British Journal of Pharmacology最新文献

{"title":"Slow dissociation kinetics of fentanyls and nitazenes correlates with reduced sensitivity to naloxone reversal at the μ-opioid receptor.","authors":"Norah Alhosan, Damiana Cavallo, Marina Santiago, Eamonn Kelly, Graeme Henderson","doi":"10.1111/bph.17376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Fentanyls and nitazenes are μ-opioid receptor agonists responsible for a large number of opioid overdose deaths. Here, we determined the potency, dissociation kinetics and antagonism by naloxone at the μ receptor of several fentanyl and nitazene analogues, compared to morphine and DAMGO.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>In vitro assays of G protein activation and signalling and arrestin recruitment were performed. AtT20 cells expressing μ receptors were loaded with a membrane potential dye and changes in fluorescence used to determine agonist potency, dissociation kinetics and susceptibility to antagonism by naloxone. BRET experiments were undertaken in HEK293T cells expressing μ receptors to assess Gi protein activation and β-arrestin 2 recruitment.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>The apparent rate of agonist dissociation from the μ receptor varied: morphine, DAMGO, alfentanil and fentanyl dissociated rapidly, whereas isotonitazene, etonitazene, ohmefentanyl and carfentanil dissociated slowly. Slowly dissociating agonists were more resistant to antagonism by naloxone. For carfentanil, the slow apparent rate of dissociation was not because of G protein receptor kinase-mediated arrestin recruitment as its apparent rate of dissociation was not increased by inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) with Compound 101. The in vitro relative potencies of fentanyls and nitazenes compared to morphine were much lower than that previously observed in in vivo experiments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and implications: </strong>With fentanyls and nitazenes that slowly dissociate from the μ receptor, antagonism by naloxone is pseudo-competitive. In overdoses involving fentanyls and nitazenes, higher doses of naloxone may be required for reversal than those normally used to reverse heroin overdose.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142495522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chicoric acid exerts therapeutic effects in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by targeting the USP9X/IGF2BP2 axis.","authors":"Wei Chen, Yunan Shan, Meng Wang, Rui Liang, Ri Sa","doi":"10.1111/bph.17354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17354","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Chicoric acid, a hydroxycinnamic acid, exhibits anti-inflammation activities. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of chicoric acid on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis remain unclear. Here, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of chicoric acid in DSS-induced colitis.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>Mice with DSS-induced colitis (UC mice) were treated for a week with chicoric acid. Symptoms of colitis, colonic pathology, inflammation-related indicators, and intestinal mucosal barrier function were evaluated. RNA sequencing was performed on colon tissues to obtain differentially expressed genes. The deubiquitinating enzyme USP9X was selected, and the inhibitory and targeting effects of chicoric acid on USP9X were subsequently determined. In vivo and in vitro, DSS-induced colitis was treated with USP9X inhibitors WP1130 and EOAI3402143. Ubiquitination label-free quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to identify protein peptides that may undergo de-ubiquitination by USP9X. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to validate in vivo and in vitro results.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Chicoric acid significantly alleviated clinical activity and histological changes, inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine production and improved integrity of the intestinal barrier in UC mice. Moreover, chicoric acid suppressed USP9X expression in colonic tissues from UC mice. Furthermore, USP9X contributed to promoting the onset of UC and that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) was deubiquitinated by USP9X.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and implications: </strong>Chicoric acid ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by targeting the USP9X/IGF2BP2 axis, indicating that targeting the USP9X/IGF2BP2 axis presents a promising and innovative therapeutic approach for the treatment of UC.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent strategies in target identification of natural products: Exploring applications in chronic inflammation and beyond.","authors":"Xian Pan, Shan Jiang, Xinzhuang Zhang, Zhenzhong Wang, Xin Wang, Liang Cao, Wei Xiao","doi":"10.1111/bph.17356","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17356","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Natural products are a treasure trove for drug discovery, especially in the areas of infection, inflammation and cancer, due to their diverse bioactivities and complex, and varied structures. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases, including complex diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Improving target identification for natural products contributes to elucidating their mechanism of action and clinical progress. It also facilitates the discovery of novel druggable targets and the elimination of undesirable ones, thereby significantly enhancing the productivity of drug discovery and development. Moreover, the rise of polypharmacological strategies, considered promising for the treatment of complex diseases, will further increase the demand for target deconvolution. This review underscores strategies for identifying natural product targets (NPs) in the context of chronic inflammation over the past 5 years. These strategies encompass computational methodologies for early target discovery and the anticipation of compound binding sites, proteomics-driven approaches for target delineation and experimental biology techniques for target validation and comprehensive mechanistic exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gpr55 deficiency crucially alters cardiomyocyte homeostasis and counteracts angiotensin II induced maladaption in female mice.","authors":"Brigitte Schopohl, Michael Kohlhaas, Alexander G Nickel, Anna-Florentine Schiuma, Sanne L Maas, Emiel P C van der Vorst, Yi Xuan Shia, Christoph Maack, Sabine Steffens, Sarah-Lena Puhl","doi":"10.1111/bph.17350","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17350","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Cannabis stimulates several G-protein-coupled-receptors and causes bradycardia and hypotension upon sustained consumption. Moreover, in vitro studies suggest an interference of cannabinoid-signalling with cardiomyocyte contractility and hypertrophy. We aimed at revealing a functional contribution of the cannabinoid-sensitive receptor GPR55 to cardiomyocyte homeostasis and neurohumorally induced hypertrophy in vivo.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>Gpr55^-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were characterized after 28-day angiotensin II (AngII; 1·μg·kg^-1 min^-1) or vehicle infusion. In isolated adult Gpr55^-/- and WT cardiomyocytes, mitochondrial function was assessed under naïve conditions, while cytosolic Ca²⁺ handling was additionally determined following application of the selective GPR55 antagonist CID16020046.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Gpr55 deficiency did not affect angiotensin II (AngII) mediated hypertrophic growth, yet, especially in females, it alleviated maladaptive pro-hypertrophic and -inflammatory gene expression and improved inotropy and adrenergic responsiveness compared to WT. In-depth analyses implied increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations and transient amplitudes, and accelerated sarcomere contraction kinetics in Gpr55^-/- myocytes, which could be mimicked by GPR55 blockade with CID16020046 in female WT cells. Moreover, Gpr55 deficiency up-regulated factors involved in glucose and fatty acid transport independent of the AngII challenge, accelerated basal mitochondrial respiration and reduced basal protein kinase (PK) A, G and C activity and phospholemman (PLM) phosphorylation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and implications: </strong>Our study suggests GPR55 as crucial regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and homeostasis presumably by regulating PKC/PKA-PLM and PKG signalling, and identifies the receptor as potential target to counteract maladaptation, adrenergic desensitization and metabolic shifts as unfavourable features of the hypertrophied heart in females.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"QM107, a novel CD148 (RTP Type J) activating peptide therapy for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration.","authors":"Samantha Arokiasamy, Michaela J M Balderstone, Faheem Shaik, Enrico Cristante, Thomas C Moseley, Akshay Madoo, Matteo Rizzi, James W Bainbridge, Konstantin Tsoyi, Ivan O Rosas, James R Whiteford, Giulia De Rossi","doi":"10.1111/bph.17362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17362","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Angiogenesis is a pathological component of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Current therapies, although successful, are prone to high levels of patient non-response and a loss of efficacy over time, indicating the need to explore other therapeutic avenues. We have shown that an interaction between syndecan-2 and the tyrosine phosphatase receptor CD148 (RTP Type J) results in the ablation of angiogenesis. Here we exploit this pathway to develop a peptide activator of CD148 as a therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>We tested a peptide (QM107) derived from syndecan-2 in a variety of angiogenesis models and a pre-clinical model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. We assessed the toxicological and inflammatory profiles of QM107 and its stability in vitreous humour.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>QM107 inhibits angiogenesis in ex vivo sprouting assays and disrupts endothelial microcapillary formation via inhibition of cell migration. QM107 acts through CD148, leading to changes in GSK3A phosphorylation and β1 integrin activation. QM107 elicits a negligible inflammatory response and exhibits limited toxicity in cultured cells, and is stable in vitreous humour. Finally, we show proof of concept that QM107 blocks angiogenesis in vivo using a model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and implications: </strong>We have developed a CD148 activating peptide which shows promise in inhibiting angiogenesis in models of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This treatment could either represent an alternative or augment existing therapies, and owing to its distinct mode of action be used in patients who do not respond to existing treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The activated caveolin-3/μ-opioid receptor complex drives morphine-induced rescue therapy in failing hearts.","authors":"Chengxiao Guo, Xinxin Pan, Mengyun Dou, Juan Wu, Xinyu Chen, Baoli Wang, Rui Zhu, Shijin Xu, Wenyi Peng, Chao Wu, Shufang He, Sihe Zhang, Ye Zhang, Shiyun Jin","doi":"10.1111/bph.17326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Opioid analgesics can alleviate ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in chronic heart failure. However, the underlying mechanisms and targets remain unknown. Here, we investigate if caveolin-3 (Cav3) interacts with μ opioid receptors and if Cav3-μ receptor interactions play a role in morphine-induced cardioprotection in failing hearts.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>Cav3 and μ receptor proteins in human and rat heart tissue were determined by western blot, immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a destroyer of caveolae, and AAV-Cav3 shRNA were used to reduce Cav3 expression in failing rat hearts. CTOP, a specific μ antagonist, was administrated before morphine preconditioning in perfused failing heart models of myocardial I/R injury.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Levels of Cav3 and μ receptor proteins were significantly higher in human and rat myocardial tissues with heart failure than in control tissues. Cav3 and μ receptor expression levels were positively correlated with disease severity. The signal of the cardiac Cav3 protein was colocalized with μ receptor in both the human and rat heart sections. Disruption of caveolae in the failing heart by either MβCD or AAV-Cav3 shRNA significantly inhibits morphine-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and cardioprotection. Administration of CTOP substantially reduced Cav3 expression and morphine-induced cardioprotective effect in heart failure.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and implications: </strong>Our data suggest that up-regulation of the Cav3/μ receptor complex is critical for morphine protection of the failing heart against I/R injury by regulating the ERK1/2 pathway. The activated Cav3/μ receptor complex is an understudied therapeutic target for opioid treatment of heart failure and ischaemic insult.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of new K_ir2.1 channel openers from propafenone analogues.","authors":"Encan Li, Najla Boujeddaine, Marien J C Houtman, Renee G C Maas, Joost P G Sluijter, Gerhard F Ecker, Anna Stary-Weinzinger, Willem B van Ham, Marcel A G van der Heyden","doi":"10.1111/bph.17377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17377","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purposes: </strong>Reduced inward rectifier potassium channel (K_ir2.1) functioning is associated with heart failure and may cause Andersen-Tawil Syndrome, among others characterized by ventricular arrhythmias. Most heart failure or Andersen-Tawil Syndrome patients are treated with β-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers) or sodium channel blockers; however, these do not specifically address the inward rectifier current (I_K1) nor aim to improve resting membrane potential stability. Consequently, additional pharmacotherapy for heart failure and Andersen-Tawil Syndrome treatment would be highly desirable. Acute propafenone treatment at low concentrations enhances I_K1 current, but it also exerts many off-target effects. Therefore, discovering and exploring new I_K1-channel openers is necessary.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>Effects of propafenone and 10 additional propafenone analogues were analysed. Currents were measured by single-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. K_ir2.1 protein expression levels were determined by western blot analysis and action potential characteristics were further validated in human-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMCs). Molecular docking was performed to obtain detailed information on drug-channel interactions.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Analogues GPV0019, GPV0057 and GPV0576 strongly increased the outward component of I_K1 while not affecting the K_ir2.1 channel expression levels. GPV0057 did not block I_Kr at concentrations below 0.5 μmol L^-1 nor Na_V1.5 current below 1 μmol L^-1. Moreover, hiPSC-CMC action potential duration was also not affected by GPV0057 at 0.5 and 1 μmol L^-1. Structure analysis indicates a mechanism by which GPV0057 might enhance K_ir2.1 channel activation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and implications: </strong>GPV0057 has a strong efficiency towards increasing I_K1, which makes it a good candidate to address I_K1 deficiency-associated diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Site-specific m6A-miR-494-3p, not unmethylated miR-494-3p, compromises blood brain barrier by targeting tight junction protein 1 in intracranial atherosclerosis.","authors":"Tamar Woudenberg, M Leontien van der Bent, Veerle Kremer, Ingeborg S E Waas, Mat J A P Daemen, Reinier A Boon, Paul H A Quax, A Yaël Nossent","doi":"10.1111/bph.17374","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Intracranial atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of ischaemic stroke. However, there is a substantial knowledge gap on the development of intracranial atherosclerosis. Intracranial arteries are characterized by an upregulation of tight junctions between endothelial cells, which control endothelial permeability. We investigated the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a common RNA modification, on endothelial integrity, focusing on the pro-atherogenic microRNA miR-494-3p and tight junction proteins TJP1 and PECAM1.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>We assessed the m6A landscape, along with the expression of miR-494-3p, TJP1 and PECAM1 in postmortem human vertebral arteries (VA), internal carotid arteries (ICA), and middle cerebral arteries (MCA) with various stages of intimal thickening and plaque formation. The interactions between m6A-modified miR-494-3p mimics, TJP1 and PECAM1, were investigated in vitro using primary human (brain) endothelial cells.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Increased m6A expression was observed in the luminal lining of atherosclerosis-affected VAs, accompanied by reduced TJP1 and PECAM1, but not VE-cadherin, expression. Colocalization of m6A and miR-494-3p in the luminal lining of VA plaques was confirmed, indicating m6A methylation of miR-494-3p in intracranial atherosclerosis. Moreover, site-specific m6A-modification of miR-494-3p led to repression specifically of TJP1 protein expression at cell-cell junctions of brain microvascular endothelial cells, while unmodified miR-494-3p showed no effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and implications: </strong>This study highlights increasing m6A levels during intracranial atherogenesis. Increases in m6A-miR-494-3p contribute to the observed decreased TJP1 expression in endothelial cell-cell junctions. This is likely to have a negative effect on endothelial integrity and may thus accelerate intracranial atherosclerosis progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"tiRNA-Gly-GCC-002 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis in lupus nephritis via FKBP5-mediated activation of Smad.","authors":"Xueting Liu, Ji Zhang, Yan Liang, Xuanwen Chen, Shungang Xu, Sishi Lin, Yuanting Dai, Xinxin Chen, Ying Zhou, Yongheng Bai, Chaosheng Chen","doi":"10.1111/bph.17364","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Renal interstitial fibrosis is a frequent pathological manifestation of lupus nephritis (LN). tRNA halves (tiRNAs) are acquired from tRNA-derived small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and are associated with fibrosis. Our previous study indicated enhanced tiRNA-Gly-GCC-002 (tiRNA002) levels in kidneys were positively related to LN-related fibrosis. However, the precise molecular mechanism remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>The mimic and agomiR of tiRNA002 were introduced into tubular epithelial cells (TECs) and MRL/lpr mice by transfection. The levels of gene and protein expressions were quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and immunofluorescence assays.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>In TECs treated with LN serum, as well as in the kidneys of MRL/lpr mice, high levels of tiRNA002 directly influenced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Furthermore, tiRNA002 overexpression promoted EMT in TECs and accelerated renal interstitial fibrosis in MRL/lpr mice via Smad signalling. The target gene of tiRNA002, FKBP prolyl isomerase 5 (FKBP5), improved Smad signalling by interacting with phosphorylated Smad2/3. Silencing FKBP5 alleviated LN serum- or tiRNA002-mimic-induced EMT in TECs. In addition, FKBP5 overexpression reversed the tiRNA002 knockdown-mediated reduction of EMT and ECM accumulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and implications: </strong>These findings indicated that tiRNA002 is markedly increased in LN, which facilitates renal fibrosis by promoting EMT via FKBP5-mediated Smad signalling. Therefore, targeting tiRNA002 may be an innovative approach to treat renal interstitial fibrosis in LN.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel hypothesis-generating computational workflow utilizing reverse pharmacophore mapping-A drug repurposing perspective of istradefylline towards major depressive disorder.","authors":"Mietha Magdalena van der Walt, Arnold Petrus Smith","doi":"10.1111/bph.17346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Drug repurposing (DR) offers a compelling alternative to traditional drug discovery's lengthy, resource-intensive process. DR is the process of identifying alternative clinical applications for pre-approved drugs as a low-risk and low-cost strategy. Computational approaches are crucial during the early hypothesis-generating stage of DR. However, 'large-scale' data retrieval remains a significant challenge. A computational workflow addressing such limitations might improve hypothesis generation, ultimately benefit patients and advance DR research.</p><p><strong>Experimental approach: </strong>We introduce a novel computational workflow (combining free-accessible computational platforms) to provide 'proof-of-concept' of the pre-approved drug's suitability for repurposing. Three key phases are included: target fishing (via reverse pharmacophore mapping), target identification (via disease- and drug-target pathway identification) and retrospective literature and drug-like analysis (via in silico ADMET properties determination). Istradefylline is a Parkinson's disease-approved drug with literature-attributed antidepressant properties remaining unclear. Practically applied, istradefylline's antidepressant activity was assessed in the context of major depressive disorder (MDD).</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Data mining aided by target identification resulted in istradefylline potentially representing a novel antidepressant drug class. Retrieved drug targets (KYNU, MAO-B, ALOX12 and PLCB2) associated with selected MDD pathways (tryptophan metabolism and serotonergic synapse) generated a hypothesis that istradefylline increased extracellular 5-HT levels (MAO-B inhibition) and reduced inflammation (KYNU, ALOX12 and PLCB2 inhibition).</p><p><strong>Conclusion and implications: </strong>The practically applied workflow's generated hypothesis aligns with known experimental data, validating the effectiveness of this novel computational workflow. It is a low-risk and low-cost DR computational tool providing a bird's-eye view for exploring alternative clinical applications of pre-approved drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9262,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Pharmacology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142458529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}