A systems pharmacology workflow with experimental validation to assess the potential of anakinra for treatment of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 28;14(3):e0214332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214332. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a severe glomerulopathy that frequently leads to end stage renal disease. Only a subset of patients responds to current therapies, making it important to identify alternative therapeutic options. The interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist anakinra is beneficial in several diseases with renal involvement. Here, we evaluated the potential of anakinra for FSGS treatment. Molecular process models obtained from scientific literature data were used to build FSGS pathology and anakinra mechanism of action models by exploiting information on protein interactions. These molecular models were compared by statistical interference analysis and expert based molecular signature matching. Experimental validation was performed in Adriamycin- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nephropathy mouse models. Interference analysis (containing 225 protein coding genes and 8 molecular process segments) of the FSGS molecular pathophysiology model with the drug mechanism of action of anakinra identified a statistically significant overlap with 43 shared molecular features that were enriched in pathways relevant in FSGS, such as plasminogen activating cascade, inflammation and apoptosis. Expert adjudication of molecular signature matching, focusing on molecular process segments did not suggest a high therapeutic potential of anakinra in FSGS. In line with this, experimental validation did not result in altered proteinuria or significant changes in expression of the FSGS-relevant genes COL1A1 and NPHS1. In summary, an integrated bioinformatic and experimental workflow showed that FSGS relevant molecular processes can be significantly affected by anakinra beyond the direct drug target IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL1R1) context but might not counteract central pathophysiology processes in FSGS. Anakinra is therefore not suggested for extended preclinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Collagen Type I / genetics
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / toxicity
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / drug therapy
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / metabolism
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / therapeutic use
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Podocytes / cytology
  • Podocytes / drug effects
  • Podocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
  • Membrane Proteins
  • nephrin
  • Doxorubicin

Supplementary concepts

  • Segmental glomerulosclerosis

Grants and funding

The financial support by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy and the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development is gratefully acknowledged (CDL-MSRPD; RH, KK). CAG was partially funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF - P26967-B20). The funder (Epsilon 3 Gmbh) provided support in the form of salary for CAG and research materials, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.