Showing: 10 from total: 12 publications
1.
Exploiting the potential of rivastigmine-melatonin derivatives as multitarget metal-modulating drugs for neurodegenerative diseases
Dias, I
; Bon, L
; Banas, A
; Chavarria, D
; Borges, F
; Guerreiro Oliveira, C
; Cardoso, SM
; Sanna, D
; Garribba, E
; Chaves, S
; Santos, MA
in Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2024, ISSN: 0162-0134,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, unpaywall
2.
Drug Development for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease: Where Do We Go Now?
Sequeira, L
; Benfeito, S
; Fernandes, C
; Lima, I
; Peixoto, J
; Alves, C
; Machado, CS
; Gaspar, A
; Borges, F
; Chavarria, D
in PHARMACEUTICS, 2024, ISSN: 1999-4923, Volume: 16,
Review, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a set of progressive, chronic, and incurable diseases characterized by the gradual loss of neurons, culminating in the decline of cognitive and/or motor functions. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most common NDs and represent an enormous burden both in terms of human suffering and economic cost. The available therapies for AD and PD only provide symptomatic and palliative relief for a limited period and are unable to modify the diseases' progression. Over the last decades, research efforts have been focused on developing new pharmacological treatments for these NDs. However, to date, no breakthrough treatment has been discovered. Hence, the development of disease-modifying drugs able to halt or reverse the progression of NDs remains an unmet clinical need. This review summarizes the major hallmarks of AD and PD and the drugs available for pharmacological treatment. It also sheds light on potential directions that can be pursued to develop new, disease-modifying drugs to treat AD and PD, describing as representative examples some advances in the development of drug candidates targeting oxidative stress and adenosine A2A receptors.
3.
Dual Inhibitors of Brain Carbonic Anhydrases and Monoamine Oxidase-B Efficiently Protect against Amyloid-β-Induced Neuronal Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Carradori, S
; Chavarria, D
; Provensi, G
; Leri, M
; Bucciantini, M
; Carradori, S
; Bonardi, A
; Gratteri, P
; Borges, F
; Nocentini, A
; Supuran, CT
in JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 2024, ISSN: 0022-2623, Volume: 67,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos
Abstract
We report here the first dual inhibitors of brain carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) for the management of Alzheimer's disease. Classical CA inhibitors (CAIs) such as methazolamide prevent amyloid-beta-peptide (A beta)-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction. MAO-B is also implicated in ROS production, cholinergic system disruption, and amyloid plaque formation. In this work, we combined a reversible MAO-B inhibitor of the coumarin and chromone type with benzenesulfonamide fragments as highly effective CAIs. A hit-to-lead optimization led to a significant set of derivatives showing potent low nanomolar inhibition of the target brain CAs (K(I)s in the range of 0.1-90.0 nM) and MAO-B (IC50 in the range of 6.7-32.6 nM). Computational studies were conducted to elucidate the structure-activity relationship and predict ADMET properties. The most effective multitarget compounds totally prevented A beta-related toxicity, reverted ROS formation, and restored the mitochondrial functionality in an SH-SY5Y cell model surpassing the efficacy of single-target drugs.
4.
Mechanistic Insights into the Neurotoxicity of 2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamines (2C) and Corresponding N-(2-methoxybenzyl)phenethylamine (NBOMe) Drugs
Gil-Martins, E
; Cagide-Fagín, F
; Martins, D
; Borer, A
; Barbosa, DJ
; Fernandes, C
; Chavarria, D
; Remiao, F
; Borges, F
; Silva, R
in JOURNAL OF XENOBIOTICS, 2024, ISSN: 2039-4705, Volume: 14,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos
Abstract
Substituted phenethylamines including 2C (2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamines) and NBOMe (N-(2-methoxybenzyl)phenethylamines) drugs are potent psychoactive substances with little to no knowledge available on their toxicity. In the present in vitro study, we explored the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of six substituted phenethylamines: 2C-T-2, 2C-T-4, 2C-T-7 and their corresponding NBOMes. These drugs were synthesized and chemically characterized, and their cytotoxicity (0-1000 mu M) was evaluated in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and primary rat cortical cultures, by the NR uptake and MTT reduction assays. In differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ATP and calcium levels, reactive oxygen species production, and intracellular total glutathione levels were also evaluated. All the tested drugs exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects towards differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and primary rat cortical cultures. The NBOMe drugs presented higher cytotoxicity than their counterparts, which correlates with the drug's lipophilicity. These cytotoxic effects were associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, evident through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and lowered intracellular ATP levels. Intracellular calcium imbalance was observed for 2C-T-7 and 25T7-NBOMe, implying a disrupted calcium regulation. Although reactive species levels remained unchanged, a reduction in intracellular total GSH content was observed. Overall, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of these drugs, shedding light on the mechanisms underpinning their neurotoxicity.
5.
Targeting Lewy body dementia with neflamapimod-rasagiline hybrids
Albertini, C
; Petralla, S
; Massenzio, F
; Monti, B
; Rizzardi, N
; Bergamini, C
; Uliassi, E
; Borges, F
; Chavarria, D
; Fricker, G
; Goettert, M
; Kronenberger, T
; Gehringer, M
; Laufer, S
; Bolognesi, ML
in ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, 2024, ISSN: 0365-6233, Volume: 357,
Article in Press, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos
Abstract
Lewy body dementia (LBD) represents the second most common neurodegenerative dementia but is a quite underexplored therapeutic area. Nepflamapimod (1) is a brain-penetrant selective inhibitor of the alpha isoform of the mitogen-activated serine/threonine protein kinase (MAPK) p38 alpha, recently repurposed for LBD due to its remarkable antineuroinflammatory properties. Neuroprotective propargylamines are another class of molecules with a therapeutical potential against LBD. Herein, we sought to combine the antineuroinflammatory core of 1 and the neuroprotective propargylamine moiety into a single molecule. Particularly, we inserted a propargylamine moiety in position 4 of the 2,6-dichlorophenyl ring of 1, generating neflamapimod-propargylamine hybrids 3 and 4. These hybrids were evaluated using several cell models, aiming to recapitulate the complexity of LBD pathology through different molecular mechanisms. The N-methyl-N-propargyl derivative 4 showed a nanomolar p38 alpha-MAPK inhibitory activity (IC50 = 98.7 nM), which is only 2.6-fold lower compared to that of the parent compound 1, while displaying no hepato- and neurotoxicity up to 25 mu M concentration. It also retained a similar immunomodulatory profile against the N9 microglial cell line. Gratifyingly, at 5 mu M concentration, 4 demonstrated a neuroprotective effect against dexamethasone-induced reactive oxygen species production in neuronal cells that was higher than that of 1.
6.
Mapping Chromone-3-Phenylcarboxamide Pharmacophore: Quid Est Veritas?
Mesiti, F
; Gaspar, A
; Chavarria, D
; Maruca, A
; Rocca, R
; Martins, EG
; Barreiro, S
; Silva, R
; Fernandes, C
; Gul, S
; Keminer, O
; Alcaro, S
; Borges, F
in JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 2021, ISSN: 0022-2623, Volume: 64,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, wos
Abstract
Chromone-3-phenylcarboxamides (Crom-1 and Crom-2) were identified as potent, selective, and reversible inhibitors of human monoamine oxidase B (hMAO-B). Since they exhibit some absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)-toxicity liabilities, new derivatives were synthesized to map the chemical structural features that compose the pharmacophore, a process vital for lead optimization. Structure-activity relationship data, supported by molecular docking studies, provided a rationale for the contribution of the heterocycle's rigidity, the carbonyl group, and the benzopyran heteroatom for hMAO-B inhibitory activity. From the study, N-(3-chlorophenyl)-4H-thiochromone-3-carboxamide (31) (hMAO-B IC50 = 1.52 +/- 0.15 nM) emerged as a reversible tight binding inhibitor with an improved pharmacological profile. In in vitro ADME-toxicity studies, compound 31 showed a safe cytotoxicity profile in Caco-2, SH-SY5Y, HUVEC, HEK-293, and MCF-7 cells, did not present cardiotoxic effects, and did not affect P-gp transport activity. Compound 31 also protected SH-SY5Y cells from iron(III)-induced damage. Collectively, these studies highlighted compound 31 as the first-in-class and a suitable candidate for in vivo preclinical investigation.
7.
The chemistry toolbox of multitarget-directed ligands for Alzheimer's disease
Mesiti, F
; Chavarria, D
; Gaspar, A
; Alcaro, S
; Borges, F
in EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 2019, ISSN: 0223-5234, Volume: 181,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos
Abstract
The discovery and development of multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) is a promising strategy to find new therapeutic solutions for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), in particular for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently approved drugs for the clinical management of AD are based on a single-target strategy and focus on restoring neurotransmitter homeostasis. Finding disease-modifying therapies AD and other NDs remains an urgent unmet clinical need. The growing consensus that AD is a multifactorial disease, with several interconnected and deregulated pathological pathways, boosted an intensive research in the design of MTDLs. Due to this scientific boom, the knowledge behind the development of MTDLs remains diffuse and lacks balanced guidelines. To rationalize the large amount of data obtained in this field, we herein revise the progress made over the last 5 years on the development of MTDLs inspired by drugs approved for AD. Due to their putative therapeutic benefit in AD, MTDLs based on MAO-B inhibitors will also be discussed in this review.
8.
Microencapsulation of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and caffeic acid phenethyl amide by inclusion in hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin
Garrido, EMPJ
; Cerqueira, AS
; Chavarria, D
; Silva, T
; Borges, F
; Garrido, JMPJ
in FOOD CHEMISTRY, 2018, ISSN: 0308-8146, Volume: 254,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos
Abstract
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound obtained from propolis extract. Although it has a broad therapeutic potential, the bioavailability of CAPE is limited, due to reduced solubility and poor plasmatic stability. Efforts to reduce these pharmacokinetic drawbacks resulted in the synthesis of caffeic acid phenethyl amide (CAPA). Cyclodextrins have been proved as promising excipients for the formulation of active ingredients. Herein, we report the inclusion complexation behavior and binding ability of CAPE and CAPA with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). The supramolecular interactions were examined through UV and FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, H-1 NMR and 2D ROESY. The CAPE/HP-beta-CD and CAPA/HP-beta-CD inclusion complexes stability constants were determined to be, respectively, 2911.6 and 584.6 M-1 in water and 2866.2 and 700.1 M-1 at physiological pH. The aqueous solubility increased notably, proving that HP-beta-CD can be potentially useful to improve the biological, chemical and physical properties of CAPE and CAPA.
9.
Correction to: Discovery of New Chemical Entities for Old Targets: Insights on the Lead Optimization of Chromone-Based Monoamine Oxidase B (MAO-B) Inhibitors (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2016) 59 (5879-5893) DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00527)
Reis, J
; Cagide, F
; Chavarria, D
; Silva, T
; Fernandes, C
; Gaspar, A
; Uriarte, E
; Remião, F
; Alcaro, S
; Ortuso, F
; Borges, F
in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2018, ISSN: 0022-2623, Volume: 61,
Correction, Indexed in: crossref, scopus
Abstract
N-(3′-Chlorophenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-3-carboxamide, compound 20 (IC 50 = 403 pM), acts as noncompetitive reversible inhibitor, and N-(3′,4′-dimethylphenyl)-4-oxo-4Hchromene- 3-carboxamide, compound 27 (IC 50 = 669 pM), acts as competitive reversible inhibitor. Therefore, the following corrections to the above article are as follows. Page 5879. In the abstract, line 9, "N-(3′-chlorophenyl)-4- oxo-4H-chromene-3-carboxamide (20)" should be "N-(3′- chlorophenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-3-carboxamide (27)". Page 5884. In Figure 3 "mechanism of hMAO-B inhibition by chromones 20 (A) and 27 (B)" should be "mechanism of hMAO-B inhibition by chromones 27 (A) and 20 (B)". Page 5885. Line 4, "Concerning compound 20" should be "Concerning compound 27". Page 5885. Line 6, "different concentrations of 20" should be "different concentrations of 27". Page 5885. Line 8, "As for compound 27" should be "As for compound 20". Page 5885. Line 11, "for different concentrations of compound 27" should be "for different concentrations of compound 20". Page 5885. Line 19, should be "Chromones 27 (Figure 3A) and 20 (Figure 3B)" instead of "Chromones 20 (Figure 3A) and 27 (Figure 3B)". Page 5885. Lines 23-26, should be "27 (IC 50 = 0.67 nM) displayed IC 50 and Ki values within the picomolar range, and compound 20 (IC 50 = 0.40 nM), as a noncompetitive inhibitor, also showed a Ki extremely close to its IC 50 " instead of "20 (IC 50 = 0.40 nM) displayed IC 50 and Ki values slightly different but within the picomolar range, and compound 27 (IC 50 = 0.67 nM), as a noncompetitive inhibitor, showed a Ki equal to its IC 50 ." Page 5887. In the Conclusion, line 12, "competitive IMAOB" should be "noncompetitive IMAO-B". Page 5887. In the Conclusion, line 14, "a noncompetitive IMAO-B" should be "a competitive IMAO-B". © 2018 American Chemical Society.
10.
Discovery of the first A(1) adenosine receptor ligand based on the chromone scaffold
Cagide, F
; Reis, J
; Gaspar, A
; Chavarria, D
; Kachler, S
; Klotz, KN
; Gomes, LR
; Low, JN
; Vilar, S
; Hripcsak, G
; Borges, F
in RSC ADVANCES, 2016, ISSN: 2046-2069, Volume: 6,
Article, Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos
Abstract
The first potent and selective hA(1)AR ligand based on the chromone scaffold is reported in this work. Receptor-driven molecular modeling studies provide valuable information about the molecular interactions responsible for the high affinity of N-(2-nitrophenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxamide to the hA(1)AR (K-i = 0.219 mu M) and reinforce the crucial role of AR affinity of the amide linker located at C-2 of the pyrone ring.