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Ullah W, Wu WF, Malak N, Nasreen N, Swelum AA, Marcelino LA, Niaz S, Khan A, Ben Said M, Chen CC. Computational investigation of turmeric phytochemicals targeting PTR1 enzyme of Leishmania species. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27907. [PMID: 38533011 PMCID: PMC10963314 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27907] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we used in silico techniques to identify available parasite treatments, representing a promising therapeutic avenue. Building upon our computational initiatives aimed at discovering natural inhibitors for various target enzymes from parasites causing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), we present novel findings on three turmeric-derived phytochemicals as inhibitors of Leishmania pteridine reductase I (PTR1) through in silico methodologies. PTR1, a crucial enzyme in the unique folate metabolism of trypanosomatid parasites, holds established therapeutic significance. Employing MOE software, a molecular docking analysis assesses the efficacy of turmeric phytochemicals against Leishmania PTR1. Validation of the docking protocol is confirmed with an RMSD value of 2. Post-docking, compounds displaying notable interactions with critical residues and binding affinities ranging between -6 and -8 kcal/mol are selected for interaction pattern exploration. Testing twelve turmeric phytochemicals, including curcumin, zingiberene, curcumol, curcumenol, eugenol, bisdemethoxycurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, tryethylcurcumin, turmerones, turmerin, demethoxycurcumin, and turmeronols, revealed binding affinities ranging from -5.5 to -8 kcal/mol. Notably, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin exhibit binding affinities within -6.5 to -8 kcal/mol and establish substantial interactions with catalytic residues. These phytochemicals hold promise as lead structures for rational drug design targeting Leishmania spp. PTR in future applications. This work underscores the potential of these identified phytochemicals in the development of more effective inhibitors, demonstrating their relevance in addressing neglected tropical diseases caused by parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasia Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Wen-Feng Wu
- Department of Radiology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, 600, Taiwan
| | - Nosheen Malak
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Nasreen Nasreen
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Ayman A. Swelum
- Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 1451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Liliana Aguilar Marcelino
- National Center for Disciplinary Research in Animal Health and Safety (INIFAP), Km 11 Federal Road Cuernavaca-Cuautla, 62550, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sadaf Niaz
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Adil Khan
- Department of Zoology, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Charsadda, 24420, Pakistan
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, E4L 1G7, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia
- Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia
| | - Chien-Chin Chen
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, 600, Taiwan
- Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, 717, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
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Cruz MGFDML, Santi AMM, de Morais-Teixeira E, Caldeira ASP, de Siqueira EP, Oliveira E, Alves TMDA, Murta SMF. Anti- Leishmania compounds can be screened using Leishmania spp. expressing red fluorescence ( tdTomato). Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0050923. [PMID: 38063403 PMCID: PMC10777850 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00509-23] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The main challenges associated with leishmaniasis chemotherapy are drug toxicity, the possible emergence of resistant parasites, and a limited choice of therapeutic agents. Therefore, new drugs and assays to screen and detect novel active compounds against leishmaniasis are urgently needed. We thus validated Leishmania braziliensis (Lb) and Leishmania infantum (Li) that constitutively express the tandem tomato red fluorescent protein (tdTomato) as a model for large-scale screens of anti-Leishmania compounds. Confocal microscopy of Lb and Li::tdTomato revealed red fluorescence distributed throughout the entire parasite, including the flagellum, and flow cytometry confirmed that the parasites emitted intense fluorescence. We evaluated the infectivity of cloned promastigotes and amastigotes constitutively expressing tdTomato, their growth profiles in THP-1 macrophages, and susceptibility to trivalent antimony, amphotericin, and miltefosine in vitro. The phenotypes of mutant and wild-type parasites were similar, indicating that the constitutive expression of tdTomato did not interfere with the evaluated parameters. We applied our validated model to a repositioning strategy and assessed the susceptibility of the parasites to eight commercially available drugs. We also screened 32 natural plant and fungal extracts and 10 pure substances to reveal new active compounds. The infectivity and Glucantime treatment efficacy of BALB/c mice and golden hamsters infected with Lb and Li::tdTomato mutant lines, respectively, were very similar compared to animals infected with wild-type parasites. Standardizing our methodology would offer more rapid, less expensive, and easier assays to screen of compounds against L. braziliensis and L. infantum in vitro and in vivo. Our method could also enhance the discovery of active compounds for treating leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariza Gabriela Faleiro de Moura Lodi Cruz
- Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Química de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Murta Santi
- Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eliane de Morais-Teixeira
- Pesquisa Clínica e Políticas Públicas em Doenças Infecto-Parasitárias, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Alisson Samuel Portes Caldeira
- Química de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ezequias Pessoa de Siqueira
- Química de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Edward Oliveira
- Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tânia Maria de Almeida Alves
- Química de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
- Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Petruk N, Siddiqui A, Tadayon S, Määttä J, Mattila PK, Jukkola A, Sandholm J, Selander KS. CD73 regulates zoledronate-induced lymphocyte infiltration in triple-negative breast cancer tumors and lung metastases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1179022. [PMID: 37533856 PMCID: PMC10390692 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1179022] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bisphosphonates (BPs) are bone-protecting osteoclast inhibitors, typically used in the treatment of osteoporosis and skeletal complications of malignancies. When given in the adjuvant setting, these drugs may also prevent relapses and prolong overall survival in early breast cancer (EBC), specifically among postmenopausal patients. Because of these findings, adjuvant nitrogen-containing BPs (N-BPs), such as zoledronate (ZOL), are now the standard of care for high-risk EBC patients, but there are no benefit-associated biomarkers, and the efficacy remains low. BPs have been demonstrated to possess anti-tumor activities, but the mechanisms by which they provide the beneficial effects in EBC are not known. Methods We used stably transfected 4T1 breast cancer cells together with suppression of CD73 (sh-CD73) or control cells (sh-NT). We compared ZOL effects on tumor growth and infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) into tumors and lung metastases using two mouse models. B cell depletion was performed using anti-CD20 antibody. Results Sh-CD73 4T1 cells were significantly more sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of n-BPs in vitro. However, while ZOL-induced growth inhibition was similar between the tumor groups in vivo, ZOL enhanced B and T lymphocyte infiltration into the orthotopic tumors with down-regulated CD73. A similar trend was detected in lung metastases. ZOL-induced tumor growth inhibition was found to be augmented with B cell depletion in sh-NT tumors, but not in sh-CD73 tumors. As an internal control, ZOL effects on bone were similar in mice bearing both tumor groups. Discussion Taken together, these results indicate that ZOL modifies TILs in breast cancer, both in primary tumors and metastases. Our results further demonstrate that B cells may counteract the growth inhibitory effects of ZOL. However, all ZOL-induced TIL effects may be influenced by immunomodulatory characteristics of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Petruk
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Arafat Siddiqui
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Western Cancer Centre FICAN West, Turku, Finland
| | - Sina Tadayon
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jorma Määttä
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Pieta K. Mattila
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Arja Jukkola
- Department of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tays Cancer Center, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jouko Sandholm
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Katri S. Selander
- Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Cancer Research and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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