Efrosini Barbayianni

Autotaxin, a secreted lysophospholipase D, as a promising therapeutic target in chronic inflammation and cancer.

Autotaxin (ATX) is a member of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family of ectoenzymes that hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds of various nucleotides. It possesses lysophospholipase D activity, catalyzing the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and it is considered the major LPA-producing enzyme in the circulation. LPA is a bioactive phospholipid with diverse functions in almost every mammalian cell type, which exerts its action through binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors and stimulates various cellular functions, including migration, proliferation and survival. As a consequence, both ATX and LPA have attracted the interest of researchers, in an effort to understand their roles in physiology and pathophysiology. The present review article aims to summarize the existing knowledge as to the implications of ATX in chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer and to highlight the low molecular weight compounds, which have been developed as leads for the discovery of novel medicines to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Autotaxin inhibitors: a patent review

Introduction: Autotaxin (ATX) is a lysophospholipase D enzyme that hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and choline. LPA is a bioactive lipid mediator that activates several transduction pathways, and is involved in migration, proliferation and survival of various cells. Thus, ATX is an attractive medicinal target. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to summarize ATX inhibitors, reported in patents from 2006 up to now, describing their discovery and biological evaluation. Expert opinion: ATX has been implicated in various pathological conditions, such as cancer, chronic inflammation, neuropathic pain, fibrotic diseases, etc. Although there is an intensive effort on the discovery of potent and selective ATX inhibitors in order to identify novel medicinal agents, up to now, no ATX inhibitor has reached clinical trials. However, the use of ATX inhibitors seems an attractive strategy for the development of novel medicinal agents, for example anticancer therapeutics.

Phospholipase A2 superfamily members play divergent roles after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent loss of motor functions. A significant aspect of the tissue damage and functional loss may be prevenTABLE as it occurs, secondary to the trauma. We show that the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) superfamily plays important roles in SCI. PLA2 enzymes hydrolyze membrane glycerophospholipids to yield a free fatty acid and lysophospholipid. Some free fatty acids (arachidonic acid) give rise to eicosanoids that promote inflammation, while some lysophospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholine) cause demyelination. We show in a mouse model of SCI that two cytosolic forms [calcium‐dependent PLA2 group IVA (cPLA2 GIVA) and calcium‐independent PLA2 group VIA (iPLA2 GVIA)], and a secreted form [secreted PLA2 group IIA (sPLA2 GIIA)] are up‐regulated. Using selective inhibitors and null mice, we show that these PLA2s play differing roles. cPLA2 GIVA mediates protection, whereas sPLA2 GIIA and, to a lesser extent, iPLA2 GVIA are detrimental. Furthermore, completely blocking all three PLA2s worsens outcome, while the most beneficial effects are seen by partial inhibition of all three. The partial inhibitor enhances expression of cPLA2 and mediates its beneficial effects via the prostaglandin EP1 receptor. These findings indicate that drugs that inhibit detrimental forms of PLA2 (sPLA2 and iPLA2) and upregulate the protective form (cPLA2) may be useful for the treatment of SCI.—López‐Vales, R., Ghasemlou, N., Redensek, A., Kerr, B. J., Barbayianni, E., Antonopoulou, G., Baskakis, C., Rathore, K. I., Constantinou‐Kokotou, V., Stephens, D., Shimizu, T., Dennis, E. A., Kokotos, G., David, S. Phospholipase A2 superfamily members play divergent roles after spinal cord injury. FASEB J. 25, 4240–4252 (2011). www.fasebj.org

Structure-activity relationships of natural and non-natural amino acid-based amide and 2-oxoamide inhibitors of human phospholipase A2 enzymes

A variety of 2-oxoamides and related amides based on natural and non-natural amino acids were synthesized. Their activity on two human intracellular phospholipases (GIVA cPLA(2) and GVIA iPLA(2)) and one human secretory phospholipase (GV sPLA(2)) was evaluated. We show that an amide based on (R)-gamma-norleucine is a highly selective inhibitor of GV sPLA(2).

The Application of Rational Design on Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors

The phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) superfamily consists of different groups of enzymes which are characterized by their ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester bond in a variety of phospholipid molecules. The products of PLA(2s) activity play divergent roles in a variety of physiological processes. There are four main types of PLA(2s): the secreted PLA(2s) (sPLA(2s)), the cytosolic PLA(2s) (cPLA(2s)), the calcium-independent PLA(2s) (iPLA(2)) and the lipoprotein-associated PLA(2s) (LpPLA(2s)). Various potent and selective PLA2 inhibitors have been reported up to date and have provided outstanding support in understanding the mechanism of action and elucidating the function of these enzymes. The current review focuses on the implementation of rational design through computer-aided drug design (CADD) on the discovery and development of new PLA(2) inhibitors.

Inhibition of secreted phospholipases A2 by 2-oxoamides based on α-amino acids: Synthesis, in vitro evaluation and molecular docking calculations

Group IIA secreted phospholipase A₂ (GIIA sPLA₂) is a member of the mammalian sPLA₂ enzyme family and is associated with various inflammatory conditions. In this study, the synthesis of 2-oxoamides based on α-amino acids and the in vitro evaluation against three secreted sPLA₂s (GIIA, GV and GX) are described. The long chain 2-oxoamide GK126 based on the amino acid (S)-leucine displayed inhibition of human and mouse GIIA sPLA₂s (IC₅₀ 300nM and 180nM, respectively). It also inhibited human GV sPLA₂ with similar potency, while it did not inhibit human GX sPLA₂. The elucidation of the stereoelectronic characteristics that affect the in vitro activity of these compounds was achieved by using a combination of simulated annealing to sample low-energy conformations before the docking procedure, and molecular docking calculations.

Inhibition of Group IVA Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 by Thiazolyl Ketones in Vitro, ex Vivo, and in Vivo

Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (GIVA cPLA2) is the rate-limiting provider of pro-inflammatory mediators in many tissues and is thus an attractive target for the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents. In this work, we present the synthesis of new thiazolyl ketones and the study of their activities in vitro, in cells, and in vivo. Within this series of compounds, methyl 2-(2-(4-octylphenoxy)acetyl)thiazole-4-carboxylate (GK470) was found to be the most potent inhibitor of GIVA cPLA2, exhibiting an XI(50) value of 0.011 mole fraction in a mixed micelle assay and an IC50 of 300 nM in a vesicle assay. In a cellular assay using SW982 fibroblast-like synoviocytes, it suppressed the release of arachidonic acid with an IC50 value of 0.6 μM. In a prophylactic collagen-induced arthritis model, it exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect comparable to the reference drug methotrexate, whereas in a therapeutic model, it showed results comparable to those of the reference drug Enbrel. In both models, it significantly reduced plasma PGE2 levels.

Biocatalyzed Regio- and Chemoselective Ester Cleavage: Synthesis of Bioactive Molecules

Biocatalysis is one of the greenest technologies for the synthesis of bioactive molecules, for which the presence of various functional groups requires selective protection or deprotection processes. The effective combination of protecting group techniques often results in additional chemical synthetic steps. At this point, enzymes can prove very valuable, as they help to circumvent several reaction steps, owing to the selectivity they show for a particular group. Specifically, carboxylic acid and alcohol functionalities, as well as esters, are of high importance for the biological properties of certain molecules. Esters are enzyme‐labile moieties, a characteristic that many drugs activity is based on. Ester cleavage is also required for synthesis, where beyond any doubt, the majority of reactions and conditions must be highly selective. This review aims to highlight a number of examples in the literature relative to regio‐ and chemoselective biocatalytic deprotection processes of the carboxyl and hydroxyl moieties, used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, bioactive molecules, and drug precursors.

Synthesis of homoproline analogues containing heterocyclic rings and their activity as organocatalysts for Michael reaction

Two homoproline derivatives containing either the 5-thioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole or the 2-oxo-1,2,3,5-oxathiodiazole bioisosteric groups, in replacement of the carboxyl group, were synthesized and their catalytic activities in Michael reactions were evaluated. The derivative containing the 5-thioxo-1,2,4-oxadiazole ring outperforms proline in the context of enantioselectivity in the reactions between β-nitrostyrene and acetone or cyclohexanone, indicating that the conversion of the carboxylic group of homoproline to a bioisosteric heterocyclic ring leads to a superior organocatalyst.

Development of a potent 2-oxoamide inhibitor of secreted phospholipase A2 guided by molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations.

Inhibition of group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (GIIA sPLA2) has been an important objective for medicinal chemists. We have previously shown that inhibitors incorporating the 2-oxoamide functionality may inhibit human and mouse GIIA sPLA2s. Herein, the development of new potent inhibitors by molecular docking calculations using the structure of the known inhibitor 7 as scaffold, are described. Synthesis and biological evaluation of the new compounds revealed that the long chain 2-oxoamide based on (S)-valine GK241 led to improved activity (IC50=143 nM and 68 nM against human and mouse GIIA sPLA2, respectively). In addition, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to shed light on GK241 potent and selective inhibitory activity.