Mathematical Modeling of Complement Pathway Dynamics for Target Validation and Selection of Drug Modalities for Complement Therapies.

Motivation: The complement pathway plays a critical role in innate immune defense against infections. Dysregulation between activation and regulation of the complement pathway is widely known to contribute to several diseases. Nevertheless, very few drugs that target complement proteins have made it to the final regulatory approval because of factors such as high concentrations and dosing requirements for complement proteins and serious side effects from complement inhibition. Methods: A quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model of the complement pathway has been developed to evaluate potential drug targets to inhibit complement activation in autoimmune diseases. The model describes complement activation via the alternative and terminal pathways as well as the dynamics of several regulatory proteins. The QSP model has been used to evaluate the effect of inhibiting complement targets on reducing pathway activation caused by deficiency in factor H and CD59. The model also informed the feasibility of developing small-molecule or large-molecule antibody drugs by predicting the drug dosing and affinity requirements for potential complement targets. Results: Inhibition of several complement proteins was predicted to lead to a significant reduction in complement activation and cell lysis. The complement proteins that are present in very high concentrations or have high turnover rates (C3, factor B, factor D, and C6) were predicted to be challenging to engage with feasible doses of large-molecule antibody compounds (≤20 mg/kg). Alternatively, complement fragments that have a short half-life (C3b, C3bB, and C3bBb) were predicted to be challenging or infeasible to engage with small-molecule compounds because of high drug affinity requirements (>1 nM) for the inhibition of downstream processes. The drug affinity requirements for disease severity reduction were predicted to differ more than one to two orders of magnitude than affinities needed for the conventional 90% target engagement (TE) for several proteins. Thus, the QSP model analyses indicate the importance for accounting for TE requirements for achieving reduction in disease severity endpoints during the lead optimization stage.

The Role of Collagen Triple Helix Repeat-Containing 1 Protein (CTHRC1) in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammation of joints, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Biomarkers and new drug targets are actively sought and progressed to improve available options for patient treatment. The Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing 1 protein (CTHRC1) may have an important role as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis, as CTHRC1 protein concentration is significantly elevated in the peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to osteoarthritis (OA) patients and healthy individuals. CTHRC1 is a secreted glycoprotein that promotes cell migration and has been implicated in arterial tissue-repair processes. Furthermore, high CTHRC1 expression is observed in many types of cancer and is associated with cancer metastasis to the bone and poor patient prognosis. However, the function of CTHRC1 in RA is still largely undefined. The aim of this review is to summarize recent findings on the role of CTHRC1 as a potential biomarker and pathogenic driver of RA progression. We will discuss emerging evidence linking CTHRC1 to the pathogenic behavior of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and to cartilage and bone erosion through modulation of the balance between bone resorption and repair.

Determining the True Selectivity Profile of αv Integrin Ligands Using Radioligand Binding: Applying an Old Solution to a New Problem.

The arginyl-glycinyl-aspartic acid (RGD) integrin subfamily contains five members that partner with the αv subunit: αvß1, αvß3, αvß5, αvß6, and αvß8. Within the αv integrins, the epithelially restricted αvß6 has been identified as playing a key role in the activation of transforming growth factor ß that is hypothesized to be pivotal in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As part of a drug discovery program to identify a selective αvß6 RGD mimetic for IPF, cell adhesion and radioligand binding assays were investigated to screen compounds to determine affinity and αv integrin selectivity. In this study, a pan-αv radioligand was characterized against all the αv integrins and used to determine accurate selectivity profiles for literature and novel RGD ligands, as well as enable an early readout on αvß6 dissociation kinetics. It has been shown that while cell adhesion offers a high throughput and reliable format for ranking compounds, there are downsides to this format when comparing selectivity across αv integrins. By accurately defining the relationship between these assay formats, a medicinal chemistry effort has identified novel, high-affinity, and selective αvß6 RGD mimetics with slow dissociation kinetics, with the potential to be developed into clinical candidates for IPF.

Pharmacological Characterization of the αvß6 Integrin Binding and Internalization Kinetics of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Derived Peptide A20FMDV2.

A20FMDV2 is a peptide derived from the foot-and-mouth disease virus with a high affinity and selectivity for the alpha-v beta-6 (αvß6) arginyl-glycinyl-aspartic acid (RGD)-binding integrin. It has been shown to be an informative tool ligand in pre-clinical imaging studies for selective labelling of the αvß6 integrin in a number of disease models. In a radioligand binding assay using a radiolabelled form of the peptide ([3H]A20FMDV2), its high affinity (K(D): 0.22 nmol/l) and selectivity (at least 85-fold) for αvß6 over the other members of the RGD integrin family was confirmed. [3H]A20FMDV2 αvß6 binding could be fully reversed only in the presence of EDTA, whereas a partial reversal was observed in the presence of excess concentrations of an RGD-mimetic small molecule (SC-68448) or unlabelled A20FMDV2. Using flow cytometry on bronchial epithelial cells, the ligand-induced internalization of αvß6 by A20FMDV2 and latency-associated peptide-1 was shown to be fast (t(1/2): 1.5 and 3.1 min, respectively), concentration-dependent (EC50: values 1.1 and 3.6 nmol/l, respectively) and was followed by a moderately slow return of integrin to the surface. The results of the radioligand binding studies suggest that the binding of A20FMDV2 to the RGD-binding site on αvß6 is required to maintain its engagement with the hypothesised A20FMDV2 synergy site on the integrin. In addition, there is evidence from flow cytometric studies that the RGD-ligand engagement of αvß6 post-internalization plays a role in delaying recycling of the integrin to the cell surface. This mechanism may act as a homeostatic control of membrane αvß6 following RGD ligand engagement.

Preclinical SPECT/CT imaging of αvß6 integrins for molecular stratification of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

UNLABELLED: Transforming growth factor ß activation by the αvß6 integrin is central to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Expression of the αvß6 integrin is increased in fibrotic lung tissue and is a promising therapeutic target for treatment of the disease. Currently, measurement of αvß6 integrin levels in the lung requires immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy samples. This procedure is clinically impractical for many patients with pulmonary fibrosis, and a noninvasive strategy for measuring αvß6 integrin levels in the lungs is urgently required to facilitate monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic responses. METHODS: Using a murine model of bleomycin-induced lung injury, we assessed the binding of intravenously administered (111)In-labeled αvß6-specific (diethylenetriamine pentaacetate-tetra [DTPA]-A20FMDV2) or control (DTPA-A20FMDVran) peptide by nanoSPECT/CT imaging. Development of fibrosis was assessed by lung hydroxyproline content, and αvß6 protein and itgb6 messenger RNA were measured in the lungs. RESULTS: Maximal binding of (111)In-labeled A20FMDV2 peptide to αvß6 integrins was detected in the lungs 1 h after intravenous administration. No significant binding was detected in mice injected with control peptide. Integrin binding was increased in the lungs of bleomycin-, compared with saline-, exposed mice and was attenuated by pretreatment with αvß6-blocking antibodies. Levels of (111)In-labeled A20FMDV2 peptide correlated positively with hydroxyproline, αvß6 protein, and itgb6 messenger RNA levels. CONCLUSION: We have developed a highly sensitive, quantifiable, and noninvasive technique for measuring αvß6 integrin levels within the lung. Measurement of αvß6 integrins by SPECT/CT scanning has the potential for use in stratifying therapy for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

The discovery and initial optimisation of pyrrole-2-carboxamides as inhibitors of p38alpha MAP kinase.

A novel pyrrole-2-carboxamide series of p38alpha inhibitors, discovered through the application of virtual screening, is presented. Following evaluation of activity, selectivity and developability properties of commercially available analogues, a synthesis program enabled rapid assessment of the series' suitability for further lead optimisation studies.

Cyclic glycopeptidomimetics through a versatile sugar-based scaffold.

Cyclic peptidomimetics are attracting structures to obtain a distinct, bioactive conformation. Even more attractive are sugar-containing cyclic peptidomimetics which present turn structures induced by the pyranose ring when incorporated in cyclic peptides. The use of a new and versatile saccharidic scaffold to achieve sugar-based peptidomimetics is here reported together with the successful synthesis of diastereomerically pure cyclic SAA peptidomimetics 15 and 16.

Biphenyl amide p38 kinase inhibitors 4: DFG-in and DFG-out binding modes.

The biphenyl amides (BPAs) are a series of p38alpha MAP kinase inhibitors. Compounds are able to bind to the kinase in either the DFG-in or DFG-out conformation, depending on substituents. X-ray, binding, kinetic and cellular data are shown, providing the most detailed comparison to date between potent compounds from the same chemical series that bind to different p38alpha conformations. DFG-out-binding compounds could be made more potent than DFG-in-binding compounds by increasing their size. Unexpectedly, compounds that bound to the DGF-out conformation showed diminished selectivity. The kinetics of binding to the isolated enzyme and the effects of compounds on cells were largely unaffected by the kinase conformation bound.

SB-267268, a nonpeptidic antagonist of alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 integrins, reduces angiogenesis and VEGF expression in a mouse model of retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To determine whether SB-267268, a nonpeptidic antagonist of the alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 integrins, attenuates angiogenesis in a murine model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and alters the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its second receptor (VEGF-R2). METHODS: In receptor binding, SB-267268 exhibited nanomolar potency for human, monkey, and murine alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5. SB-267268 inhibited the attachment of alpha(v)beta3-transfected HEK293 cells to microtiter plate wells precoated with RGD-containing matrix proteins, and vitronectin-mediated human and rat aortic smooth-muscle-cell migration. At postnatal day (P)12, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 80% oxygen for 7 days followed by 7 days in room air (angiogenic period). Between P12 and P17, ROP mice were administered sterile saline (vehicle intraperitoneal [i.p.]) or SB-267268 (60 mg/kg bi-daily, i.p.). Shams were exposed to room air from P0 and administered either vehicle or SB-267268 during P12 to 17. In at least 3 randomly chosen paraffin sections from each eye, the number of blood vessel profiles in the inner retina were counted. In situ hybridization for VEGF and VEGFR-2 was performed on at least 8 randomly chosen paraffin sections from each eye. RESULTS: SB-267268 reduced pathologic angiogenesis in ROP mice by approximately 50% and had no effect on developmental retinal angiogenesis in shams. Both VEGF and VEGFR-2 mRNA were upregulated in the inner retina of ROP mice and reduced with SB-267268. CONCLUSIONS: Nonpeptidic inhibition of alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 integrins is effective in ROP and may be a suitable anti-angiogenic therapy for other ischemic retinal pathologies.