1
|
Latham AS, Rocha SM, McDermott CP, Reigan P, Slayden RA, Tjalkens RB. Neuroprotective Efficacy of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator PT150 in the Rotenone Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.12.589261. [PMID: 38659796 PMCID: PMC11042181 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder worldwide. Current treatments for PD largely center around dopamine replacement therapies and fail to prevent the progression of pathology, underscoring the need for neuroprotective interventions. Approaches that target neuroinflammation, which occurs prior to dopaminergic neuron (DAn) loss in the substantia nigra (SN), represent a promising therapeutic strategy. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been implicated in the neuropathology of PD and modulates numerous neuroinflammatory signaling pathways in the brain. Therefore, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of the novel GR modulator, PT150, in the rotenone mouse model of PD, postulating that inhibition of glial inflammation would protect DAn and reduce accumulation of neurotoxic misfolded ⍺-synuclein protein. C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to 2.5 mg/kg/day rotenone by intraperitoneal injection for 14 days, immediately followed by oral treatment with 30 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day PT150 in the 14-day post-lesioning incubation period, during which the majority of DAn loss and α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation occurs. Our results indicate that treatment with PT150 reduced both loss of DAn and microgliosis in the nigrostriatal pathway. Although morphologic features of astrogliosis were not attenuated, PT150 treatment promoted potentially neuroprotective activity in these cells, including increased phagocytosis of hyperphosphorylated α-syn. Ultimately, PT150 treatment reduced the loss of DAn cell bodies in the SN, but not the striatum, and prohibited intra-neuronal accumulation of α-syn. Together, these data indicate that PT150 effectively reduced SN pathology in the rotenone mouse model of PD.
Collapse
|
2
|
Risen SJ, Boland SW, Sharma S, Weisman GM, Shirley PM, Latham AS, Hay AJD, Gilberto VS, Hines AD, Brindley S, Brown JM, McGrath S, Chatterjee A, Nagpal P, Moreno JA. Targeting Neuroinflammation by Pharmacologic Downregulation of Inflammatory Pathways Is Neuroprotective in Protein Misfolding Disorders. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1533-1547. [PMID: 38507813 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00846] [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] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative protein misfolding disorders. This category of progressive diseases includes, but is not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prion diseases. Shared pathogenesis involves the accumulation of misfolded proteins, chronic neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction, ultimately leading to irreversible neuronal loss, measurable cognitive deficits, and death. Presently, there are few to no effective treatments to halt the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases. We hypothesized that directly targeting neuroinflammation by downregulating the transcription factor, NF-κB, and the inflammasome protein, NLRP3, would be neuroprotective. To achieve this, we used a cocktail of RNA targeting therapeutics (SB_NI_112) shown to be brain-penetrant, nontoxic, and effective inhibitors of both NF-κB and NLRP3. We utilized a mouse-adapted prion strain as a model for neurodegenerative diseases to assess the aggregation of misfolded proteins, glial inflammation, neuronal loss, cognitive deficits, and lifespan. Prion-diseased mice were treated either intraperitoneally or intranasally with SB_NI_112. Behavioral and cognitive deficits were significantly protected by this combination of NF-κB and NLRP3 downregulators. Treatment reduced glial inflammation, protected against neuronal loss, prevented spongiotic change, rescued cognitive deficits, and significantly lengthened the lifespan of prion-diseased mice. We have identified a nontoxic, systemic pharmacologic that downregulates NF-κB and NLRP3, prevents neuronal death, and slows the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Though mouse models do not always predict human patient success and the study was limited due to sample size and number of dosing methods utilized, these findings serve as a proof of principle for continued translation of the therapeutic SB_NI_112 for prion disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Based on the success in a murine prion model, we will continue testing SB_NI_112 in a variety of neurodegenerative disease models, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sydney J Risen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Sean W Boland
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Sadhana Sharma
- Sachi Bioworks Inc., Colorado Technology Center, 685 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Grace M Weisman
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Payton M Shirley
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Amanda S Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Arielle J D Hay
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Vincenzo S Gilberto
- Sachi Bioworks Inc., Colorado Technology Center, 685 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Amelia D Hines
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Stephen Brindley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Jared M Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Stephanie McGrath
- Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Anushree Chatterjee
- Sachi Bioworks Inc., Colorado Technology Center, 685 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Prashant Nagpal
- Sachi Bioworks Inc., Colorado Technology Center, 685 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Julie A Moreno
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Latham AS, Moreno JA, Geer CE. Biological agents and the aging brain: glial inflammation and neurotoxic signaling. Front Aging 2023; 4:1244149. [PMID: 37649972 PMCID: PMC10464498 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1244149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a universal characteristic of brain aging and neurological disorders, irrespective of the disease state. Glial inflammation mediates this signaling, through astrocyte and microglial polarization from neuroprotective to neurotoxic phenotypes. Glial reactivity results in the loss of homeostasis, as these cells no longer provide support to neurons, in addition to the production of chronically toxic pro-inflammatory mediators. These glial changes initiate an inflammatory brain state that injures the central nervous system (CNS) over time. As the brain ages, glia are altered, including increased glial cell numbers, morphological changes, and either a pre-disposition or inability to become reactive. These alterations induce age-related neuropathologies, ultimately leading to neuronal degradation and irreversible damage associated with disorders of the aged brain, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other related diseases. While the complex interactions of these glial cells and the brain are well studied, the role additional stressors, such as infectious agents, play on age-related neuropathology has not been fully elucidated. Both biological agents in the periphery, such as bacterial infections, or in the CNS, including viral infections like SARS-CoV-2, push glia into neuroinflammatory phenotypes that can exacerbate pathology within the aging brain. These biological agents release pattern associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that bind to pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on glial cells, beginning an inflammatory cascade. In this review, we will summarize the evidence that biological agents induce reactive glia, which worsens age-related neuropathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda S. Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Julie A. Moreno
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Charlize E. Geer
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Latham AS, Geer CE, Ackart DF, Anderson IK, Vittoria KM, Podell BK, Basaraba RJ, Moreno JA. Gliosis, misfolded protein aggregation, and neuronal loss in a guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1157652. [PMID: 37274195 PMCID: PMC10235533 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1157652] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, is an ongoing epidemic with an estimated ten million active cases of the disease worldwide. Pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with cognitive and memory deficits, and patients with this disease are at an increased risk for Parkinson's disease and dementia. Although epidemiological data correlates neurological effects with peripheral disease, the pathology in the central nervous system is unknown. In an established guinea pig model of low-dose, aerosolized Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, we see behavior changes and memory loss in infected animals. We correlate these findings with pathological changes within brain regions related to motor, cognition, and sensation across disease progression. This includes microglial and astrocytic proliferation and reactivity. These cellular changes are followed by the aggregation of neurotoxic amyloid β and phosphorylated tau and, ultimately, neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. Through these data, we have obtained a greater understanding of the neuropathological effects of a peripheral disease that affects millions of persons worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda S. Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Charlize E. Geer
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - David F. Ackart
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Isla K. Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kaley M. Vittoria
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Brendan K. Podell
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Randall J. Basaraba
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Julie A. Moreno
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hay AJD, Latham AS, Mumford G, Hines AD, Risen S, Gordon E, Siebenaler C, Gilberto VS, Zabel MD, Moreno JA. Intranasally delivered mesenchymal stromal cells decrease glial inflammation early in prion disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1158408. [PMID: 37250395 PMCID: PMC10213210 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1158408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an intriguing avenue for the treatment of neurological disorders due to their ability to migrate to sites of neuroinflammation and respond to paracrine signaling in those sites by secreting cytokines, growth factors, and other neuromodulators. We potentiated this ability by stimulating MSCs with inflammatory molecules, improving their migratory and secretory properties. We investigated the use of intranasally delivered adipose-derived MSCs (AdMSCs) in combating prion disease in a mouse model. Prion disease is a rare, lethal neurodegenerative disease that results from the misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein. Early signs of this disease include neuroinflammation, activation of microglia, and development of reactive astrocytes. Later stages of disease include development of vacuoles, neuronal loss, abundant aggregated prions, and astrogliosis. We demonstrate the ability of AdMSCs to upregulate anti-inflammatory genes and growth factors when stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) or prion-infected brain homogenates. We stimulated AdMSCs with TNFα and performed biweekly intranasal deliveries of AdMSCs on mice that had been intracranially inoculated with mouse-adapted prions. At early stages in disease, animals treated with AdMSCs showed decreased vacuolization throughout the brain. Expression of genes associated with Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Nod-Like Receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling were decreased in the hippocampus. AdMSC treatment promoted a quiescent state in hippocampal microglia by inducing changes in both number and morphology. Animals that received AdMSCs showed a decrease in both overall and reactive astrocyte number, and morphological changes indicative of homeostatic astrocytes. Although this treatment did not prolong survival or rescue neurons, it demonstrates the benefits of MSCs in combatting neuroinflammation and astrogliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arielle J. D. Hay
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Amanda S. Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Genova Mumford
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Amelia D. Hines
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sydney Risen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Elizabeth Gordon
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Connor Siebenaler
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Vincenzo S. Gilberto
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Mark D. Zabel
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Center for Healthy Aging, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Julie A. Moreno
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Brain Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Center for Healthy Aging, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hines AD, McGrath S, Latham AS, Kusick B, Mulligan L, Richards ML, Moreno JA. Activated gliosis, accumulation of amyloid β, and hyperphosphorylation of tau in aging canines with and without cognitive decline. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1128521. [PMID: 37304080 PMCID: PMC10249473 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1128521] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) syndrome is a well-recognized naturally occurring disease in aged dogs, with a remarkably similar disease course, both in its clinical presentation and neuropathological changes, as humans with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similar to human AD patients this naturally occurring disease is found in the aging canine population however, there is little understanding of how the canine brain ages pathologically. It is well known that in neurodegenerative diseases, there is an increase in inflamed glial cells as well as an accumulation of hyperphosphorylation of tau (P-tau) and amyloid beta (Aβ1-42). These pathologies increase neurotoxic signaling and eventual neuronal loss. We assessed these brain pathologies in aged canines and found an increase in the number of glial cells, both astrocytes and microglia, and the activation of astrocytes indicative of neuroinflammation. A rise in the aggregated protein Aβ1-42 and hyperphosphorylated tau, at Threonine 181 and 217, in the cortical brain regions of aging canines. We then asked if any of these aged canines had CCD utilizing the only current diagnostic, owner questionnaires, verifying positive or severe CCD had pathologies of gliosis and accumulation of Aβ1-42 like their aged, matched controls. However uniquely the CCD dogs had P-tau at T217. Therefore, this phosphorylation site of tau at threonine 217 may be a predictor for CCD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia D. Hines
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Stephanie McGrath
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Amanda S. Latham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Breonna Kusick
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Lisa Mulligan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - McKenzie L. Richards
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Julie A. Moreno
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rocha SM, Fagre AC, Latham AS, Cummings JE, Aboellail TA, Reigan P, Aldaz DA, McDermott CP, Popichak KA, Kading RC, Schountz T, Theise ND, Slayden RA, Tjalkens RB. A Novel Glucocorticoid and Androgen Receptor Modulator Reduces Viral Entry and Innate Immune Inflammatory Responses in the Syrian Hamster Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:811430. [PMID: 35250984 PMCID: PMC8889105 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.811430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant research efforts, treatment options for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain limited. This is due in part to a lack of therapeutics that increase host defense to the virus. Replication of SARS-CoV-2 in lung tissue is associated with marked infiltration of macrophages and activation of innate immune inflammatory responses that amplify tissue injury. Antagonists of the androgen (AR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors have shown efficacy in models of COVID-19 and in clinical studies because the cell surface proteins required for viral entry, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2), are transcriptionally regulated by these receptors. We postulated that the GR and AR modulator, PT150, would reduce infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent inflammatory lung injury in the Syrian golden hamster model of COVID-19 by down-regulating expression of critical genes regulated through these receptors. Animals were infected intranasally with 2.5 × 104 TCID50/ml equivalents of SARS-CoV-2 (strain 2019-nCoV/USA-WA1/2020) and PT150 was administered by oral gavage at 30 and 100 mg/Kg/day for a total of 7 days. Animals were examined at 3, 5 and 7 days post-infection (DPI) for lung histopathology, viral load and production of proteins regulating the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results indicated that oral administration of PT150 caused a dose-dependent decrease in replication of SARS-CoV-2 in lung, as well as in expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Lung hypercellularity and infiltration of macrophages and CD4+ T-cells were dramatically decreased in PT150-treated animals, as was tissue damage and expression of IL-6. Molecular docking studies suggest that PT150 binds to the co-activator interface of the ligand-binding domain of both AR and GR, thereby acting as an allosteric modulator and transcriptional repressor of these receptors. Phylogenetic analysis of AR and GR revealed a high degree of sequence identity maintained across multiple species, including humans, suggesting that the mechanism of action and therapeutic efficacy observed in Syrian hamsters would likely be predictive of positive outcomes in patients. PT150 is therefore a strong candidate for further clinical development for the treatment of COVID-19 across variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Savannah M Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.,Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Anna C Fagre
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Amanda S Latham
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.,Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Jason E Cummings
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Tawfik A Aboellail
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Philip Reigan
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Devin A Aldaz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Casey P McDermott
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Katriana A Popichak
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rebekah C Kading
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Tony Schountz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Neil D Theise
- Depatment of Pathology, New York University (NYU)-Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Richard A Slayden
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Ronald B Tjalkens
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| |
Collapse
|