Identification of an in vivo orally active dual-binding protein-protein interaction inhibitor targeting TNFα through combined in silico/in vitro/in vivo screening

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 13;7(1):3424. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03427-z.

Abstract

TNFα is a homotrimeric pro-inflammatory cytokine, whose direct targeting by protein biotherapies has been an undeniable success for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Despite many efforts, no orally active drug targeting TNFα has been identified so far. In the present work, we identified through combined in silico/in vitro/in vivo approaches a TNFα direct inhibitor, compound 1, displaying nanomolar and micromolar range bindings to TNFα. Compound 1 inhibits the binding of TNFα with both its receptors TNFRI and TNFRII. Compound 1 inhibits the TNFα induced apoptosis on L929 cells and the TNFα induced NF-κB activation in HEK cells. In vivo, oral administration of compound 1 displays a significant protection in a murine TNFα-dependent hepatic shock model. This work illustrates the ability of low-cost combined in silico/in vitro/in vivo screening approaches to identify orally available small-molecules targeting challenging protein-protein interactions such as homotrimeric TNFα.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / chemistry
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / chemistry
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha