scholarly journals Clinical candidates of small molecule p38 MAPK inhibitors for inflammatory diseases

MAP Kinase ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Xing

The trigger and etiology of chronic inflammatory diseases are not well understood, hindering the development of efficient therapeutic approaches. The observation that abnormal activity of the p38 MAPK is common to all inflammatory diseases raised the expectation that p38 inhibitors would serve as general anti-inflammatory therapeutics. A large number of inhibitors were consequently discovered. Several compounds of different scaffolds, blocking the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, have entered phase II clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. As I review here, in almost all cases the clinical trials have failed, leading to re-design of compounds and re-evaluation of p38 as a suitable target. I describe how structural features, unique to p38<span>α</span>, have been employed in the inhibitor design and achieved high degree of kinome selectivity. I then focus on some of the drugs that reached human trials and summarize their <em>in vitro/in vivo</em> pharmacological profiles and the related outcomes from clinical investigations. These compounds include VX-745, VX-702, RO-4402257, SCIO- 469, BIRB-796, SD-0006, PH-797804, AMG-548, LY2228820, SB-681323 and GW-856553. Finally, I discuss novel suggested approaches for the use of p38 inhibitors such as combining p38 inhibition with inhibiting other targets that function in parallel inflammatory pathways for achieving efficacy in treating inflammatory diseases.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Pniewska ◽  
Rafal Pawliczak

The increased morbidity, mortality, and ineffective treatment associated with the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have generated much research interest. The key role is played by phospholipases from the A2superfamily: enzymes which are involved in inflammation through participation in pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators production and have an impact on many immunocompetent cells. The 30 members of the A2superfamily are divided into 7 groups. Their role in asthma and COPD has been studiedin vitroandin vivo(animal models, cell cultures, and patients). This paper contains complete and updated information about the involvement of particular enzymes in the etiology and course of asthma and COPD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jomkuan Theprungsirikul ◽  
Sladjana Skopelja-Gardner ◽  
Ashley S. Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Wierzbicki ◽  
William F. C. Rigby

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection mysteriously occurs in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis (BE), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the absence of neutrophil dysfunction or neutropenia and is strongly associated with autoimmunity to bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI). Here, we define a critical role for BPI in in vivo immunity against P. aeruginosa. Wild type and BPI-deficient (Bpi-/-) mice were infected with P. aeruginosa, and bacterial clearance, cell infiltrates, cytokine production, and in vivo phagocytosis were quantified. Bpi-/- mice exhibited a decreased ability to clear P. aeruginosa in vivo in concert with increased neutrophil counts and cytokine release. Bpi-/- neutrophils displayed decreased phagocytosis that was corrected by exogenous BPI in vitro. Exogenous BPI also enhanced clearance of P. aeruginosa in Bpi-/- mice in vivo by increasing P. aeruginosa uptake by neutrophils in a CD18-dependent manner. These data indicate that BPI plays an essential role in innate immunity against P. aeruginosa through its opsonic activity and suggest that perturbations in BPI levels or function may contribute to chronic lung infection with P. aeruginosa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan He ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Guangli Du ◽  
Guofeng Meng ◽  
Jijia Sun ◽  
...  

Background: Guizhi has the pharmacological activity of anti-inflammatory. However, the effect mechanism of Guizhi against nephrotic syndrome (NS) remains unclear. A network pharmacological approach with experimental verification in vitro and in vivo was performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of Guizhi to treat NS.Methods: Active compounds and potential targets of Guizhi, as well as the related targets of NS were obtained from the public databases. The intersecting targets of Guizhi and NS were obtained through Venny 2.1.0. The key targets and signaling pathways were determined by protein-protein interaction (PPI), genes ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis. And the overall network was constructed with Cytoscape. Molecular docking verification was carried out by AutoDock Vina. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to verify the mechanism of Guizhi to treat NS.Results: 63 intersecting targets were obtained, and the top five key targets mainly involed in NF- Kappa B and MAPK signaling pathway. In the overall network, cinnamaldehyde (CA) was the top one active compound with the highest degree value. The molecular docking showed that the top five key targets were of good binding activity with the active components of Guizhi. To in vitro experiment, CA, the main active component of Guizhi, inhibited the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in LPS challenged RAW264.7 cells, and down regulated the protein expression of p-NF-κB p65 and p-p38 MAPK in LPS challenged RAW264.7 cells. In vitro experiment showed that, 24 urinary protein and renal function were increased in ADR group. To western blot, CA down regulated the protein expression of p-p38 MAPK in rats of adriamycin-induced nephropathy.Conclusion: CA might be the main active component of Guizhi to treat NS, and the underlying mechanism might mainly be achieved by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway.


Thorax ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 565-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winifred Broekman ◽  
Padmini P S J Khedoe ◽  
Koen Schepers ◽  
Helene Roelofs ◽  
Jan Stolk ◽  
...  

COPD is characterised by tissue destruction and inflammation. Given the lack of curative treatments and the progressive nature of the disease, new treatments for COPD are highly relevant. In vitro cell culture and animal studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have the capacity to modify immune responses and to enhance tissue repair. These properties of MSCs provided a rationale to investigate their potential for treatment of a variety of diseases, including COPD. Preclinical models support the hypothesis that MSCs may have clinical efficacy in COPD. However, although clinical trials have demonstrated the safety of MSC treatment, thus far they have not provided evidence for MSC efficacy in the treatment of COPD. In this review, we discuss the rationale for MSC-based cell therapy in COPD, the main findings from in vitro and in vivo preclinical COPD model studies, clinical trials in patients with COPD and directions for further research.


PPAR Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongchun Shen ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Fuqiang Wen

Airway mucus hypersecretion (AMH) is a key pathophysiological feature of chronic airway inflammatory diseases such as bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AMH contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic airway inflammatory diseases, and it is associated with reduced lung function and high rates of hospitalization and mortality. It has been suggested that AMH should be a target in the treatment of chronic airway inflammatory diseases. Recent evidence suggests that a key regulator of airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. PPARγis expressed in structural, immune, and inflammatory cells in the lung. PPARγis involved in mucin production, and PPARγagonists can inhibit mucin synthesis bothin vitroandin vivo. These findings suggest that PPARγis a novel target in the treatment of AMH and that further work on this transcription factor may lead to new therapies for chronic airway inflammatory diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng He ◽  
Zonghui Xiao ◽  
Hailan Yao ◽  
Sen Li ◽  
Miao Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays an essential role in CVB3-induced diseases. We previously demonstrated microRNA-21 has potential inhibitory effect on the MAP2K3 which locates upstream of P38 MAPK and was upregulated in mouse hearts upon CVB3 infection. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of miRNA-21 on CVB3 infection remain unclear. Methods We detected continuous changes of cellular miRNA-21 and P38 MAPK proteins expression profiling post CVB3 infection in vitro within 12 h. P38 MAPK signaling was inhibited by the specific inhibitor, small interfering RNA and miRNA-21 mimic in vitro, CVB3 replication, cell apoptosis rate and proliferation were detected. Viral load in the mice heart, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate and histological of the heart were also detected in the mice model of viral myocarditis pretreated with miRNA-21-lentivirus. Results We observed significant upregulation of miRNA-21 expression followed by suppression of the MAP2K3/P38 MAPK signaling in CVB3-infected Hela cells. The inactivation of the MAP2K3/P38 MAPK signaling by P38 MAPK specific inhibitor, small interfering RNA against MAP2K3, or miRNA-21 overexpression significantly inhibited viral progeny release from CVB3-infected cells. Mechanistically, when compared with control miRNA, miRNA-21 showed no effect on capsid protein VP1 expression and viral load within host cells, while significantly reversing CVB3-induced caspase-3 activation and cell apoptosis rate, further promoting proliferation of infected cells, which indicates the inhibitory effect of miRNA-21 on CVB3 progeny release. In the in vivo study, when compared with control miRNA, miRNA-21 pretreatment remarkably inactivated the MAP2K3/P38 MAPK signaling in mice and protected them against CVB3 infection as evidenced by significantly alleviated cell apoptosis rate, reduced viral titers, necrosis in the heart as well as by remarkably prolonged survival time. Conclusions miRNA-21 were reverse correlated with P38 MAPK activation post CVB3 infection, miRNA-21 overexpression significantly inhibited viral progeny release and decreased myocytes apoptosis rate in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that miRNA-21 may serve as a potential therapeutic agent against CVB3 infection through targeting the MAP2K3/P38 MAPK signaling.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (29) ◽  
pp. 9481-9490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Zhang ◽  
Hua-Hua Wang ◽  
Hua-Jun Yu ◽  
Yu-Zhen Xiong ◽  
Hai-Tao Zhang ◽  
...  

A gallium(iii) tris(ethoxycarbonyl)corrole is a highly effective photosensitizer against A549 cancer cells via p38 MAPK signaling cascade pathways.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Guillon ◽  
Youenn Jouan ◽  
Deborah Brea ◽  
Fabien Gueugnon ◽  
Emilie Dalloneau ◽  
...  

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is punctuated by episodes of infection-driven acute exacerbations. Despite the life-threatening nature of these exacerbations, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, although a high number of neutrophils in the lungs of COPD patients is known to correlate with poor prognosis. Interleukin (IL)-22 is a cytokine that plays a pivotal role in lung antimicrobial defence and tissue protection. We hypothesised that neutrophils secrete proteases that may have adverse effects in COPD, by altering the IL-22 receptor (IL-22R)-dependent signalling.Using in vitro and in vivo approaches as well as reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR, flow cytometry and/or Western blotting techniques, we first showed that pathogens such as the influenza virus promote IL-22R expression in human bronchial epithelial cells, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacterial lipopolysaccharide or cigarette smoke do not. Most importantly, neutrophil proteases cleave IL-22R and impair IL-22-dependent immune signalling and expression of antimicrobial effectors such as β-defensin-2. This proteolysis resulted in the release of a soluble fragment of IL-22R, which was detectable both in cellular and animal models as well as in sputa from COPD patients with acute exacerbations.Hence, our study reveals an unsuspected regulation by the proteolytic action of neutrophil enzymes of IL-22-dependent lung host response. This process probably enhances pathogen replication, and ultimately COPD exacerbations.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Jen Chen ◽  
Andrew Y.F. Li Yim ◽  
Guillermo R. Griffith ◽  
Wouter J. de Jonge ◽  
Marcel M.A.M. Mannens ◽  
...  

AbstractMacrophages are heterogeneous multifunctional leukocytes which are regulated in a tissue-and disease-specific context. Many different studies have been published using in vitro macrophage models to study disease. Here, we aggregated public expression data to define consensus expression profiles for eight commonly-used in vitro macrophage models. Altogether, we observed well-known but also novel markers for different macrophage subtypes. Using these data we subsequently built the classifier macIDR, capable of distinguishing macrophage subsets with high accuracy (>0.95). This classifier was subsequently applied to transcriptional profiles of tissue-isolated and disease-associated macrophages to specifically define macrophage characteristics in vivo. Classification of these in vivo macrophages showed that alveolar macrophages displayed high resemblance to interleukin-10 activated macrophages, whereas macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients displayed a drop in interferon-γ signature. Adipose tissue-derived macrophages were classified as unstimulated macrophages, but resembled LPS-activated macrophages more in diabetic-obese patients. Finally, rheumatoid arthritic synovial macrophages showed characteristics of both interleukin-10 or interferon-γ signatures. Altogether, our results suggest that macIDR is capable of identifying macrophage-specific changes as a result of tissue-and disease-specific stimuli and thereby can be used to better define and model populations of macrophages that contribute to disease.


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