Virtual screening for inhibitors of the human TSLP:TSLPR interaction

Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 8;7(1):17211. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17620-7.

Abstract

The pro-inflammatory cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of various allergy disorders that are mediated by type 2 helper T cell (Th2) responses, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis. TSLP forms a ternary complex with the TSLP receptor (TSLPR) and the interleukin-7-receptor subunit alpha (IL-7Rα), thereby activating a signaling cascade that culminates in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. In this study, we conducted an in silico characterization of the TSLP:TSLPR complex to investigate the drugability of this complex. Two commercially available fragment libraries were screened computationally for possible inhibitors and a selection of fragments was subsequently tested in vitro. The screening setup consisted of two orthogonal assays measuring TSLP binding to TSLPR: a BLI-based assay and a biochemical assay based on a TSLP:alkaline phosphatase fusion protein. Four fragments pertaining to diverse chemical classes were identified to reduce TSLP:TSLPR complex formation to less than 75% in millimolar concentrations. We have used unbiased molecular dynamics simulations to develop a Markov state model that characterized the binding pathway of the most interesting compound. This work provides a proof-of-principle for use of fragments in the inhibition of TSLP:TSLPR complexation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytokines / chemistry
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, Cytokine / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism*
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
  • User-Computer Interface

Substances

  • CRLF2 protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin