Browsing by Author "Xing, Xuechao"
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Item Development of an ALK2-Biased BMP Type I Receptor Kinase Inhibitor(ACS Chemical Biology, 2014-06) Mohedas, Augstin H.; Xing, Xuechao; Armstrong, Kelli A.; Bullock, Alex N.; Cuny, Gregory D.; Yu, Paul B.The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway has essential functions in development, homeostasis, and the normal and pathophysiologic remodeling of tissues. Small molecule inhibitors of the BMP receptor kinase family have been useful for probing physiologic functions of BMP signaling in vitro and in vivo and may have roles in the treatment of BMP-mediated diseases. Here we describe the development of a selective and potent inhibitor of the BMP type I receptor kinases, LDN-212854, which in contrast to previously described BMP receptor kinase inhibitors exhibits nearly 4 orders of selectivity for BMP versus the closely related TGF-? and Activin type I receptors. In vitro, LDN-212854 exhibits some selectivity for ALK2 in preference to other BMP type I receptors, ALK1 and ALK3, which may permit the interrogation of ALK2-mediated signaling, transcriptional activity, and function. LDN-212854 potently inhibits heterotopic ossification in an inducible transgenic mutant ALK2 mouse model of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. These findings represent a significant step toward developing selective inhibitors targeting individual members of the highly homologous BMP type I receptor family. Such inhibitors would provide greater resolution as probes of physiologic function and improved selectivity against therapeutic targets.Item Discovery of a small molecule probe that post-translationally stabilizes the survival motor neuron protein for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.(Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2018-12) Rietz, Anne; Li, Hongxia; Quist, Kevin M.; Cherry, Jonathan J.; Lorson, Christian L.; Burnett, Barrington G.; Kern, Nicholas L.; Calder, Alyssa N.; Fritsche, Melanie; Lusic, Hrvoje; Boaler, Patrick J.; Choi, Sungwoon; Xing, Xuechao; Glicksman, Marcie A.; Cuny, Gregory D.; Androphy, Elliot J.; Hodgetts, Kevin J.Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant death. We previously developed a high-throughput assay that employs an SMN2-luciferase reporter allowing identification of compounds that act transcriptionally, enhance exon recognition, or stabilize the SMN protein. We describe optimization and characterization of an analog suitable for in vivo testing. Initially, we identified analog 4m that had good in vitro properties but low plasma and brain exposure in a mouse PK experiment due to short plasma stability; this was overcome by reversing the amide bond and changing the heterocycle. Thiazole 27 showed excellent in vitro properties and a promising mouse PK profile, making it suitable for in vivo testing. This series post-translationally stabilizes the SMN protein, unrelated to global proteasome or autophagy inhibition, revealing a novel therapeutic mechanism that should complement other modalities for treatment of SMA.Item Optimization of a series of heterocycles as survival motor neuron gene transcription enhancers(Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 12/1/2018) Choi, Sungwoon; Calder, Alyssa N.; Miller, Eliza H.; Anderson, Kierstyn P.; Fiejtek, Dawid K.; Rietz, Anne; Li, Hongxia; Cherry, Jonathan J.; Quist, Kevin M.; Xing, Xuechao; Glicksman, Marcie A.; Cuny, Gregory D.; Lorson, Christian L.; Androphy, Elliot A.; Hodgetts, Kevin J.Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from mutations in the SMN1 gene, leading to survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency. One therapeutic strategy for SMA is to identify compounds that enhance the expression of the SMN2 gene, which normally only is a minor contributor to functional SMN protein production, but which is unaffected in SMA. A recent high-throughput screening campaign identified a 3,4-dihydro-4-phenyl-2(1H)-quinolinone derivative (2) that increases the expression of SMN2 by 2-fold with an EC50?=?8.3?µM. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that the array of tolerated substituents, on either the benzo portion of the quinolinone or the 4-phenyl, was very narrow. However, the lactam ring of the quinolinone was more amenable to modifications. For example, the quinazolinone (9a) and the benzoxazepin-2(3H)-one (19) demonstrated improved potency and efficacy for increase in SMN2 expression as compared to 2.Item Restored glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 function as a potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease(Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2015-02) Takahashi, Kou; Kong, Qiongman; Lin, Yuchen; Stouffer, Nathan; Schulte, Delanie A.; Lai, Liching; Liu, Qibing; Chang, Ling-Chu; Dominguez, Sky; Xing, Xuechao; Cuny, Gregory D.; Hodgetts, Kevin J.; Glicksman, Marcie A.; Lin, Chien-Liang G.Glutamatergic systems play a critical role in cognitive functions and are known to be defective in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Previous literature has indicated that glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 plays an essential role in cognitive functions and that loss of EAAT2 protein is a common phenomenon observed in AD patients and animal models. In the current study, we investigated whether restored EAAT2 protein and function could benefit cognitive functions and pathology in APPSw,Ind mice, an animal model of AD. A transgenic mouse approach via crossing EAAT2 transgenic mice with APPSw,Ind. mice and a pharmacological approach using a novel EAAT2 translational activator, LDN/OSU-0212320, were conducted. Findings from both approaches demonstrated that restored EAAT2 protein function significantly improved cognitive functions, restored synaptic integrity, and reduced amyloid plaques. Importantly, the observed benefits were sustained one month after compound treatment cessation, suggesting that EAAT2 is a potential disease modifier with therapeutic potential for AD.Item Small-molecule activator of glutamate transporter EAAT2 translation provides neuroprotection(Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014-02) Kong, Qiongman; Chang, Ling-Chu; Takahashi, Kou; Liu, Qibing; Schulte, Delanie A.; Lai, Liching; Ibabao, Brian; Lin, Yuchen; Stiufferm Nathan; Mukhopadhyay, Chitra D.; Xing, Xuechao; Seyb, Kathleen I.; Cuny, Gregory D.; Glicksman, Marcie A.; Lin, Chien-Liang G.Glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 plays a major role in glutamate clearance in synaptic clefts. Several lines of evidence indicate that strategies designed to increase EAAT2 expression have potential for preventing excitotoxicity, which contributes to neuronal injury and death in neurodegenerative diseases. We previously discovered several classes of compounds that can increase EAAT2 expression through translational activation. Here, we present efficacy studies of the compound LDN/OSU-0212320, which is a pyridazine derivative from one of our lead series. In a murine model, LDN/OSU-0212320 had good potency, adequate pharmacokinetic properties, no observed toxicity at the doses examined, and low side effect/toxicity potential. Additionally, LDN/OSU-0212320 protected cultured neurons from glutamate-mediated excitotoxic injury and death via EAAT2 activation. Importantly, LDN/OSU-0212320 markedly delayed motor function decline and extended lifespan in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We also found that LDN/OSU-0212320 substantially reduced mortality, neuronal death, and spontaneous recurrent seizures in a pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy model. Moreover, our study demonstrated that LDN/OSU-0212320 treatment results in activation of PKC and subsequent Y-box–binding protein 1 (YB-1) activation, which regulates activation of EAAT2 translation. Our data indicate that the use of small molecules to enhance EAAT2 translation may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Item Structure–activity relationship study of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling inhibitors(Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2009-08) Cuny, Gregory D.; Yu, Paul B.; Laha, Joydev K.; Xing, Xuechao; Liu, Ji-Feng; Lai, Carol S.; Deng, Donna Y.; Sachidanandan, Chetana; Bloch, Kenneth D.; Peterson, Randall T.A structure–activity relationship study of dorsomorphin, a previously identified inhibitor of SMAD 1/5/8 phosphorylation by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type 1 receptors ALK2, 3, and 6, revealed that increased inhibitory activity could be accomplished by replacing the pendent 4-pyridine ring with 4-quinoline. The activity contributions of various nitrogen atoms in the core pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine ring were also examined by preparing and evaluating pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives. In addition, increased mouse liver microsome stability was achieved by replacing the ether substituent on the pendent phenyl ring with piperazine. Finally, an optimized compound 13 (LDN-193189 or DM-3189) demonstrated moderate pharmacokinetic characteristics (e.g., plasma t1/2 = 1.6 h) following intraperitoneal administration in mice. These studies provide useful molecular probes for examining the in vivo pharmacology of BMP signaling inhibition.Item Structure–activity relationship study of pyridazine derivatives as glutamate transporter EAAT2 activators(Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2012-10) Xing, Xuechao; Chang, Ling-Chu; Kong, Qiongman; Colton, Craig K.; Lai, Liching; Glicksman, Marcie A.; Lin, Chien-Liang G.; Cuny, Gregory D.Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is the major glutamate transporter and functions to remove glutamate from synapses. A thiopyridazine derivative has been found to increase EAAT2 protein levels in astrocytes. A structure–activity relationship study revealed that several components of the molecule were required for activity, such as the thioether and pyridazine. Modification of the benzylthioether resulted in several derivatives (7-13, 7-15 and 7-17) that enhanced EAAT2 levels by >6-fold at concentrations <5 ?M after 24 h. In addition, one of the derivatives (7-22) enhanced EAAT2 levels 3.5–3.9-fold after 24 h with an EC50 of 0.5 ?M.