Background Metastasis, the spread and growth of tumor cells to distant organ sites, represents the most devastating attribute and plays a major role in the morbidity and mortality of cancer. Inflammation is crucial for malignant tumor transformation and survival. Thus, blocking inflammation is expected to serve as an effective cancer treatment. Among anti-inflammation therapies, chemokine modulation is now beginning to emerge from the pipeline. CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12) interaction and the resulting cell signaling cascade have emerged as highly relevant targets since they play pleiotropic roles in metastatic progression. The unique function of CXCR4 is to promote the homing of tumor cells to their microenvironment at the distant organ sites. Methodology/Principal Findings We describe the actions of N,N′-(1,4-phenylenebis(methylene))dipyrimidin-2-amine (designated MSX-122), a novel small molecule and partial CXCR4 antagonist with properties quite unlike that of any other reported CXCR4 antagonists, which was prepared in a single chemical step using a reductive amination reaction. Its specificity toward CXCR4 was tested in a binding affinity assay and a ligand competition assay using 18 F-labeled MSX-122. The potency of the compound was determined in two functional assays, Matrigel invasion assay and cAMP modulation. The therapeutic potential of MSX-122 was evaluated in three different murine models for inflammation including an experimental colitis, carrageenan induced paw edema, and bleomycin induced lung fibrosis and three different animal models for metastasis including breast cancer micrometastasis in lung, head and neck cancer metastasis in lung, and uveal melanoma micrometastasis in liver in which CXCR4 was reported to play crucial roles. Conclusions/Significance We developed a novel small molecule, MSX-122, that is a partial CXCR4 antagonist without mobilizing stem cells, which can be safer for long-term blockade of metastasis than other reported CXCR4 antagonists.
Measles virus (MeV) is a highly infectious morbillivirus responsible for major human morbidity and mortality in the non-vaccinated. The related, zoonotic canine distemper virus (CDV) induces morbillivirus disease in ferrets with 100% lethality. We report an orally available, shelf-stable pan-morbillivirus inhibitor that targets the viral polymerase. Prophylactic oral treatment of ferrets infected intranasally with a lethal CDV dose reduced viremia and prolonged survival. Equally infected ferrets receiving post-infection treatment at the onset of viremia showed low-grade viral loads, remained asymptomatic and recovered from infection, while control animals succumbed to the disease. Recovered animals also mounted a robust immune response and were protected against re-challenge with a lethal CDV dose. Drug-resistant viral recombinants were generated and found attenuated and transmission impaired compared to the genetic parent. These findings pioneer a path towards an effective morbillivirus therapy that aids measles eradication by synergizing vaccine and therapeutics to close herd immunity gaps due to vaccine refusal.
A de novo hit-to-lead effort involving the redesign of benzimidazole-containing antagonists of the CXCR4 receptor resulted in the discovery of a novel series of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) analogues. In general, this series of compounds show good potencies (3−650 nM) in assays involving CXCR4 function, including both inhibition of attachment of X4 HIV-1 IIIB virus in MAGI-CCR5/ CXCR4 cells and inhibition of calcium release in Chem-1 cells. Series profiling permitted the identification of TIQ-(R)-stereoisomer 15 as a potent and selective CXCR4 antagonist lead candidate with a promising in vitro profile. The drug-like properties of 15 were determined in ADME in vitro studies, revealing low metabolic liability potential. Further in vivo evaluations included pharmacokinetic experiments in rats and mice, where 15 was shown to have oral bioavailability (F = 63%) and resulted in the mobilization of white blood cells (WBCs) in a dose-dependent manner.
A gel filtration chromatography method was developed for the isolation and concentration of the high molecular weight polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contained in the most biologically active fraction of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). The unusually complex mixture of large PAH found in CSC necessitated the use of preparative gas chromatography followed by high-pressure liquid chromatography to achieve separation and identification. Mass spectral, ultra-violet absorption, and chromatographic retention data were needed for the comprehensive identification of the large molecular weight PAH components of CSC. The majority of the more than 200 isolated compounds were identified. Compounds newly identified in CSC included 3,4-dimethylenepyrene, 3,4-trimethylenepyrene, cyclopenta(c,-d)pyrene, 4,5-methylenetriphenylene, benzo[b]perylene, and several dibenzofluoranthenes.
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