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Background The mechanism underlying the pain symptoms associated with chemotherapeutic-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is poorly understood. Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), TRP vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), TRPV1, and oxidative stress have been implicated in several rodent models of CIPN-evoked allodynia. Thalidomide causes a painful CIPN in patients via an unknown mechanism. Surprisingly, the pathway responsible for such proalgesic response has not yet been investigated in animal models. Results Here, we reveal that a single systemic administration of thalidomide and its derivatives, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, elicits prolonged (~ 35 days) mechanical and cold hypersensitivity in C57BL/6J mouse hind paw. Pharmacological antagonism or genetic deletion studies indicated that both TRPA1 and TRPV4, but not TRPV1, contribute to mechanical allodynia, whereas cold hypersensitivity was entirely due to TRPA1. Thalidomide per se did not stimulate recombinant and constitutive TRPA1 and TRPV4 channels in vitro, which, however, were activated by the oxidative stress byproduct, hydrogen peroxide. Systemic treatment with an antioxidant attenuated mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, and the increase in oxidative stress in hind paw, sciatic nerve, and lumbar spinal cord produced by thalidomide. Notably, central (intrathecal) or peripheral (intraplantar) treatments with channel antagonists or an antioxidant revealed that oxidative stress-dependent activation of peripheral TRPA1 mediates cold allodynia and part of mechanical allodynia. However, oxidative stress-induced activation of central TRPV4 mediated the residual TRPA1-resistant component of mechanical allodynia. Conclusions Targeting of peripheral TRPA1 and central TRPV4 may be required to attenuate pain associated with CIPN elicited by thalidomide and related drugs.

Headaches are frequently described in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) patients, but their mechanism remains unknown. Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) was involved in neuropathic nociception in a model of PMS induced by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (PMS-EAE), and TRPA1 activation causes periorbital and facial nociception. Thus, our purpose was to observe the development of periorbital mechanical allodynia (PMA) in a PMS-EAE model and evaluate the role of TRPA1 in periorbital nociception. Female PMS-EAE mice elicited PMA from day 7 to 14 days after induction. The antimigraine agents olcegepant and sumatriptan were able to reduce PMA. The PMA was diminished by the TRPA1 antagonists HC-030031, A-967079, metamizole and propyphenazone and was absent in TRPA1-deficient mice. Enhanced levels of TRPA1 endogenous agonists and NADPH oxidase activity were detected in the trigeminal ganglion of PMS-EAE mice. The administration of the anti-oxidants apocynin (an NADPH oxidase inhibitor) or alpha-lipoic acid (a sequestrant of reactive oxygen species), resulted in PMA reduction. These results suggest that generation of TRPA1 endogenous agonists in the PMS-EAE mouse model may sensitise TRPA1 in trigeminal nociceptors to elicit PMA. Thus, this ion channel could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of headache in PMS patients.

[Image: see text] In this study, a series of 49 five-membered heterocyclic compounds containing either a pyridine- or a pyrrole-type nitrogen were synthesized and tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Among them, only the 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles 5–49 exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values in the low micromolar range, and some also exhibited an improved physicochemical profile without cytotoxic effects. Three pyrazoles were subjected to an animal tuberculosis efficacy model, and compound 6 induced a statistically significant difference in lung bacterial counts compared with untreated mice. Moreover, to determine the target of this series, resistors were generated, and whole genome sequencing revealed mutations in the mmpL3 gene.

This study examines in depth benzoxazine nucleus for antimycobacterial property. We synthesized some benzoxazin-2-one and benzoxazin-3-one derivatives, which were tested for activity against a panel of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains, including H37Ra, H37Rv and some resistant strains. Several compounds displayed a high antimycobacterial activity and the three isoniazid analogue derivatives 8a-c exhibited a MIC range of 0.125-0.250 μg/mL (0.37-0.75 μM) against strain H37Ra, therefore lower than the isoniazid reference drug. Two benzoxazin-2-one derivatives, 1c and 5j , together with isoniazid-analogue compound 8a , also revealed low MIC values against resistant strains and proved highly selective for mycobacterial cells, compared to mammalian Vero cells. To predict whether molecule 8a is able to interact with the active site of InhA, we docked it into the crystal structure; indeed, during the molecular dynamic simulation the compound never left the protein pocket. The more active compounds were predicted for ADME properties and all proved to be potentially orally active in humans.

Background:Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative pathogen of Tuberculosis (TB) and outbreaks are more common among immunosuppressed persons infected with HIV. The current treatment regimens are lengthy and toxic, yet the therapy has remained unchanged for many decades, so there is a need to find new structures with selective mechanism of action. Moreover, the increased incidence of severe disseminated infections produced by undiagnosed Multidrug-resistant (MDR), worsen clinical treatment and contribute the spread of the disease.Objective:The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential of imidazole and triazole moieties for antimycobacterial activity, by synthesizing some 1-(1-(aryl)-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)hydrazono)ethyl- 1H-imidazole and 1H-1,2,4-triazole derivatives 2a-l.Methods:The title compounds were obtained via classical organic synthesis. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the method of microdilution and the cytotoxicity assay was performed by MTT method.Results:The results indicated that the presence of both the imidazole ring and that of the 2,6- dichlorosubstituted phenyl moiety, is more relevant for inhibitory activity against Mtb than the triazole nucleus and the unsubstituted phenyl ring. Among the series, (E)-1-(2-(5-chlorothiophen-2-yl)-2-(2- (2,6-dichlorophenyl)hydrazono)ethyl)-1H-imidazole derivative 2f and (Z)-1-(2-([1,1’-biphenyl]-4-yl)- 2-(2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)hydrazono)ethyl]-1H-imidazole derivatives 2e exhibited a promising antimycobacterial property and the latter also displayed a safe cytotoxic profile.Conclusion:The synthesized compounds were studied for their antitubercular activity. Among the series, the compounds 2e and 2f appeared to be the most promising agents and, according to the docking assessment, the compounds could be CYP51 inhibitors. These evidences could be useful for the future development of new antimycobacterial derivatives targeting CYP51 with more specificity for the mycobacterial cell enzyme.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant mesenchymal soft tissue neoplasm. Despite its name, the cells of origin are not synovial cells, but rather neural, myogenic, or multipotent mesenchymal stem cells have been proposed as possible cells originators. Unlike other sarcomas, an unusual presentation of long-term pain at the tumor site has been documented, but the exact mechanisms have not been fully clarified yet. The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a nonselective cation channel mainly expressed in primary sensory neurons, where it functions as a pain sensor. TRPA1 have also been described in multiple non-excitable cells, including those derived from neural crest stem cells such as glial cells and, in particular, Schwann cell oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. We evaluated TRPA1 expression in SS. We selected a cohort of 41 SSs, and by immunohistochemistry, we studied TRPA1 expression. TRPA1 was found in 92.6% of cases. Triple TRPA1/pS100/SOX10 and TRPA1/SLUG/SNAIL staining strongly supports a neural origin of SS. TRPA1 positivity was also observed in a subset of cases negative with pS100, SOX10 and/or SLUG/SNAIL, and these divergent phenotypes may reflect a process of tumor plasticity and dedifferentiation of neural-derived SSs. Given the functional diversity of TRPA1 and its expression in neuronal and non-neuronal multipotent neural crest stem cells, it remains to be determined whether TRPA1 expression in SSs neoplastic cells plays a role in the molecular mechanism associated with premonitory pain symptoms and tumor progression.

Background Identification of somatic mutations in key oncogenes in melanoma is important to lead the effective and efficient use of personalized anticancer treatment. Conventional methods focus on few genes per run and, therefore, are unable to screen for multiple genes simultaneously. The use of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies enables sequencing of multiple cancer-driving genes in a single assay, with reduced costs and DNA quantity needed and increased mutation detection sensitivity. Methods We designed a customized IMI somatic gene panel for targeted sequencing of actionable melanoma mutations; this panel was tested on three different NGS platforms using 11 metastatic melanoma tissue samples in blinded manner between two EMQN quality certificated laboratory. Results The detection limit of our assay was set-up to a Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) of 10% with a coverage of at least 200x. All somatic variants detected by all NGS platforms with a VAF ≥ 10%, were also validated by an independent method. The IMI panel achieved a very good concordance among the three NGS platforms. Conclusion This study demonstrated that, using the main sequencing platforms currently available in the diagnostic setting, the IMI panel can be adopted among different centers providing comparable results.

BM635 is the hit compound of a promising anti-TB compound class. Herein we report systematic variations around the central pyrrole core of BM635 and we describe the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, pharmacokinetic analysis, as well as in vivo TB mouse efficacy studies of novel BM635 analogues that show improved physicochemical properties. This hit-to-lead campaign led to the identification of a new analogue, 4-((1-isopropyl-5-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl)morpholine (17), that shows excellent activity (MIC = 0.15 μM; SI = 133) against drug-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, as well as efficacy in a murine model of TB infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) protein tyrosine phosphatases A and B (PtpA and PtpB) have been recognized as potential molecular targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis (TB). In this context, we have recently reported that the naturally occurring Diels-Alder-type adduct Kuwanol E is an inhibitor of PtpB (Ki = 1.6 ± 0.1 μM). Here, we describe additional Diels-Alder-type adducts isolated from Morus nigra roots bark that inhibit PtpB at sub-micromolar concentrations. The two most potent compounds, namely Kuwanon G and Kuwanon H, showed Ki values of 0.39 ± 0.27 and 0.20 ± 0.01 μM, respectively, and interacted with the active site of the enzyme as suggested by kinetics and mass spectrometry studies. Molecular docking coupled with intrinsic fluorescence analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) further characterized the interaction of these promising PtpB inhibitors. Notably, in an Mtb survival assay inside macrophages, Kuwanon G showed inhibition of Mtb growth by 61.3%. All these results point to the common Diels-Alder-type adduct scaffold, and highlight its relevance for the development of PtpB inhibitors as candidate therapeutics for TB.

A major constraint in reducing tuberculosis epidemic is the emergence of strains resistant to one or more of clinically approved antibiotics, which emphasizes the need of novel drugs with novel targets. Genetic knockout strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have established that tryptophan (Trp) biosynthesis is essential for the bacterium to survive in vivo and cause disease in animal models. An anthranilate-like compound, 6-FABA, was previously shown to synergize with the host immune response to Mtb infection in vivo. Herein, we present a class of anthranilate-like compounds endowed with good antimycobacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. We show how replacing the carboxylic moiety with a hydrazide led to a significant improvement in both activity and cytotoxicity relative to the parent compound 6-FABA. Several new benzohydrazides (compounds 20–31, 33, 34, 36, 38 and 39) showed good activities against Mtb (0.625 ≤ MIC≤6.25 μM) and demonstrated no detectable cytotoxicity against Vero cell assay (CC50 ≥ 1360 μM). The target preliminary studies confirmed the hypothesis that this new class of compounds inhibits Trp biosynthesis. Taken together, these findings indicate that fluorophenylbenzohydrazides represent good candidates to be assessed for drug discovery.

Genetic alterations of neurotrophic tropomyosin or tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) 1/2/3 genes generate TRK fusion proteins have been reported in a variety of adult and child cancers from diverse cell/tissue lineages. Larotrectinib, a tumour-agnostic TRK inhibitor, has shown remarkable efficacy in a novel "basket" study which has enrolled patients from infants to elderly with different TRK fusion-positive cancers. In this review, we focus on the challenges and expectations on the development of "tumour-agnostic" targeted therapies in rare malignancies.

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with spontaneous burning pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia. Although acetaldehyde has been implicated in the painful alcoholic neuropathy, the mechanism by which the ethanol metabolite causes pain symptoms is unknown. Acute ethanol ingestion caused delayed mechanical allodynia in mice. Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) or deletion of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a sensor for oxidative and carbonyl stress, prevented allodynia. Acetaldehyde generated by ADH in both liver and Schwann cells surrounding nociceptors was required for TRPA1-induced mechanical allodynia. Plp1-Cre Trpa1(fl/fl) mice with a tamoxifen-inducible specific deletion of TRPA1 in Schwann cells revealed that channel activation by acetaldehyde in these cells initiates a NADPH oxidase-1–dependent (NOX1-dependent) production of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which sustains allodynia by paracrine targeting of nociceptor TRPA1. Chronic ethanol ingestion caused prolonged mechanical allodynia and loss of intraepidermal small nerve fibers in WT mice. While Trpa1(–/–) or Plp1-Cre Trpa1(fl/fl) mice did not develop mechanical allodynia, they did not show any protection from the small-fiber neuropathy. Human Schwann cells express ADH/TRPA1/NOX1 and recapitulate the proalgesic functions of mouse Schwann cells. TRPA1 antagonists might attenuate some symptoms of alcohol-related pain.

Menaquinone is one of the essential components of the electron transport chain in many pathogens and consequently enzymes in its biosynthesis pathway are potential drug targets for the development of novel antibacterial agents. Few years ago, Li et al.1 identified several 1,4-benzoxazine-2-one derivatives, targeting MenB (1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphtoyl-CoA synthase), endowed with high antibacterial activity against Mycobacteria tuberculosis H37Rv with MIC values of 0.6 μg/ml. By these assumptions, we designed and synthesized some analogous compounds in order to investigate the SAR and to discover new potent antimycobacterial derivatives. First of all, we tried to check the activity of several benzoxazine-3-one isosters and, in our case, the derivative showed low antimycobacterial activity (32->64 μg/ml) contradicting the bioisosterism principle. Then, we tried to modify the substituents on the original 1,4-benzoxazin-2-one core and we found some interesting data that will be presented. Moreover, we synthesized some 2-(arylamino)-4-oxobut-2-enoate derivatives as analogues of O-Succinyllbenzoate (OSB), a precursor in the menaquinone biosynthetic pathway. Details on antitubercular activity will be presented.

Aromatase inhibitors (AI) induce painful musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS), which are dependent upon the pain transducing receptor TRPA1. However, as the AI concentrations required to engage TRPA1 in mice are higher than those found in the plasma of patients, we hypothesized that additional factors may cooperate to induce AIMSS. Here we report that the aromatase substrate androstenedione, unique among several steroid hormones, targeted TRPA1 in peptidergic primary sensory neurons in rodent and human cells expressing the native or recombinant channel. Androstenedione dramatically lowered the concentration of letrozole required to engage TRPA1. Notably, addition of a minimal dose of androstenedione to physiologically ineffective doses of letrozole and oxidative stress byproducts produces AIMSS-like behaviors and neurogenic inflammatory responses in mice. Elevated androstenedione levels cooperated with low letrozole concentrations and inflammatory mediators were sufficient to provoke AIMSS-like behaviors. The generation of such painful conditions by small quantities of simultaneously administered TRPA1 agonists justifies previous failure to identify a precise link between AIs and AIMSS, underscoring the potential of channel antagonists to treat AIMSS. Cancer Res; 76(23); 7024–35. ©2016 AACR.

The current understanding of the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the airways and lung was initially based on the localization of a series of such channels in a subset of sensory nerve fibers of the respiratory tract. Soon after, TRP channel expression and function have been identified in respiratory nonneuronal cells. In these two locations, TRPs regulate physiological processes aimed at integrating different stimuli to maintain homeostasis and to react to harmful agents and tissue injury by building up inflammatory responses and repair processes. There is no doubt that TRPs localized in the sensory network contribute to airway neurogenic inflammation, and emerging evidence underlines the role of nonneuronal TRPs in orchestrating inflammation and repair in the respiratory tract. However, recent basic and clinical studies have offered clues regarding the contribution of neuronal and nonneuronal TRPs in the mechanism of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cough, and other respiratory diseases.

A complex network of many interacting mechanisms orchestrates immune and inflammatory responses. Among these, the cation channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family expressed by resident tissue cells, inflammatory and immune cells and distinct subsets of primary sensory neurons, have emerged as a novel and interrelated system to detect and respond to harmful agents. TRP channels, by means of their direct effect on the intracellular levels of cations and/or through the indirect modulation of a large series of intracellular pathways, orchestrate a range of cellular processes, such as cytokine production, cell differentiation and cytotoxicity. The contribution of TRP channels to the transition of inflammation and immune responses from a defensive early response to a chronic and pathological condition is also emerging as a possible underlying mechanism in various diseases. This review discusses the roles of TRP channels in inflammatory and immune cell function and provides an overview of the effects of inflammatory and immune TRP channels on the pathogenesis of human diseases.

Cyclohexyliden- and 2-methylcyclohexyliden-hydrazo-4-arylthiazoles were synthesized and tested as antifungal agents. All compounds exhibited minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values comparable with those of fluconazole (FLC). Moreover, some compounds showed fungicidal activity at low concentration. Worth noting five out of nine compounds were active towards Candida albicans 25 FLC resistant isolated from clinical specimens. The cellular toxicity was evaluated and none of the compounds is toxic at the MIC. On the basis of our data we can conclude that these derivatives are promising agents for the treatment of resistant C. albicans.

Although there is an increasing evidence that cancer stem cell (CSC) niches in the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in sustaining solid tumors progression, several molecular players involved in this regulation still remain unknown. The role of &beta, adrenergic signaling in enhancing tumor growth through &beta, 2-adrenoreceptors (&beta, 2-ARs) has been confirmed in different cancer models, but the role played by the &beta, 3-adrenergic receptor (&beta, 3-AR) has recently emerged. Previous studies showed that &beta, 3-AR promotes cancer growth through the activation of different stromal cells in the TME, and leads to melanoma malignancy progression through inflammation, angiogenesis, and immunotolerance. Here we show that in B16 melanoma-bearing mice, the pharmacological &beta, 3-AR blockade is able to reduce the expression of CSC markers, and to induce a differentiated phenotype of hematopoietic subpopulations in TME. In particular, cytofluorimetric analysis (FACS) of the tumor mass shows that &beta, 3-AR antagonist SR59230A promotes hematopoietic differentiation as indicated by increased ratios of lymphoid/hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and of myeloid progenitor cells/HSCs, and increases the number of Ter119 and natural killer (NK) precursor cells, and of granulocyte precursors, indicating active hematopoiesis within the tumor tissue. Moreover, pharmacological antagonism of &beta, 3-AR induces mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation into adipocytes subtracting a potential renewal of the stem compartment by these cells. Here we demonstrate that &beta, 3-AR blockade in the TME by inducing the differentiation of different stromal cells at the expense of stemness traits could possibly have a favorable effect on the control of melanoma progression.

Sixteen 3-(carboxymethyl)rhodanines, and twelve aminothiazoles as rhodanine-mimetics were designed, synthesized and tested as inhibitors of the Zmp1 enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Almost all rhodanines (5a–d, 5f–n, and 7a–b) exhibited Zmp1 inhibition with IC50 values in the range 1.3–43.9 µM, whereas only aminothiazoles 12b and 12d proved active with IC50 values of 41.3 and 35.7 µM, respectively. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) were coupled with molecular modeling studies to highlight structural determinants for Zmp1 inhibition. Moreover, rhodanines 5a and 5c induced 23.4 and 53.8% of Mtb growth inhibition in THP-1 infected cells, respectively, at the non-toxic concentration of 10 µg/ml. This work represents a step forward in targeting Zmp1 by small molecules.

The activation of oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin pathway in melanoma contributes to a lack of T-cell infiltration. Whether baseline β-catenin expression in the context of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) overexpression correlates with prognosis of metastatic melanoma patients (MMPs) treated with mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi) monotherapy, however, has not been fully clarified.Sixty-four pre-treatment formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded melanoma samples from MMP treated with a BRAF inhibitor (n = 39) or BRAF and MEK inhibitors (n = 25) were assessed for presence of β-catenin, PD-L1, cluster of differentiation (CD)8, CD103 and forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) expression by immunohistochemistry, and results were correlated with clinical outcome. Quantitative assessment of mRNA transcripts associated with Wnt/β-catenin pathway and immune response was performed in 51 patients.We found an inverse correlation between tumoural β-catenin expression and the level of CD8, CD103 or forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) positivity in the tumour microenvironment (TME). By multivariate analysis, PD-L15% (odds ratio, OR 0.12, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.03-0.53, p = 0.005) and the presence of CD8+ T cells (OR 18.27, 95%CI 2.54-131.52, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with a higher probability of response to MAPKi monotherapy. Responding patients showed a significantly increased expression of mRNA transcripts associated with adaptive immunity and antigen presentation. By multivariate analysis, progression-free survival (PFS) (hazards ratio (HR) = 0.25 95%CI 0.10-0.61, p = 0.002) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.24 95%CI 0.09-0.67, p = 0.006) were longer in patients with high density of CD8+ T cells and β-catenin10% than those without CD8+ T cells infiltration and β-catenin ≥10%.Our findings provide evidence that in the context of MAPKi monotherapy, immune subsets in the (TME) and gene signature predict prognosis in MMPs.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most common viral diseases in humans. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) have been distinguished by clinical manifestations and biological and serological criteria. Several drugs have proved useful in the treatment of many specific infections, but viral strains resistant to these drugs have been increasingly identified [1]. In order to find less toxic antiviral agents, many researchers have addressed plant products. Indeed, many plant extracts and their secondary metabolites are known in the literature for their antiviral activity [2, 3]. Bituminaria bituminosa L. (syn. Psoralea bituminosa L., Leguminosae) is a perennial herb widespread in the Mediterranean area, known in Italy as “trifoglio bituminoso”; the fresh leaves are used in folk medicine as vulnerary, cicatrizing, and disinfectant agent [4, 5]. Plants of the genus Bituminaria are known as source of furanocoumarins and flavonoids [6, 7]. In our previous phytochemical study [8], three pterocarpans (erybraedin C and the new bitucarpins A and B) together with plicatin B were isolated and identified from B. bituminosa aerial parts. Erybraedin C and bitucarpin A showed cytotoxicity in different cell lines [9], induced apoptosis in colon carcinoma cell lines, and exhibited anti-clastogenic activity in lymphocytes [10, 11]; erybraedin C showed inhibitory activity against human topoisomerase I [12] and significant antioxidant activity [13]. The antiviral activity of the pterocarpan compounds, isolated from different plant sources, has been reported in the literature [14, 15], and some of these derivatives were active against HSV-2 [16]. In the present investigation, the antiviral activity of a few B. bituminosa extracts and their isolates erybraedin C (1), bitucarpin A (2), and plicatin B (3) is reported for the first time. The tested extracts were characterized in their quantitative chemical composition by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis.

The development of new anti-tubercular agents represents a constant challenge mostly due to the insurgency of resistance to the currently available drugs. In this study, a set of 60 molecules were selected by screening the Asinex and the ZINC collections and an in house library by means of in silico ligand-based approaches. Biological assays in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra ATCC 25177 strain highlighted (±)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (5i) and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,4-dimethylpyrimidin-5-yl)-2-methylpyrazolo[1.5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (42) as the most potent compounds, having a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 4 and 2 μg/mL respectively. These molecules represent a good starting point for further optimization of effective anti-TB agents.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, prominent inflammation with massive expression of the neutrophil chemokine IL-8, and luminal infiltrates of neutrophils are hallmarks of chronic lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The nociceptive transient receptor potential ankyrin (TRPA) 1 calcium channels have been recently found to be involved in nonneurogenic inflammation. Here, we investigate the role of TRPA1 in CF respiratory inflammatory models in vitro. Expression of TRPA1 was evaluated in CF lung tissue sections and cells by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Epithelial cell lines (A549, IB3-1, CuFi-1, CFBE41o-) and primary cells from patients with CF were used to: (1) check TRPA1 function modulation, by Fura-2 calcium imaging; (2) down-modulate TRPA1 function and expression, by pharmacological inhibitors (HC-030031 and A-967079) and small interfering RNA silencing; and (3) assess the effect of TRPA1 down-modulation on expression and release of cytokines upon exposure to proinflammatory challenges, by quantitative RT-PCR and 27-protein Bioplex assay. TRPA1 channels are expressed in the CF pseudostratified columnar epithelium facing the bronchial lumina exposed to bacteria, where IL-8 is coexpressed. Inhibition of TRPA1 expression results in a relevant reduction of release of several cytokines, including IL-8 and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, in CF primary bronchial epithelial cells exposed to P. aeruginosa and to the supernatant of mucopurulent material derived from the chronically infected airways of patients with CF. In conclusion, TRPA1 channels are involved in regulating the extent of airway inflammation driven by CF bronchial epithelial cells.

N1-[1-[1-aryl-3-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-3-oxo]propyl]-pyridine-2-carboxamidrazone derivatives were design, synthesized and tested for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity. The new compounds showed a moderate antimycobacterial activity against the tested strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and a significant antimycobacterial activity against several mycobacteria other than tuberculosis strains.

The biological diversity of nature is the source of a wide range of bioactive molecules. The natural products, either as pure compounds or as standardized plant extracts, have been a successful source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. The present work was carried out to investigate the cytotoxicity, antiviral and antimycobacterial activity of the methanol extract and of four identified limonoids from the fruits of Melia azedarach (Meliaceae). The extract and purified limonoids were tested in cell-based assays for antiviral activity against representatives of ssRNA, dsRNA and dsDNA viruses and against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Very interestingly, 3-α-tigloyl-melianol and melianone showed a potent antiviral activity (EC50 in the range of 3–11μM) against three important human pathogens, belonging to Flaviviridae family, West Nile virus, Dengue virus and Yellow Fever virus. Mode of action studies demonstrated that title compounds were inhibitors of West Nile virus only when added during the infection, acting as inhibitors of the entry or of a very early event of life cycle. Furthermore, 3-α-tigloyl-melianol and methyl kulonate showed interesting antimycobacterial activity (with MIC values of 29 and 70 μM respectively). The limonoids are typically lipophilic compounds present in the fruits of Melia azeradach. They are known as cytotoxic compounds against different cancer cell lines, while their potential as antiviral and antibacterial was poorly investigated. Our studies show that they may serve as a good starting point for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of infections by Flaviviruses and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, for which there is a continued need.

The antimycobacterial activities of two new S-alkylisothiosemicarbazone derivatives (1i and 1f) against 32 Mycobacterium avium isolates were investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were significantly lower than those of rifampicin and other reference drugs. The two derivatives also showed excellent intracellular activity against M. avium residing in the macrophage-like J774 cells. Interestingly, the combination of subinhibitory concentrations of 1i and rifabutin or rifampicin induced a potent synergistic effect, as determined by the fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICIs) ranging between 0.103 and 0.412. Such synergistic effect resulted in a 81-fold and 139-fold reduction of the MICs of rifabutin and rifampicin, respectively. Enhancement of intracellular activity of rifabutin by the S-alkylisothiosemicarbazone derivative 1i was also observed. Results indicate that S-alkylisothiosemicarbazones can be useful in the therapy and prophylaxis of M. avium infections and can represent a template for the development of novel antimycobacterial drugs. Furthermore, as a consequence of their ability to enhance the activity of rifamycins, a reduction of drug interactions following the co-administration of protease inhibitors could be achieved by lower doses of rifampicin and rifabutin.

The effect of liposomal inclusion on the in vitro antiherpetic activity of Artemisia arborescens L. essential oil was investigated. In order to study the influence of vesicle structure and composition on the antiviral activity of the vesicle-incorporated oil, multilamellar (MLV) and unilamellar (SUV) positively charged liposomes were prepared by the film method and sonication. Liposomes were obtained from hydrogenated (P90H) and non-hydrogenated (P90) soy phosphatidylcholine. Formulations were examined for their stability for over one year, monitoring the oil leakage from vesicles and the average size distribution. The antiviral activity was studied against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) by a quantitative tetrazolium-based colorimetric method. Results showed that Artemisia essential oil can be incorporated in good amounts in the prepared vesicular dispersions. Stability studies pointed out that vesicle dispersions were very stable for at least six months and neither oil leakage nor vesicle size alteration occurred during this period. After one year of storage oil retention was still good, but vesicle fusion was present. Antiviral assays demonstrated that the liposomal incorporation of A. arborescens essential oil enhanced its in vitro antiherpetic activity especially when vesicles were made with P90H. On the contrary, no significant difference in antiviral activity was observed between the free and SUV-incorporated oil.

The activities of six derivatives of a new class of isonicotinoylhydrazones were investigated in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294, isoniazid-resistant M. tuberculosis ATCC 35822, rifampicin-resistant ATCC 35838, pyrazinamide-resistant ATCC 35828, streptomycin-resistant ATCC 35820 and 16 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. Several compounds showed interesting antimycobacterial activity against both ATCC strains and clinical isolates, but were less active against isoniazid-resistant M. tuberculosis. Combinations of five isonicotinoylhydrazone derivatives and rifampicin, ethambutol, para-aminosalicylic acid, isoniazid and clofazimine were also investigated against M. tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 and against ATCC drug-resistant strains. Addition of sub-MICs of some isonicotinoylhydrazone derivatives resulted in a four- to 16-fold reduction in MICs of ethambutol, para-aminosalicylic acid and rifampicin with fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) ranging between 0.17 and 0.37, suggesting a synergic interaction against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Increased activity was also observed with other combinations (FICs 0.53-0.75), including isoniazid, and a synergic interaction between one of the isonicotinoylhydrazone derivatives and isoniazid (FIC 0.26) was shown against isoniazid-resistant M. tuberculosis ATCC 35822, whereas no effects were observed on combining the isonicotinoylhydrazones with clofazimine. The ability of isonicotinoylhydrazones to inhibit specifically the growth of M. tuberculosis, the high selectivity index and their ability to enhance the activity of standard antituberculous drugs in vitro indicate that they may serve as promising lead compounds for future drug development for the treatment of M. tuberculosis infections.

Use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs), exemestane, letrozole and anastrozole, for breast cancer therapy is associated with severe pain symptoms, the underlying mechanism of which is unknown. The electrophilic nature of AIs suggests that they may target the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel, a major pathway in pain transmission and neurogenic inflammation. AIs evoke TRPA1-mediated calcium response and current in rodent nociceptors and human cells expressing the recombinant channel. In mice, AIs produce acute nociception, which is exaggerated by pre-exposure to proalgesic stimuli, and, by releasing sensory neuropeptides, neurogenic inflammation in peripheral tissues. AIs also evoke mechanical allodynia and decreased grip strength, which do not undergo desensitization on prolonged AI administration. These effects are markedly attenuated by TRPA1 pharmacological blockade or in TRPA1-deficient mice. TRPA1 is a major mediator of the proinflammatory/proalgesic actions of AIs, thus suggesting TRPA1 antagonists for the treatment of pain symptoms associated with AI use., Use of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer therapy is associated with severe pain symptoms, the underlying mechanism of which is unknown. Here the authors show that in mice, TRPA1 is a major mediator of the proinflammatory and proalgesic actions of aromatase inhibitors.

The essential oil obtained in toto from Santolina insularis was investigated for its antiviral activity on herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in vitro. The IC(50) values, determined by plaque reduction assays, were 0.88 and 0.7 microg/ml for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively, while the CC(50) determined by the MTT test on Vero cells was 112 microg/ml, indicating a CC(50)/IC(50) ratio of 127 for HSV-1 and 160 for HSV-2. Results obtained by plaque reduction assays also indicated that the antiviral activity of S. insularis was principally due to direct virucidal effects. Antiviral activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 was not observed in a post-attachment assay, and attachment assays indicated that virus adsorption was not inhibited. Up to 80% inhibition of HSV-1 was achieved at the concentration of 40 microg/ml by yield reduction assay. Furthermore, reduction of plaque formation assays also showed that S. insularis essential oil inhibits cell-to-cell transmission of both HSV-1 and HSV-2.

A series of novel enantiomerically pure azole derivatives was synthesized. The new compounds, bearing both an imidazole as well as a triazole moiety, were evaluated as antimycobacterial agents. One of them proved to have activity against Mycobaterium tuberculosis comparable to those of the classical antibacterial/antifungal drugs Econazole and Clotrimazole.

Aseries of isonicotinoylhydrazones 2 were prepared by addition of some aryloxyacetonitriles with isonicotinoylhydrazine in basic medium. These compounds have been further reacted with pyridinecarboxaldehydes to give the corresponding pyridylmethyleneamino derivatives 3 – 5 . The new synthesized hydrazones and their pyridylmethyleneamino derivatives were tested for their activity against mycobacteria, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity was also tested. Several compounds showed a good activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and some isonycotinoylhydrazones 2 showed a moderate activity against a clinically isolated M. tuberculosis which was isoniazid resistant.

We report the characterization of a type-common human recombinant monoclonal antibody previously isolated by antigen selection from a phage-displayed combinatorial antibody library established from a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-seropositive individual. Competition with well-characterized murine monoclonal antibodies and immunodetection of gD truncations revealed that this antibody recognizes the group Ib antigenic site of glycoprotein D, a highly conserved and protective type-common determinant. To our knowledge, this is the first human group Ib monoclonal antibody ever described. The antibody also displayed first-order neutralization kinetics and a high neutralization rate constant, was capable of completely inhibiting syncytium formation by a fusogenic strain of HSV type 1, and efficiently neutralized low-passage clinical isolates of both HSV serotypes. Taken together with our earlier observations of the in vivo antiviral activities of this human recombinant antibody in animal models of HSV infection, the present results support the high therapeutic potential of this antibody.

International audience; 1,5-Diphenyl pyrroles were previously identified as a class of compounds endowed with high in vitro efficacy against M. tuberculosis. To improve the physical chemical properties and drug-like parameters of this class of compounds, a medicinal chemistry effort was undertaken. By selecting the optimal substitution patterns for the phenyl rings at N1 and C5 and by replacing the thiomorpholine moiety with a morpholine one, a new series of compounds was produced. The replacement of the sulfur with oxygen gave compounds with lower lipophilicity and improved in vitro microsomal stability. Moreover, since the parent compound of this family has been shown to target MmpL3, mycobacterial mutants resistant to two compounds have been isolated and characterized by sequencing the mmpL3 gene; all the mutants showed point mutations in this gene. The best compound identified to date was progressed to dose-response studies in an acute murine TB infection model. The resulting ED(99) of 49 mg/Kg is within the range of commonly employed tuberculosis drugs, demonstrating the potential of this chemical series. The in vitro and in vivo target validation evidence presented here adds further weight to MmpL3 as a druggable target of interest for anti-tubercular drug discovery.

Specific anti-tumor and anti-viral activities can be conferred on lymphocytic and myeloid effector cells by retargeting them with bispecific antibodies. These are antibodies which possess an anti-target binding region and a region capable of binding specific effector cell surface markers. For the rapid evaluation of recombinant human Fabs as bispecific antibodies, we have constructed a vector that allows for the conversion of Fabs into protein A fusion proteins. These can be used to generate bispecific antibodies when complexed to appropriate anti-effector cell immunoglobulins. As a model system, a protein A fusion derivative of a human recombinant anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) Fab was constructed and complexed to OKT3, a T cell-activating antibody specific for CD3. This complex reduced HSV-2 yields in infected cells by about three logs relative to controls when incubated on HSV-2-infected cell monolayers in the presence of IL-2-activated lymphocytes. The system described allows for the rapid evaluation of recombinant human Fabs as bispecific antibodies for therapeutic applications. In addition, Fab-protein A fusion proteins can be used in ELISA and other immuno-assays with increased sensitivity.

From the methanol extract of the bulbs of Pancratium illyricum L., three phenanthridine type alkaloids, ungeremine (1), (−)-lycorine (2) and (+)-vittatine (3) were isolated. For the evaluation of their anticancer and antibacterial potential, compounds 1–3 were tested against human (I, IIα) and bacterial (IA, IV) topoisomerases. Our data demonstrated that ungeremine impairs the activity of both, human and bacterial topoisomerases. Remarkably, ungeremine was found to largely increments the DNA cleavage promoted by bacterial topoisomerase IA, a new target in antimicrobial chemotherapy. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new series of S-alkylisothiosemicarbazones of 3- and 4-pyridincarboxaldehyde and 4-fluoro- and 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde was synthesized and evaluated for biological activity against various Mycobacterium strains. Inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 and INH-R ATCC 35822 was compared with activity against clinical isolated Mycobacteria as well as against MOTT. Some of newly prepared compounds showed best inhibitory values against clinical isolated Mycobacteria, besides to low citotoxicity values.

A hit optimization procedure based on isosteric and bioisosteric replacement of decorating groups at both the N1 and the C5 phenyl rings of 1,5-diarylpyrroles led to identification of 4-((1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-5-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methyl)thiomorpholine that is characterized by a very high activity toward both Mycobacterium tuberculosis 103471 and H37Rv strains (MIC values of 0.125μg/mL), and a safe profile in terms of cytotoxicity (CC(50) of >128μg/mL) and protection index (>1000). Antitubercular activity and protection index of the new compound are comparable to those found for the current antitubercular drugs streptomycin and rifampin.

A series of novel enantiomerically pure azole derivatives was synthesized. The new compounds, bearing both an imidazole as well as a triazole moiety, were evaluated as antimycobacterial agents. One of them proved to have activity against Mycobaterium tuberculosis comparable to those of the classical antibacterial/antifungal drugs Econazole and Clotrimazole.

Two series of novel rigid pyrazolone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis. Two of these compounds showed a high activity against MTB (MIC=4 microg/mL). The newly synthesized pyrazolones were also computationally investigated to analyze if their properties fit the pharmacophoric model for antitubercular compounds previously built by us. The results are in agreement with those reported by us previously for a class of pyrazole analogues and confirm the fundamental role of the p-chlorophenyl moiety at C4 in the antimycobacterial activity.

The synthesis and antifungal activity of 2-acylhydrazino-5-arylpyrroles 21 – 62 are described. Pyrrole derivatives 21 – 62 were evaluated for their antifungal activity towards Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and three Candida non- albicans isolated from clinical specimens. Most of them showed very good antifungal activities against Candidae , having MIC values in the 0.39–3.12 μg/mL range and enhanced inhibition potency as compared to that of fluconazole. In addition, some of the most active compounds were tested for cytotoxic activities against breast (MCF-7), lung (H-460), and central nervous system (SF-268) human cancer cell lines with the NCI anticancer drug screen. The activity of pyrroles described in this paper, along with the low toxicity, shows promise for the future development of non-toxic new antimycotic agents. The relationship between functional group variation and biological activity of the evaluated compounds is also discussed.

As a continuation of our previous work that turned toward the identification of antimycobacterial compounds with innovative structures, two series of pyrazole derivatives were synthesized by parallel solution-phase synthesis and were assayed as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), which is the causative agent of tuberculosis. One of these compounds showed high activity against MTB (MIC = 4 microg/mL). The newly synthesized pyrazoles were also computationally investigated to analyze their fit properties to the pharmacophoric model for antitubercular compounds previously built by us and to refine structure-activity relationship analysis.

We investigated the in vitro activity of a new class of N-aryl and N-heteryl phenazine-1-carboxamide derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and against drug-resistant ATCC M. tuberculosis strains. The activity against M. tuberculosis in J774 macrophage cells was also investigated. In most cases, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging between 0.19 mg/L and 0.79 mg/L were found, and comparable MIC values were obtained against 26 susceptible and 5 drug-resistant clinical isolates. Several derivatives were shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth both of susceptible and resistant strains at comparable concentrations. Results obtained indicate that these compounds could represent a promising class of agents useful for the treatment of M. tuberculosis infections caused by drug-resistant strains.

In an attempt to identify new inhibitors of the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis, a procedure for the generation, design, and screening of a ligand-based virtual library was applied. This used both an in silico protocol centered on a recursive partitioning (RP) model described herein, and a pharmacophoric model for antitubercular agents previously generated by our research group. Two candidates emerged from databases of commercially available compounds, both characterized by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25 microg mL(-1). Based on these compounds, two series of derivatives were synthesized by both parallel solution-phase and microwave-assisted synthesis, leading to enhanced antimycobacterial activity. During both the design and synthesis, attention was focused on the efficient allocation of available resources with the aim of reducing the overall costs associated with calculation and synthesis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antifungal activity of an isothiosemicarbazone cyclic analogue against isolates of Candida spp. including fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. Methods: We investigated the activity of 2-cyclohexylidenhydrazo-4-phenyl-thiazole (EM-01D2) against 114 clinical isolates of Candida spp., representing five different species, by microdilution, according to the NCCLS method 27-A. The activity against C. albicans biofilms was also investigated. Toxicity in vitro was evaluated by MTT reduction assay. Results: EM-01D2 demonstrated low toxicity, broad spectrum, fungicidal activity and was active against C. albicans and Candida krusei at concentrations lower than those shown by amphotericin B and fluconazole (P < 0.05). It maintained potent in vitro activity against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates. Fungicidal activity occurred at concentrations 1‐2 doubling dilutions greater than the corresponding MICs, and time‐kill analysis indicated that a 99.9% loss of C. albicans viability occurred after 6 h of incubation in the presence of EM-01D2 at concentrations equal to four times the MIC. EM-01D2 was also active in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans ATCC 10231 biofilms, even though such inhibition occurred at concentrations higher than the MICs determined under planktonic growth conditions. However, when C. albicans biofilms were pre-exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of EM-01D2, a reduction of MIC50 of amphotericin B was observed. Conclusions: Based on these results, EM-01D2 could represent a template for the development of novel fungicidal agents.

Mycobacterium marinum is an emerging pathogen responsible for cutaneous infections related to the handling of domestic aquariums.Two distinct strains of M. marinum have been isolated from as many cases of fish tank granuloma. Despite the ability of both strains to grow at 37° C, the detection of their growth by the automated BACTEC 9000MB system, was delayed or not happened at all in comparison with the growth of mycobacterium culture in the Löwenstein-Jensen medium.The different antibiotic susceptibility pattern showed by M. marinum in several studies, required to perform suscepibility testing of two clinical isolates. Both strains were resistant to isoniazid, imipenem, cefoxitine, susceptible to rifampicin, ethambutol, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin and moderately susceptible to doxycycline.

Several arylideneisothiosemicarbazones and arylidenehydrazothiazoles have been synthesised to obtain new antimicrobial agents. Their activity against both bacteria and fungi has been tested and some interesting informations about their biological activity have been obtained.

The susceptibility or resistance of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined by a method incorporating the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and compared with results obtained by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards approved standard method (M24-T2). One hundred percent of all isolates demonstrated agreement between the susceptibility and resistance to isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol obtained by the two methods, suggesting that the XTT-based method could provide a useful means for the rapid determination of antimycobacterial susceptibility of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis.

A new series of S-alkylisothiosemicarbazones of 3- and 4-pyridincarboxaldehyde and 4-fluoro- and 4-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde was synthesized and evaluated for biological activity against various Mycobacterium strains. Inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 and INH-R ATCC 35822 was compared with activity against clinical isolated Mycobacteria as well as against MOTT. Some of newly prepared compounds showed best inhibitory values against clinical isolated Mycobacteria, besides to low citotoxicity values.