A semi-synthetic natural product blocks collagen induced arthritis by preferentially suppressing the production of IL-6.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune-inflammatory disease is characterized by dysregulation of signal transduction pathways, increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced leukocyte infiltration into synovial microvascular endothelium, extensive formation of hyper proliferative pannus, degradation of cartilage and bone erosion. Several compounds that abrogate cytokine production demonstrate a therapeutic effect in experimental models of arthritis. In this study, we report that a novel semi-synthetic natural product (Compound A) being a preferential IL-6 inhibitor, is efficacious in a murine model of arthritis. In vitro evaluations of pro-inflammatory cytokine production reveal that Compound A preferentially inhibits induced production of IL-6 and not TNF-α from THP-1 cells and isolated human monocytes. Furthermore, Compound A robustly inhibits the spontaneous production of IL-6 from pathologically relevant synovial tissue cells isolated from patients with active RA. In a physiologically relevant assay, Compound A selectively inhibits the activated T cell contact-mediated production of IL-6 from human monocytes. Compound A, at pharmacologically efficacious concentrations, does not significantly curtail the LPS-induced activation of p38 MAPKs. In the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model (i) macroscopic observations demonstrate that Compound A, administered subcutaneously in a therapeutic regimen, significantly and dose-dependently inhibits disease associated increases in articular index and paw thickness; (ii) histological analyses of paw tissues reveal that Compound A prominently diminishes joint destruction, hyperproliferative pannus formation and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Collectively, these results provide direct evidence that Compound A, a novel preferential IL-6 inhibitor, suppresses collagen-induced arthritis, and may be a potential therapeutic for treating patients with active RA.

Assessment of temperature-induced hERG channel blockade variation by drugs.

Drug-induced QT prolongation has been reported in humans and animals. This potentially lethal effect can be induced by drugs interacting with a cardiac potassium channel, namely hERG (human ether-a go-go-related gene) leading to arrhythmia or torsade de pointes (TdP). Hence, in vitro evaluation of therapeutics for their effects on the rapid delayed rectifier current (IKr) mediated by the K(+) ion channel encoded by hERG is a valuable tool for identifying potential arrhythmic side effects during drug safety testing. Our objective was to evaluate the temperature-induced hERG channel blockade variation by human and veterinary drugs using the IonFlux 16 system. A panel of eight drugs was tested for IKr inhibition at both ambient (23 °C) and physiological (37 °C) temperatures at various concentrations using IonFlux 16, an automated patch clamp system. Our results established that both amiodarone (IC(50) = 0.56 µM at 23 °C and 0.30 µM at 37 °C) and ß-estradiol (IC(50) = 24.72 µM at 23 °C and 8.17 µM at 37 °C) showed a dose-dependent IKr blockade with a higher blockade at 37 °C. Whereas, blockade of IKr by both ivermectin (IC(50) = 12.52 µM at 23 °C and 24.41 µM at 37 °C) and frusemide (IC(50) = 12.58 µM at 23 °C and 25.55 µM at 37 °C) showed a dose-dependent IKr blockade with a lower blockade at 37 °C. Gentamicin, enrofloxacin, xylazine and albendazole did not block IKr at both the assessed temperatures. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the effect of temperature variation should be taken into consideration during the evaluation of test drugs for their hERG channel blockade potential.

A detailed study of developmental immunotoxicity of imidacloprid in Wistar rats.

Human exposure to imidacloprid is likely to occur during its use as an acaricide or an ectoparasiticide. Accordingly, the developmental immunotoxic potential of imidacloprid was investigated. Oral exposure was initiated in timed pregnant female Wistar rats on gestation day 6 (GD 6) till GD 21. On GD 20, half of the gravid dams were sacrificed, and in utero fetal development was assessed. In the other half of the dams, administration was continued till weaning on postnatal day 21 (PND 21) and maternal toxicity was investigated. A subgroup of weaned pups was sacrificed to assess immunotoxicity parameters. The other half of the pups were exposed to imidacloprid till PND 42, and immunotoxicity was assessed. The findings revealed post-implantation loss in the highest dose group, indicating the risk of abortion. Soft tissue abnormalities and skeletal alterations were observed in the highest dose group. Humoral immunity was assessed by estimating hemagglutination titer and immunoglobulin production. Cell mediated immunity was assessed by Delayed Type Hypersensitivity, whereas, non-specific immunity was assessed by phagocytic index, and other phenotypic parameters. These data revealed that imidacloprid caused age-dependent adverse effects on the developing immunity which was aggravated when exposure continued throughout development, leading to a compromised immune system.

NF-κB-mediated anti-inflammatory activity of the sesquiterpene lactone 7-hydroxyfrullanolide.

Microarray technology can be used to study the molecular mechanisms of new chemical entities with the aim to develop effective therapeutics. 7-Hydroxyfrullanolide (7HF) is a sesquiterpene lactone that was found to be efficacious in multiple animal models of inflammation by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, its molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. We investigated the effects of 7HF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells using microarray-based gene expression studies and explored the molecular targets affected. Gene expression profiles and pathway analysis revealed that 7HF potently suppressed multiple inflammatory pathways induced by LPS. More importantly, 7HF was found to inhibit NF-κB related transcripts. These transcripts were further validated using freshly isolated synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients, thus clinically validating our findings. Cell-based imaging and subsequent Western blot analysis demonstrated that 7HF inhibited the translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus by directly inhibiting the phosphorylation of IKK-ß. Since the transcription of adhesion molecules is regulated by NF-κB, further investigation showed that 7HF dose-dependently suppressed ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression on LPS-stimulated endothelial cells as well as inhibited the adhesion of monocytes to LPS-stimulated endothelial cells. Taken together, our results reveal that 7HF possesses NF-κB inhibitory potential and suggest a likely molecular mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity.

Phenotypic and genotypic assessment of concomitant drug-induced toxic effects in liver, kidney and blood.

Several studies have characterized drug-induced toxicity in liver and kidney. However, the majority of these studies have been performed with 'individual' organs in isolation. Separately, little is known about the role of whole blood as a surrogate tissue in drug-induced toxicity. Accordingly, we investigated the 'concurrent' response of liver, kidney and whole blood during a toxic assault. Rats were acutely treated with therapeutics (acetaminophen, rosiglitazone, fluconazole, isoniazid, cyclophosphamide, amphotericin B, gentamicin and cisplatin) reported for their liver and/or kidney toxicity. Changes in clinical chemistry parameters (e.g. AST, urea) and/or observed microscopic tissue damage confirmed induced hepatotoxicity and/or nephrotoxicity by all drugs. Drug-induced toxicity was not confined to an 'individual' organ. Not all drugs elicited significant alterations in phenotypic parameters of toxicity (e.g. ALT, creatinine). Accordingly, the transcriptional profile of the organs was studied using a toxicity panel of 30 genes derived from literature. Each of the test drugs generated specific gene expression patterns which were unique for all three organs. Hierarchical cluster analyses of purported hepatotoxicants and nephrotoxicants each led to characteristic 'fingerprints' (e.g. decrease in Cyp3a1 indicative of hepatotoxicity; increase in Spp1 and decrease in Gstp1 indicative of nephrotoxicity). In whole blood cells, a set of genes was derived which closely correlated with individual drug-induced concomitant changes in liver or kidney. Collectively, these data demonstrate drug-induced multi-organ toxicity. Furthermore, our findings underscore the importance of transcriptional profiling during inadequate phenotypic anchorage and suggest that whole blood may be judiciously used as a surrogate for drug-induced extra-hematological organ toxicity.

Effect of nephrotoxicants and hepatotoxicants on gene expression profile in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Studying peripheral blood transcriptome in the quest for translational markers of toxicity is considered to be an attractive offshoot in the field of toxicogenomics. Moreover, it is acknowledged that, xenobiotics which cause a toxic response through similar mechanisms lead to distinctive gene expression patterns. The current study was undertaken to gauge the response of an accessible surrogate tissue, such as blood, to drug-induced perturbations aimed at deriving gene expression patterns. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) were exposed to conventional drugs, with reported kidney and/or liver injury, in order to determine their transcriptomic response. Test drugs were divided into two classes viz., drugs affecting kidney (cyclophosphamide, amphotericin B, gentamicin and cisplatin) and liver (acetaminophen, rosiglitazone, fluconazole and isoniazid). After performing gene expression analysis and hierarchical clustering, signature patterns for the two classes were obtained, with a set of 365 genes that can discriminate the two classes of drugs. Our results imply that transcriptional profile of hPBMC get altered as a consequence of drug exposure and unique patterns indicative of specific organ toxicity can hence be deduced. These signature patterns obtained for drugs could be studied for their qualification to identify drug-induced toxicity.

7-hydroxyfrullanolide, a sesquiterpene lactone, inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production from immune cells and is orally efficacious in animal models of inflammation.

A promising therapeutic approach to reduce pathological inflammation is to inhibit the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha, IL-6). In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of 7-hydroxyfrullanolide (7HF). 7HF is an orally bioavailable, small molecule sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the fruit of Sphaeranthus indicus. 7HF significantly and dose-dependently diminished induced and spontaneous production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 from freshly isolated human mononuclear cells, synovial tissue cells isolated from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and BALB/c mice. Oral administration of 7HF significantly protected C57BL/6J mice against endotoxin-mediated lethality. In the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of murine colitis, oral administration of 7HF prevented DSS-induced weight loss, attenuated rectal bleeding, improved disease activity index and diminished shortening of the colon of C57BL/6J mice. Histological analyses of colonic tissues revealed that 7HF attenuated DSS-induced colonic edema, leukocyte infiltration in the colonic mucosa and afforded significant protection against DSS-induced crypt damage. 7HF was also significantly efficacious in attenuating carrageenan-induced paw edema in Wistar rats after oral administration. In the collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice, 7HF significantly reduced disease associated increases in articular index and paw thickness, protected against bone erosion and joint space narrowing and prominently diminished joint destruction, hyperproliferative pannus formation and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Collectively, these results provide evidence that 7HF-mediated inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines functionally results in marked protection in experimental models of acute and chronic inflammation.

A preferential p110alpha/gamma PI3K inhibitor attenuates experimental inflammation by suppressing the production of proinflammatory mediators in a NF-kappaB-dependent manner.

A promising therapeutic approach to diminish pathological inflammation is to inhibit the increased production and/or biological activity of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha, IL-6). The production of proinflammatory cytokines is controlled at the gene level by the activity of transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a lipid kinase, is known to induce the activation of NF-kappaB. Given this, we hypothesized that inhibitors of PI3K activation would demonstrate anti-inflammatory potential. Accordingly, we studied the effects of a preferential p110alpha/gamma PI3K inhibitor (compound 8C; PIK-75) in inflammation-based assays. Mechanism-based assays utilizing human cells revealed that PIK-75-mediated inhibition of PI3K activation is associated with dramatic suppression of downstream signaling events, including AKT phosphorylation, IKK activation, and NF-kappaB transcription. Cell-based assays revealed that PIK-75 potently and dose dependently inhibits in vitro and in vivo production of TNF-alpha and IL-6, diminishes the induced expression of human endothelial cell adhesion molecules (E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), and blocks human monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. Most importantly, PIK-75, when administered orally in a therapeutic regimen, significantly suppresses the macroscopic and histological abnormalities associated with dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine colitis. The efficacy of PIK-75 in attenuating experimental inflammation is mediated, at least in part, due to the downregulation of pertinent inflammatory mediators in the colon. Collectively, these results provide first evidence that PIK-75 possesses anti-inflammatory potential. Given that PIK-75 is known to exhibit anti-cancer activity, the findings from this study thus reinforce the cross-therapeutic functionality of potential drugs.

Synthesis and therapeutic evaluation of pyridyl based novel mTOR inhibitors.

A series of novel cyanopyridyl based molecules (1-14) were designed, synthesized and probed for inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. Compound 14 was found to be a potent inhibitor of mTOR activity as assessed by enzyme-linked immunoassays and Western blot analysis. Most importantly, systemic application (intraperitoneal; ip) of compound 14 significantly suppressed macroscopic and histological abnormalities associated with chemically-induced murine colitis.

A fluorinated analog of ISO-1 blocks the recognition and biological function of MIF and is orally efficacious in a murine model of colitis.

A promising therapeutic approach to diminish pathological inflammation is to inhibit the synthesis and/or biological activity of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Prior studies have shown that intraperitoneal administration of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the catalytic pocket of MIF (e.g., ISO-1) elicits a therapeutic effect in mouse inflammation models. However, it remains to be elucidated whether these tautomerase activity inhibitors block the synthesis and/or biological activity of MIF. In this study, we investigated and compared the activity of representative MIF inhibitors from isoxazole series (fluorinated analog of ISO-1; ISO-F) and substituted quinoline series (compound 7E; 7E). Our results demonstrate that ISO-F is a more potent MIF inhibitor than 7E. Both ISO-F and 7E do not inhibit MIF synthesis but "bind-onto" MIF thereby blocking its recognition. However, in contrast to 7E, ISO-F docks well in the active site of MIF and also has a stronger binding affinity towards MIF. In line with these observations, ISO-F, but not 7E, robustly inhibits the biological function of MIF. Most importantly, ISO-F, when administered orally in a therapeutic regimen, significantly suppresses dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis. This study, which provides mechanistic insights into the anti-inflammatory efficacy of ISO-F, is the first documented report of in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy of a MIF inhibitor upon oral administration. Moreover, the findings from this study reinforce the potential of catalytic site of MIF as a target for eliciting therapeutic effect in inflammatory disorders. Compounds (e.g., ISO-F) that block not only the recognition but also the biological function of MIF are potentially attractive for reducing pathological inflammation.

A novel mTOR inhibitor is efficacious in a murine model of colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune-inflammatory disease characterized by increased proliferation of colonic epithelial cells, dysregulation of signal transduction pathways, elevated mucosal T cell activation, increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, and enhanced leukocyte infiltration into colonic interstitium. Several compounds that possess antiproliferative properties and/or inhibit cytokine production exhibit a therapeutic effect in murine models of colitis. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein kinase regulating cell proliferation, is implicated in colon carcinogenesis. In this study, we report that a novel haloacyl aminopyridine-based molecule (P2281) is a mTOR inhibitor and is efficacious in a murine model of human colitis. In vitro studies using Western blot analysis and cell-based ELISA assays showed that P2281 inhibits mTOR activity in colon cancer cells. In vitro and in vivo assays of proinflammatory cytokine production revealed that P2281 diminishes induced IFN-gamma production but not TNF-alpha production, indicating preferential inhibitory effects of P2281 on T cell function. In the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of colitis, 1) macroscopic colon observations demonstrated that P2281 significantly inhibited DSS-induced weight loss, improved rectal bleeding index, decreased disease activity index, and reversed DSS-induced shortening of the colon; 2) histological analyses of colonic tissues revealed that P2281 distinctly attenuated DSS-induced edema, prominently diminished the leukocyte infiltration in the colonic mucosa, and resulted in protection against DSS-induced crypt damage; and 3) Western blot analysis showed that P2281 blocks DSS-induced activation of mTOR. Collectively, these results provide direct evidence that P2281, a novel mTOR inhibitor, suppresses DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting T cell function and is a potential therapeutic for colitis. Given that compounds with anticancer activity show promising anti-inflammatory efficacy, our findings reinforce the cross-therapeutic functionality of potential drugs.