Chemistry and Biology of SARS-CoV-2.

Chem. 2020 Jun 11;6(6):1283-1295

Authors: Dömling A, Gao L

Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (previously 2019-nCoV or Wuhan coronavirus) caused an unprecedented fast-spreading worldwide pandemic. Although currently with a rather low mortality rate, the virus spread rapidly over the world using the modern world's traffic highways. The coronavirus (CoV) family members were responsible for several deadly outbreaks and epidemics during the last decade. Not only governments but also the scientific community reacted promptly to the outbreak, and information is shared quickly. For example, the genetic fingerprint was shared, and the 3D structure of key proteins was rapidly solved, which can be used for the discovery of potential treatments. An overview is given on the current knowledge of the spread, disease course, and molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2. We discuss potential treatment developments in the context of recent outbreaks, drug repurposing, and development timelines.

PMID: 32529116 [PubMed]

DDIEM: drug database for inborn errors of metabolism.

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020 Jun 11;15(1):146

Authors: Abdelhakim M, McMurray E, Syed AR, Kafkas S, Kamau AA, Schofield PN, Hoehndorf R

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) represent a subclass of rare inherited diseases caused by a wide range of defects in metabolic enzymes or their regulation. Of over a thousand characterized IEMs, only about half are understood at the molecular level, and overall the development of treatment and management strategies has proved challenging. An overview of the changing landscape of therapeutic approaches is helpful in assessing strategic patterns in the approach to therapy, but the information is scattered throughout the literature and public data resources.
RESULTS: We gathered data on therapeutic strategies for 300 diseases into the Drug Database for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (DDIEM). Therapeutic approaches, including both successful and ineffective treatments, were manually classified by their mechanisms of action using a new ontology.
CONCLUSIONS: We present a manually curated, ontologically formalized knowledgebase of drugs, therapeutic procedures, and mitigated phenotypes. DDIEM is freely available through a web interface and for download at http://ddiem.phenomebrowser.net.

PMID: 32527280 [PubMed - in process]

NMDA Receptor Antagonists: Repositioning of Memantine as a Multitargeting Agent for Alzheimer's Therapy.

Curr Pharm Des. 2019;25(33):3506-3518

Authors: Kabir MT, Sufian MA, Uddin MS, Begum MM, Akhter S, Islam A, Mathew B, Islam MS, Amran MS, Md Ashraf G

Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Currently, there is no drug that can reduce the pathological events of this degenerative disease but symptomatic relief is possible that can abate the disease condition. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors exert a critical role for synaptic plasticity as well as transmission. Overstimulation of glutamate receptors, predominantly NMDA type, may cause excitotoxic effects on neurons and is recommended as a mechanism for neurodegeneration. Atypical activation of the NMDA receptor has been suggested for AD by synaptic dysfunction. NMDA receptor antagonists especially memantine block the NMDA receptor and can reduce the influx of calcium (Ca2+) ions into neuron, thus, toxic intracellular events are not activated. This review represents the role of NMDA receptors antagonists as potential therapeutic agents to reduce AD. Moreover, this review highlights the repositioning of memantine as a potential novel therapeutic multitargeting agent for AD.

PMID: 31604413 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Cholinesterase Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease: Multitargeting Strategy Based on Anti-Alzheimer's Drugs Repositioning.

Curr Pharm Des. 2019;25(33):3519-3535

Authors: Kabir MT, Uddin MS, Begum MM, Thangapandiyan S, Rahman MS, Aleya L, Mathew B, Ahmed M, Barreto GE, Ashraf GM

Abstract
In the brain, acetylcholine (ACh) is regarded as one of the major neurotransmitters. During the advancement of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cholinergic deficits occur and this can lead to extensive cognitive dysfunction and decline. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) remains a highly feasible target for the symptomatic improvement of AD. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) remains a highly viable target for the symptomatic improvement in AD because cholinergic deficit is a consistent and early finding in AD. The treatment approach of inhibiting peripheral AChE for myasthenia gravis had effectively proven that AChE inhibition was a reachable therapeutic target. Subsequently tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine were developed and approved for the symptomatic treatment of AD. Since then, multiple cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) have been continued to be developed. These include newer ChEIs, naturally derived ChEIs, hybrids, and synthetic analogues. In this paper, we summarize the different types of ChEIs which are under development and their respective mechanisms of actions.

PMID: 31593530 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2020/06/12

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Apomorphine induces mitochondrial dysfunction-dependent apoptosis in choriocarcinoma.

Reproduction. 2020 Jun 01;:

Authors: Lee JY, Ham J, Lim W, Song G

Abstract
Apomorphine is a derivative of morphine that is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease because of its effects on the hypothalamus. Therapeutic effects of apomorphine have also been reported for various neurological diseases and cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of the antitumor effects of apomorphine are not clear, especially with respect to choriocarcinoma. This is the first study to elucidate the anticancer effects of apomorphine on choriocarcinoma. We found that apomorphine suppressed the viability, proliferation, adenosine triphosphate production, and spheroid formation of JEG3 and JAR choriocarcinoma cells. Moreover, apomorphine activated the intrinsic apoptosis pathway by activating caspases and inhibited the production of anti-apoptotic proteins in choriocarcinoma cells. Further, apomorphine caused depolarization of mitochondria, calcium overload, energy deprivation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in JEG3 and JAR cells. We confirmed synergistic effects of apomorphine with paclitaxel, a traditional chemotherapeutic agent, and propose that apomorphine could be a potential therapeutic agent in choriocarcinoma and an important candidate for drug repositioning that could help overcome resistance to conventional chemotherapy.

PMID: 32520723 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Artesunate interacts with the Vitamin D receptor to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression in a mouse model via enhancing autophagy.

Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Jun 10;:

Authors: Shang S, Wu J, Li X, Liu X, Li P, Zheng C, Wang Y, Liu S, Zheng J, Zhou H

Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Immunosuppression is the predominant cause of mortality for sepsis because of failure to eradicate invading pathogens. No effective and specific drugs capable of reversing immunosuppression are available clinically. Evidences implicate the involvement of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in sepsis-induced immunosuppression. Herein, artesunate (AS) was discovered to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression and the molecular mechanism was investigated.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effect of AS on sepsis-induced immunosuppression was investigated in mice and in vitro. Bioinformatics predicted VDR as a candidate interactor for AS, which was then identified using PCR and immunoblotting. Vdr, Atg16l1, and NF-κB p65 were modified to investigate AS's effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines release, bacterial clearance, and autophagy activities in sepsis-induced immunosuppression.
KEY RESULTS: AS significantly reduced the mortality of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) -induced sepsis immunosuppression mice challenged with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and enhanced proinflammatory cytokine release and bacterial clearance to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, AS interacted with VDR, and then inhibiting its nuclear translocation, which influenced ATG16L1 transcription and subsequent autophagy activity. AS inhibited the physical interaction between VDR and NF-κB p65 in lipopolysaccharide tolerant macrophages, and then promoted the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, which activated the transcription of NF-κB p65 target genes such as pro-inflammatory cytokines.
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings provide evidence that AS interacted with VDR to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression in an autophagy and NF-κB dependent manner, highlighting a novel approach for sepsis treatment and drug repurposing of AS as a bidirectional immunomodulator.

PMID: 32520399 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Comprehensive Analysis of the Immune and Stromal Compartments of the CNS in EAE Mice Reveal Pathways by Which Chloroquine Suppresses Neuroinflammation.

Brain Sci. 2020 Jun 05;10(6):

Authors: Thome R, Boehm A, Ishikawa LLW, Casella G, Munhoz J, Ciric B, Zhang GX, Rostami A

Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) are neuroinflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), where leukocytes and CNS resident cells play important roles in disease development and pathogenesis. The antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) has been shown to suppress EAE by modulating dendritic cells (DCs) and Th17 cells. However, the mechanism of action by which CQ modulates EAE is far from being elucidated. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the CNS of CQ and PBS-treated EAE mice to identify and characterize the cells that are affected by CQ. Our results show that leukocytes are largely modulated by CQ and have a reduction in the expression of inflammatory markers. Intriguingly, CQ vastly modulated the CNS resident cells astrocytes, oligodendrocytes (OLs) and microglia (MG), with the latter producing IL-10 and IL-12p70. Overall, our results show a panoramic view of the cellular components that are affect by CQ and provide further evidence that drug repurposing of CQ will be beneficial to MS patients.

PMID: 32516999 [PubMed]

COVID-19: The race for a vaccine.

J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst. 2020 Apr-Jun;21(2):1470320320926902

Authors: Lockey E

PMID: 32404020 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Methenamine's journey of 160 years: Repurposal of an old urinary antiseptic for treatment and hypoxic radiosensitization of cancers and glioblastoma.

Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2019 05;46(5):407-412

Authors: Altinoz MA, Ozpinar A, Ozpinar A, Perez JL, Elmaci İ

Abstract
Methenamine (hexamethylenetetramine, hexamine, urotropine) is a compound discovered in 1859, which is still currently being used as a urinary antiseptic. Methenamine is highly soluble in water and polar solvents, and its molecular constitution is similar to adamantane compounds with tetrahedral cage like structure. In acidic conditions, methenamine decomposes to formaldehyde and ammonia. Recently, methenamine has gained a renewal of interest due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria urinary tract infections; interestingly, bacteria cannot gain resistance to formaldehyde. In 1968, David and Burkitt reported remarkable regression of four Burkitt Lymphoma patients in eight subjects who were treated with septicemine (a solution containing 6.3 g of methenamine iodomethylate and 1 g of methenamine sodium benzoate in 100 cc distilled water). Unfortunately, these striking observations did not gain interest in the medical community; despite experimental models that showed that methenamine synergized with hyperthermia, radiation, and chemotherapy to block cancer growth. As the hypoxic core of tumours have an acidic pH, it would be plausible to expect that methenamine would selectively target dormant, non-proliferative, and treatment-resistant cancer clones in large tumours. Moreover, previous data suggests that methenamine can be safely used intravenously and for treatment of infections of the central nervous system. It may therefore be an effective adjuvant in treatment of systemic cancers and glioblastoma.

PMID: 30721527 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2020/06/10

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

6 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2020/06/10

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

20 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2020/06/09

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

20 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2020/06/09

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Staurosporine and venetoclax induce the caspase-dependent proteolysis of MEF2D-fusion proteins and apoptosis in MEF2D-fusion (+) ALL cells.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Jun 03;128:110330

Authors: Tange N, Hayakawa F, Yasuda T, Odaira K, Yamamoto H, Hirano D, Sakai T, Terakura S, Tsuzuki S, Kiyoi H

Abstract
MEF2D-fusion (M-fusion) genes are newly discovered recurrent gene abnormalities that are detected in approximately 5 % of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Their introduction to cells has been reported to transform cell lines or increase the colony formation of bone marrow cells, suggesting their survival-supporting ability, which prompted us to examine M-fusion-targeting drugs. To identify compounds that reduce the protein expression level of MEF2D, we developed a high-throughput screening system using 293T cells stably expressing a fusion protein of MEF2D and luciferase, in which the protein expression level of MEF2D was easily measured by a luciferase assay. We screened 3766 compounds with known pharmaceutical activities using this system and selected staurosporine as a potential inducer of the proteolysis of MEF2D. Staurosporine induced the proteolysis of M-fusion proteins in M-fusion (+) ALL cell lines. Proteolysis was inhibited by caspase inhibitors, not proteasome inhibitors, suggesting caspase dependency. Consistent with this result, the growth inhibitory effects of staurosporine were stronger in M-fusion (+) ALL cell lines than in negative cell lines, and caspase inhibitors blocked apoptosis induced by staurosporine. We identified the cleavage site of MEF2D-HNRNPUL1 by caspases and confirmed that its caspase cleavage-resistant mutant was resistant to staurosporine-induced proteolysis. Based on these results, we investigated another Food and Drug Administration-approved caspase activator, venetoclax, and found that it exerted similar effects to staurosporine, namely, the proteolysis of M-fusion proteins and strong growth inhibitory effects in M-fusion (+) ALL cell lines. The present study provides novel insights into drug screening strategies and the clinical indications of venetoclax.

PMID: 32504922 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Understanding Breast cancer: from conventional therapies to repurposed drugs.

Eur J Pharm Sci. 2020 Jun 03;:105401

Authors: Costa B, Amorim I, Gärtner F, Vale N

Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and is considered a developed country disease. Moreover, is a heterogenous disease, existing different types and stages of breast cancer development, therefore, better understanding of cancer biology, helps to improve the development of therapies. The conventional treatments accessible after diagnosis, have the main goal of controlling the disease, by improving survival. In more advance stages the aim is to prolong life and symptom palliation care. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the main options available, which must be adapted to each person individually. However, patients are developing resistance to the conventional therapies. This resistance is due to alterations in important regulatory pathways such as PI3K/AKt/mTOR, this pathway contributes to trastuzumab resistance, a reference drug to treat breast cancer. Therefore, is proposed the repurposing of drugs, instead of developing drugs de novo, for example, to seek new medical treatments within the drugs available, to be used in breast cancer treatment. Providing safe and tolerable treatments to patients, and new insights to efficacy and efficiency of breast cancer treatments. The economic and social burden of cancer is enormous so it must be taken measures to relieve this burden and to ensure continued access to therapies to all patients. In this review we focus on how conventional therapies against breast cancer are leading to resistance, by reviewing those mechanisms and discussing the efficacy of repurposed drugs to fight breast cancer.

PMID: 32504806 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

PS4DR: a multimodal workflow for identification and prioritization of drugs based on pathway signatures.

BMC Bioinformatics. 2020 Jun 05;21(1):231

Authors: Emon MA, Domingo-Fernández D, Hoyt CT, Hofmann-Apitius M

Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the last decade, there has been a surge towards computational drug repositioning owing to constantly increasing -omics data in the biomedical research field. While numerous existing methods focus on the integration of heterogeneous data to propose candidate drugs, it is still challenging to substantiate their results with mechanistic insights of these candidate drugs. Therefore, there is a need for more innovative and efficient methods which can enable better integration of data and knowledge for drug repositioning.
RESULTS: Here, we present a customizable workflow (PS4DR) which not only integrates high-throughput data such as genome-wide association study (GWAS) data and gene expression signatures from disease and drug perturbations but also takes pathway knowledge into consideration to predict drug candidates for repositioning. We have collected and integrated publicly available GWAS data and gene expression signatures for several diseases and hundreds of FDA-approved drugs or those under clinical trial in this study. Additionally, different pathway databases were used for mechanistic knowledge integration in the workflow. Using this systematic consolidation of data and knowledge, the workflow computes pathway signatures that assist in the prediction of new indications for approved and investigational drugs.
CONCLUSION: We showcase PS4DR with applications demonstrating how this tool can be used for repositioning and identifying new drugs as well as proposing drugs that can simulate disease dysregulations. We were able to validate our workflow by demonstrating its capability to predict FDA-approved drugs for their known indications for several diseases. Further, PS4DR returned many potential drug candidates for repositioning that were backed up by epidemiological evidence extracted from scientific literature. Source code is freely available at https://github.com/ps4dr/ps4dr.

PMID: 32503412 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Drug Repurposing for COVID-19: Ethical Considerations and Roadmaps.

Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2020 Jun 05;:1-15

Authors: Ino H, Nakazawa E, Akabayashi A

PMID: 32498751 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Potential Unconventional Medicines for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Drug Res (Stuttg). 2020 06;70(6):286

Authors: Coppola M, Mondola R

PMID: 32428941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Synergistic effect of dichloroacetate on talaporfin sodium-based photodynamic therapy on U251 human astrocytoma cells.

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2020 Jun 01;:101850

Authors: Shinoda Y, Aoki K, Shinkai A, Seki K, Takahashi T, Tsuneoka Y, Akimoto J, Fujiwara Y

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Talaporfin sodium (TS) is an authorized photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against some tumors in Japan; however, the drawbacks of the drug include its high cost and side effects. Thus, reducing the dose of TS in each round of TS-PDT against tumors is important for reducing treatment costs and improving patients' quality of life. Dichloroacetate (DCA) is approved for treating lactic acidosis and hereditary mitochondrial diseases, and it is known to enhance reactive oxygen species production and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Therefore, DCA has the potential to enhance the effects of TS-PDT and permit the use of lower TS doses without reducing the anti-cancer effect.
METHODS: U251 human astrocytoma cells were simultaneously incubated with TS and DCA using different concentrations, administration schedules, and treatment durations, followed by laser irradiation. Cell viability was determined using the CCK-8 assay.
RESULTS: The combinational use of DCA and TS resulted in synergistically enhanced TS-PDT effects in U251 cells. The duration of DCA treatment before TS-PDT slightly enhanced the efficacy of TS-PDT. The intensity of laser irradiation was not associated with the synergistic effect of DCA on TS-PDT. In addition, the relationship between the elapsed time after TS/DCA combination treatment and PDT ineffectiveness was identical to that of TS monotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: DCA synergistically enhanced the anti-cancer effect of TS-PDT, illustrating its potential for drug repositioning in cancer therapy in combination with PDT.

PMID: 32497773 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]