scholarly journals DT-0111: a novel drug-candidate for the treatment of COPD and chronic cough

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175346661987796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Pelleg ◽  
Fadi Xu ◽  
Jianguo Zhuang ◽  
Bradley Undem ◽  
Geoffrey Burnstock

Background: Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) plays important mechanistic roles in pulmonary disorders in general and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cough in particular. The effects of ATP in the lungs are mediated to a large extent by P2X2/3 receptors (P2X2/3R) localized on vagal sensory nerve terminals (both C and Aδ fibers). The activation of these receptors by ATP triggers a pulmonary-pulmonary central reflex, which results in bronchoconstriction and cough, and is also proinflammatory due to the release of neuropeptides from these nerve terminals via the axon reflex. These actions of ATP in the lungs constitute a strong rationale for the development of a new class of drugs targeting P2X2/3R. DT-0111 is a novel, small, water-soluble molecule that acts as an antagonist at P2X2/3R sites. Methods: Experiments using receptor-binding functional assays, rat nodose ganglionic cells, perfused innervated guinea pig lung preparation ex vivo, and anesthetized and conscious guinea pigs in vivo were performed. Results: DT-0111 acted as a selective and effective antagonist at P2X2/3R, that is, it did not activate or block P2YR; markedly inhibited the activation by ATP of nodose pulmonary vagal afferents in vitro; and, given as an aerosol, inhibited aerosolized ATP-induced bronchoconstriction and cough in vivo. Conclusions: These results indicate that DT-0111 is an attractive drug-candidate for the treatment of COPD and chronic cough, both of which still constitute major unmet clinical needs. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplementary material section.

1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 920-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirby L. Zeman ◽  
Gerhard Scheuch ◽  
Knut Sommerer ◽  
James S. Brown ◽  
William D. Bennett

Effective airway dimensions (EADs) were determined in vivo by aerosol-derived airway morphometry as a function of volumetric lung depth (VLD) to identify and characterize, noninvasively, the caliber of the transitional bronchiole region of the human lung and to compare the EADs by age, gender, and disease. By logarithmically plotting EAD vs. VLD, two distinct regions of the lung emerged that were identified by characteristic line slopes. The intersection of proximal and distal segments was defined as VLDtransand associated EADtrans. In our normal subjects ( n = 20), VLDtrans [345 ± 83 (SD) ml] correlated significantly with anatomic dead space (224 ± 34 ml) and end of phase II of single-breath nitrogen washout (360 ± 53 ml). The corresponding EADtranswas 0.42 ± 0.07 mm, in agreement with other ex vivo measurements of the transitional bronchioles. VLDtrans was smaller (216 ± 64 ml) and EADtrans was larger (0.83 ± 0.04 mm) in our patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( n = 13). VLDtrans increased with age for children (age 8–18 yr; P = 0.006, n = 26) and with total lung capacity for age 8–81 yr ( P < 0.001, n = 61). This study extends the usefulness of aerosol-derived airway morphometry to in vivo measurements of the transitional bronchioles.


2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (9) ◽  
pp. 959-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlhans Fru Che ◽  
Ellen Tufvesson ◽  
Sara Tengvall ◽  
Elisa Lappi-Blanco ◽  
Riitta Kaarteenaho ◽  
...  

Long-term tobacco smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis display an excessive accumulation of neutrophils in the airways; an inflammation that responds poorly to established therapy. Thus, there is a need to identify new molecular targets for the development of effective therapy. Here, we hypothesized that the neutrophil-mobilizing cytokine interleukin (IL)-26 (IL-26) is involved in airway inflammation amongst long-term tobacco smokers with or without COPD, chronic bronchitis or colonization by pathogenic bacteria. By analyzing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchail wash (BW) and induced sputum (IS) samples, we found increased extracellular IL-26 protein in the airways of long-term smokers in vivo without further increase amongst those with clinically stable COPD. In human alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro, the exposure to water-soluble tobacco smoke components (WTC) enhanced IL-26 gene and protein. In this cell model, the same exposure increased gene expression of the IL-26 receptor complex (IL10R2 and IL20R1) and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB); a proven regulator of IL-26 production. In the same cell model, recombinant human IL-26 in vitro caused a concentration-dependent increase in the gene expression of NF-κB and several pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the long-term smokers, we also observed that extracellular IL-26 protein in BAL samples correlates with measures of lung function, tobacco load, and several markers of neutrophil accumulation. Extracellular IL-26 was further increased in long-term smokers with exacerbations of COPD (IS samples), with chronic bronchitis (BAL samples ) or with colonization by pathogenic bacteria (IS and BW samples). Thus, IL-26 in the airways emerges as a promising target for improving the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms behind several pulmonary morbidities in long-term tobacco smokers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Hee Cho ◽  
Cheol Ryong Ku ◽  
Zhen-Yu Hong ◽  
Ji Hoe Heo ◽  
Eun Hee Kim ◽  
...  

Danshen is a traditional Chinese medicine with many beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms responsible for the antiatherogenic effect of water soluble Danshen extracts (DEs). Rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with DE. To evaluate the effects of DEin vivo, carotid balloon injury and tail vein thrombosis were induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and iliac artery stent was induced in New Zealand white rabbits. The inhibitory action of DE on platelet aggregation was confirmed with an impedance aggregometer. DE inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species, and the migration and proliferation of platelet-derived growth factor-BB stimulated VSMCs. Furthermore, DE prevented inflammation and apoptosis in HUVECs. Both effects of DE were reconfirmed in both rat models. DE treatment attenuated platelet aggregation in bothin vivoandex vivoconditions. Pretreatment with DE prevented tail vein thrombosis, which is normally induced byκ-carrageenan injection. Lastly, DE-treated rabbits showed decreased in-stent restenosis of stented iliac arteries. These results suggest that water soluble DE modulates key atherogenic events in VSMCs, endothelial cells, and platelets in bothin vitroandin vivoconditions.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (2) ◽  
pp. G255-G265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoyong Yu ◽  
Ann Ouyang

Bradykinin (BK) activates sensory nerves and causes hyperalgesia. Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) is expressed in sensory nerves and mediates cold, mechanical, and chemical nociception. TRPA1 can be activated by BK. TRPA1 knockout mice show impaired responses to BK and mechanical nociception. However, direct evidence from sensory nerve terminals is lacking. This study aims to determine the role of TRPA1 in BK-induced visceral mechanical hypersensitivity. Extracellular recordings of action potentials from vagal nodose and jugular neurons are performed in an ex vivo guinea pig esophageal-vagal preparation. Peak frequencies of action potentials of afferent nerves evoked by esophageal distension and chemical perfusion are recorded and compared. BK activates most nodose and all jugular C fibers. This activation is repeatable and associated with a significant increase in response to esophageal distension, which can be prevented by the B2 receptor antagonist WIN64338. TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) activates most BK-positive nodose and jugular C fibers. This is associated with a transient loss of response to mechanical distensions and desensitization to a second AITC perfusion. Desensitization with AITC and pretreatment with TRPA1 inhibitor HC-030031 both inhibit BK-induced mechanical hypersensitivity but do not affect BK-evoked activation in nodose and jugular C fibers. In contrast, esophageal vagal afferent Aδ fibers do not respond to BK or AITC and fail to show mechanical hypersensitivity after BK perfusion. This provides the first evidence directly from visceral sensory afferent nerve terminals that TRPA1 mediates BK-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. This reveals a novel mechanism of visceral peripheral sensitization.


Author(s):  
RAHUL RADKE ◽  
NEETESH K. JAIN

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of the BCS class II poorly water-soluble drug ambrisentan by solid dispersion (SD) techniques using Gelucire 50/13 as a hydrophilic carrier. Methods: Solid dispersion of ambrisentan was prepared by kneading method using different dug: carrier ratios. Prepared SD was characterized for solubility, drug content, percentage yield, in vitro dissolution, ex vivo permeation and bioavailability. Solid-state characterization was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: All the SDs formulations showed increase in drug solubility and dissolution when compared with its pure form. Aqueous solubility of the drug was found to be increased 8.23 fold in SD. DSC study showed that endothermic peak of the drug was disappeared in spectra of SD, confirming its amorphous conversion, XRD study revealed the reduction to almost absence of specific high-intensity peaks of drug which confirmed the reduction of crysatallinity of ambrisentan in SD. SEM of optimized SD formulation demonstrates the complete encapsulation and solubilization drug. In vitro dissolution study showed that optimized SD formulation (ASD4) gives the faster drug release of 101.5% in 60 min, as compare to its pure form and other SD formulations. Conclusion: Solid dispersion ASD4 prepared with 1:4 drug to carrier ratio showed the highest drug solubility and in vitro dissolution. The ex vivo and in vivo studies performed on optimized formulation ASD4 showed enhancement in drug permeability and bioavailability in Gelucire 50/13 based SD formulation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Kollárová-Brázdová ◽  
Olga Lencova-Popelova ◽  
Galina Karabanovich ◽  
Júlia Kocúrová-Lengvarská ◽  
Jan Kubes ◽  
...  

The anthracycline (ANT) anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin or daunorubicin (DAU) can cause serious myocardial injury and chronic cardiac dysfunction in cancer survivors. A bisdioxopiperazine agent dexrazoxane has been developed as a cardioprotective drug to prevent these adverse events, but it is uncertain whether it is the best representative of the class. This study used a rabbit model of chronic ANT cardiotoxicity to examine another bisdioxopiperazine compound called GK-667, a water-soluble prodrug of ICRF-193, as a potential cardioprotectant. The cardiotoxicity was induced by DAU (3 mg/kg, i.v. weekly, 10 weeks), and GK-667 (1 or 5 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered before each DAU dose. The treatment with GK-667 was well tolerated and provided full protection against DAU-induced mortality and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (determined by echocardiography and LV catheterization). Markers of cardiac damage/dysfunction revealed minor cardiac damage in the group co-treated with GK-667 in the lower dose, whereas almost full protection was achieved with the higher dose. This was associated with similar prevention of DAU-induced dysregulation of redox and calcium homeostasis proteins. GK-667 dose-dependently prevented p53-mediated DNA damage response in the LV myocardium not only in the chronic experiment but also after single DAU administration. These effects appear essential for cardioprotection, presumably because of the topoisomerase IIβ inhibition provided by its active metabolite ICRF-193. In addition, GK-667 administration did not alter the plasma pharmacokinetics of DAU and its main metabolite daunorubicinol in rabbits in vivo. Hence, GK-667 merits further investigation as a promising drug candidate for cardioprotection against chronic ANT cardiotoxicity.


2020 ◽  
pp. S35-S42
Author(s):  
M. Lucanska ◽  
A. Hajtman ◽  
V. Calkovsky ◽  
P. Kunc ◽  
R. Pecova

Cough is one of the most important defensive reflexes. However, extensive non- productive cough is a harmful mechanism leading to the damage of human airways. Cough is initiated by activation of vagal afferents in the airways. The site of their convergence is particularly the nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS). The second-order neurons terminate in the pons, medulla and spinal cord and there is also the cortical and subcortical control of coughing. Upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) – previously postnasal drip syndrome - is one of the most common causes of chronic cough together with asthma and gastroesophageal reflux. The main mechanisms leading to cough in patients with nasal and sinus diseases are postnasal drip, direct irritation of nasal mucosa, inflammation in the lower airways, upper airway inflammation and the cough reflex sensitization. The cough demonstrated by UACS patients is probably due to hypersensitivity of the upper airways sensory nerve or lower airways sensory nerve, or a combination of both. Further studies are needed to clarify this mechanism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (2) ◽  
pp. L385-L390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene T. Yocum ◽  
Jose F. Perez-Zoghbi ◽  
Jennifer Danielsson ◽  
Aisha S. Kuforiji ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
...  

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells express GABA A receptors (GABAARs), and previous reports have demonstrated that GABAAR activators relax ASM. However, given the activity of GABAARs in central nervous system inhibitory neurotransmission, concern exists that these activators may lead to undesirable sedation. MIDD0301 is a novel imidazobenzodiazepine and positive allosteric modulator of the GABAAR with limited brain distribution, thus eliminating the potential for sedation. Here, we demonstrate that MIDD0301 relaxes histamine-contracted guinea pig ( P < 0.05, n = 6–9) and human ( P < 0.05, n = 6–10) tracheal smooth muscle ex vivo in organ bath experiments, dilates mouse peripheral airways ex vivo in precision-cut lung-slice experiments ( P < 0.001, n = 16 airways from three mice), and alleviates bronchoconstriction in vivo in mice, as assessed by the forced-oscillation technique ( P < 0.05, n = 6 mice). Only trace concentrations of the compound were detected in the brains of mice after inhalation of nebulized 5 mM MIDD0301. Given its favorable pharmacokinetic properties and demonstrated ability to relax ASM in a number of clinically relevant experimental paradigms, MIDD0301 is a promising drug candidate for bronchoconstrictive diseases, such as asthma.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (6) ◽  
pp. G1052-G1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoyong Yu ◽  
Ann Ouyang

Eosinophilic esophagitis is characterized by increased infiltration and degranulation of eosinophils in the esophagus. Whether eosinophil-derived cationic proteins regulate esophageal sensory nerve function is still unknown. Using synthetic cationic protein to investigate such effect, we performed extracellular recordings from vagal nodose or jugular neurons in ex vivo esophageal-vagal preparations with intact nerve endings in the esophagus. Nerve excitabilities were determined by comparing action potentials evoked by esophageal distensions before and after perfusion of synthetic cationic protein poly-l-lysine (PLL) with or without pretreatment with poly-l-glutamic acid (PLGA), which neutralized cationic charges of PLL. Perfusion with PLL did not evoke action potentials in esophageal nodose C fibers but increased their responses to esophageal distension. This potentiation effect lasted for 30 min after washing out of PLL. Pretreatment with PLGA significantly inhibited PLL-induced mechanohyperexcitability of esophageal nodose C fibers. In esophageal nodose Aδ fibers, perfusion with PLL did not evoke action potentials. In contrast to nodose C fibers, both the spontaneous discharges and the responses to esophageal distension in nodose Aδ fibers were decreased by perfusion with PLL, which can be restored after washing out PLL for 30–60 min. Pretreatment with PLGA attenuated PLL-induced decrease in spontaneous discharge and mechanoexcitability of esophageal nodose Aδ fibers. In esophageal jugular C fibers, PLL neither evoked action potentials nor changed their responses to esophageal distension. Collectively, these data demonstrated that synthetic cationic protein did not evoke action potential discharges of esophageal vagal afferents but had distinctive sensitization effects on their responses to esophageal distension.


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