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High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-targeting therapies, including reconstituted HDL (rHDL), are attractive agents for treating dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, as they may increase HDL levels and enhance therapeutic activities associated with HDL, including reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Using CSL-111, a rHDL consisting of native human apolipoprotein AI (hApoAI) and phospholipids, we characterized the acute effects of rHDL administration in C57Bl/6 mice to (i) further our understanding of the mechanism of action of rHDL, and (ii) evaluate the usefulness of the mouse as a preclinical model for HDL-targeting therapies. After a single injection of CSL-111, there was a dose- and time-dependent increase of hApoAI, human pre-β HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in serum, consistent with the effects of CSL-111 in humans. However, unlike in humans, there was no measurable increase in cholesteryl esters. Evaluated ex vivo, the ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1)- and scavenger receptor type BI (SR-BI)-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity of serum from CSL-111-treated mice was increased compared with serum from vehicle-treated animals. Fractionation by size exclusion chromatography of lipoproteins in serum from treated mice revealed hApoAI in particles the size of endogenous HDL and slightly larger, cholesterol-enriched particles of all sizes, including sizes distinct from endogenous HDL or CSL-111 itself, and triglyceride-enriched particles the size of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). These results suggest that in mouse blood CSL-111 is remodeled and generates enhanced cholesterol efflux capacity which increases mobilization of free cholesterol from peripheral tissues. Our findings complement the previous reports on CSL-111 in human participants and provide data with which to evaluate the potential utility of mouse models in mechanistic studies of HDL-targeting therapies.

Reverse cholesterol transport promoted by HDL-apoA-I is an important mechanism of protection against atherosclerosis. We have previously identified apoA-I mimetic peptides by synthesizing analogs of the 22 amino acid apoA-I consensus sequence (apoA-I(cons)) containing non-natural aliphatic amino acids. Here we examined the effect of different aliphatic non-natural amino acids on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of apoA-I mimetic peptides. These novel apoA-I mimetics, with long hydrocarbon chain (C(5-8)) amino acids incorporated in the amphipathic α helix of the apoA-I(cons), have the following properties: (i) they stimulate in vitro cholesterol efflux from macrophages via ABCA1; (ii) they associate with HDL and cause formation of pre-β HDL particles when incubated with human and mouse plasma; (iii) they associate with HDL and induce pre-β HDL formation in vivo, with a corresponding increase in ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity ex vivo; (iv) at high dose they associate with VLDL and induce hypertriglyceridemia in mice. These results suggest our peptide design confers activities that are potentially anti-atherogenic. However a dosing regimen which maximizes their therapeutic properties while minimizing adverse effects needs to be established., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been identified as a novel target for increasing HDL cholesterol levels. In this report, we describe the biochemical characterization of anacetrapib, a potent inhibitor of CETP. To better understand the mechanism by which anacetrapib inhibits CETP activity, its biochemical properties were compared with CETP inhibitors from distinct structural classes, including torcetrapib and dalcetrapib. Anacetrapib and torcetrapib inhibited CETP-mediated cholesteryl ester and triglyceride transfer with similar potencies, whereas dalcetrapib was a significantly less potent inhibitor. Inhibition of CETP by both anacetrapib and torcetrapib was not time dependent, whereas the potency of dalcetrapib significantly increased with extended preincubation. Anacetrapib, torcetrapib, and dalcetrapib compete with one another for binding CETP; however anacetrapib binds reversibly and dalcetrapib covalently to CETP. In addition, dalcetrapib was found to covalently label both human and mouse plasma proteins. Each CETP inhibitor induced tight binding of CETP to HDL, indicating that these inhibitors promote the formation of a complex between CETP and HDL, resulting in inhibition of CETP activity.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases are activated in response to environmental stress and cytokines and play a significant role in transcriptional regulation and inflammatory responses. Of the four p38 isoforms known to date, two (p38alpha and p38beta) have been identified as targets for cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drugs. Recently, it was reported that specific inhibition of the p38alpha isoform is necessary and sufficient for anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo, while further inhibition of p38beta may not provide any additional benefit. In order to aid the development of p38alpha-selective compounds, the three-dimensional structure of p38beta was determined. To do so, the C162S and C119S,C162S mutants of human MAP kinase p38beta were cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Initial screening hits in crystallization trials in the presence of an inhibitor led upon optimization to crystals that diffracted to 2.05 A resolution and allowed structure determination (PDB codes 3gc8 and 3gc9 for the single and double mutant, respectively). The structure of the p38alpha C162S mutant in complex with the same inhibitor is also reported (PDB code 3gc7). A comparison between the structures of the two kinases showed that they are highly similar overall but that there are differences in the relative orientation of the N- and C-terminal domains that causes a reduction in the size of the ATP-binding pocket in p38beta. This difference in size between the two pockets could be exploited in order to achieve selectivity.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase p38 alpha is activated in response to environmental stress and cytokines, and plays a significant role in inflammatory responses. For these reasons, it is an important target for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The crystals of p38 alpha that we obtained by published procedures were usually small, quite mosaic, and difficult to reproduce and thus posed a difficulty for the intensive high-resolution studies required for a structure-guided drug discovery approach. Based on crystallographic and biochemical evidences, we prepared a single point mutation of a surface cysteine (C162S) and found that it prevents aggregation and improves the homogeneity and stability of the enzyme. This mutation also facilitates the crystallization process and increases the diffracting power of p38 alpha crystals. Surprisingly, we found that the mutation induces a change in the conformation of a nearby surface loop resulting in stronger lattice interactions, consistent with the improved crystal quality. The mutant protein, because of its improved stability and strengthened lattice interactions, thus provides a significantly improved reagent for use in structure-based drug design for this important disease target.