Reality check: lipid-oligonucleotide conjugates for therapeutic applications

INTRODUCTION

Despite much progress in the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics, delivery in general remains an important aspect for innovation. Various lipids and lipophilic small molecules have long been conjugated to many oligonucleotides in hopes of creating better, drug-like substances. A few conjugates are beginning to enter clinical development as the understanding grows of how such conjugations change the pharmacology of the conjugate relative to the unmodified oligonucleotide. The delivery of different forms of oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides and siRNA, is often a challenging, limiting aspect to this form of therapeutics.

AREAS COVERED

Herein, the origins of covalent attachment of lipophilic moieties to oligonucleotides are described as well as listing a few of those lipids commonly used for lipidation. The author also describes the mechanism by which lipidation may enhance delivery and/or exposure of oligonucleotides in vitro and in vivo.

EXPERT OPINION

The covalent attachment of lipophilic moieties is one means to enhance the delivery and exposure of oligonucleotides. Such methods may also be applicable to other oligonucleotide-based modalities as long as the lipidation does not interfere with some key interaction. Lipidation may also be useful to modulate the cell type-specific delivery within tissues. As the understanding of the effects of such covalent modification grows, more lipidated oligos are soon likely to enter clinical development.

Target Deconvolution Efforts on Wnt Pathway Screen Reveal Dual Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation and SERCA2

Wnt signaling is critical for development, cell proliferation and differentiation, and mutations in this pathway resulting in constitutive signaling have been implicated in various cancers. A pathway screen using a Wnt-dependent reporter identified a chemical series based on a 1,2,3-thiadiazole-5-carboxamide (TDZ) core with sub-micromolar potency. Herein we report a comprehensive mechanism-of-action deconvolution study toward identifying the efficacy target(s) and biological implication of this chemical series involving bottom-up quantitative chemoproteomics, cell biology, and biochemical methods. Through observing the effects of our probes on metabolism and performing confirmatory cellular and biochemical assays, we found that this chemical series inhibits ATP synthesis by uncoupling the mitochondrial potential. Affinity chemoproteomics experiments identified sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ -dependent ATPase (SERCA2) as a binding partner of the TDZ series, and subsequent validation studies suggest that the TDZ series can act as ionophores through SERCA2 toward Wnt pathway inhibition.

Discovery of camphor-derived pyrazolones as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitors

Starting from screening hit, (4S,7R)-1,7,8,8-tetramethyl-2-phenyl-1,2,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-4,7-methano-indazol-3-one (7), we optimized the potency and pharmacokinetic properties. This led to the identification of compounds with good in vivo activity in a mouse pharmacodynamic model of inhibition of 11βHSD1.

Practical synthesis of 5-aryl-3-alkylsulfonyl-phenol and 5-aryl-3-arylsulfonyl-phenol libraries

A straightforward and cost-effective synthesis of 5-aryl-3-alkylsulfonyl-phenols by a sequential scaffold derivatization strategy has been developed. The procedure is suitable for parallel synthesis of small libraries around the biphenyl privileged core having an unusual 1,3,5-substitution pattern. The synthesis is exemplified by a pilot library of 30 compounds.

Application and Utilization of Chemoinformatics Tools in Lead Generation and Optimization

The process of Drug Discovery is a complex and high risk endeavor that requires focused attention on experimental hypotheses, the application of diverse sets of technologies and data to facilitate high quality decision-making. All is aimed at enhancing the quality of the chemical development candidate(s) through clinical evaluation and into the market. In support of the lead generation and optimization phases of this endeavor, high throughput technologies such as combinatorial/high throughput synthesis and high throughput and ultra-high throughput screening, have allowed the rapid analysis and generation of large number of compounds and data. Today, for every analog synthesized 100 or more data points can be collected and captured in various centralized databases. The analysis of thousands of compounds can very quickly become a daunting task. In this article we present the process we have developed for both analyzing and prioritizing large sets of data starting from diversity and focused uHTS in support of lead generation and secondary screens supporting lead optimization. We will describe how we use informatics and computational chemistry to focus our efforts on asking relevant questions about the desired attributes of a specific library, and subsequently in guiding the generation of more information-rich sets of analogs in support of both processes.

Library Design Practices for Success in Lead Generation With Small Molecule Libraries

The generation of novel structures amenable to rapid and efficient lead optimization comprises an emerging strategy for success in modern drug discovery. Small molecule libraries of sufficient size and diversity to increase the chances of discovery of novel structures make the high throughput synthesis approach the method of choice for lead generation. Despite an industry trend for smaller, more focused libraries, the need to generate novel lead structures makes larger libraries a necessary strategy. For libraries of a several thousand or more members, solid phase synthesis approaches are the most suitable. While the technology and chemistry necessary for small molecule library synthesis continue to advance, success in lead generation requires rigorous consideration in the library design process to ensure the synthesis of molecules possessing the proper characteristics for subsequent lead optimization. Without proper selection of library templates and building blocks, solid phase synthesis methods often generate molecules which are too heavy, too lipophilic and too complex to be useful for lead optimization. The appropriate filtering of virtual library designs with multiple computational tools allows the generation of information-rich libraries within a drug-like molecular property space. An understanding of the hit-to-lead process provides a practical guide to molecular design characteristics. Examples of leads generated from library approaches also provide a benchmarking of successes as well as aspects for continued development of library design practices.

Current practices in generation of small molecule new leads

The current drug discovery processes in many pharmaceutical companies require large and growing collections of high quality lead structures for use in high throughput screening assays. Collections of small molecules with diverse structures and "drug-like" properties have, in the past, been acquired by several means: by archive of previous internal lead optimization efforts, by purchase from compound vendors, and by union of separate collections following company mergers. More recently, many drug discovery companies have established dedicated efforts to effect synthesis by internal and/or outsourcing efforts of targeted compound libraries for new lead generation. Although high throughput/combinatorial chemistry is an important component in the process of new lead generation, the selection of library designs for synthesis and the subsequent design of library members has evolved to a new level of challenge and importance. The potential benefits of screening multiple small molecule compound library designs against multiple biological targets offers substantial opportunity to discover new lead structures. Subsequent optimization of such compounds is often accelerated because of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) information encoded in these lead generation libraries. Lead optimization is often facilitated due to the ready applicability of high-throughput chemistry (HTC) methods for follow-up synthesis. Some of the strategies, trends, and critical issues central to the success of lead generation processes are discussed below.

Stereochemical control factors in the Hantzsch thiazole synthesis: a Hammett substitution correlation analysis

[reaction--see text] It is possible to correlate the distribution of stereochemical products produced during a Hantzsch thiazole synthesis according to the Hammett free-energy equation. This analysis confirms the presumed control of the rate of epimerization during thiazole formation due to stabilization of a cationic transition state intermediate during dehydration of the thiazoline ring system. In the chemical system under study, the stereochemical outcome of the reaction also appears to occur according to a kinetically controlled protonation of a thiazoline tautomer.

Synthesis and binding of [125I2]philanthotoxin-343, [125I2]philanthotoxin-343-lysine, and [125I2]philanthotoxin-343-arginine to rat brain membranes

125I2-iodinated philanthotoxin-343 (PhTX-343), [125I2]PhTX-343-arginine, and [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine were synthesized and evaluated as probes for glutamate receptors in rat brain synaptic membranes. It was found that these probes were not specific for the glutamate receptors but may be useful for investigating the polyamine binding site. Filtration assays with Whatman GF/B fiber glass filters were unsuitable because the iodinated PhTX-343 analogues exhibited high nonspecific binding to the filters, thus hindering detection of specific binding to membranes. When binding was measured by a centrifugal assay, [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine bound with low affinity (KD = 11.4 +/- 2 microM) to a large number of sites (37.2 +/- 9.1 nmol/mg of protein). The binding of [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine was sensitive only to the polyamines spermine and spermidine, which displaced [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine with Ki values of (3.77 +/- 1.4) x 10(-5) M and (7.51 +/- 0.77) x 10(-5) M, respectively. The binding was insensitive to glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists. Binding results with [125I2]PhTX-343-arginine were similar to those of [125I2]-PhTX-343-lysine. Considering the high number of toxin binding sites (10000-fold more than glutamate) in these membranes and the insensitivity of the binding to almost all drugs that bind to glutamate receptors, it is evident that most of the binding observed is not to glutamate receptors. On the other hand, PhTX analogues with photoaffinity labels may be useful in the isolation/purification of various glutamate and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; they could also be useful in structural studies of receptors and their binding sites.

Inactivation of a quisqualate-sensitive glutamate receptor by photosensitive analogues of philanthotoxin

Three photosensitive, synthetic analogues of delta-philanthotoxin (PhTX-433) have been tested on the locust, excitatory nerve-muscle system. At 10(-9) M they inhibit reversibly the postjunctional currents (EPSCs) recorded from muscle fibres during motor nerve stimulation, mainly by non-competitively antagonizing postjunctional quisqualate-sensitive glutamate receptors (Quis-R), probably through open channel block. This use-dependent antagonism is characteristic of the philanthotoxins. When the preparation was irradiated with 270 nm U.V. during toxin application and nerve stimulation the EPSCs were inhibited irreversibly. Irradiation of the preparation alone or in the presence of philanthotoxins (e.g. PhTX-433) which are not photosensitive did not lead to irreversible inhibition of the EPSC. It is concluded that the three photosensitive toxins bind covalently to Quis-R in its open channel conformation during U.V. irradiation, thereby irreversibly blocking the channel gated by this receptor.

Subacute inhalation toxicity study of an ice-nucleation-active Pseudomonas syringae administered as a respirable aerosol to rats

The inhalation toxicity of a commercial sample of an ice-nucleation-active Pseudomonas syringae (strain 31a) was evaluated by repetitively exposing rats to about 700 mg/m3 of an aerosol consisting of a suspension of 0.0008, 0.4 or 0.8 g/l of bacteria in water for 2 h per day, 5 days per week for 13-14 exposures. No mortality, moribundity or biologically significant differences in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption or clinical pathology were observed. Animals tested at 500 times (0.4 g/l) and 1000 times (0.8 g/l) the recommended ice-nucleation concentration (0.0008 g/l) exhibited concentration-dependent increased lung weights. Several animals exhibited enlarged tracheobronchial lymph nodes. The pulmonary responses observed are considered compatible with a mild irritant reaction. There was no evidence of bacterial infection. Animals tested at a concentration typical for the discharge mouth of a snow gun (0.0008 g/l) demonstrated no significant biological effect.

Fate of Ice Nucleation-Active Pseudomonas syringae Strains in Alpine Soils and Waters and in Synthetic Snow Samples

The stability of the ice nucleation activity (INA) and viability of INA Pseudomonas syringae 31a, used as an ice nucleator in the manufacture of synthetic snow, was determined in snow. The viability of P. syringae 1-2b, a rifampin-resistant mutant selected from strain 31a to improve recovery from test samples, was determined in laboratory tests of three alpine soil and water samples from three different sources. Snow samples were exposed to environmental conditions or held in darkness at −20°C. Samples of soil and water were maintained in darkness at 0, 7.5, or 15°C. Parent strain 31a INA decreased significantly (>99.0%) in snow exposed to sunlight and freeze-thaw, while the INA of the cell population in snow held in darkness at −20°C remained essentially unchanged. No viable strain 31a was detected in snow exposed to the environment after 7 days, while the viability of strain 31a in snow held in darkness at −20°C decreased to <3% of the original inoculation at the test conclusion. Mutant strain 1-2b viability was undetectable or had decreased significantly 19 days postinoculation in soil samples held at 0 or 15°C. In contrast, 1-2b viability remained detectable at low levels for the duration of the test in soils held at 7.5°C. The 1-2b population demonstrated a significantly longer half-life in peatlike soil than in the loam soils tested. The rate of decrease in 1-2b viability was essentially the same in the three alpine water samples tested with respect to water temperature and sample location.

Role of Escherichia coli type 1 pilus in colonization of porcine ileum and its protective nature as a vaccine antigen in controlling colibacillosis

This study was designed to evaluate the role of Escherichia coli type 1 pili in adherence of the organism to porcine small intestines and the efficacy of pili as a vaccine antigen in controlling neonatal colibacillosis. Our results demonstrated that an E. coli phase cloned to express type 1 pili readily attached to the small intestines of colostrum-deprived newborn pigs. Immunofluorescent staining of intestine sections revealed the presence of E. coli expressing type 1 pili only on the brush border, suggesting involvement of type 1 pili in the colonization process. Administration of anti-type 1 serum to newborn pigs prior to challenge reduced the level of gut-associated E. coli sixfold compared with controls. Purified type 1 pilus vaccine induced significant protection against colibacillosis in newborn pigs following challenge with E. coli expressing type 1 pili. Pigs born to vaccinated gilts scoured less and gained more weight than pigs born to control gilts. Our results demonstrate that type 1 pili are a virulence factor, as well as an effective vaccine antigen.

Comparison of an infective avirulent and canine virulent Bordetella bronchiseptica

Two Bordetella bronchiseptica isolates, S-55 and D-2, were evaluated in dogs for inducement of (i) infection, (ii) clinical bordetellosis, and (iii) histopathologic changes on tracheal and bronchiole tissues. Further, each isolate was characterized for variance in (i) toxicity for mice and (ii) intracellular proteins. Both S-55 and D-2 were detectable in test dog groups during the 26-day test period, although 545 times more D-2 was recovered than was S-55. In dogs inoculated with D-2, clinical infectious tracheobronchitis appeared in 4 days and continued for 22 days. Bordetellosis was not observed in dogs given S-55 or in noninoculated dogs. Tracheal and bronchiole tissues from dogs inoculated with the S-55 and D-2 isolates were microscopically examined for lesions. Dogs inoculated with S-55 did not have tracheal or bronchiole lesions. Lesions were not observed in noninoculated dogs. Dogs inoculated with D-2 had marked lesions in the tracheal and bronchiole tissues. The D-2 whole cells were an average 4.8 times as lethal as S-55 whole cells in mice (given intraperitoneal inoculation), whereas cell-free culture supernatants from S-55 and D-2 isolates were nontoxic. Cell-free sonicated extracts of S-55 and D-2 proved toxic to mice (intraperitoneal inoculation), but after the extracts were heated at 56 C for 30 minutes, both were nontoxic. Intracellular proteins of approximately 116,000 and 44,000 daltons were found in higher concentration in D-2 cells than in S-55 cells.

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis: effects of an intranasal live canine parainfluenza-Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine on viral shedding and clinical tracheobronchitis (kennel cough)

A modified-live intranasal (IN) canine parainfluenza (CPI)-virus Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine was evaluated in dogs for efficacy against laboratory-induced canine infectious tracheobronchitis. The comparative efficacies of IN and parenteral administrations of the CPI virus fraction were also evaluated. The frequency and duration of clinical tracheobronchitis, blood serum agglutination titer, humoral antibody response, and duration of CPI virus and B bronchiseptica shedding were measured. Group A dogs were vaccinated subcutaneously or IM with an experimental CPI vaccine and challenge exposed with CPI virus. Group B dogs were vaccinated IN with avirulent CPI virus-B bronchiseptica live antigens and challenge exposed with virulent CPI virus and virulent B bronchiseptica. The IN vaccination (group B) significantly reduced (P less than or equal to 0.001) the occurrence of clinical tracheobronchitis by 96%. The combined challenge exposure of virulent CPI and virulent B bronchiseptica produced a synergistic enhancement of the clinical signs of kennel cough. The percentage of days after challenge exposure that virus shedding was detected for controls equaled 70% as compared with 50% and only 1% for parenterally and IN vaccinated dogs, respectively. Isolation of virulent B bronchiseptica microorganisms was reduced 89% in dogs vaccinated IN compared to controls. The geometric mean humoral antibody titers to CPI virus after 2 parenteral vaccinations and 1 IN vaccination were 1:43 and 1:34, respectively.

Intranasal vaccination of dogs with liver avirulent Bordetella bronchiseptica: correlation of serum agglutination titer and the formation of secretory IgA with protection against experimentally induced infectious tracheobronchitis

Dogs inoculated intranasally with a live avirulent Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine were monitored for the development of resistance to experimentally induced infectious tracheobronchitis (canine cough). Dogs were challenge exposed with a virulent strains of B bronchiseptica at various times after they were vaccinated. Clinical protection was detectable as early as 48 hours. At postvaccination days 4, 5, and 14, 56%, 83%, and 95% protection was observed. Humoral immunoglobulin (Ig) titers ranged from 1:8.6 on day 0 to 1:147 on postvaccination day 21. In the monitoring of B bronchiseptica-specific secretory IgA by indirect immunofluorescence, titers appeared as early as day 4 after vaccination. The IgA titers ranged from 1:16 on day 4 to 1: 1,024 on day 21. The appearance of IgA titers correlated with the development of resistance to clinical infection.

Biology of Bordetella bronchiseptica

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Efficacy of Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterin in controlling enzootic atrophic rhinitis in swine

The efficacy of a Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterin was evaluated in 2 commercial swine herds affected with mild and severe enzootic atrophic rhinitis (AR). In the 1st herd study, (mild AR), the degree of clinical AR, nasal turbinate evaluation, blood serum titer to B bronchiseptica antigen, and adjusted days from birth to 100 kg were determined for individual pigs. Bacterin inoculation reduced the incidence and severity of gross turbinate atrophy 57% and reduced clinical AR over 93%. Inoculated swine had an average blood serum-agglutinating titer greater than 1:2,793 and noninoculated (control) swine had an average titer of 1:112. Increased serum titer significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with decreased degree of nasal turbinate atrophy. Inoculated and control pigs reached 100 kg in an average of 171 and 178 days after birth, respectively. In the 2nd study (severe enzootic AR), inoculated and control pigs were individually evaluated for clinical AR and total average daily weight gain. Inoculation reduced clinical AR over 90%. The total average daily gain for the inoculated and control pits was 435.84 g and 340.50 g, respectively. Inoculated pigs and control pigs reached 100-kg market weight in 184 and 238 days, respectively.

Mouse potency assay for Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterins

A potency assay for Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterins has been developed using mice. The immunogenicities of three bacterins, B, C, and D, were evaluated for ability to prevent death in mice as compared with a reference standard bacterin (RSB-A). Bacterins RSB-A, B, and C were evaluated for ability to prevent death in mice as compared with a reference standard bacterin (RSB-A). Bacterins RSB-A, B, and C were evaluated in swine for efficacy against nasal turbinate atrophy. Swine immunized with RSB-A demonstrated 25% gross nasal turbinate atrophy (GNTA), whereas nonimmunized swine had 85% GNTA. Swine vaccinated with bacterins B and C demonstrated 0 and 100% GNTA, respectively, whereas the nonimmunized groups had 64 and 75% GNTA, respectively. RSB-A and bacterins B, C, and D provided average mouse survivals of 94, 88, 49, and 32%, respectively when the mice were given 1/10,000 of a recommended swine-immunizing dose, whereas an average of 88% of the unvaccinated mice died.

Bacterial degradation of detergent compounds

A survey for surfactant degradation among aerobic bacteria has been undertaken. Tests have been made in peptone medium where such a degradation, if it occurs, will be gratuitous. Tallow-alkyl-sulfate, alkyl-ethoxylate-sulfate, and linear-alkyl-benzene-sulfonate were used. Forty-five strains of 34 species in 19 genera degrade one or more of these detergent compounds. With some species, the surfactant inhibits degradation without inhibiting growth, whereas with one species slight degradation took place even at a toxic concentration of surfactant.