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Lee RD, Chen YJ, Nguyen HM, Singh L, Dietrich CJ, Pyles BR, Cui Y, Weinstein JR, Wulff H. Repurposing the K Ca3.1 Blocker Senicapoc for Ischemic Stroke. Transl Stroke Res 2023:10.1007/s12975-023-01152-6. [PMID: 37088858 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01152-6] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Senicapoc, a small molecule inhibitor of the calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1, was safe and well-tolerated in clinical trials for sickle cell anemia. We previously reported proof-of-concept data suggesting that both pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of KCa3.1 reduces infarction and improves neurologic recovery in rodents by attenuating neuroinflammation. Here we evaluated the potential of repurposing senicapoc for ischemic stroke. In cultured microglia, senicapoc inhibited KCa3.1 currents with an IC50 of 7 nM, reduced Ca2+ signaling induced by the purinergic agonist ATP, suppressed expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes (iNOS and COX-2), and prevented induction of the inflammasome component NLRP3. When transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO, 60 min) was induced in male C57BL/6 J mice, twice daily administration of senicapoc at 10 and 40 mg/kg starting 12 h after reperfusion dose-dependently reduced infarct area determined by T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and improved neurological deficit on day 8. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of total and free brain concentrations demonstrated sufficient KCa3.1 target engagement. Senicapoc treatment significantly reduced microglia/macrophage and T cell infiltration and activation and attenuated neuronal death. A different treatment paradigm with senicapoc started at 3 h and MRI on day 3 and day 8 revealed that senicapoc reduces secondary infarct growth and suppresses expression of inflammation markers, including T cell cytokines in the brain. Lastly, we demonstrated that senicapoc does not impair the proteolytic activity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in vitro. We suggest that senicapoc could be repurposed as an adjunctive immunocytoprotective agent for combination with reperfusion therapy for ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth D Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Yi-Je Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Animal Models Core, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Hai M Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Latika Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Connor J Dietrich
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Benjamin R Pyles
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Yanjun Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jonathan R Weinstein
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Heike Wulff
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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