High-Throughput Screening for Identification of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Enhancers: A Drug Repurposing Opportunity to Rectify Vascular Amyloid Toxicity.

J Alzheimers Dis. 2016 Jul 6;

Authors: Qosa H, Mohamed LA, Al Rihani SB, Batarseh YS, Duong QV, Keller JN, Kaddoumi A

Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic interface that maintains brain homeostasis and protects it from free entry of chemicals, toxins, and drugs. The barrier function of the BBB is maintained mainly by capillary endothelial cells that physically separate brain from blood. Several neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are known to disrupt BBB integrity. In this study, a high-throughput screening (HTS) was developed to identify drugs that rectify/protect BBB integrity from vascular amyloid toxicity associated with AD progression. Assessing Lucifer Yellow permeation across in-vitro BBB model composed from mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd3) grown on 96-well plate inserts was used to screen 1280 compounds of Sigma LOPAC®1280 library for modulators of bEnd3 monolayer integrity. HTS identified 62 compounds as disruptors, and 50 compounds as enhancers of the endothelial barrier integrity. From these 50 enhancers, 7 FDA approved drugs were identified with EC50 values ranging from 0.76-4.56 μM. Of these 7 drugs, 5 were able to protect bEnd3-based BBB model integrity against amyloid toxicity. Furthermore, to test the translational potential to humans, the 7 drugs were tested for their ability to rectify the disruptive effect of Aβ in the human endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3. Only 3 (etodolac, granisetron, and beclomethasone) out of the 5 effective drugs in the bEnd3-based BBB model demonstrated a promising effect to protect the hCMEC/D3-based BBB model integrity. These drugs are compelling candidates for repurposing as therapeutic agents that could rectify dysfunctional BBB associated with AD.

PMID: 27392852 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Repositioning tolcapone as a potent inhibitor of transthyretin amyloidogenesis and associated cellular toxicity.

Nat Commun. 2016;7:10787

Authors: Sant'Anna R, Gallego P, Robinson LZ, Pereira-Henriques A, Ferreira N, Pinheiro F, Esperante S, Pallares I, Huertas O, Almeida MR, Reixach N, Insa R, Velazquez-Campoy A, Reverter D, Reig N, Ventura S

Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a plasma homotetrameric protein implicated in fatal systemic amyloidoses. TTR tetramer dissociation precedes pathological TTR aggregation. Native state stabilizers are promising drugs to treat TTR amyloidoses. Here we repurpose tolcapone, an FDA-approved molecule for Parkinson's disease, as a potent TTR aggregation inhibitor. Tolcapone binds specifically to TTR in human plasma, stabilizes the native tetramer in vivo in mice and humans and inhibits TTR cytotoxicity. Crystal structures of tolcapone bound to wild-type TTR and to the V122I cardiomyopathy-associated variant show that it docks better into the TTR T4 pocket than tafamidis, so far the only drug on the market to treat TTR amyloidoses. These data indicate that tolcapone, already in clinical trials for familial amyloid polyneuropathy, is a strong candidate for therapeutic intervention in these diseases, including those affecting the central nervous system, for which no small-molecule therapy exists.

PMID: 26902880 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Current issues concerning drug development for pediatric hematologic malignancies.

Rinsho Ketsueki. 2016;57(6):693-700

Authors: Sekimizu M

Abstract
Cure rates for pediatric hematologic malignancies (HM) have improved dramatically due to the intensive use of conventional chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, many children still die of their disease or treatment-related toxicities. Even in patients experiencing an apparent cure, there can be significant acute and late complications of treatment. Further improvements of therapy will likely depend on the development of new therapeutic strategies. Immune-based therapy, for example monoclonal antibody-based and adoptive T-cell therapies, offers an attractive alternative that has emerged as a potent treatment strategy. Drug repositioning of molecular target drugs is now receiving remarkable attention, especially that based on recent genome wide studies. However, there are many obstacles to overcome in developing these novel drugs for pediatric patients. Pediatric drug development is difficult in itself because many of these agents are not profitable, largely due to their being too few patients, preclinical models are limited, there are too few formulations for children, special ethical considerations must be addressed when treating children and so on. Obstacles to the development of new drugs are a characteristic feature of pediatric HM. Furthermore, the approach to developing drugs for pharmaceutical approval is quite different from that to developing new therapies using approved drugs and is not well-known among investigators. Although many challenges remain in pediatric hematologic anticancer drug development, none are insurmountable.

PMID: 27384847 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Could the FDA-approved anti-HIV PR inhibitors be promising anticancer agents? An answer from enhanced docking approach and molecular dynamics analyses.

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:6055-65

Authors: Arodola OA, Soliman ME

Abstract
Based on experimental data, the anticancer activity of nelfinavir (NFV), a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI), was reported. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of NFV is yet to be verified. It was hypothesized that the anticancer activity of NFV is due to its inhibitory effect on heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), a promising target for anticancer therapy. Such findings prompted us to investigate the potential anticancer activity of all other FDA-approved HIV-1 PIs against human Hsp90. To accomplish this, "loop docking" - an enhanced in-house developed molecular docking approach - followed by molecular dynamic simulations and postdynamic analyses were performed to elaborate on the binding mechanism and relative binding affinities of nine FDA-approved HIV-1 PIs against human Hsp90. Due to the lack of the X-ray crystal structure of human Hsp90, homology modeling was performed to create its 3D structure for subsequent simulations. Results showed that NFV has better binding affinity (ΔG =-9.2 kcal/mol) when compared with other PIs: this is in a reasonable accordance with the experimental data (IC50 3.1 μM). Indinavir, saquinavir, and ritonavir have close binding affinity to NFV (ΔG =-9.0, -8.6, and -8.5 kcal/mol, respectively). Per-residue interaction energy decomposition analysis showed that hydrophobic interaction (most importantly with Val534 and Met602) played the most predominant role in drug binding. To further validate the docking outcome, 5 ns molecular dynamic simulations were performed in order to assess the stability of the docked complexes. To our knowledge, this is the first account of detailed computational investigations aimed to investigate the potential anticancer activity and the binding mechanism of the FDA-approved HIV PIs binding to human Hsp90. Information gained from this study should also provide a route map toward the design, optimization, and further experimental investigation of potential derivatives of PIs to treat HER2+ breast cancer.

PMID: 26622167 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Re-engineering a neuroprotective, clinical drug as a procognitive agent with high in vivo potency and with GABAA potentiating activity for use in dementia.

BMC Neurosci. 2015;16:67

Authors: Luo J, Lee SH, VandeVrede L, Qin Z, Piyankarage S, Tavassoli E, Asghodom RT, Ben Aissa M, Fà M, Arancio O, Yue L, Pepperberg DR, Thatcher GR

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Synaptic dysfunction is a key event in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) where synapse loss pathologically correlates with cognitive decline and dementia. Although evidence suggests that aberrant protein production and aggregation are the causative factors in familial subsets of such diseases, drugs singularly targeting these hallmark proteins, such as amyloid-β, have failed in late stage clinical trials. Therefore, to provide a successful disease-modifying compound and address synaptic dysfunction and memory loss in AD and mixed pathology dementia, we repurposed a clinically proven drug, CMZ, with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties via addition of nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP signaling property.
RESULTS: The novel compound, NMZ, was shown to retain the GABAA potentiating actions of CMZ in vitro and sedative activity in vivo. Importantly, NMZ restored LTP in hippocampal slices from AD transgenic mice, whereas CMZ was without effect. NMZ reversed amnestic blockade of acetylcholine receptors by scopolamine as well as NMDA receptor blockade by a benzodiazepine and a NO synthase inhibitor in the step-through passive avoidance (STPA) test of learning and working memory. A PK/PD relationship was developed based on STPA analysis coupled with pharmacokinetic measures of drug levels in the brain: at 1 nM concentration in brain and plasma, NMZ was able to restore memory consolidation in mice.
CONCLUSION: Our findings show that NMZ embodies a promising pharmacological approach targeting synaptic dysfunction and opens new avenues for neuroprotective intervention strategies in mixed pathology AD, neurodegeneration, and dementia.

PMID: 26480871 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Repurposing Non-Antimicrobial Drugs and Clinical Molecules to Treat Bacterial Infections.

Curr Pharm Des. 2015;21(28):4106-11

Authors: Younis W, Thangamani S, Seleem MN

Abstract
There is a pressing need to develop novel antimicrobials to circumvent the scourge of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study is to identify non-antibiotic drugs with potent antimicrobial activity, within an applicable clinical range. A library, containing 727 FDA approved drugs and small molecules, was screened against ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae). Drugs that showed antimicrobial activity in an applicable clinical range were further tested in vitro and in vivo in an infected mouse model. The initial screening identified 24 non-antibiotic drugs and clinical molecules active against Gram-positive pathogens including methicillin- resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) isolates. Two non-antibiotic drugs showed activity against Gram-negative pathogens. Among the active non-antibiotic drugs, only ebselen (EB) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), showed bactericidal activity, in an applicable clinical range, against multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus isolates including MRSA, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA). The minimum inhibitory concentration at which 90% of clinical isolates of S. aureus were inhibited (MIC90) was found to be 0.25 and 0.0039mg/L for EB and FdUrd, respectively. Treatment with EB orally significantly increased mice survival in a lethal model of septicemic MRSA infection by (60%) compared to that of control. FdUrd oral and intraperitoneal treatment significantly enhanced mouse survival by 60% and 100%, respectively. These data encourage screening and repurposing of non-antibiotic drugs and clinical molecules to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

PMID: 25961308 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Metformin use and gynecological cancers: A novel treatment option emerging from drug repositioning.

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2016 Jun 18;

Authors: Gadducci A, Biglia N, Tana R, Cosio S, Gallo M

Abstract
Metformin exerts antitumor effects mainly through AMP-activated protein kinase [AMPK] activation and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K]-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR] inhibition. This drug leads to activation of the cellular energy-sensing liver kinase B1 [LKB1]/AMPK pathway. LKB1 is implicated as a tumor suppressor gene in molecular pathogenesis of different malignancies. AMPK is a serine/threonine protein kinase that acts as an ultra-sensitive cellular energy sensor maintaining the energy balance within the cell. AMPK activation inhibits mRNA translation and proliferation in cancer cells via down-regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Moreover, metformin decreases the production of insulin, insulin-like growth factor, inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor, and therefore it exerts anti-mitotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenetic effects. Recent in vitro and experimental data suggest that metformin electively targets cancer stem cells, and acts together with chemotherapy to block tumor growth in different cancers. Several epidemiological studies and meta-analysis have shown that metformin use is associated with decreased cancer risk and/or reduced cancer mortality for different malignancies. The present review analyzes the recent biological and clinical data suggesting a possible growth-static effect of metformin also in gynecological cancers. The large majority of available clinical data on the anti-cancer potential of metformin are based on observational studies. Therefore long-term phase II-III clinical trials are strongly warranted to further investigate metformin activity in gynecological cancers.

PMID: 27378194 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Leveraging 3D chemical similarity, target and phenotypic data in the identification of drug-protein and drug-adverse effect associations.

J Cheminform. 2016;8:35

Authors: Vilar S, Hripcsak G

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug-target identification is crucial to discover novel applications for existing drugs and provide more insights about mechanisms of biological actions, such as adverse drug effects (ADEs). Computational methods along with the integration of current big data sources provide a useful framework for drug-target and drug-adverse effect discovery.
RESULTS: In this article, we propose a method based on the integration of 3D chemical similarity, target and adverse effect data to generate a drug-target-adverse effect predictor along with a simple leveraging system to improve identification of drug-targets and drug-adverse effects. In the first step, we generated a system for multiple drug-target identification based on the application of 3D drug similarity into a large target dataset extracted from the ChEMBL. Next, we developed a target-adverse effect predictor combining targets from ChEMBL with phenotypic information provided by SIDER data source. Both modules were linked to generate a final predictor that establishes hypothesis about new drug-target-adverse effect candidates. Additionally, we showed that leveraging drug-target candidates with phenotypic data is very useful to improve the identification of drug-targets. The integration of phenotypic data into drug-target candidates yielded up to twofold precision improvement. In the opposite direction, leveraging drug-phenotype candidates with target data also yielded a significant enhancement in the performance.
CONCLUSIONS: The modeling described in the current study is simple and efficient and has applications at large scale in drug repurposing and drug safety through the identification of mechanism of action of biological effects.

PMID: 27375776 [PubMed]

Methylene blue inhibits lumefantrine-resistant Plasmodium berghei.

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2016;10(6):635-642

Authors: Mwangi VI, Mumo RM, Kiboi DM, Omar SA, Ng'ang'a ZW, Ozwara HS

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy still is the most effective way to control malaria, a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The large-scale use of the combination therapy artemether-lumefantrine for malaria treatment in Africa predisposes lumefantrine to emergence of resistance. There is need to identify drugs that can be used as substitutes to lumefantrine for use in combination therapy. Methylene blue, a synthetic anti-methemoglobinemia drug, has been shown to contain antimalarial properties, making it a candidate for drug repurposing. The present study sought to determine antiplasmodial effects of methylene blue against lumefantrine- and pyrimethamine-resistant strains of P. berghei.
METHODOLOGY: Activity of methylene blue was assessed using the classical four-day test on mice infected with lumefantrine-resistant and pyrimethamine-resistant P. berghei. A dose of 45 mg/kg/day was effective for testing ED90. Parasitemia and mice survival was determined.
RESULTS: At 45 mg/kg/day, methylene blue sustained significant parasite inhibition, over 99%, for at least 6 days post-treatment against lumefantrine-resistant and pyrimethamine-resistant P. berghei (p = 0.0086 and p = 0.0191, respectively). No serious adverse effects were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that methylene blue at a concentration of 45 mg/kg/day confers over 99% inhibition against lumefantrine- and pyrimethamine-resistant P. berghei for six days. This shows the potential use methylene blue in the development of antimalarials against lumefantrine- and pyrimethamine-resistant parasites.

PMID: 27367013 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Drug repositioning approaches to parasitic diseases: a medicinal chemistry perspective.

Drug Discov Today. 2016 Jun 27;

Authors: Ferreira LG, Andricopulo AD

Abstract
Identifying new indications for clinically useful drugs is a worthwhile approach for neglected tropical diseases. The number of successful repurposing cases in the field is growing as not-for-profit organizations, in association with academia and pharmaceutical companies, enable screening campaigns for the identification of new repositioning candidates. Current programs have delivered encouraging results as the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as genomic and structural biology tools, and high-throughput screening platforms have become increasingly common in infectious disease research. Drug repositioning has played a key part in improving the lives of those suffering from these conditions, as evidenced by successful precedents and recent studies on preeminent parasitic disorders.

PMID: 27365271 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Can you teach old drugs new tricks?

Nature. 2016 Jun 16;534(7607):314-6

Authors: Nosengo N

PMID: 27306171 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Drug repurposing for chronic myeloid leukemia: in silico and in vitro investigation of DrugBank database for allosteric Bcr-Abl inhibitors.

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2016 Jun 29;:1-16

Authors: Singh VK, Chang HH, Kuo CC, Shiao HY, Hsieh HP, Coumar MS

Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is caused by chromosomal rearrangement resulting in the expression of Bcr-Abl fusion protein with deregulated Abl tyrosine kinase activity. Approved drugs - imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, and ponatinib - target the ATP-binding site of Abl kinase. Even though these drugs are initially effective, long-term usefulness is limited by the development of resistance. To overcome this problem, targeting the allosteric site of Abl kinase, which is remote from the ATP-binding site is found to be a useful strategy. In this study, structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening methods were applied to narrow down possible drugs (from DrugBank database) that could target the allosteric site of Abl kinase. Detailed investigations of the selected drugs in the allosteric site of Abl kinase, using molecular dynamics and steered molecular dynamics simulation shows that gefitinib, an EGFR inhibitor approved for the treatment of lung cancer, could bind effectively to the allosteric site of Bcr-Abl. More interestingly, gefitinib was found to enhance the ability of imatinib to bind at the ATP-binding site of Bcr-Abl kinase. Based on the in silico findings, gefitinib was tested in combination with imatinib in K562 CML cell line using MTT cell proliferation assay and found to have a synergistic antiproliferative activity. Further detailed mechanistic study could help to unravel the full potential of imatinib - gefitinib combination for the treatment of CML.

PMID: 27353341 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Inflammatory pathway network-based drug repositioning and molecular phenomics.

Mol Biosyst. 2016 Jun 27;

Authors: Gu J, Crosier PS, Hall CJ, Chen L, Xu X

Abstract
Inflammation is a protective biological response to body/tissue damage that involves immune cells, blood vessels and molecular mediators. In this work, we constructed the pathway network of inflammation, including 11 sub-pathways of inflammatory factors. Pathway-based network efficiency and network flux were adopted to evaluate drug efficacy. By using approved and experimentally validated anti-inflammatory drugs as training sets, a predictive model was built to screen potential anti-inflammatory drugs from approved drugs in DrugBank. This drug repositioning approach would bring a fast and cheap way to find new indications for approved drugs. Moreover, molecular phenomics profiles of the expression of inflammatory factors will provide new insight into the drug mechanism of action.

PMID: 27345454 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Bedaquiline, an FDA-approved antibiotic, inhibits mitochondrial function and potently blocks the proliferative expansion of stem-like cancer cells (CSCs).

Aging (Albany NY). 2016 Jun 22;

Authors: Fiorillo M, Lamb R, Tanowitz HB, Cappello AR, Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP

Abstract
Bedaquiline (a.k.a., Sirturo) is an anti-microbial agent, which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Bedaquiline is a first-in-class diaryl-quinoline compound, that mechanistically inhibits the bacterial ATP-synthase, and shows potent activity against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. Interestingly, eukaryotic mitochondria originally evolved from engulfed aerobic bacteria. Thus, we hypothesized that, in mammalian cells, bedaquiline might also target the mitochondrial ATP-synthase, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP depletion. Here, we show that bedaquiline has anti-cancer activity, directed against Cancer Stem-like Cells (CSCs). More specifically, we demonstrate that bedaquiline treatment of MCF7 breast cancer cells inhibits mitochondrial oxygen-consumption, as well as glycolysis, but induces oxidative stress. Importantly, bedaquiline significantly blocks the propagation and expansion of MCF7-derived CSCs, with an IC-50 of approx. 1-μM, as determined using the mammosphere assay. Similarly, bedaquiline also reduces both the CD44+/CD24low/- CSC and ALDH+ CSC populations, under anchorage-independent growth conditions. In striking contrast, bedaquiline significantly increases oxygen consumption in normal human fibroblasts, consistent with the fact that it is well-tolerated in patients treated for TB infections. As such, future pre-clinical studies and human clinical trials in cancer patients may be warranted. Interestingly, we also highlight that bedaquiline shares certain structural similarities with trans-piceatannol and trans-resveratrol, which are known natural flavonoid inhibitors of the mitochondrial ATP-synthase (complex V) and show anti-aging properties.

PMID: 27344270 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pathway and network-based strategies to translate genetic discoveries into effective therapies.

Hum Mol Genet. 2016 Jun 23;

Authors: Greene CS, Voight BF

Abstract
One way to design a drug is to attempt to phenocopy a genetic variant that is known to have the desired effect. In general, drugs that are supported by genetic associations progress further in the development pipeline. However, the number of associations that are candidates for development into drugs is limited because many associations are in noncoding regions or difficult to target genes. Approaches that overlay information from pathway databases or biological networks can expand the potential target list. In cases where the initial variant is not targetable or there is no variant with the desired effect, this may reveal new means to target a disease. In this review we discuss recent examples in the domain of pathway and networkbased drug repositioning from genetic associations. We highlight important caveats and challenges for the field, and we discuss opportunities for further development.

PMID: 27340225 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The anthelmintic niclosamide inhibits colorectal cancer cell lines via modulation of the canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway.

J Surg Res. 2016 Jun 1;203(1):193-205

Authors: Monin MB, Krause P, Stelling R, Bocuk D, Niebert S, Klemm F, Pukrop T, Koenig S

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Wnt/β-catenin signaling is known to play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC). Niclosamide, a salicylamide derivative used in the treatment of tapeworm infections, targets the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The objective of this study was to investigate niclosamide as a therapeutic agent against CRC.
METHODS: The antiproliferative effects of 1, 3, 10, and 50 μM concentrations of niclosamide on human (SW480 and SW620) and rodent (CC531) CRC cell lines were determined by MTS assay and direct cell count. The lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1/transcription factor (LEF/TCF) reporter assay monitored the activity of Wnt signaling. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated the expression pattern of active β-catenin. Gene expression of canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling components was analyzed using qRT-PCR. Western blot analysis was performed with antibodies detecting nuclear localization of β-catenin and c-jun.
RESULTS: Cell proliferation in CRC cell lines was blocked dose dependently after 12 and 24 h of incubation. The Wnt promoter activity of LEF/TCF significantly decreased with niclosamide concentrations of 10 and 50 μM after 12 h of incubation. Active β-catenin did not shift from the nuclear to the cytosolic pool. However, canonical target genes (met, MMP7, and cyclin D1) as well as the coactivating factor Bcl9 were downregulated, whereas the noncanonical key player c-jun was clearly activated.
CONCLUSIONS: Niclosamide treatment is associated with an inhibitory effect on CRC development and reduced Wnt activity. It may exert its effect by interfering with the nuclear β-catenin-Bcl9-LEF/TCF triple-complex and by upregulation of c-jun representing noncanonical Wnt/JNK signaling. Thus, our findings warrant further research into this substance as a treatment option for patients with advanced CRC.

PMID: 27338550 [PubMed - in process]

Molecular Docking for Identification of Potential Targets for Drug Repurposing.

Curr Top Med Chem. 2016 May 30;

Authors: Luo H, Mattes W, Mendrick DL, Hong H

Abstract
Using existing drugs for new indications (drug repurposing) is an effective method not only to reduce drug development time and costs but also to develop treatments for new disease including those that are rare. In order to discover novel indications, potential target identification is a necessary step. One widely used method to identify potential targets is through molecule docking. It requires no prior information except structure inputs from both the drug and the target, and can identify potential targets for a given drug, or identify potential drugs for a specific target. Though molecular docking is popular for drug development and repurposing, challenges remain for the method. In order to improve the prediction accuracy, optimizing the target conformation, considering the solvents and adding co-binders to the system are possible solutions.

PMID: 27334201 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Drug repositioning through network pharmacology.

Curr Top Med Chem. 2016 May 30;

Authors: Ye H, Wei J, Tang K, Feuers R, Hong H

Abstract
Low drug productivity has been a significant problem of the pharmaceutical industry for several decades even though numerous novel technologies were introduced during this period. Currently pharmacologic dogma, "single drug, single target, single disease", is at the root of the lack of drug productivity. From a systems biology viewpoint, network pharmacology has been proposed to complement established and guiding pharmacologic approaches. The rationale for network pharmacology as a major component of drug discovery and development is that a disease can be caused by perturbation of the disease-causing network and a drug may be designed to interact with multiple targets for modulation of such a network from the disease status toward normal status. Therefore, network pharmacology has been applied to guide and assist in drug repositioning. Drugs exerting their therapeutic effects may directly target disease-associated proteins, but they may also modulate the pathways involved in the pathological process. In this review, we discuss the progresses and prospects in network pharmacology, focusing on drug off-targets discovery, disease-associated protein identification, and pathway analysis for elucidating relationships between drug targets and disease-associated proteins.

PMID: 27334200 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Methods to Profile the Macromolecular Targets of Small Compounds.

Curr Top Med Chem. 2016 May 30;

Authors: Zhu J, Wang W, Chen X

Abstract
Small compounds constitute most of the available medicines. However, their stereophysical and stereochemical properties are relatively simple, which typically results in promiscuity in their interactions with human proteins. Such promiscuity has caused problems in our past efforts to discover and develop new drugs, but at the same time, it also brought new opportunities to exploit the off-target interactions between small compounds and human proteins for novel or improved therapeutics, e.g. in the applications of polypharmacology, drug repositioning, and designing drug combinations. In this direction, identifying the full profile of macromolecules that a small compound may interact with is of fundamental importance to harnessing the positive side of small compound promiscuity. This review summarizes available experimental and computational approaches that identify macromolecular targets for small compounds. The principle, application, performance, limitation and availability of these approaches are discussed.

PMID: 27334197 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cortical Neurons for High Throughput Medication Screening in Autism: A Proof of Concept Study in SHANK3 Haploinsufficiency Syndrome.

EBioMedicine. 2016 May 27;

Authors: Darville H, Poulet A, Rodet-Amsellem F, Chatrousse L, Pernelle J, Boissart C, Héron D, Nava C, Perrier A, Jarrige M, Cogé F, Millan MJ, Bourgeron T, Peschanski M, Delorme R, Benchoua A

Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders affect millions of individuals worldwide, but their heterogeneity complicates therapeutic intervention that is essentially symptomatic. A versatile yet relevant model to rationally screen among hundreds of therapeutic options would help improving clinical practice. Here we investigated whether neurons differentiated from pluripotent stem cells can provide such a tool using SHANK3 haploinsufficiency as a proof of principle. A library of compounds was screened for potential to increase SHANK3 mRNA content in neurons differentiated from control human embryonic stem cells. Using induced pluripotent stem cell technology, active compounds were then evaluated for efficacy in correcting dysfunctional networks of neurons differentiated from individuals with deleterious point mutations of SHANK3. Among 202 compounds tested, lithium and valproic acid showed the best efficacy at corrected SHANK3 haploinsufficiency associated phenotypes in cellulo. Lithium pharmacotherapy was subsequently provided to one patient and, after one year, an encouraging decrease in autism severity was observed. This demonstrated that pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons provide a novel cellular paradigm exploitable in the search for specific disease-modifying treatments.

PMID: 27333044 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]