridines/pharmacology
- Pyridines/toxicity
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transcriptome/drug effects
- Virus Replication/drug effects
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30
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Heredia A, Natesan S, Le NM, Medina-Moreno S, Zapata JC, Reitz M, Bryant J, Redfield RR. Indirubin 3'-monoxime, from a Chinese traditional herbal formula, suppresses viremia in humanized mice infected with multidrug-resistant HIV. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2014; 30:403-6. [PMID: 24401082 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2013.0249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Heredia
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Senthilkumar Natesan
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nhut M. Le
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sandra Medina-Moreno
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Juan C. Zapata
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marvin Reitz
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joseph Bryant
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert R. Redfield
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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31
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In silico design of small molecule inhibitors of CDK9/cyclin T1 interaction. J Mol Graph Model 2014; 50:100-12. [PMID: 24769691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to design a small molecule which potentially may interfere with CDK9/cyclin T1 complex formation and therefore influence its physiological role, a computational study of dynamics and druggability of CDK9 binding surface was conducted. Druggability estimates and pocket opening analyses indicated binding regions of cyclin T1 residues, Phe 146 and Lys 6, as starting points for the design of small molecules with the potential to inhibit the CDK9/cyclin T1 association. A pharmacophore model was created, based on these two residues and used to select potential inhibitor structures. Binding energies of the inhibitors were estimated with MM-GBSA. A good correlation of MM-GBSA energies and FTMap druggability predictions was observed. Amongst studied compounds a derivative of 2-amino-8-hydroxyquinoline was identified as the best potential candidate to inhibit CDK9/cyclin T1 interactions.
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32
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Dürr R, Keppler O, Christ F, Crespan E, Garbelli A, Maga G, Dietrich U. Targeting Cellular Cofactors in HIV Therapy. TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/7355_2014_45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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33
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Abstract
The implementation of new antiretroviral therapies targeting transcription of early viral proteins in postintegrated HIV-1 can aid in overcoming current therapy limitations. Using high-throughput screening assays, we have previously described a novel Tat-dependent HIV-1 transcriptional inhibitor named 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (6BIO). The screening of 6BIO derivatives yielded unique compounds that show potent inhibition of HIV-1 transcription. We have identified a second-generation derivative called 18BIOder as an inhibitor of HIV-1 Tat-dependent transcription in TZM-bl cells and a potent inhibitor of GSK-3β kinase in vitro. Structurally, 18BIOder is half the molecular weight and structure of its parental compound, 6BIO. More importantly, we also have found a different GSK-3β complex present only in HIV-1-infected cells. 18BIOder preferentially inhibits this novel kinase complex from infected cells at nanomolar concentrations. Finally, we observed that neuronal cultures treated with Tat protein are protected from Tat-mediated cytotoxicity when treated with 18BIOder. Overall, our data suggest that HIV-1 Tat-dependent transcription is sensitive to small-molecule inhibition of GSK-3β.
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34
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Tintori C, Laurenzana I, La Rocca F, Falchi F, Carraro F, Ruiz A, Esté JA, Kissova M, Crespan E, Maga G, Biava M, Brullo C, Schenone S, Botta M. Identification of Hck inhibitors as hits for the development of antileukemia and anti-HIV agents. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:1353-60. [PMID: 23813855 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck) is a member of the Src family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases. High levels of Hck are associated with drug resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia. Furthermore, Hck activity has been connected with HIV-1. Herein, structure-based drug design efforts were aimed at identifying novel Hck inhibitors. First, an in-house library of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives, which were previously shown to be dual Abl and c-Src inhibitors, was analyzed by docking studies within the ATP binding site of Hck to select the best candidates to be tested in a cell-free assay. Next, the same computational protocol was applied to screen a database of commercially available compounds. As a result, most of the selected compounds were found active against Hck, with Ki values ranging from 0.14 to 18.4 μM, confirming the suitability of the computational approach adopted. Furthermore, selected compounds showed an interesting antiproliferative activity profile against the human leukemia cell line KU-812, and one compound was found to block HIV-1 replication at sub-toxic concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Tintori
- Dipartimento Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. De Gasperi 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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