A novel phosphocholine-mimetic inhibits a pro-inflammatory conformational change in C-reactive protein.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an early-stage acute phase protein and highly upregulated in response to inflammatory reactions. We recently identified a novel mechanism that leads to a conformational change from the native, functionally relatively inert, pentameric CRP (pCRP) structure to a pentameric CRP intermediate (pCRP*) and ultimately to the monomeric CRP (mCRP) form, both exhibiting highly pro-inflammatory effects. This transition in the inflammatory profile of CRP is mediated by binding of pCRP to activated/damaged cell membranes via exposed phosphocholine lipid head groups.

Pharmacokinetic study of the novel phosphocholine derivative 3-dibutylaminopropylphosphonic acid by LC-MS coupling.

CRP is an important mediator of the inflammatory response. Pro-inflammatory CRP effects are mediated by pCRP* and mCRP, dissociation products of the native pCRP. The concentration of pCRP during inflammation may rise up to concentrations 1000-fold from baseline.

Platelets in Multiple Sclerosis: Early and Central Mediators of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration and Attractive Targets for Molecular Imaging and Site-Directed Therapy.

Platelets are clearly central to thrombosis and hemostasis. In addition, more recently, evidence has emerged for non-hemostatic roles of platelets including inflammatory and immune reactions/responses. Platelets express immunologically relevant ligands and receptors, demonstrate adhesive interactions with endothelial cells, monocytes and neutrophils, and toll-like receptor (TLR) mediated responses.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes with the designer cytokine IC7Fc.

The gp130 receptor cytokines IL-6 and CNTF improve metabolic homeostasis but have limited therapeutic use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Accordingly, we engineered the gp130 ligand IC7Fc, in which one gp130-binding site is removed from IL-6 and replaced with the LIF-receptor-binding site from CNTF, fused with the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G, creating a cytokine with CNTF-like, but IL-6-receptor-dependent, signalling. Here we show that IC7Fc improves glucose tolerance and hyperglycaemia and prevents weight gain and liver steatosis in mice.

Substituted Pyridazin-3(2 H)-ones as Highly Potent and Biased Formyl Peptide Receptor Agonists.

Herein we describe the development of a focused series of functionalized pyridazin-3(2 H)-one-based formyl peptide receptor (FPR) agonists that demonstrate high potency and biased agonism. The compounds described demonstrated biased activation of prosurvival signaling, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, through diminution of the detrimental FPR1/2-mediated intracellular calcium (Ca) mobilization. Compound 50 showed an EC of 0.

Targeting the CDA1/CDA1BP1 Axis Retards Renal Fibrosis in Experimental Diabetic Nephropathy.

Targeting cell division autoantigen 1 (CDA1) is postulated to attenuate the profibrotic actions of transforming growth factor-β in diabetic nephropathy. This study has identified a regulatory protein for CDA1 and has then used genetic and pharmacological approaches to test in vivo whether strategies to target this pathway would lead to reduced renal injury. A novel protein, named CDA1BP1 (CDA1 binding protein 1), was identified as critical in regulating the profibrotic activity of CDA1.

A versatile approach for the site-specific modification of recombinant antibodies using a combination of enzyme-mediated bioconjugation and click chemistry.

A unique two-step modular system for site-specific antibody modification and conjugation is reported. The first step of this approach uses enzymatic bioconjugation with the transpeptidase Sortase A for incorporation of strained cyclooctyne functional groups. The second step of this modular approach involves the azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reaction.

The structure of vanin 1: a key enzyme linking metabolic disease and inflammation.

Although part of the coenzyme A pathway, vanin 1 (also known as pantetheinase) sits on the cell surface of many cell types as an ectoenzyme, catalyzing the breakdown of pantetheine to pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and cysteamine, a strong reducing agent. Vanin 1 was initially discovered as a protein involved in the homing of leukocytes to the thymus. Numerous studies have shown that vanin 1 is involved in inflammation, and more recent studies have shown a key role in metabolic disease.

Efficacy and safety of oral methazolamide in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 24-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of methazolamide as a potential therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 76 patients to oral methazolamide (40 mg b.i.

The modified selenenyl amide, M-hydroxy ebselen, attenuates diabetic nephropathy and diabetes-associated atherosclerosis in ApoE/GPx1 double knockout mice.

Seleno-organic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimetics, including ebselen (Eb), have been tested in in vitro studies for their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, including hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite. In this study, we investigated the efficacies of two Eb analogues, m-hydroxy ebselen (ME) and ethanol-ebselen (EtE) and compared these with Eb in cell based assays. We found that ME is superior in attenuating the activation of hydrogen peroxide-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, ERK and P38 in human aortic endothelial cells.

Circulating microparticles generate and transport monomeric C-reactive protein in patients with myocardial infarction.

Aims: Elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) following myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with poor outcomes. Although animal studies have indicated a direct pathogenic role of CRP, the mechanism underlying this remains elusive. Dissociation of pentameric CRP (pCRP) into pro-inflammatory monomers (mCRP) may directly link CRP to inflammation.

Methazolamide is a new hepatic insulin sensitizer that lowers blood glucose in vivo.

We previously used Gene Expression Signature technology to identify methazolamide (MTZ) and related compounds with insulin sensitizing activity in vitro. The effects of these compounds were investigated in diabetic db/db mice, insulin-resistant diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, and rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. MTZ reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA(1c) levels in db/db mice, improved glucose tolerance in DIO mice, and enhanced the glucose-lowering effects of exogenous insulin administration in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

An Orally Available 3-Ethoxybenzisoxazole Capsid Binder with Clinical Activity against Human Rhinovirus.

Respiratory infections caused by human rhinovirus are responsible for severe exacerbations of underlying clinical conditions such as asthma in addition to their economic cost in terms of lost working days due to illness. While several antiviral compounds for treating rhinoviral infections have been discovered, none have succeeded, to date, in reaching approval for clinical use. We have developed a potent, orally available rhinovirus inhibitor 6 that has progressed through early clinical trials.

An activation-specific platelet inhibitor that can be turned on/off by medically used hypothermia.

Objective: Therapeutic hypothermia is successfully used, for example, in cardiac surgery to protect organs from ischemia. Cardiosurgical procedures, especially in combination with extracorporeal circulation, and hypothermia itself are potentially prothrombotic. Despite the obvious need, the long half-life of antiplatelet drugs and thus the risk of postoperative bleedings have restricted their use in cardiac surgery.

GPVI and GPIbα mediate staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5) induced platelet activation and direct toward glycans as potential inhibitors.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common pathogen capable of causing life-threatening infections. Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5) has recently been shown to bind to platelet glycoproteins and induce platelet activation.

Structure activity relationship of dendrimer microbicides with dual action antiviral activity.

Background: Topical microbicides, used by women to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are urgently required. Dendrimers are highly branched nanoparticles being developed as microbicides. However, the anti-HIV and HSV structure-activity relationship of dendrimers comprising benzyhydryl amide cores and lysine branches, and a comprehensive analysis of their broad-spectrum anti-HIV activity and mechanism of action have not been published.

Pharmacokinetics and tumor disposition of PEGylated, methotrexate conjugated poly-l-lysine dendrimers.

Dendrimers have potential for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs to solid tumors via the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. The impact of conjugation of hydrophobic anticancer drugs to hydrophilic PEGylated dendrimer surfaces, however, has not been fully investigated. The current study has therefore characterized the effect on dendrimer disposition of conjugating alpha-carboxyl protected methotrexate (MTX) to a series of PEGylated (3)H-labeled poly-l-lysine dendrimers ranging in size from generation 3 (G3) to 5 (G5) in rats.

The impact of molecular weight and PEG chain length on the systemic pharmacokinetics of PEGylated poly l-lysine dendrimers.

The impact of PEGylation on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of (3)H-labeled poly l-lysine dendrimers has been investigated after intravenous administration to rats. The volumes of distribution, clearance and consequently the plasma half-lives of the PEGylated dendrimers were markedly dependent on the total molecular weight of the PEGylated dendrimer, but were not specifically affected by the PEG chain length alone. In general, the larger dendrimer constructs (i.

Impact of surface derivatization of poly-L-lysine dendrimers with anionic arylsulfonate or succinate groups on intravenous pharmacokinetics and disposition.

Tritium-labeled poly- l-lysine dendrimers displaying 8 or 16 surface lysines have been capped with benzene sulfonate (BS), benzene disulfonate (BDS), or succinate (Succ) groups, and the intravenous pharmacokinetics and disposition profiles of the resulting dendrimers (Lys(8)(BS)(16), Lys(16)(BS)(32), Lys(16)(BDS)(32), Lys(16)(Succ)(32)) have been evaluated. Lys(16)(Succ)(32) was rapidly removed from the plasma primarily via renal elimination. Lys(16)(BS)(32) and Lys(16)(BDS)(32) were opsonized, resulting in more prolonged plasma elimination kinetics and increased uptake by the liver.

Cationic poly-L-lysine dendrimers: pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and evidence for metabolism and bioresorption after intravenous administration to rats.

Cationic poly-L-lysine 3H-dendrimers with either 16 or 32 surface amine groups (BHALys [Lys]4 [3H-Lys]8 [NH2]16 and BHALys [Lys]8 [3H-Lys]16 [NH2]32, generation 3 and 4, respectively) have been synthesized and their pharmacokinetics and biodistribution investigated after intravenous administration to rats. The species in plasma with which radiolabel was associated was also investigated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Rapid initial removal of radiolabel from plasma was evident for both dendrimers (t(1/2) < 5 min).

Improving the membrane permeability of sialic acid derivatives.

The potential of boronic acids to improve the bioavailability of carbohydrate derived drugs was investigated through the study of the transport of four sialic acid derivatives through a lipophilic supported liquid membrane at departure phase pH's of 7.4, 8.5 and 10.

2-Ethoxybenzoxazole as a bioisosteric replacement of an ethyl benzoate group in a human rhinovirus (HRV) capsid binder.

A series of pyridazinylpiperidinyl capsid-binding compounds with novel bicyclic substituents were synthesized and screened against human rhinovirus (HRV). Several 2-alkoxy- and 2-alkylthio-benzoxazole and benzothiazole derivatives showed excellent anti-HRV activity. When tested against a panel of 16 representative HRV types the 2-ethoxybenzoxazole derivative 13 was found to have superior HRV activity (median EC(50) 3.

Highly potent and long-acting trimeric and tetrameric inhibitors of influenza virus neuraminidase.

A set of trimeric and tetrameric derivatives 6-11 of the influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitor zanamivir 1 have been synthesized by coupling a common monomeric zanamivir derivative 3 onto various multimeric carboxylic acid core groups. These discrete multimeric compounds are all significantly more antiviral than zanamivir and also show outstanding long-lasting protective activity when tested in mouse influenza infectivity experiments.