ECDD-S16 targets vacuolar ATPase: A potential inhibitor compound for pyroptosis-induced inflammation

PLoS One. 2023 Nov 27;18(11):e0292340. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292340. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: Cleistanthin A (CA), extracted from Phyllanthus taxodiifolius Beille, was previously reported as a potential V-ATPase inhibitor relevant to cancer cell survival. In the present study, ECDD-S16, a derivative of cleistanthin A, was investigated and found to interfere with pyroptosis induction via V-ATPase inhibition.

Objective: This study examined the ability of ECDD-S16 to inhibit endolysosome acidification leading to the attenuation of pyroptosis in Raw264.7 macrophages activated by both surface and endosomal TLR ligands.

Methods: To elucidate the activity of ECDD-S16 on pyroptosis-induced inflammation, Raw264.7 cells were pretreated with the compound before stimulation with surface and endosomal TLR ligands. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined by LDH assay. Additionally, the production of cytokines and the expression of pyroptosis markers were examined by ELISA and immunoblotting. Moreover, molecular docking was performed to demonstrate the binding of ECDD-S16 to the vacuolar (V-)ATPase.

Results: This study showed that ECDD-S16 could inhibit pyroptosis in Raw264.7 cells activated with surface and endosomal TLR ligands. The attenuation of pyroptosis by ECDD-S16 was due to the impairment of endosome acidification, which also led to decreased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production. Furthermore, molecular docking also showed the possibility of inhibiting endosome acidification by the binding of ECDD-S16 to the vacuolar (V-)ATPase in the region of V0.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate the potential of ECDD-S16 for inhibiting pyroptosis and prove that vacuolar H+ ATPase is essential for pyroptosis induced by TLR ligands.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Pyroptosis
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases* / metabolism

Substances

  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
  • cleistanthin

Grants and funding

This research project is supported by Mahidol University (Basic Research Fund: fiscal year 2021 and 2022). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.