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Smolak P, Nguyen M, Diamond C, Wescott H, Doedens JR, Schooley K, Snouwaert JN, Bock MG, Harrison D, Watt AP, Koller BH, Gabel CA. Target Cell Activation of a Structurally Novel NOD-Like Receptor Pyrin Domain-Containing Protein 3 Inhibitor NT-0796 Enhances Potency. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 388:798-812. [PMID: 38253384 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a central regulator of innate immunity, essential for processing and release of interleukin-1β and pyroptotic cell death. As endogenous NLRP3 activating triggers are hallmarks of many human chronic inflammatory diseases, inhibition of NLRP3 has emerged as a therapeutic target. Here we identify NDT-19795 as a novel carboxylic acid-containing NLRP3 activation inhibitor in both human and mouse monocytes and macrophages. Remarkably, conversion of the carboxylate to an isopropyl-ester (NT-0796) greatly enhances NLRP3 inhibitory potency in human monocytes. This increase is attributed to the ester-containing pharmacophore being more cell-penetrant than the acid species and, once internalized, the ester being metabolized to NDT-19795 by carboxylesterase-1 (CES-1). Mouse macrophages do not express CES-1, and NT-0796 is ineffective in these cells. Mice also contain plasma esterase (Ces1c) activity which is absent in humans. To create a more human-like model, we generated a mouse line in which the genome was modified, removing Ces1c and replacing this segment of DNA with the human CES-1 gene driven by a mononuclear phagocyte-specific promoter. We show human CES-1 presence in monocytes/macrophages increases the ability of NT-0796 to inhibit NLRP3 activation both in vitro and in vivo. As NLRP3 is widely expressed by monocytes/macrophages, the co-existence of CES-1 in these same cells affords a unique opportunity to direct ester-containing NLRP3 inhibitors precisely to target cells of interest. Profiling NT-0796 in mice humanized with respect to CES-1 biology enables critical modeling of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this novel therapeutic candidate. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Inhibition of NLRP3 represents a desirable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of multiple human disorders. In this study pharmacological properties of a structurally-novel, ester-containing NLRP3 inhibitor NT-0796 are characterized. To study pharmacodynamics of NT-0796 in vivo, a mouse line was engineered possessing more human-like traits with respect to carboxylesterase biology. In the context of these hCES-1 mice, NT-0796 serves as a more effective inhibitor of NLRP3 activation than the corresponding acid, highlighting the full translational potential of the ester strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Smolak
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - MyTrang Nguyen
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Christine Diamond
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Heather Wescott
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - John R Doedens
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Kenneth Schooley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - John N Snouwaert
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Mark G Bock
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - David Harrison
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Alan P Watt
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Beverly H Koller
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
| | - Christopher A Gabel
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (B.H.K., M.N., J.N.S.); Nodthera, Seattle Washington (P.S., C.D., H.W., J.R.D., K.S., C.A.G.); Nodthera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (D.H., A.P.W.); and Nodthera, Boston, Massachusetts (M.G.B.)
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Thornton P, Reader V, Digby Z, Smolak P, Lindsay N, Harrison D, Clarke N, Watt AP. Reversal of High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity, Systemic Inflammation, and Astrogliosis by the NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors NT-0249 and NT-0796. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 388:813-826. [PMID: 38336379 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.002013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic and cerebral inflammatory responses are implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and associated metabolic impairment. While the NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been linked to obesity-associated inflammation, whether it contributes to the development or maintenance of obesity is unknown. We provide support for a direct role of saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, as NLRP3 activating stimuli in obese states. To investigate whether NLRP3 activation contributes to the pathogenesis of diet-induced obesity (DIO) in mice, we tested two different clinical-stage NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors. We demonstrate a contributory role of this key inflammasome to established obesity and associated systemic and cerebral inflammation. By comparing their effects to calorie restriction, we aimed to identify specific NLRP3-sensitive mechanisms contributing to obesity-induced inflammation (as opposed to be those regulated by weight loss per se). In addition, a direct comparison of an NLRP3 inhibitor to a glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide (Wegovy), in the DIO model allowed an appreciation of the relative efficacy of these two therapeutic strategies on obesity, its associated systemic inflammatory response, and cerebral gliosis. We show that two structurally distinct, NLRP3 inhibitors, NT-0249 and NT-0796, reverse obesity in the DIO mouse model and that brain exposure appears necessary for efficacy. In support of this, we show that DIO-driven hypothalamic glial fibrillary acidic protein expression is blocked by dosing with NT-0249/NT-0796. While matching weight loss driven by semaglutide or calorie restriction, remarkably, NLRP3 inhibition provided enhanced improvements in disease-relevant biomarkers of acute phase response, cardiovascular inflammation, and lipid metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Obesity is a global health concern that predisposes individuals to chronic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease at least in part by promoting systemic inflammation. We report that in mice fed a high-fat, obesogenic diet, obesity is reversed by either of two inhibitors of the intracellular inflammatory mediator NLRP3. Furthermore, NLRP3 inhibition reduces both hypothalamic gliosis and circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk beyond what can be achieved by either the glucagon like peptide-1 agonist semaglutide or calorie restriction alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Thornton
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Valérie Reader
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Zsofia Digby
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Pamela Smolak
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Nicola Lindsay
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - David Harrison
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Nick Clarke
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
| | - Alan P Watt
- NodThera, Cambridge, United Kingdom (P.T., V.R., Z.D., N.L., D.H., N.C., A.P.W.) and Seattle, Washington (P.S.)
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Harrison D, Bock MG, Doedens JR, Gabel CA, Holloway MK, Lewis A, Scanlon J, Sharpe A, Simpson ID, Smolak P, Wishart G, Watt AP. Discovery and Optimization of Triazolopyrimidinone Derivatives as Selective NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1321-1328. [PMID: 35978696 PMCID: PMC9377005 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that facilitates activation and release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in response to infection or endogenous stimuli. It can be inappropriately activated by a range of danger signals resulting in chronic, low-grade inflammation underlying a multitude of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, and gout. The discovery of potent and specific NLRP3 inhibitors could reduce the burden of several common morbidities. In this study, we identified a weakly potent triazolopyrimidone hit (1) following an in silico modeling exercise. This was optimized to furnish potent and selective small molecule NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors. Compounds such as NDT-30805 could be useful tool molecules for a scaffold-hopping or pharmacophore generation project or used as leads toward the development of clinical candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Harrison
- NodThera
Ltd., Suite 8, The Mansion, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Mark G. Bock
- NodThera
Inc., 430 Bedford Street, Lexington, Massachusetts02420, United States
| | - John R. Doedens
- NodThera
Inc., 454 N 34th Street, Seattle, Washington98103, United States
| | | | | | - Arwel Lewis
- Charles
River Laboratories, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Scanlon
- NodThera
Ltd., Suite 8, The Mansion, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Sharpe
- Charles
River Laboratories, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Iain D. Simpson
- Charles
River Laboratories, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela Smolak
- NodThera
Inc., 454 N 34th Street, Seattle, Washington98103, United States
| | - Grant Wishart
- Charles
River Laboratories, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
| | - Alan P. Watt
- NodThera
Ltd., Suite 8, The Mansion, Chesterford
Research Park, Little Chesterford, Saffron Walden, EssexCB10 1XL, United Kingdom
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Burge DJ, Eisenman J, Byrnes-Blake K, Smolak P, Lau K, Cohen SB, Kivitz AJ, Levin R, Martin RW, Sherrer Y, Posada JA. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of RSLV-132, an RNase-Fc fusion protein in systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Lupus 2016; 26:825-834. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203316678675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Blood-borne RNA circulating in association with autoantibodies is a potent stimulator of interferon production and immune system activation. RSLV-132 is a novel fully human biologic Fc fusion protein that is comprised of human RNase fused to the Fc domain of human IgG1. The drug is designed to remain in circulation and digest extracellular RNA with the aim of preventing activation of the immune system via Toll-like receptors and the interferon pathway. The present study describes the first clinical study of nuclease therapy in 32 subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus. The drug was well tolerated with a very favorable safety profile. The approximately 19-day serum half-life potentially supports once monthly dosing. There were no subjects in the study that developed anti-RSLV-132 antibodies. Decreases in B-cell activating factor correlated with decreases in disease activity in a subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Burge
- Resolve Therapeutics, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Eisenman
- Resolve Therapeutics, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - P Smolak
- Resolve Therapeutics, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - K Lau
- Resolve Therapeutics, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - S B Cohen
- Metroplex Clinical Research Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - A J Kivitz
- Altoona Center for Clinical Research, Duncansville, PA, USA
| | - R Levin
- Clinical Research of West Florida, Clearwater, FL, USA
| | - R W Martin
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Y Sherrer
- Center for Rheumatology, Immunology, and Arthritis, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - J A Posada
- Resolve Therapeutics, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA
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