Nikolaos Eleftheriadis

Rational Development of a Potent 15-Lipoxygenase-1 Inhibitor with in Vitro and ex Vivo Anti-inflammatory Properties

Human 15-lipoxygenase-1 (h-15-LOX-1) is a mammalian lipoxygenase and plays an important role in several inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. Novel potent inhibitors of h-15-LOX-1 are required to explore the role of this enzyme further and to enable drug discovery efforts. In this study, we applied an approach in which we screened a fragment collection that is focused on a diverse substitution pattern of nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as indoles, quinolones, pyrazoles, and others. We denoted this approach substitution-oriented fragment screening (SOS) because it focuses on the identification of novel substitution patterns rather than on novel scaffolds. This approach enabled the identification of hits with good potency and clear structure-activity relationships (SAR) for h-1-5-LOX-1 inhibition. Molecular modeling enabled the rationalization of the observed SAR and supported structure-based design for further optimization to obtain inhibitor 14 d that binds with a Ki of 36 nM to the enzyme. In vitro and ex vivo biological evaluations of our best inhibitor demonstrate a significant increase of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene expression, which indicates its anti-inflammatory properties.

Discovery of a novel activator of 5-lipoxygenase from an anacardic acid derived compound collection

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cyclooxygenases (COXs) metabolize poly-unsaturated fatty acids into inflammatory signaling molecules. Modulation of the activity of these enzymes may provide new approaches for therapy of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we screened novel anacardic acid derivatives as modulators of human 5-LOX and COX-2 activity. Interestingly, a novel salicylate derivative 23a was identified as a surprisingly potent activator of human 5-LOX. This compound showed both non-competitive activation towards the human 5-LOX activator adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and non-essential mixed type activation against the substrate linoleic acid, while having no effect on the conversion of the substrate arachidonic acid. The kinetic analysis demonstrated a non-essential activation of the linoleic acid conversion with a KA of 8.65 μM, αKA of 0.38μM and a β value of 1.76. It is also of interest that a comparable derivative 23d showed a mixed type inhibition for linoleic acid conversion. These observations indicate the presence of an allosteric binding site in human 5-LOX distinct from the ATP binding site. The activatory and inhibitory behavior of 23a and 23d on the conversion of linoleic compared to arachidonic acid are rationalized by docking studies, which suggest that the activator 23a stabilizes linoleic acid binding, whereas the larger inhibitor 23d blocks the enzyme active site.

Identification of 6-benzyloxysalicylates as a novel class of inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase-1

Lipoxygenases metabolize polyunsaturated fatty acids into signalling molecules such as leukotrienes and lipoxins. 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) is an important mammalian lipoxygenase and plays a crucial regulatory role in several respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis. Novel potent and selective inhibitors of 15-LOX-1 are required to explore the role of this enzyme in drug discovery. In this study we describe structure activity relationships for 6-benzyloxysalicylates as inhibitors of human 15-LOX-1. Kinetic analysis suggests competitive inhibition and the binding model of these compounds can be rationalized using molecular modelling studies. The most potent derivative 37a shows a Ki value of 1.7 μM. These structure activity relationships provide a basis to design improved inhibitors and to explore 15-LOX-1 as a drug target.

HDAC1-3 inhibitor MS-275 enhances IL10 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and reduces cigarette smoke-induced airway inflammation in mice

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitutes a major health burden. Studying underlying molecular mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic targets. Macrophages are orchestrators of COPD, by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. This process relies on transcription factors such as NF-κB, among others. NF-κB is regulated by lysine acetylation; a post-translational modification installed by histone acetyltransferases and removed by histone deacetylases (HDACs). We hypothesized that small molecule HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) targeting class I HDACs members that can regulate NF-κB could attenuate inflammatory responses in COPD via modulation of the NF-κB signaling output. MS-275 is an isoform-selective inhibitor of HDAC1-3. In precision-cut lung slices and RAW264.7 macrophages, MS-275 upregulated the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory genes, implying mixed effects. Interestingly, anti-inflammatory IL10 expression was upregulated in these model systems. In the macrophages, this was associated with increased NF-κB activity, acetylation, nuclear translocation, and binding to the IL10 promoter. Importantly, in an in vivo model of cigarette smoke-exposed C57Bl/6 mice, MS-275 robustly attenuated inflammatory expression of KC and neutrophil influx in the lungs. This study highlights for the first time the potential of isoform-selective HDACi for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases like COPD.

The relevance of Ki calculation for bi-substrate enzymes illustrated by kinetic evaluation of a novel lysine (K) acetyltransferase 8 inhibitor

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are important mediators of epigenetic post-translational modifications of histones that play important roles in health and disease. A disturbance of these modifications can result in disease states, such as cancer or inflammatory diseases. Inhibitors of HATs (HATi) such as lysine (K) acetyltransferase 8 (KAT8), could be used to study the epigenetic processes in diseases related to these enzymes or to investigate HATs as therapeutic targets. However, the development of HATi is challenged by the difficulties in kinetic characterization of HAT enzymes and their inhibitors to enable calculation of a reproducible inhibitory potency. In this study, a fragment screening approach was used, enabling identification of 4-amino-1-naphthol, which potently inhibited KAT8. The inhibitor was investigated for enzyme inhibition using kinetic and calorimetric binding studies. This allowed for calculation of the Ki values for both the free enzyme as well as the acetylated intermediate. Importantly, it revealed a striking difference in binding affinity between the acetylated enzyme and the free enzyme, which could not be revealed by the IC50 value. This shows that kinetic characterization of inhibitors and calculation of Ki values is crucial for determining the binding constants of HAT inhibitors. We anticipate that more comprehensive characterization of enzyme inhibition, as described here, is needed to advance the field of HAT inhibitors.

Activity-Based Probes for 15-Lipoxygenase-1

Human 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) plays an important role in several inflammatory lung diseases, such as asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis, as well as various CNS diseases, such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and stroke. Activity-based probes of 15-LOX-1 are required to explore the role of this enzyme further and to enable drug discovery. In this study, we developed a 15-LOX-1 activity-based probe for the efficient activity-based labeling of recombinant 15-LOX-1. 15-LOX-1-dependent labeling in cell lysates and tissue samples was also possible. To mimic the natural substrate of the enzyme, we designed activity-based probes that covalently bind to the active enzyme and include a terminal alkene as a chemical reporter for the bioorthogonal linkage of a detectable functionality through an oxidative Heck reaction. The activity-based labeling of 15-LOX-1 should enable the investigation and identification of this enzyme in complex biological samples, thus opening up completely new opportunities for drug discovery.

Discovery of chromenes as inhibitors of macrophage migration inhibitory factor

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an essential signaling cytokine with a key role in the immune system. Binding of MIF to its molecular targets such as, among others, the cluster of differentiation 74 (CD74) receptor plays a key role in inflammatory diseases and cancer. Therefore, the identification of MIF binding compounds gained importance in drug discovery. In this study, we aimed to discover novel MIF binding compounds by screening of a focused compound collection for inhibition of its tautomerase enzyme activity. Inspired by the known chromen-4-one inhibitor Orita-13, a focused collection of compounds with a chromene scaffold was screened for MIF binding. The library was synthesized using versatile cyanoacetamide chemistry to provide diversely substituted chromenes. The screening provided inhibitors with IC50s in the low micromolar range. Kinetic evaluation suggested that the inhibitors were reversible and did not bind in the binding pocket of the substrate. Thus, we discovered novel inhibitors of the MIF tautomerase activity, which may ultimately support the development of novel therapeutic agents against diseases in which MIF is involved.

On the impact of competing intra- and intermolecular triplet-state quenching on photobleaching and photoswitching kinetics of organic fluorophores

While buffer cocktails remain the gold-standard for photostabilization and photoswitching of fluorescent markers, intramolecular triplet-state quenchers emerge as an alternative strategy to impart fluorophores with ‘self-healing’ or even functional properties such as photoswitching. In this contribution, we evaluated various combinations of both approaches and show that inter- and intramolecular triplet-state quenching processes compete with each other rather than being additive or even synergistic. Often intramolecular processes dominate the photophysical situation for combinations of covalently-linked and solution-based photostabilizers and photoswitching agents. In this context we identified a new function of intramolecular photostabilizers, i.e., protection of fluorophores from reversible off-switching events caused by solution-additives, which were previously misinterpreted as photobleaching. Our studies also provide practical guidance for usage of photostabilizer-dye conjugates for STORM-type super-resolution microscopy permitting the exploitation of their improved photophysics for increased spatio-temporal resolution. Finally, we provide evidence that the biochemical environment, e.g., proximity of aromatic amino-acids such as tryptophan, reduces the photostabilization efficiency of commonly used buffer cocktails. Not only have our results important implications for a deeper mechanistic understanding of self-healing dyes, but they will provide a general framework to select label positions for optimal and reproducible photostability or photoswitching kinetics.

Photoactivation provides a mechanistic explanation for pan-assay interference behaviour of 2-aminopyrroles in lipoxygenase inhibition

Human 15-lipoxygenase-1 (h-15-LOX-1) is a promising drug target in inflammation and cancer. In this study su bstitution-oriented screening (SOS) has been used to identify compounds with a 2aminopyrrole scaffold as inhibitors for h-15-LOX-1. The observed structure activity relationships (SAR) proved to be relatively flat. IC50’s for the most potent inhibitor of the series did not surpass 6.3 μM and the enzyme kinetics demonstrated uncompetiti ve nhibition. Based on this, we hypothesized that the investigate d 2-aminopyrroles are pan assay interference compounds (PAINS) with a p otoactivation via a radical mechanism. Our results demonstrated c lear photoactivation of h-15-LOX-1 inhibition under UV a nd visible light. In addition, investigated 2-aminopyrroles decreased viability of cultured human hepatocarcinoma cells HCC-1.2 in a d ose-dependent manner with LD50 ranging from 0.55 ± 0.15 μM ( 21B10) to 2.75 ± 0.91 μM (22). Taken together, this indicates that photoactivat ion can play an important role in the biological activity o f compounds with a 2-amino-pyrrole scaffold as investigated here.