Identification of 2-Pyridinylindole-Based Dual Antagonists of Toll-like Receptors 7 and 8 (TLR7/8).

The toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key roles in activation of the innate immune system. Aberrant activation of TLR7 and TLR8 pathways can occur in the context of autoimmune disorders due to the elevated presence and recognition of self-RNA as activating ligands. Control of this unintended activation via inhibition of TLR7/8 signaling holds promise for the treatment of diseases such as psoriasis, arthritis, and lupus.

Identification and stratification of systemic lupus erythematosus patients into two transcriptionally distinct clusters based on IFN-I signature.

Objective: Despite the significant advancement in the understanding of the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) variable clinical response to newer therapies remain a major concern, especially for patients with lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). We performed this study with an objective to comprehensively characterize Indian SLE patients with renal and neuropsychiatric manifestation with respect to their gene signature, cytokine profile and immune cell phenotypes.

Methods: We characterized 68 Indian SLE subjects with diverse clinical profiles and disease activity and tried to identify differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways.

Discovery of Potent and Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule Antagonists of Toll-like Receptors 7/8/9 (TLR7/8/9).

The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune system, responsible for the early detection of foreign or endogenous threat signals. In the context of autoimmunity, the unintended recognition of self-motifs as foreign promotes initiation or propagation of disease. Overactivation of TLR7 and TLR9 have been implicated as factors contributing to autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis, arthritis, and lupus.

Crystal structure of rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase--role of crown domain in mammalian alkaline phosphatases.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatases (IAPs) are involved in the cleavage of phosphate prodrugs to liberate the drug for absorption in the intestine. To facilitate in vitro characterization of phosphate prodrugs, we have cloned, expressed, purified and characterized IAPs from rat and cynomolgus monkey (rIAP and cIAP respectively) which are important pre-clinical species for drug metabolism studies. The recombinant rat and monkey enzymes expressed in Sf9 insect cells (IAP-Ic) were found to be glycosylated and active.

Characterization of recombinantly expressed rat and monkey intestinal alkaline phosphatases: in vitro studies and in vivo correlations.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatases (IALPs) are widely expressed in the brush border of epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. Although their physiologic role is unclear, they are very significant when it comes to the release of bioactive parent from orally dosed phosphate prodrugs. Such prodrugs can be resistant to cleavage by IALP, or alternatively undergo rapid cleavage leading to the release and precipitation of the less soluble parent.