Drug repurposing for Chagas disease: In vitro assessment of nimesulide against Trypanosoma cruzi and insights on its mechanisms of action

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 22;16(10):e0258292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258292. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Chagas disease is a neglected illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and its treatment is done only with two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole. However, both drugs are ineffective in the chronic phase, in addition to causing serious side effects. This context of therapeutic limitation justifies the continuous research for alternative drugs. Here, we study the in vitro trypanocidal effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide, a molecule that has in its chemical structure a toxicophoric nitroaromatic group (NO2). The set of results obtained in this work highlights the potential for repurposing nimesulide in the treatment of this disease that affects millions of people around the world.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy*
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology*
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Life Cycle Stages / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Parasites / drug effects
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / growth & development
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / physiology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Sulfonamides
  • nimesulide

Grants and funding

Financial support: CNPq, CAPES (Finance Code 001), FAPERJ, FIOCRUZ.