The Antiviral Drug Tilorone Is a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important drug target in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease dementia as well as for other conditions like myasthenia gravis and anticholinergic poisoning. In this study, we have used a combination of high-throughput screening, machine learning, and docking to identify new inhibitors of this enzyme. Bayesian machine learning models were generated with literature data from ChEMBL for eel and human AChE inhibitors as well as butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors (BuChE) and compared with other machine learning methods. High-throughput screens for the eel AChE inhibitor model identified several molecules including tilorone, an antiviral drug that is well-established outside of the United States, as a newly identified nanomolar AChE inhibitor. We have described how tilorone inhibits both eel and human AChE with IC50's of 14.4 nM and 64.4 nM, respectively, but does not inhibit the closely related BuChE IC50 > 50 µM. We have docked tilorone into the human AChE crystal structure and shown that this selectivity is likely due to the reliance on a specific interaction with a hydrophobic residue in the peripheral anionic site of AChE that is absent in BuChE. We also conducted a pharmacological safety profile (SafetyScreen44) and kinase selectivity screen (SelectScreen) that showed tilorone (1 µM) only inhibited AChE out of 44 toxicology target proteins evaluated and did not appreciably inhibit any of the 485 kinases tested. This study suggests there may be a potential role for repurposing tilorone or its derivatives in conditions that benefit from AChE inhibition.

Thermodynamics and kinetics of joint action of antiviral agent tilorone and DMSO on model lipid membranes.

Individual and joint action of two water-soluble drugs, DMSO and tilorone, on model l-α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membranes were studied in equilibrium and kinetic regimes by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For equilibrium experiments, the drugs were introduced during preparation of the model membrane. In kinetic studies, one of the drugs was added to the DPPC membrane already containing the other drug, and the effects of drug-membrane interactions were monitored in real-time regime. It was found that tilorone and DMSO had opposite effects on the membrane melting temperature, which were non-additive under joint introduction of these drugs. Analysis of kinetics of DSC profiles under drugs introduction allowed us to discriminate two processes in drug-membrane interactions with different characteristic times, i.e., drug sorption onto the membrane (minutes) and drug diffusion through stacks of lipid bilayers (hours). It was established that 0.1 mol% DMSO effectively enhanced membrane penetration for tilorone with the rate of tilorone diffusion being dependent upon the scheme of drugs administration. A model was proposed describing how sorption of a dopant onto lipid membrane could affect the membrane permeability for other dopants. Conditions were determined for enhancement of membrane permeability, as it was observed for DPPC/DMSO/tilorone system.

Pulmonary administration of a dry powder formulation of the antifibrotic drug tilorone reduces silica-induced lung fibrosis in mice.

The aim of this work was to study the antifibrotic effect of pulmonary administration of tilorone to lung fibrosis. L-leucine coated tilorone particles were prepared and their aerosolization properties were analyzed using two dry powder inhalers (Easyhaler and Twister). In addition, the biological activity and cell monolayer permeation was tested. The antifibrotic effect of tilorone delivered by oropharyngeal aspiration was studied in vivo using a silica-induced model of pulmonary fibrosis in mice in a preventive setting. When delivered from the Easyhaler in an inhalation simulator, the emitted dose and fine particle fraction were independent from the pressure applied and showed dose repeatability. However, with Twister the aerosolization was pressure-dependent indicating poor compatibility between the device and the formulation. The formulation showed more consistent permeation through a differentiated Calu-3 cell monolayer compared to pristine tilorone. Tilorone decreased the histological fibrosis score in vivo in systemic and local administration, but only systemic administration decreased the mRNA expression of type I collagen. The difference was hypothesized to result from 40-fold higher drug concentration in tissue samples in the systemic administration group. These results show that tilorone can be formulated as inhalable dry powder and has potential as an oral and inhalable antifibrotic drug.

Development of sustained-release matrix tablets of BKP-01-041 (tilorone derivative) containing Hypromellose.

The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate sustained-release matrix tablets of BKP-01-041 (tilorone derivative) based on Hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, HPMC) as the matrix forming polymer. The sustained-release tablets were prepared by the wet granulation method. The influence of HPMC viscosity and ratios on drug release was investigated in vitro. Dissolution of the tablets developed with 26% HPMC K4 M/K100 M (1:2) (w/w) content showed a better drug release profile than the other batches tested in 12 h. Drug release from the optimal formulation was analyzed using release kinetics equations. The release kinetics parameters were determined and the value of the exponent (n) representing the apparent drug release mechanism determined from the Peppas equation was about 0.726. These results suggest that the drug release mechanism was non-Fickian (0.45 < n < 0.89), and drug release was dependent on both drug diffusion and polymer erosion.

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of fluorenone analogs with DNA topoisomerase I inhibitory properties.

A series of 2,7-diamidofluorenones were designed, synthesized, and screened by SRB assay. Some synthesized compounds exhibited antitumor activities in submicromolar range. Ten compounds (3a, 3b, 3c, 3g, 3j, 3l, 4a, 4h, 4i, and 4j) were also selected by NCI screening system and 3c (GI50=1.66 µM) appeared to be the most active agent of this series. Furthermore, 3c attenuated topoisomerase I-mediated DNA relaxation at low micromolar concentrations. These results indicated that fluorenones have potential to be further developed into anticancer drugs.

Discovery of inhibitors of Bacillus anthracis primase DnaG.

Primase DnaG is an essential bacterial enzyme that synthesizes short ribonucleotide primers required for chromosomal DNA replication. Inhibitors of DnaG can serve as leads for development of new antibacterials and biochemical probes. We recently developed a nonradioactive in vitro primase-pyrophosphatase assay to identify and analyze DnaG inhibitors. Application of this assay to DnaG from Bacillus anthracis (Ba DnaG), a dangerous pathogen, yielded several inhibitors, which include agents with DNA intercalating properties (doxorubicin and tilorone) as well as those that do not intercalate into DNA (suramin). A polyanionic agent and inhibitor of eukaryotic primases, suramin, identified by this assay as a low-micromolar Ba DnaG inhibitor, was recently shown to be also a low-micromolar inhibitor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DnaG (Mtb DnaG). In contrast, another low-micromolar Ba DnaG inhibitor, tilorone, is much more potent against Ba DnaG than against Mtb DnaG, despite homology between these enzymes, suggesting that DnaG can be targeted selectively.

Synthesis and activity evaluation of tilorone analogs as potential anticancer agents.

Tilorone is an interferon inducer with anticancer activity. Twenty-two novel tilorone analogs were synthesized by improvements of fluorenone skeleton, side chains and amino groups to screen new anticancer agents. In vitro evaluation showed that ten new compounds had better anticancer activities than tilorone. Among them, 2c (IC50 < 7 µM against cancer cell lines and IC50 > 35 µM against non-cancer cell lines) and 5d (IC50 < 10 µM against cancer cell lines and IC50 > 53 µM against non-cancer cell lines) exhibited the best anticancer activities and selectivities. Pharmacophore modeling of highly active compounds was carried out by Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) to generate a visualized model for compound design in future study.

SAR of α7 nicotinic receptor agonists derived from tilorone: exploration of a novel nicotinic pharmacophore.

The well-known interferon-inducer tilorone was found to possess potent affinity for the agonist site of the α7 neuronal nicotinic receptor (K(i)=56 nM). SAR investigations determined that both basic sidechains are essential for potent activity, however active monosubstituted derivatives can also be prepared if the flexible sidechains are replaced with conformationally rigidified cyclic amines. Analogs in which the fluorenone core is replaced with either dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide or xanthenone also retain potent activity.

[Effect of amyxine, loramyxine and their composites with yeast RNA on spontaneous and induced mutagenesis in Salmonella typhymurium].

It was found out that amyxine, loramyxine and their composites with yeast DNA do not increase reliably the frequency of spontaneous mutations in test-strain S. typhymurium TA 98. The studied substances do not possess the antimutagen activity in respect of mutations, induced by potassium bichromate in S. typhymurium TA 98 and do not increase their quantity.

[Comparative cytotoxic characteristics of the interferon-inducing yeast RNA-tilorone complex]. / Sravnitel'naia kharakteristika tsitotoksichnosti interferon-indutsiruiushchego kompleksa drozhzhevaia RNK-tiloron.

Cytotoxicity of the yeast RNA-tilorona molecular complex (MC) with interferonogenic properties and its influence on the DNA replicative synthesis were studied in experiments with human lymphocytes and 3 cell lines. It was shown that the MC doses of 25, 100 and 250 micrograms/ml were absolutely nontoxic for all the cell lines. The main parameters of the MC toxicity based on the cell viability were calculated. The parameters were found to correlate in the order of their magnitude with those relating to interferonogens of the polynucleotide nature. Within the dose ranges of 10 to 100 micrograms/ml the MC had a stimulating effect on replicative processes in the cells. It was concluded that the use of the MC as an inductor in large-scale manufacture of human and animal interferons of type 1 was promising.

DNA-drug interaction measurements using surface plasmon resonance.

The interactions of the drugs 2,7-bis[(diethylamino)-ethoxy]-fluoren-9-one dihydrochloride (Tilorone), 2,7-bis[(dipropylamino)-acetamido]-fluoren-9-one dihydrochloride (FA-2), 2'-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2,5'-bi-1H-benzimidazole trihydrochloride (Hoechst 33258), and hematoporphyrin IX derivative (HPD) with synthetic self-complementary DNA (36-b.p.; 5'-biotin-spacer-[d(CGCTATATAGCG)]3-3') were studied by SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance). Monolayers of biotinylated DNA were immobilized on a streptavidin-dextran-gold triple-layer. Small portions of the drugs (approximately 30 pmol/ml) were injected in continuous flow. The mass corresponded to the amount of the bound molecules. Injections of 50 mM sodium hydroxide pulses separated the DNA double strands, releasing the effector molecules. Subsequent treatments with the effectors gave reproducible results. The maximum interaction between drug and DNA was observed in the case of Tilorone. 41 molecules could bind to the 36-b.p. DNA duplex. To investigate the microscopic behavior in condensed nucleic acid phases, SFM (Scanning Force Microscopy)-imaging and polarizing microscopic observations of DNA-effector complexes were carried out. Supplementary UV-absorption thermal denaturation curves of DNA with the above-mentioned effectors in dilute solutions were measured. As an additional aid to understand the geometries of DNA-drug interactions, computer simulations were performed and compared with the experimental data.

Lysosomal glycosaminoglycan storage as induced by dicationic amphiphilic drugs: investigation into the mechanisms underlying the slow reversibility.

Several dicationic amphiphilic compounds, such as the immunomodulator tilorone and analogues, impair the lysosomal catabolism of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Thereby they cause lysosomal GAG storage in rats and in cultured fibroblasts of several species including man. The GAG storage is rather slowly reversible in vivo; it persists for months after discontinuance of drug treatment. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the slow reversibility. Cultured bovine corneal fibroblasts were pretreated for 4 days with tilorone (5 and 20 microM) or with compound CL-90.100 (3 and 10 microM) and further cultured in drug-free medium for periods up to 11 days. The intracellular GAG storage was analysed biochemically and demonstrated histochemically. The subcellular drug distribution (CL-90.100) was demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. Dermatan sulphate (DS) provided the predominant contribution towards the GAG storage. After pretreatments with the low, as well as the high concentrations of either drug, the storage of DS was irreversible during the period of observation, whereas the minor storage of heparan sulphate was resolved. The enhanced secretion of the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase (E.C. 3.2.1.52) caused by pretreatment with the high concentration of tilorone was also readily reversible. Thus, enzyme deprivation could not be the explanation for the sustained DS storage. The localization of the drug-related fluorescence within perinuclear cell organelles, presumably lysosomes, resembled that of the stored GAGs as visualized by histochemical staining. Both, the fluorescence and the positive GAG staining persisted with unchanged intracellular distribution throughout the recovery period. The present results suggest that the persistence of the DS storage is due to the formation of long-lived, non-degradable DS-drug complexes within the lysosomes.

[Thermal denaturation of molecular complexes formed by single stranded RNA with tilorone]. / Temperaturna denaturatsiia molekuliarnykh kompleksiv odnolantsiugovoï RNK tyloronom.

The study of thermal denaturation for molecular complexes formed during interaction between phage MS2 single-stranded RNA and tilorone has been carried out. Both certain increase of Tm (by on 1.1) and the narrowing of complexes melting interval, delta T, (by 5.6 degrees C), have been detected. The value of hyperchromic effect, H, increases twice. The conclusion is made concerning the formation of double-stranded regions in single-stranded RNA molecules in the process of RNA--tilorone interactions. These results are discussed as an additional proof of our previous presumption concerning stabilization of spontaneously forming double-stranded RNA regions by tilorone binding.

[Study of anti-HIV activity of the yeast RNA-tilorone molecular complex]. / Izuchenie anti-VICh-aktivnosti molekuliarnogo kompleksa drozhzhevaia RNK-tiloron.

Anti-HIV activity of the molecular complex forming during interaction between yeast RNA and tilorone was studied in vitro on the models of acute and chronic infection. Addition of this agent to the cells infected with HIV-1/IIIB and HIV-1/BRU decreased the virus reproduction controlled by assessing the viability of cells, syncytium production, and accumulation of p24 antigen in culture medium. The authors hypothesize that the detected anti-HIV effect is due to its capacity to produce type I interferon and direct antiviral action.

Drug-induced lysosomal storage of sulphated glycosaminoglycans.

1. Certain compounds (e.g., the immunomodulator tilorone and congeners) are able to induce lysosomal storage of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAG), thus, producing cytological and biochemical alterations reminiscent of the inherited mucopolysaccharidoses. The drug-induced GAG storage has been studied in cultured fibroblasts of several species and in rats, and it is likely to occur also in humans. 2. The cytological hallmarks of GAG storage are enlarged lysosomes congested with material that is intensely stained by cationic dyes. With respect to fixation techniques, one has to keep in mind that the GAGs are highly water-soluble and are leached during conventional fixation and tissue processing. Biochemically, the elevation of GAG contents in tissues and cultured fibroblasts is due to storage of dermatan sulphate, predominantly. 3. The molecular structure of the potent inducers of GAG storage is characterized by a planar tricyclic aromatic ring system that is symmetrically substituted with two side chains of 4-5 sigma bond length, each carrying a protonizable nitrogen atom. The lysosomal storage of GAG is accompanied by lysosomal accumulation of the inducing drug, with the molar ratio of drug to GAG-disaccharide unit amounting to > 1:1. The reversibility of GAG storage is rather slow. 4. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the drug side effects are discussed and the following hypothesis is put forward: The compounds in question are lysosomotropic weak bases. They get trapped in the acidic lysosomes and accumulate highly there. Physicochemical data suggest that the drugs form complexes with the sulphated GAGs, particularly with dermatan sulphate: The positively charged nitrogen atoms of the drug side chains interact with the negative charges of sulphate and carboxy groups of the GAGs, thereby crosslinking at least two GAG helices. Moreover, the interlinking drug molecules form parallel stacks resulting from interaction of the aromatic pi-electrons of the planar ring systems. This further stabilizes the complexes. The GAGs within the complexes are thought to be resistant to the degrading lysosomal enzymes. 5. Drug-induced GAG storage has not been directly demonstrated in man. Yet, clinical reports on keratopathy and basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in blood lymphocytes of tilorone-treated patients suggest that this drug side effect may also occur in man.

Tilorone-induced lysosomal lesions: the bisbasic character of the drug is essential for its high potency to cause storage of sulphated glycosaminoglycans.

The immunomodulatory agent tilorone -2,7-bis-[2-(diethyl-amino)ethoxy]fluoren-9-one- and congeners are potent inducers of lysosomal storage of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in animals and cultured fibroblasts of animals and man. All potent inducers of GAG storage hitherto described are bisbasic polycyclic aromatic compounds. They are accumulated in lysosomes and disturb the degradation of GAGs, mainly dermatan sulphate. It has been proposed that the drugs cross-link the polyanionic GAG chains giving rise to undergradable drug-GAG complexes. This hypothesis implies that the bisbasic character of the drug molecules is essential for the side effect in question. In the present study, this was tested by comparing tilorone and its monobasic derivative (MT) with respect to (i) induction of GAG storage in cultured bovine corneal fibroblasts and (ii) physicochemical interactions with GAGs in vitro. The intralysosomal concentration of MT achieved after 1-3 days was of the same order of magnitude as previously shown for tilorone. Nevertheless, under conditions that did not enhance the secretion of a lysosomal enzyme (beta-hexosaminidase, EC 3.2.1.52), the ability of MT to cause storage of [35S]GAGs was significantly lower than that of tilorone. Morphological observations showed that MT was much more potent in causing lysosomal storage of polar lipids than of GAGs. CD spectroscopy with tilorone revealed that the presence of GAGs caused the primarily achiral drug molecules to display CD. This suggested a helical orientation of the tilorone molecules within GAG-drug complexes, and short intermolecular distances which allowed electronic coupling of the aromatic ring systems of adjacent drug molecules. In contrast, MT failed to display any induced optical activity, indicating the absence of highly ordered GAG-drug complexes. In conclusion, the present results show that the substitution of the planar aromatic ring system with two basic side chains is essential for the high potency of tilorone in inducing lysosomal GAG storage. This is paralleled by, and presumably causally related to, strong physicochemical interactions with GAGs.

[Production of type I interferons in the body exposed to yeast RNA-tiloron molecular complexes]. / Produktsiia interferonov I tipa v organizme pod deistviem molekuliarnykh kompleksov drozhzhevaia RNK-tiloron.

Molecular complexes forming as a result of interaction between yeast RNA preparations with 2,7-bis[-(diethylaminoethoxy)-fluorene]-9-on dihydrochloride (tilorone) administered parenterally to mice cause the appearance of interferon in high titers compatible to those induced by standard inductors of polyribonucleotide origin, poly(I)-poly(C) and larifan. Some physiologic conditions of interferonogenesis have been studied. The above molecular complexes in the dose range used experimentally were completely nontoxic. Hence, these complexes are promising agents for interferon induction.

Tilorone-induced lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans in cultured corneal fibroblasts: biochemical and physicochemical investigations.

Tilorone (2,7-bis[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]-fluoren-9-one) and several other bis-basic compounds are known to induce lysosomal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) storage. The responsible pathomechanism has not been elucidated yet. The assumption of an unspecific disturbance of lysosomal proenzyme targeting due to elevation of endosomal pH is opposed by the hypothesis of formation of a complex between tilorone and GAGs within the lysosomes, which renders GAGs indigestible to glycosidases. In cultures of bovine corneal fibroblasts the amounts of intracellular GAGs [dermatan sulphate (DS), heparan sulphate (HS) and chondroitin sulphate (CS)] were quantified. The fibroblasts were exposed to tilorone (5 microM), which was found to be readily taken up by the cells and to be accumulated within acidic compartments to finally achieve millimolar concentrations. Under these conditions the GAG storage is predominantly due to the accumulation of DS; however, the DS secretion into the culture medium was not affected. The HS accumulation was much less pronounced, accounting only for 3% of total GAG storage. Ammonium chloride (10 mM), which is known to diminish lysosomal enzyme activity by interfering with the mannose 6-phosphate receptor-mediated transport, prevents both HS and DS breakdown. By means of NMR spectroscopy it was shown that tilorone itself tends to display a concentration-dependent aggregation which was enhanced in the presence of GAGs. The diethylamino groups of tilorone interact physicochemically with DS, and to a smaller extent with HS, but not with chondroitin 4-sulphate. Thus, the strength of the interaction between tilorone and the different GAGs in vitro correlates with the potency of tilorone to inhibit the breakdown of the individual GAGs in cultured bovine fibroblasts. The results support the hypothesis of a specific interaction between tilorone and particular GAGs, rendering these resistant to enzymic degradation.

Drug-induced intralysosomal storage of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): a methodical pitfall occurring with acridine derivatives.

The present communication deals with an adverse drug action which is exerted by a series of dicationic amphiphilic compounds such as the immunomodulatory drug tilorone and congeners. The drugs induce lysosomal storage of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in intact organisms and in cultured cells by impairing the lysosomal GAG degradation. This impairment was proposed to be due to the formation of non-degradable GAG-drug complexes. GAGs are highly water-soluble and not preservable by aldehyde fixatives. Therefore, usually the lysosomes appear optically empty in histological preparations, unless the fixative is supplemented with a GAG-precipitating agent. When acridine derivatives were used for the induction of GAG-storage, the lysosomal storage material displayed unexpected and unsystematic variability with regard to its preservability and ultrastructure. In the present study, evidence is presented that the acridine derivatives (a) remain bound to the stored GAGs for some time after glutaraldehyde fixation; and (b) they precipitate GAGs in vitro. Thus, apart from their unwanted action in the living cell, i.e., disturbing lysosomal GAG-degradation, the drugs function as precipitants and "fixatives" for the intralysosomal GAGs. The uncontrolled persistence of the drugs after tissue fixation leads to variable degree of GAG-preservation and thus to unpredictable variability of the ultrastructure of the storage lysosomes. If this pitfall is not realized, the resulting inconsistencies may rise confusion among toxicologic pathologists who deal with drug-induced lysosomal storage disorders.