Discovery of novel sulfonamides as potent and selective inhibitors against human and mouse 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1

Virtual screening applications in short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase research

Several members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) enzyme family play fundamental roles in adrenal and gonadal steroidogenesis as well as in the metabolism of steroids, oxysterols, bile acids, and retinoids in peripheral tissues, thereby controlling the local activation of their cognate receptors. Some of these SDRs are considered as promising therapeutic targets, for example to treat estrogen-/androgen-dependent and corticosteroid-related diseases, whereas others are considered as anti-targets as their inhibition may lead to disturbances of endocrine functions, thereby contributing to the development and progression of diseases. Nevertheless, the physiological functions of about half of all SDR members are still unknown. In this respect, in silico tools are highly valuable in drug discovery for lead molecule identification, in toxicology screenings to facilitate the identification of hazardous chemicals, and in fundamental research for substrate identification and enzyme characterization. Regarding SDRs, computational methods have been employed for a variety of applications including drug discovery, enzyme characterization and substrate identification, as well as identification of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). This review provides an overview of the efforts undertaken in the field of virtual screening supported identification of bioactive molecules in SDR research. In addition, it presents an outlook and addresses the opportunities and limitations of computational modeling and in vitro validation methods.

Identification of novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitors by combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening

11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) converts cortisone to cortisol in a NADPH dependent manner. Overexpression of 11β-HSD1 in key metabolic tissues is related to the development of type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Using crystal structures of human 11β-HSD1 in complex with inhibitors as source of structural information, a combined ligand and structure-based virtual screening approach was implemented to identify novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitors. A selected group of compounds was identified in silico and further evaluated in cell-based assays for cytotoxicity and 11β-HSD1 mediated cortisol production inhibitory capacity. The expression of 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 in human LS14 adipocytes was assessed during differentiation. Biological evaluation of 39 compounds in adipocytes and steroids quantification by HPLC-MS/MS identify 4 compounds that exhibit 11β-HSD1 mediated cortisol production inhibitory activity with potencies in the micromolar range. Two compounds showed to be selective for the 11β-HSD1 reductase activity and over 11β-HSD2 isoform, and thus represent novel leads for the development of more active derivatives with higher efficacies targeting intracellular cortisol levels in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Spectroscopic and DFT study of solvent effects on the electronic absorption spectra of sulfamethoxazole in neat and binary solvent mixtures

The solvatochromic behavior of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy and DFT methods in neat and binary solvent mixtures. The spectral shifts of this solute were correlated with the Kamlet and Taft parameters (α, β and π(*)). Multiple lineal regression analysis indicates that both specific hydrogen-bond interaction and non specific dipolar interaction play an important role in the position of the absorption maxima in neat solvents. The simulated absorption spectra using TD-DFT methods were in good agreement with the experimental ones. Binary mixtures consist of cyclohexane (Cy)-ethanol (EtOH), acetonitrile (ACN)-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ACN-dimethylformamide (DMF), and aqueous mixtures containing as co-solvents DMSO, ACN, EtOH and MeOH. Index of preferential solvation was calculated as a function of solvent composition and non-ideal characteristics are observed in all binary mixtures. In ACN-DMSO and ACN-DMF mixtures, the results show that the solvents with higher polarity and hydrogen bond donor ability interact preferentially with the solute. In binary mixtures containing water, the SMX molecules are solvated by the organic co-solvent (DMSO or EtOH) over the whole composition range. Synergistic effect is observed in the case of ACN-H2O and MeOH-H2O, indicating that at certain concentrations solvents interact to form association complexes, which should be more polar than the individual solvents of the mixture.

Design and synthesis of (R)-1-arylsulfonylpiperidine-2-carboxamides as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitors

R adamantly beats S: 11β-HSD1 is a target for treating metabolic syndrome. The R isomer 5 was selected as a starting point for optimization and SAR studies. Inhibitor 8 w emerged after several rounds of optimization, showing cross-species inhibition of human and mouse 11β-HSD1. It also displays a good DMPK profile in vitro, and was advanced to PK/PD evaluations in vivo. The results confirmed its dose-dependent activity in mice.

Discovery of 2-Alkyl-1-arylsulfonylprolinamides as 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Inhibitors

On the basis of scaffold hopping, a novel series of 2-alkyl-1-arylsulfonylprolinamides was discovered as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1) inhibitors. A representative compound 4ek, obtained through SAR and structure optimization studies, demonstrates excellent in vitro potency against 11β-HSD-1 and dose-dependent in vivo inhibition of 11β-HSD-1 in a prednisone/prednisolone transformation biomarker study in mice.

How to diagnose a lipodystrophy syndrome

The spectrum of adipose tissue diseases ranges from obesity to lipodystrophy, and is accompanied by insulin resistance syndrome, which promotes the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications. Lipodystrophy refers to a group of rare diseases characterized by the generalized or partial absence of adipose tissue, and occurs with or without hypertrophy of adipose tissue in other sites. They are classified as being familial or acquired, and generalized or partial. The genetically determined partial forms usually occur as Dunnigan syndrome, which is a type of laminopathy that can also manifest as muscle, cardiac, neuropathic or progeroid involvement. Gene mutations encoding for PPAR-gamma, Akt2, CIDEC, perilipin and the ZMPSTE 24 enzyme are much more rare. The genetically determined generalized forms are also very rare and are linked to mutations of seipin AGPAT2, FBN1, which is accompanied by Marfan syndrome, or of BANF1, which is characterized by a progeroid syndrome without insulin resistance and with early bone complications. Glycosylation disorders are sometimes involved. Some genetically determined forms have recently been found to be due to autoinflammatory syndromes linked to a proteasome anomaly (PSMB8). They result in a lipodystrophy syndrome that occurs secondarily with fever, dermatosis and panniculitis. Then there are forms that are considered to be acquired. They may be iatrogenic (protease inhibitors in HIV patients, glucocorticosteroids, insulin, graft-versus-host disease, etc.), related to an immune system disease (sequelae of dermatopolymyositis, autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes, particularly associated with type 1 diabetes, Barraquer-Simons and Lawrence syndromes), which are promoted by anomalies of the complement system. Finally, lipomatosis is currently classified as a painful form (adiposis dolorosa or Dercum's disease) or benign symmetric multiple form, also known as Launois-Bensaude syndrome or Madelung's disease, which are sometimes related to mitochondrial DNA mutations, but are usually promoted by alcohol. In addition to the medical management of metabolic syndrome and the sometimes surgical treatment of lipodystrophy, recombinant leptin provides hope for genetically determined lipodystrophy syndromes, whereas modifications in antiretroviral treatment and tesamorelin, a GHRH analog, is effective in the metabolic syndrome of HIV patients. Other therapeutic options will undoubtedly be developed, dependent on pathophysiological advances, which today tend to classify genetically determined lipodystrophy as being related to laminopathy or to lipid droplet disorders.