Structural repurposing of SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin for strengthening anti-heart failure activity with lower glycosuria

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been reapproved for heart failure (HF) therapy in patients with and without diabetes. However, the initial glucose-lowering indication of SGLT2i has impeded their uses in cardiovascular clinical practice. A challenge of SGLT2i then becomes how to separate their anti-HF activity from glucose-lowering side-effect. To address this issue, we conducted structural repurposing of EMPA, a representative SGLT2 inhibitor, to strengthen anti-HF activity and reduce the SGLT2-inhibitory activity according to structural basis of inhibition of SGLT2. Compared to EMPA, the optimal derivative JX01, which was produced by methylation of C2-OH of the glucose ring, exhibited weaker SGLT2-inhibitory activity (IC50 > 100 nmol/L), and lower glycosuria and glucose-lowering side-effect, better NHE1-inhibitory activity and cardioprotective effect in HF mice. Furthermore, JX01 showed good safety profiles in respect of single-dose/repeat-dose toxicity and hERG activity, and good pharmacokinetic properties in both mouse and rat species. Collectively, the present study provided a paradigm of drug repurposing to discover novel anti-HF drugs, and indirectly demonstrated that SGLT2-independent molecular mechanisms play an important role in cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Cardioprotective mechanism of SGLT2 inhibitor against myocardial infarction is through reduction of autosis

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus but the protective mechanism remains elusive. Here we demonstrated that the SGLT2 inhibitor, Empagliflozin (EMPA), suppresses cardiomyocytes autosis (autophagic cell death) to confer cardioprotective effects. Using myocardial infarction (MI) mouse models with and without diabetes mellitus, EMPA treatment significantly reduced infarct size, and myocardial fibrosis, thereby leading to improved cardiac function and survival. In the context of ischemia and nutritional glucose deprivation where autosis is already highly stimulated, EMPA directly inhibits the activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) in the cardiomyocytes to regulate excessive autophagy. Knockdown of NHE1 significantly rescued glucose deprivation-induced autosis. In contrast, overexpression of NHE1 aggravated the cardiomyocytes death in response to starvation, which was effectively rescued by EMPA treatment. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo analysis of NHE1 and Beclin 1 knockout mice validated that EMPA's cardioprotective effects are at least in part through downregulation of autophagic flux. These findings provide new insights for drug development, specifically targeting NHE1 and autosis for ventricular remodeling and heart failure after MI in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Oxidative Stress-Activated NHE1 Is Involved in High Glucose-Induced Apoptosis in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

PURPOSE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent chronic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus involving disturbances in electrolytes and the acid-base balance caused by a disorder of glucose metabolism. NHE1 is a Na+/H+ exchanger responsible for keeping intracellular pH (pHi) balance and cell growth. Our study aimed to investigate roles of NHE1 in high glucose (HG)-induced apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal epithelial tubular cell line HK-2 was cultured in medium containing 5 mM or 30 mM glucose. Then, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, NHE1 expression, and pHi were evaluated. NHE1 siRNA and inhibitor were used to evaluate its role in cell apoptosis. RESULTS: HG significantly increased cell apoptosis and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-OHdG (p<0.05). Meanwhile, we found that HG induced the expression of NHE1 and increased the pHi from 7.0 to 7.6 after 48 h of incubation. However, inhibiting NHE1 using its specific siRNA or antagonist DMA markedly reduced cell apoptosis stimulated by HG. In addition, suppressing cellular oxidative stress using antioxidants, such as glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine, significantly reduced the production of ROS, accompanied by a decrease in NHE1. We also found that activated cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I (PKG) signaling promoted the production of ROS, which contributed to the regulation of NHE1 functions. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that HG activates PKG signaling and elevates the production of ROS, which was responsible for the induction of NHE1 expression and dysfunction, as well as subsequent cell apoptosis, in renal tubular epithelial cells.

The p90rsk-mediated signaling of ethanol-induced cell proliferation in HepG2 cell line

Ribosomal S6 kinase is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases involved in the regulation of cell viability. There are two subfamilies of ribosomal s6 kinase, (p90rsk, p70rsk). Especially, p90rsk is known to be an important downstream kinase of p44/42 MAPK. We investigated the role of p90rsk on ethanol-induced cell proliferation of HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with 10~50 mM of ethanol with or without ERK and p90rsk inhibitors. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The expression of pERK1, NHE1 was measured by Western blots. The phosphorylation of p90rsk was measured by ELISA kits. The expression of Bcl-2 was measured by qRT-PCR. When the cells were treated with 10~30 mM of ethanol for 24 hour, it showed significant increase in cell viability versus control group. Besides, 10~30 mM of ethanol induced increased expression of pERK1, p-p90rsk, NHE1 and Bcl-2. Moreover treatment of p90rsk inhibitor attenuated the ethanol-induced increase in cell viability and NHE1 and Bcl-2 expression. In summary, these results suggest that p90rsk, a downstream kinase of ERK, plays a stimulatory role on ethanol-induced hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 and NHE1 known to regulate cell survival.

Modulación inflamatoria en el shock traumático: [revisión] / Inflammatory modulation in traumatic shock: [review]

Hemorrhagic hypovolemic shock secondary to trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. During the last few years, new concepts have emerged and the guidelines of fluid resuscitation in these patients have been redefined. The concept of hypotensive resuscitation has been established and new colloid solutions based on starch have been manufactured, been hydroxyethyl starch in a balanced electrolytic solution, the most studied and successful one. It has been reported, as well, the positive effects of the pharmacologic modulation of the inflammatory pathways in experimental model subjects submitted to hypovolemic shock. Products such as, ethyl pyruvate and the Na+/H+ type 1 inhibitor, BIIB513, have been Studies only experimentally in rodent models using colloids as the primary resuscitation fluid. The significant improvement in the hemodinamyc, pattern and the cardiac and inflammatory indexes and mediators, has created the basis for their use in clinical trials in the near future. The systemic inflammatory response is an important cause of multiple organ failure that increases the late mortality of patients surviving the initial early phases of hypovolemic traumatic shock and its experimental modulation in rodent models with products such as ethyl pyruvate and BIIB513 has produced excellent in vivo and in vitro results.

Universalmente se considera el Shock hipovolémico de origen hemorrágico como una importante causa de morbi-mortalidad. Durante los últimos años se ha redefinido los conceptos de la reanimación con líquidos intravenosos en los pacientes con choque hipovolémico y establecido los conceptos de reanimación hipotensa con el uso de nuevos coloides derivados del almidón, tales como el hidroxietil-almidón en solución electrolítica balanceada (Hextend®). Así mismo, se ha reportado el beneficio que conlleva el uso de modificadores de la cascada inflamatoria en modelos experimentales de sujetos sometidos a choque hipovolémico hemorrágico. Productos como el etil piruvato y la BIIB513, un inhibidor selectivo del intercambiador Na+/H+ tipo 1, han sido estudiados sólo experimentalmente en modelos roedores, empleando coloides como principal elemento de reanimación. Al mejorar el perfil hemodinámico, parámetros cardíacos y niveles de mediadores inflamatorios, estos compuestos constituyen una base cierta para ser incluidos en estudios clínicos en un futuro próximo. La respuesta inflamatoria sistémica está íntimamente implicada en la patogénesis de la Falla Orgánica Múltiple, aumentando la mortalidad tardía de pacientes que sobreviven las etapas tempranas del shock hipovolémico hemorrágico traumático. Su modulación experimental con el etil piruvato o bien la BIIB513 ha dado excelente resultado tanto en modelos experimentales in vivo como in vitro.

Increased Expressions of eNBC and NHE1 in Ischemic Penumbra after Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion / 대한해부학회지

We conducted a chronological and comparative analysis of the levels of the electrogenic Na+/HCO3-cotransporter (eNBC) and Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) on ischemic penumbra, using the rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Both eNBC and NHE1 levels were significantly higher in the ischemic penumbra from 3 h to 6 h after focal ischemia than in the sham-operated control group. The enhancement of eNBC and NHE1 production following focal ischemia may contribute to brain cell swelling or damage during ischemic penumbra through intracellular alkalinization and Na+ overload. Therefore, increases of eNBC and NHE1 in ischemic penumbra may play an important role in secondary brain cell damages following permanent focal ischemic insults.

Protective Effect of Cariporide(R) against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rat Kidney / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND:Cytoprotective effect of Na+/H+ exchanger type 1 (NHE1) inhibitors has been studied in ischemic/reperfusion (IR) injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renoprotective effect and the mechanism of NHE1 inhibitor (Cariporide(R)) on IR injury of rat kidney. METHODS:IR injury was produced by clamping both renal arteries and then rats were treated with intravenous (IV) Cariporide(R) (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) in Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of Cariporide(R) treatment on subsequent IR injury were evaluated in terms of renal function, tubular injury, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha), apoptosis, and the expression of MAPKs. RESULTS:BUN and serum creatinine increased after IR injury compared with sham-operated controls. However, treatment with Cariporide(R) significantly reduced BUN and serum creatinine. IR injury caused severe destruction of renal tubular cells in the outer medulla, but treatment with Cariporide(R) decreased the tubular damage. Treatment with Cariporide(R) also significantly decreased the expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA compared with IR injury. Apoptotic cell death was increased with I/R injury, but was significantly decreased in kidneys treated with Cariporide(R). At molecular basis, caspase 3 protein decreased more in Cariporide(R)-treated group than in IR injury group. The expression of MAPKs significantly increased with IR injury compared with sham- operated controls. However, kidneys treated with Cariporide(R) showed further increase of ERK expression compared with IR injury, but showed a significant decrease of JNK expression. CONCLUSIONS:NHE1 inhibitors, Cariporide(R), partially prevented IR injury-induced acute renal failure by the mechanism involving apoptosis, inflammation and MAPKs.