Repurposing Thioridazine (TDZ) as an anti-inflammatory agent

Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 20;8(1):12471. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-30763-5.

Abstract

Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) is a crucial transcription factor in the signal transduction cascade of the inflammatory signaling. Activation of NF-κB depends on the phosphorylation of IκBα by IκB kinase (IKKβ) followed by subsequent ubiquitination and degradation. This leads to the nuclear translocation of the p50- p65 subunits of NF-κB, and further triggers pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Thus, in the need of a more effective therapy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, specific inhibition of IKKβ represents a rational alternative strategy to the current therapies. A computer-aided drug identification protocol was followed to identify novel IKKβ inhibitors from a database of over 1500 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drugs. The best scoring compounds were compared with the already known high-potency IKKβ inhibitors for their ability to bind and inhibit IKKβ by evaluating their docking energy. Finally, Thioridazinehydrochloride (TDZ), a potent antipsychotic drug against Schizophrenia was selected and its efficiency in inhibiting IκBα protein degradation and NF-κB activation was experimentally validated. Our study has demonstrated that TDZ blocks IκBα protein degradation and subsequent NF-κB activation to inhibit inflammation. Thus, it is a potential repurposed drug against inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Repositioning / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thioridazine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • Thioridazine