Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide,such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.Herein,we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH,S31...Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide,such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.Herein,we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH,S312 and S416,with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles,which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses,including influenza A virus,Zika virus,Ebola virus,and particularly against SARS-CoV-2.Notably,S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC5o of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.88 in infec-ted cells.Our results are the first to validate that DHODH is an attractive host target through high antiviral efficacy in vivo and low virus replication in DHODH knock-out cells.This work demonstrates that both S312/S416 and old drugs(Leflunomide/Teriflunomide)with dual actions of antiviral and immuno-regulation may have clinical potentials to cure SARS-CoV-2 or other RNA viruses circulating worldwide,no matter such viruses are mutated or not.展开更多
Malignant hematopoietic cells gain metabolic plasticity, reorganize anabolic mechanisms to improve anabolic output and prevent oxidative damage, and bypass cell cycle checkpoints, eventually outcompeting normal hemato...Malignant hematopoietic cells gain metabolic plasticity, reorganize anabolic mechanisms to improve anabolic output and prevent oxidative damage, and bypass cell cycle checkpoints, eventually outcompeting normal hematopoietic cells. Current therapeutic strategies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are based on prognostic stratification that includes mutation profile as the closest surrogate to disease biology. Clinical efficacy of targeted therapies, e.g., agents targeting mutant FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2, are mostly limited to the presence of relevant mutations. Recent studies have not only demonstrated that specific mutations in AML create metabolic vulnerabilities but also highlighted the efficacy of targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in combination with inhibitors of these mutations. Therefore, delineating the functional relationships between genetic stratification, metabolic dependencies, and response to specific inhibitors of these vulnerabilities is crucial for identifying more effective therapeutic regimens, understanding resistance mechanisms, and identifying early response markers, ultimately improving the likelihood of cure. In addition, metabolic changes occurring in the tumor microenvironment have also been reported as therapeutic targets. The metabolic profiles of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) differ, and relapsed/refractory LSCs switch to alternative metabolic pathways, fueling oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), rendering them therapeutically resistant. In this review, we discuss the role of cancer metabolic pathways that contribute to the metabolic plasticity of AML and confer resistance to standard therapy;we also highlight the latest promising developments in the field in translating these important findings to the clinic and discuss the tumor microenvironment that supports metabolic plasticity and interplay with AML cells.展开更多
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH) is a viable target for the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and immunological diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis(RA), psoriasis and multiple sclerosis(MS). Here...Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH) is a viable target for the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and immunological diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis(RA), psoriasis and multiple sclerosis(MS). Herein, a series of acrylamide-based novel DHODH inhibitors as potential RA treatment agents were designed and synthesized. 2-Acrylamidobenzoic acid analog 11 was identified as the lead compound for structureeactivity relationship(SAR) studies. The replacement of the phenyl group with naphthyl moieties improved inhibitory activity significantly to double-digit nanomolar range.Further structure optimization revealed that an acrylamide with small hydrophobic groups(Me, Cl or Br)at the 2-position was preferred. Moreover, adding a fluoro atom at the 5-position of the benzoic acid enhanced the potency. The optimization efforts led to potent compounds 42 and 53-55 with IC50 values of 41, 44, 32, and 42 nmol/L, respectively. The most potent compound 54 also displayed favorable pharmacokinetic(PK) profiles and encouraging in vivo anti-arthritic effects in a dose-dependent manner.展开更多
We recently reported that inhibitors against human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH)have broad-spectrum antiviral activities including their inhibitory efficacies on SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells.However,...We recently reported that inhibitors against human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH)have broad-spectrum antiviral activities including their inhibitory efficacies on SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells.However,there are limited data from clinical studies to prove the application of DHODH inhibitors in Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.In the present study,we evaluated Leflunomide,an approved DHODH inhibitor widely used as a modest immune regulator to treat autoimmune diseases,in treating COVID-19 disease with a small-scale of patients.Cases of 10 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients of moderate type with obvious opacity in the lung were included.Five of the patients were treated with Leflunomide,and another five were treated as blank controls without a placebo.All the patients accepted standard supportive treatment for COVID-19.The patients given Leflunomide had a shorter viral shedding time(median of5 days)than the controls(median of 11 days,P=0.046).The patients given Leflunomide also showed a significant reduction in C-reactive protein levels,indicating that immunopathological inflammation was well controlled.No obvious adverse effects were observed in Leflunomide-treated patients,and they all discharged from the hospital faster than controls.This preliminary study on a small-scale compassionate use of Leflunomide provides clues for further understanding of Leflunomide as a potential antiviral drug against COVID-19.展开更多
基金This work was supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program Grants(2018FYA0900801 and 2018ZX10101004003001 to K.X.2016YFA0502304 to H.L.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 31922004 and 81772202 to K.X.,81825020 to H.L.)+2 种基金the National Science&Technology Major Project"Key New Drug Creation and Manufac-turing Program"of China(Grant 2018ZX09711002 to H.L.)Appli-cation&Frontier Research Program of Wuhan Govemment(2019020701011463 to K.X.).Honglin Li is also sponsored by the National Program for Special Supports of Eminent Professionals and National Program for Support of Top-Notch Young ProfessionalsWe are grateful to Taikang Insurance Group Co,Ltd,Beiing Taikang Yicai Foundation,and Special Fund for COVID-19 Research of Wuhan University for their great supports to this work.
文摘Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide,such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.Herein,we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH,S312 and S416,with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles,which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses,including influenza A virus,Zika virus,Ebola virus,and particularly against SARS-CoV-2.Notably,S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC5o of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.88 in infec-ted cells.Our results are the first to validate that DHODH is an attractive host target through high antiviral efficacy in vivo and low virus replication in DHODH knock-out cells.This work demonstrates that both S312/S416 and old drugs(Leflunomide/Teriflunomide)with dual actions of antiviral and immuno-regulation may have clinical potentials to cure SARS-CoV-2 or other RNA viruses circulating worldwide,no matter such viruses are mutated or not.
文摘Malignant hematopoietic cells gain metabolic plasticity, reorganize anabolic mechanisms to improve anabolic output and prevent oxidative damage, and bypass cell cycle checkpoints, eventually outcompeting normal hematopoietic cells. Current therapeutic strategies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are based on prognostic stratification that includes mutation profile as the closest surrogate to disease biology. Clinical efficacy of targeted therapies, e.g., agents targeting mutant FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2, are mostly limited to the presence of relevant mutations. Recent studies have not only demonstrated that specific mutations in AML create metabolic vulnerabilities but also highlighted the efficacy of targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in combination with inhibitors of these mutations. Therefore, delineating the functional relationships between genetic stratification, metabolic dependencies, and response to specific inhibitors of these vulnerabilities is crucial for identifying more effective therapeutic regimens, understanding resistance mechanisms, and identifying early response markers, ultimately improving the likelihood of cure. In addition, metabolic changes occurring in the tumor microenvironment have also been reported as therapeutic targets. The metabolic profiles of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) differ, and relapsed/refractory LSCs switch to alternative metabolic pathways, fueling oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), rendering them therapeutically resistant. In this review, we discuss the role of cancer metabolic pathways that contribute to the metabolic plasticity of AML and confer resistance to standard therapy;we also highlight the latest promising developments in the field in translating these important findings to the clinic and discuss the tumor microenvironment that supports metabolic plasticity and interplay with AML cells.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (2017YFD0200505 to Xiaoyong Xu,2016YFA0502304 to Honglin Li, China)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81825020 to Honglin Li, 81803437to Shiliang Li)+5 种基金the National Science&Technology Major Project“Key New Drug Creation and Manufacturing Program”(2018ZX09711002, China)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Shanghai Foundation of Science and Technology (15431902100 to Xiaoyong Xu)sponsored by Shanghai Sailing Program (No. 18YF1405100,China)sponsored by the National Program for Special Supports of Eminent ProfessionalsNational Program for Support of Top-Notch Young Professionals,China。
文摘Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH) is a viable target for the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and immunological diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis(RA), psoriasis and multiple sclerosis(MS). Herein, a series of acrylamide-based novel DHODH inhibitors as potential RA treatment agents were designed and synthesized. 2-Acrylamidobenzoic acid analog 11 was identified as the lead compound for structureeactivity relationship(SAR) studies. The replacement of the phenyl group with naphthyl moieties improved inhibitory activity significantly to double-digit nanomolar range.Further structure optimization revealed that an acrylamide with small hydrophobic groups(Me, Cl or Br)at the 2-position was preferred. Moreover, adding a fluoro atom at the 5-position of the benzoic acid enhanced the potency. The optimization efforts led to potent compounds 42 and 53-55 with IC50 values of 41, 44, 32, and 42 nmol/L, respectively. The most potent compound 54 also displayed favorable pharmacokinetic(PK) profiles and encouraging in vivo anti-arthritic effects in a dose-dependent manner.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Key Project on Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia,Hubei Province(project number:2020FCA002 to K.H.)the Application&Frontier Research Program of Wuhan Government(2019020701011463 to K.X.)+2 种基金Taikang Insurance Group Co.,LtdBeijing Taikang Yicai FoundationSpecial Fund for COVID-19 Research of Wuhan University for their great supports to this work。
文摘We recently reported that inhibitors against human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase(DHODH)have broad-spectrum antiviral activities including their inhibitory efficacies on SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells.However,there are limited data from clinical studies to prove the application of DHODH inhibitors in Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.In the present study,we evaluated Leflunomide,an approved DHODH inhibitor widely used as a modest immune regulator to treat autoimmune diseases,in treating COVID-19 disease with a small-scale of patients.Cases of 10 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients of moderate type with obvious opacity in the lung were included.Five of the patients were treated with Leflunomide,and another five were treated as blank controls without a placebo.All the patients accepted standard supportive treatment for COVID-19.The patients given Leflunomide had a shorter viral shedding time(median of5 days)than the controls(median of 11 days,P=0.046).The patients given Leflunomide also showed a significant reduction in C-reactive protein levels,indicating that immunopathological inflammation was well controlled.No obvious adverse effects were observed in Leflunomide-treated patients,and they all discharged from the hospital faster than controls.This preliminary study on a small-scale compassionate use of Leflunomide provides clues for further understanding of Leflunomide as a potential antiviral drug against COVID-19.
