srt2104 and Disease-Models--Animal

When Zika virus emerged as a public health emergency there were no drugs or vaccines approved for its prevention or treatment. We used a high-throughput screen for Zika virus protease inhibitors to identify several inhibitors of Zika virus infection. We expressed the NS2B-NS3 Zika virus protease and conducted a biochemical screen for small-molecule inhibitors. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was employed to virtually screen ∼138,000 compounds, which increased the identification of active compounds, while decreasing screening time and resources. Candidate inhibitors were validated in several viral infection assays. Small molecules with favorable clinical profiles, especially the five-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor, MK-591, inhibited the Zika virus protease and infection in neural stem cells. Members of the tetracycline family of antibiotics were more potent inhibitors of Zika virus infection than the protease, suggesting they may have multiple mechanisms of action. The most potent tetracycline, methacycline, reduced the amount of Zika virus present in the brain and the severity of Zika virus-induced motor deficits in an immunocompetent mouse model. As Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, the tetracyclines could be quickly translated to the clinic. The compounds identified through our screening paradigm have the potential to be used as prophylactics for patients traveling to endemic regions or for the treatment of the neurological complications of Zika virus infection.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Immunocompetence; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methacycline; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protease Inhibitors; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Small Molecule Libraries; Vero Cells; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection

Although activated microglia-induced neuroinflammation link to the physiopathology of major depressive disorder, the homeostasis of switchable M1/M2 microglia in treating depression are unclear. Recent accumulating evidences suggest that Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, plays a key role in mood regulation, yet its role in the polarization of microglia acting on depressive behaviors remains unknown. Here, we intended to investigate whether activation of SIRT1 in hippocampus has antidepressant potential in relation to microglial phenotypic switch. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) treatment was performed on C57BL/6 mice, followed by injecting with SRT2104, a selective SIRT1 agonists. We found that activation of SIRT1 in hippocampus ameliorate CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors, as indicated by sucrose preference test, tail suspension test and forced swim test. Moreover, activation of SIRT1 abrogated the increased expression of M1 markers (IL-6, IL-1β and iNOS,) and decreased expression of M2 markers (IL-10, TGF-β and Arignase1) induced by CUMS. Notably, activation of SIRT1 shifted microglia polarization toward the M2 phenotype in CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors of mice. In addition, SRT2104 treatment ameliorated CUMS-induced SIRT1 decreased expression in the hippocampus coincides with the up-regulation phosphorylation levels of GSK3β and PTEN. Taken together, these findings indicated that activation of SIRT1 ameliorate CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors via shifting microglial polarization toward the M2 phenotype, thereby providing a novel and beneficial therapeutic approach for depression that may be translatable to depression patients in the future.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cytokines; Depression; Disease Models, Animal; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Hippocampus; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microglia; Sirtuin 1; Stress, Psychological

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prevalent and severe diseases worldwide with high societal and health care costs. The pathogenesis of COPD is very complicated, and no curative treatment is available. Cellular senescence promotes the development of COPD. Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) play a momentous role in lung tissue repair and maintenance of alveolar homeostasis. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an antiaging molecule involved in the response to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, regulates many pathophysiological changes including stress resistance, apoptosis, inflammation, and cellular senescence. This study aimed to investigate whether the pharmacological SIRT1 activator SRT2104 protects against AECII senescence in rats with emphysema. Our findings confirmed that SRT2104 administration reduced the pathological characteristics of emphysema and improved lung function parameters, including pulmonary resistance, pulmonary dynamic compliance, and peak expiratory flow. Moreover, SRT2104 treatment upregulated the expression of surfactant proteins A and C, SIRT1, and forkhead box O 3a (FoxO3a), decreased senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, increased SIRT1 deacetylase activity, and downregulated the levels of p53 and p21. Therefore, SRT2104 administration protected against AECII senescence in rats with emphysema via SIRT1/FoxO3a and SIRT1/p53 signaling pathways and may provide a novel potential therapeutic strategy for COPD.

Topics: Alveolar Epithelial Cells; Animals; Cellular Senescence; Disease Models, Animal; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Lung Injury; Male; Pulmonary Emphysema; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Although depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Recent evidence has suggested that sirtuins (SIRTs) play a key role in cognition and synaptic plasticity, yet their role in mood regulation remains controversial. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SIRT function is associated with chronic stress-elicited depression-like behaviors and neuronal atrophy.. We measured SIRT expression and activity in a mouse model of depression. We injected mice with a SIRT1 activator or inhibitor and measured their depression-like behaviors and dendritic spine morphology. To assess the role of SIRT1 directly, we used a viral-mediated gene transfer to overexpress the wild-type SIRT1 or dominant negative SIRT1 and evaluated their depression-like behaviors. Finally, we examined the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2, a potential downstream target of SIRT1, in depression-like behavior.. We found that chronic stress reduced SIRT1 activity in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of hippocampal SIRT1 function led to an increase in depression-like behaviors. Conversely, SIRT1 activation blocked both the development of depression-related phenotypes and aberrant dendritic structures elicited by chronic stress exposure. Furthermore, hippocampal SIRT1 activation increased the phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 in the stressed condition, and viral-mediated activation and inhibition of hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 led to antidepressive and prodepressive behaviors, respectively.. Our results suggest that the hippocampal SIRT1 pathway contributes to the chronic stress-elicited depression-related phenotype and aberrant dendritic atrophy.

Topics: Animals; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Benzamides; Dendrites; Dentate Gyrus; Depression; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Hippocampus; Imipramine; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Naphthols; Resveratrol; Signal Transduction; Sirtuin 1; Stilbenes; Stress, Psychological