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Poirier B, Pasquier O, Chenede X, Corbier A, Prigent P, Azam A, Bernard C, Guillotel M, Gillot F, Riva L, Briand V, Ingenito R, Gauzy-Lazo L, Duclos O, Philippo C, Maillere B, Bianchi E, Mallart S, Janiak P, Illiano S. R2R01: A long-acting single-chain peptide agonist of RXFP1 for renal and cardiovascular diseases. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38450758 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic potential of relaxin for heart failure and renal disease in clinical trials is hampered by the short half-life of serelaxin. Optimization of fatty acid-acetylated single-chain peptide analogues of relaxin culminated in the design and synthesis of R2R01, a potent and selective RXFP1 agonist with subcutaneous bioavailability and extended half-life. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Cellular assays and pharmacological models of RXFP1 activation were used to validate the potency and selectivity of R2R01. Increased renal blood flow was used as a translational marker of R2R01 activity. Human mastocytes (LAD2 cells) were used to study potential pseudo-allergic reactions and CD4+ T-cells to study immunogenicity. The pharmacokinetics of R2R01 were characterized in rats and minipigs. KEY RESULTS In vitro, R2R01 had comparable potency and efficacy to relaxin as an agonist for human RXFP1. In vivo, subcutaneous administration of R2R01 increased heart rate and renal blood flow in normotensive and hypertensive rat and did not show evidence of tachyphylaxis. R2R01 also increased nipple length in rats, used as a chronic model of RXFP1 engagement. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that R2R01 has a significantly extended terminal half-life. The in vitro assays with LAD2 cells and CD4+ T-cells showed that R2R01 had low potential for pseudo-allergic and immunogenic reactions, respectively. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS R2R01 is a potent RXFP1 agonist with an extended half-life that increases renal blood flow in various settings including normotensive and hypertensive conditions. The preclinical efficacy and safety data supported clinical development of R2R01 as a potential new therapy for renal and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Poirier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | | | - Xavier Chenede
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Alain Corbier
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Philippe Prigent
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | | | - Carine Bernard
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Michel Guillotel
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Florence Gillot
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Laurence Riva
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Veronique Briand
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Raffaele Ingenito
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laurence Gauzy-Lazo
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Duclos
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptides and Small Molecules R&D Department, IRBM Spa, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Mallart
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philip Janiak
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Stephane Illiano
- Cardio-Vascular and metabolism, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
- Investigative Toxicology, Sanofi R&D, Chilly Mazarin, France
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Illiano S, Poirier B, Minoletti C, Pasquier O, Riva L, Chenede X, Menguy I, Guillotel M, Prigent P, Le Claire S, Gillot F, Thill G, Lo Presti F, Corbier A, Le Bail JC, Grailhe P, Monteagudo E, Ingenito R, Bianchi E, Philippo C, Duclos O, Mallart S, Bathgate R, Janiak P. Characterization of a new potent and long-lasting single chain peptide agonist of RXFP1 in cells and in vivo translational models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20435. [PMID: 36443381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24716-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite beneficial effects in acute heart failure, the full therapeutic potential of recombinant relaxin-2 has been hampered by its short half-life and the need for intravenous administration limiting its use to intensive care units. A multiparametric optimization of the relaxin B-chain led to the identification of single chain lipidated peptide agonists of RXFP1 like SA10SC-RLX with subcutaneous bioavailability and extended half-life. SA10SC-RLX has sub nanomolar activity on cells expressing human RXFP1 and molecular modeling associated with the study of different RXFP1 mutants was used to decipher the mechanism of SA10SC-RLX interaction with RXFP1. Telemetry was performed in rat where SA10SC-RLX was able to engage RXFP1 after subcutaneous administration without tachyphylaxis after repeated dosing. Renal blood flow was then used as a translational model to evaluate RXFP1 activation. SA10SC-RLX increased renal blood flow and decreased renal vascular resistance in rats as reported for relaxin in humans. In conclusion, SA10SC-RLX mimics relaxin activity in in vitro and in vivo models of acute RXFP1 engagement. SA10SC-RLX represents a new class of long-lasting RXFP1 agonist, suitable for once daily subcutaneous administration in patients and potentially paving the way to new treatments for chronic fibrotic and cardiovascular diseases.
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Kowalleck U, Ahmed MAA, Koedel J, Schierle K, Salameh A, Rassler B. Relaxin does not prevent development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema in rats. Pflugers Arch 2022. [PMID: 35778581 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-022-02720-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Acute hypoxia impairs left ventricular (LV) inotropic function and induces development of pulmonary edema (PE). Enhanced and uneven hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is an important pathogenic factor of hypoxic PE. We hypothesized that the potent vasodilator relaxin might reduce hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and prevent PE formation. Furthermore, as relaxin has shown beneficial effects in acute heart failure, we expected that relaxin might also improve LV inotropic function in hypoxia. Forty-two rats were exposed over 24 h to normoxia or hypoxia (10% N2 in O2). They were infused with either 0.9% NaCl solution (normoxic/hypoxic controls) or relaxin at two doses (15 and 75 μg kg−1 day−1). After 24 h, hemodynamic measurements and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed. Lung tissue was obtained for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Hypoxic control rats presented significant depression of LV systolic pressure by 19% and of left and right ventricular contractility by about 40%. Relaxin did not prevent the hypoxic decrease in LV inotropic function, but re-increased right ventricular contractility. Moreover, hypoxia induced moderate interstitial PE and inflammation in the lung. Contrasting to our hypothesis, relaxin did not prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary edema and inflammation. In hypoxic control rats, PE was similarly distributed in the apical and basal lung lobes. In relaxin-treated rats, PE index was 35–40% higher in the apical than in the basal lobe, which is probably due to gravity effects. We suggest that relaxin induced exaggerated vasodilation, and hence pulmonary overperfusion. In conclusion, the results show that relaxin does not prevent but rather may aggravate PE formation.
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Kato K, Morinaga R, Yokoyama T, Fushuku S, Wakai J, Nakamuta N, Yamamoto Y. Effects of CO 2 on time-dependent changes in cardiorespiratory functions under sustained hypoxia. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2022; 300:103886. [PMID: 35296417 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2022.103886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Hypercapnia in addition to hypoxia affects the mammalian cardiorespiratory system and has been suggested to exert its effects on cardiorespiratory function by slightly different mechanisms to hypoxia. In the present study, we examined cardiorespiratory changes in urethane-anesthetized rats under hypocapnic (Hypo, 10% O2), isocapnic (Iso, 10% O2 and 4% CO2), and hypercapnic (Hyper, 10% O2 and 8% CO2) hypoxia for 2 h to clarify the effects of CO2 on sustained hypoxia-induced cardiorespiratory responses. Respiratory frequency increased the most in Hypo and tidal volume in Hyper. Minute ventilation, a product of respiratory frequency and tidal volume, increased the most in the latter group. Regarding cardiovascular variables during the hypoxic exposure period, heart rate and mean blood pressure both markedly decreased in Hypo. However, decreases in these parameters were small in Iso, and both increased over the pre-exposure level in Hyper. The present results suggest that CO2 interferes with the hypoxia-activated neural pathway via another pathway under sustained exposure to hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouki Kato
- Center for Laboratory Animal Science, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Morinaga
- Department of Microscopic Anatomy and Cell Biology, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1-1-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan
| | - Takuya Yokoyama
- Department of Anatomy (Cell Biology), Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Seigo Fushuku
- Center for Laboratory Animal Science, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Jun Wakai
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Nakamuta
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 18-8, Ueda 3-chome, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 18-8, Ueda 3-chome, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan.
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Schiffner R, Bischoff SJ, Lehmann T, Irintchev A, Nistor M, Lemke C, Schmidt M. Altered Cerebral Blood Flow and Potential Neuroprotective Effect of Human Relaxin-2 (Serelaxin) During Hypoxia or Severe Hypovolemia in a Sheep Model. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1632. [PMID: 32120997 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific neuroprotective strategies to minimize cerebral damage caused by severe hypoxia or hypovolemia are lacking. Based on previous studies showing that relaxin-2/serelaxin increases cortical cerebral blood flow, we postulated that serelaxin might provide a neuroprotective effect. Therefore, we tested serelaxin in two emergency models: hypoxia was induced via inhalation of 5% oxygen and 95% nitrogen for 12 min; thereafter, the animals were reoxygenated. Hypovolemia was induced and maintained for 20 min by removal of 50% of the total blood volume; thereafter, the animals were retransfused. In each damage model, the serelaxin group received an intravenous injection of 30 µg/kg of serelaxin in saline, while control animals received saline only. Blood gases, shock index values, heart frequency, blood pressure, and renal blood flow showed almost no significant differences between control and treatment groups in both settings. However, serelaxin significantly blunted the increase of lactate during hypovolemia. Serelaxin treatment resulted in significantly elevated cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) in both damage models, compared with the respective control groups. Measurements of the neuroproteins S100B and neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid revealed a neuroprotective effect of serelaxin treatment in both hypoxic and hypovolemic animals, whereas in control animals, neuroproteins increased during the experiment. Western blotting showed the expression of relaxin receptors and indicated region-specific differences in relaxin receptor-mediated signaling in cortical and subcortical brain arterioles, respectively. Our findings support the hypothesis that serelaxin is a potential neuroprotectant during hypoxia and hypovolemia. Due to its preferential improvement of cortical CBF, serelaxin might reduce cognitive impairments associated with these emergencies.
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