Massimiliano Runfola | Universita degli Studi di Pisa (original) (raw)

Papers by Massimiliano Runfola

As life expectancy rises worldwide, we’re assisting to a worrying increase in the number of peopl... more As life expectancy rises worldwide, we’re assisting to a worrying increase in the number of people affected by neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), like Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson disease, for which there is no cure. NDDs comprehend a broad number of pathological conditions characterized by a diversified symptomatology and peculiar hallmarks, but united by a progressive and irreversible loss of neuronal functionality, i.e. neurodegeneration. Behind this neurodegenerative process there is a tangled network of pathogenic mechanisms affecting the fragile neuronal homeostasis, including proteostasis collapse, malfunctioning of lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation. This complexity represents one of the main reasons of high rate of failures occurring in the drug discovery process for NDDs. Herein, we’ll describe the rational design and synthetic approach employed to develop new diphenylmethane scaffold-based polypharmacological agents, namely SG compounds, with a potential role i...

I Traceamine-Associated receptors (TAARs), specificamente attivati dalle ammine traccia (TA), cos... more I Traceamine-Associated receptors (TAARs), specificamente attivati dalle ammine traccia (TA), costituiscono una classe di recettori accoppiati a proteine G che è espressa in aree specifiche del sistema nervoso centrale e in alcuni tessuti periferici. Nell’ultimo decennio hanno evidenziato che il sottotipo recettoriale TAAR1, che è accoppiato a proteine Gs, e quindi capace di indurre l’attivazione dell’adenilato ciclasi, rappresenta un target terapeutico innovativo per lo sviluppo di agenti terapeutici utili per il trattamento di patologie neuropsichiatriche e di disordini di tipo metabolico. Nella presente tesi di laurea, l’attività svolta è stata focalizzata su due linee di ricerca specifiche: sintesi di nuovi composti strutturalmente correlati ai composti SG-1 e SG-2 per un ampliamento degli studi SAR su ligandi TAAR1 e sviluppo di nuovi potenziali “tools farmacologici” per lo studio del ruolo fisiologico dei recettori TAAR1; valutazione della potenziale interferenza di agonisti T...

ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010

A collection of novel aminomethyl-pyridines was designed, synthesized, and investigated as potent... more A collection of novel aminomethyl-pyridines was designed, synthesized, and investigated as potential inhibitors of DPP-4. Optimization of the screening hit afforded a number of 5-aminomethyl-pyridines with inhibitory activity in the nanomolar range. Selected DPP-4 inhibitors were further evaluated for their selectivity over the closely related peptidase DPP-8. 5-Aminomethyl-4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-6-methyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyanomethyl-amide showed high potency and excellent DPP-4 selectivity [IC 50 : 10 (DPP-4) and 6600 nM (DPP-8)] and no toxicity in mammalian cell culture.

European journal of medicinal chemistry, Dec 1, 2019

Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter, largely known as a pleiotropic mediat... more Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter, largely known as a pleiotropic mediator endowed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-autophagic, and neuroprotective properties. Moreover, a strong relationship between H 2 S and aging has been recently identified and consistently, a significant decline of H 2 S levels has been observed in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). On this basis, the use of H 2 S-donors could represent an exciting and intriguing strategy to be pursued for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). In this work, we designed a small series of multitarget molecules combining the rivastigmine-scaffold, a well-established drug already approved for AD, with sulforaphane (SFN) and erucin (ERN), two natural products deriving from the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates contained in broccoli and rocket, respectively, endowed both with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Notably, all new synthetized hybrids exhibit a H 2 S-donor profile in vitro and elicit protective effects in a model of LPS-induced microglia inflammation. Moreover, a decrease in NO production has been observed in LPS-stimulated cells pre-treated with the compounds. Finally, the compounds showed neuroprotective and antioxidant activities in human neuronal cells. The most interesting compounds have been further investigated to elucidate the possible mechanism of action.

Frontiers in Medicine, Jul 9, 2020

Journal of the Endocrine Society, Apr 1, 2020

Background. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) secondary to thyroid dysgenesis is rare. It may presen... more Background. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) secondary to thyroid dysgenesis is rare. It may present with ascites and short stature. Primary ovarian failure (POF) is most commonly associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases 1. However, there is no report of the association of POF with congenital hypothyroidism. Clinical case. A 30 year old female presented with increasing abdominal girth, short stature and arrest of menstruation at 27 years old. Newborn screening was not done. Developmental milestones were at par. She had a low timber voice and was slow to respond. Her skin was rough and dry. Her hair was sparse, and she had thin eyebrows. Her tongue was not enlarged. Her abdomen was globular with a positive fluid wave test and shifting dullness. Initial tests indicated a hypothyroid state: elevated TSH (50.40 IU/mL, N=0.35-4.94 IU/mL), low FT4 (0 pmol/L, N=12-22 pmol/L). Ultrasound of the thyroid suggests thyroid dysgenesis (small right thyroid gland measuring 1.4 x 0.2 x 0.4 cm and an absent left thyroid gland). Karyotyping was 46, XX and insulin growth factor 1 was normal. Unexpectedly, further tests were consistent with a concomitant primary ovarian failure: low estradiol (5 pg/mL, N=12.4-233 pg/mL), high FSH (112.7 mIU/mL, N=3.5-12.5 mIU/mL) and LH (61.9 mIU/mL, N = 2.4-12.6 mIU/mL). Chest radiography showed left pleural effusion. Abdominal CT scan showed marked ascites with normal reproductive organs. Anti-TPO antibodies were normal (4.87 IU/mL, N=0-25 IU/mL). The patient was treated with Levothyroxine 50 mcg daily then gradually increased to 100 mcg daily. She was given Spironolactone 50 mg daily and paracentesis was also done to address ascites. The patient had improvement of symptoms after a month of treatment. However, the etiology of POF remains to be further elucidated. Conclusion. This case report emphasizes the importance of the early detection of congenital hypothyroidism through newborn screening. Severe hypothyroidism is rarely seen due to the wide availability of the TSH assay and its diagnosis should instigate further work-up for its etiology. Concomitant premature ovarian failure in the absence of an autoimmune thyroid disorder should prompt further investigation for another etiology since premature ovarian failure is not commonly associated with congenital hypothyroidism.

Pharmaceuticals, May 31, 2022

Pharmaceuticals

Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and... more Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and myelin repair during adulthood. Their differentiation and maturation processes are regulated by a complex molecular machinery driven mainly by triiodothyronine (T3), the genomic active form of thyroid hormone, which binds to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), regulating the expression of target genes. Different molecular tools have been developed to mimic T3 action in an attempt to overcome the myelin repair deficit that underlies various central nervous system pathologies. In this study, we used a well-established in vitro model of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to test the effects of two compounds: the TRβ1 ligand IS25 and its pro-drug TG68. We showed that treatment with TG68 induces OPC differentiation/maturation as well as both the natural ligand and the best-known TRβ1 synthetic ligand, GC-1. We then described that, unlike T3, TG68 can fully overcome ...

Pharmaceuticals

The identification of effective pharmacological tools for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents one... more The identification of effective pharmacological tools for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents one of the main challenges for therapeutic discovery. Due to the variety of pathological processes associated with AD, a promising route for pharmacological intervention involves the development of new chemical entities that can restore cellular homeostasis. To investigate this strategy, we designed and synthetized SG2, a compound related to the thyroid hormone thyroxine, that shares a pleiotropic activity with its endogenous parent compound, including autophagic flux promotion, neuroprotection, and metabolic reprogramming. We demonstrate herein that SG2 acts in a pleiotropic manner to induce recovery in a C. elegans model of AD based on the overexpression of Aβ42 and improves learning abilities in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Further, in vitro ADME-Tox profiling and toxicological studies in zebrafish confirmed the low toxicity of this compound, which represents a chemical starting point fo...

Antioxidants

The complex network of malfunctioning pathways occurring in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative... more The complex network of malfunctioning pathways occurring in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) represents a huge hurdle in the development of new effective drugs to be used in therapy. In this context, redox reactions act as crucial regulators in the maintenance of neuronal microenvironment homeostasis. Particularly, their imbalance results in the severe compromising of organism’s natural defense systems and subsequently, in the instauration of deleterious OS, that plays a fundamental role in the insurgence and progress of NDDs. Despite the huge efforts in drug discovery programs, the identification process of new therapeutic agents able to counteract the relentless progress of neurodegenerative processes has produced low or no effective therapies. Consequently, a paradigm-shift in the drug discovery approach for these diseases is gradually occurring, paving the way for innovative therapeutical approaches, such as polypharmacology. The aim of this review is to pro...

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Activation of thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic alterat... more Activation of thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic alterations, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we investigated the effect of TG68, a novel THRβ agonist, on fatty liver accumulation and liver injury in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6 mice fed HFD for 17 or 18 weeks, a time when all mice developed massive steatohepatitis, were then given TG68 at a dose of 9.35 or 2.8 mg/kg for 2 or 3 weeks, respectively. As a reference compound, the same treatment was adopted using equimolar doses of MGL-3196, a selective THRβ agonist currently in clinical phase III. The results showed that treatment with TG68 led to a reduction in liver weight, hepatic steatosis, serum transaminases, and circulating triglycerides. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated activation of THRβ, as confirmed by increased mRNA levels of Deiodinase-1 and Malic enzyme-1, and changes in lipid metabolism, as revealed by increased expression of Acyl-CoA Oxidase-1 a...

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2021

We report the synthesis of novel first-in-class 2-oxindole-based derivatives as dual PDK1-AurA ki... more We report the synthesis of novel first-in-class 2-oxindole-based derivatives as dual PDK1-AurA kinase inhibitors as a novel strategy to treat Ewing sarcoma. The most potent compound 12 is suitable for progression to in vivo studies. The specific attributes of 12 included nanomolar inhibitory potency against both phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) and Aurora A (AurA) kinase, with acceptable in vitro ADME-Tox properties (cytotoxicity in 2 healthy and 14 hematological and solid cancer cell-lines; inhibition of PDE4C1, SIRT7, HDAC4, HDAC6, HDAC8, HDAC9, AurB, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and hERG). X-ray crystallography and docking studies led to the identification of the key AurA and PDK1/12 interactions. Finally, in vitro drug-intake kinetics and in vivo PK appear to indicate that these compounds are attractive lead-structures for the design and synthesis of PDK1/AurA dual-target molecules to further investigate the in vivo efficacy against Ewing Sarcoma.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Thyromimetics, whose physicochemical characteristics are analog to thyroid hormones (THs) and the... more Thyromimetics, whose physicochemical characteristics are analog to thyroid hormones (THs) and their derivatives, are promising candidates as novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and metabolic pathologies. In particular, sobetirome (GC-1), one of the initial halogen-free thyromimetics, and newly synthesized IS25 and TG68, with optimized ADME-Tox profile, have recently attracted attention owing to their superior therapeutic benefits, selectivity, and enhanced permeability. Here, we further explored the functional capabilities of these thyromimetics to inhibit transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis. TTR is a homotetrameric transporter protein for THs, yet it is also responsible for severe amyloid fibril formation, which is facilitated by tetramer dissociation into non-native monomers. By combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, computational simulation, and biochemical assays, we found that GC-1 and newly designed diphenyl-methane-based thyromimetics, namely IS25 and TG68,...

Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2020

NDDs are progressive multifactorial disorders that impair memory, cognition, movements, and gener... more NDDs are progressive multifactorial disorders that impair memory, cognition, movements, and general functioning. This deterioration is mostly due to inflammation triggered by aberrant protein deposition, oxidative stress and modification in lipid pathways. Because of these multifactorial aspects, the development of multi-target directed ligand (MTDL) could represent a potential strategy for the treatment of NDDs. Recently, the thyronamine-like analog SG-2, originally developed as a synthetic TAAR1 agonist, has revealed to efficiently reprogram lipid metabolism and to produce memory-enhancement in mice1. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the basic mechanisms of memory. LTP is inhibited by beta-Amyloid oligomers (Aβ), and in the early stage of AD it is selectively impaired in the entorhinal cortex (EC). In the present study, to further expand our knowledge on the potential of this novel analog to act as a neuroprotective agent, we investigated if administration of SG-2 has any ef...

Frontiers in Medicine, 2020

Cell Proliferation, 2020

ObjectivesAlthough the hepatomitogenic activity of triiodothyronine (T3) is well established, the... more ObjectivesAlthough the hepatomitogenic activity of triiodothyronine (T3) is well established, the wide range of harmful effects exerted by this hormone precludes its use in liver regenerative therapy. Selective agonists of the beta isoform of thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ) do not exhibit T3‐induced cardiotoxicity and show a good safety profile in patients with NASH. The aim of this study was to investigate whether two novel TRβ agonists, the prodrug TG68 and the active compound IS25 could stimulate hepatocyte proliferation without T3/TRα‐dependent side effects.MethodsRats were treated with three different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 μg/100 g body weight) for one week. Hepatocyte proliferation, liver injury and serum biochemical parameters were measured by immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR and Western blot.ResultsBoth drugs increased hepatocyte proliferation as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation (from 14% to 28% vs 5% of controls) and mitotic activity. Enhanced proliferation occurred...

Molecules, 2020

3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and the recently developed analog SG-2 are rapidly emerging as promising... more 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and the recently developed analog SG-2 are rapidly emerging as promising multi-target neuroprotective ligands able to reprogram lipid metabolism and to produce memory enhancement in mice. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the multi-target effects of these novel drug candidates, here we investigated whether the modulation of SIRT6, known to play a key role in reprogramming energy metabolism, might also drive the activation of clearing pathways, such as autophagy and ubiquitine-proteasome (UP), as further mechanisms against neurodegeneration. We show that both T1AM and SG-2 increase autophagy in U87MG cells by inducing the expression of SIRT6, which suppresses Akt activity thus leading to mTOR inhibition. This effect was concomitant with down-regulation of autophagy-related genes, including Hif1α, p53 and mTOR. Remarkably, when mTOR was inhibited a concomitant activation of autophagy and UP took place in U87MG cells. Since both compounds activat...

As life expectancy rises worldwide, we’re assisting to a worrying increase in the number of peopl... more As life expectancy rises worldwide, we’re assisting to a worrying increase in the number of people affected by neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), like Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson disease, for which there is no cure. NDDs comprehend a broad number of pathological conditions characterized by a diversified symptomatology and peculiar hallmarks, but united by a progressive and irreversible loss of neuronal functionality, i.e. neurodegeneration. Behind this neurodegenerative process there is a tangled network of pathogenic mechanisms affecting the fragile neuronal homeostasis, including proteostasis collapse, malfunctioning of lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation. This complexity represents one of the main reasons of high rate of failures occurring in the drug discovery process for NDDs. Herein, we’ll describe the rational design and synthetic approach employed to develop new diphenylmethane scaffold-based polypharmacological agents, namely SG compounds, with a potential role i...

I Traceamine-Associated receptors (TAARs), specificamente attivati dalle ammine traccia (TA), cos... more I Traceamine-Associated receptors (TAARs), specificamente attivati dalle ammine traccia (TA), costituiscono una classe di recettori accoppiati a proteine G che è espressa in aree specifiche del sistema nervoso centrale e in alcuni tessuti periferici. Nell’ultimo decennio hanno evidenziato che il sottotipo recettoriale TAAR1, che è accoppiato a proteine Gs, e quindi capace di indurre l’attivazione dell’adenilato ciclasi, rappresenta un target terapeutico innovativo per lo sviluppo di agenti terapeutici utili per il trattamento di patologie neuropsichiatriche e di disordini di tipo metabolico. Nella presente tesi di laurea, l’attività svolta è stata focalizzata su due linee di ricerca specifiche: sintesi di nuovi composti strutturalmente correlati ai composti SG-1 e SG-2 per un ampliamento degli studi SAR su ligandi TAAR1 e sviluppo di nuovi potenziali “tools farmacologici” per lo studio del ruolo fisiologico dei recettori TAAR1; valutazione della potenziale interferenza di agonisti T...

ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010

A collection of novel aminomethyl-pyridines was designed, synthesized, and investigated as potent... more A collection of novel aminomethyl-pyridines was designed, synthesized, and investigated as potential inhibitors of DPP-4. Optimization of the screening hit afforded a number of 5-aminomethyl-pyridines with inhibitory activity in the nanomolar range. Selected DPP-4 inhibitors were further evaluated for their selectivity over the closely related peptidase DPP-8. 5-Aminomethyl-4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-6-methyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid cyanomethyl-amide showed high potency and excellent DPP-4 selectivity [IC 50 : 10 (DPP-4) and 6600 nM (DPP-8)] and no toxicity in mammalian cell culture.

European journal of medicinal chemistry, Dec 1, 2019

Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter, largely known as a pleiotropic mediat... more Hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter, largely known as a pleiotropic mediator endowed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-autophagic, and neuroprotective properties. Moreover, a strong relationship between H 2 S and aging has been recently identified and consistently, a significant decline of H 2 S levels has been observed in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). On this basis, the use of H 2 S-donors could represent an exciting and intriguing strategy to be pursued for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). In this work, we designed a small series of multitarget molecules combining the rivastigmine-scaffold, a well-established drug already approved for AD, with sulforaphane (SFN) and erucin (ERN), two natural products deriving from the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates contained in broccoli and rocket, respectively, endowed both with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Notably, all new synthetized hybrids exhibit a H 2 S-donor profile in vitro and elicit protective effects in a model of LPS-induced microglia inflammation. Moreover, a decrease in NO production has been observed in LPS-stimulated cells pre-treated with the compounds. Finally, the compounds showed neuroprotective and antioxidant activities in human neuronal cells. The most interesting compounds have been further investigated to elucidate the possible mechanism of action.

Frontiers in Medicine, Jul 9, 2020

Journal of the Endocrine Society, Apr 1, 2020

Background. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) secondary to thyroid dysgenesis is rare. It may presen... more Background. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) secondary to thyroid dysgenesis is rare. It may present with ascites and short stature. Primary ovarian failure (POF) is most commonly associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases 1. However, there is no report of the association of POF with congenital hypothyroidism. Clinical case. A 30 year old female presented with increasing abdominal girth, short stature and arrest of menstruation at 27 years old. Newborn screening was not done. Developmental milestones were at par. She had a low timber voice and was slow to respond. Her skin was rough and dry. Her hair was sparse, and she had thin eyebrows. Her tongue was not enlarged. Her abdomen was globular with a positive fluid wave test and shifting dullness. Initial tests indicated a hypothyroid state: elevated TSH (50.40 IU/mL, N=0.35-4.94 IU/mL), low FT4 (0 pmol/L, N=12-22 pmol/L). Ultrasound of the thyroid suggests thyroid dysgenesis (small right thyroid gland measuring 1.4 x 0.2 x 0.4 cm and an absent left thyroid gland). Karyotyping was 46, XX and insulin growth factor 1 was normal. Unexpectedly, further tests were consistent with a concomitant primary ovarian failure: low estradiol (5 pg/mL, N=12.4-233 pg/mL), high FSH (112.7 mIU/mL, N=3.5-12.5 mIU/mL) and LH (61.9 mIU/mL, N = 2.4-12.6 mIU/mL). Chest radiography showed left pleural effusion. Abdominal CT scan showed marked ascites with normal reproductive organs. Anti-TPO antibodies were normal (4.87 IU/mL, N=0-25 IU/mL). The patient was treated with Levothyroxine 50 mcg daily then gradually increased to 100 mcg daily. She was given Spironolactone 50 mg daily and paracentesis was also done to address ascites. The patient had improvement of symptoms after a month of treatment. However, the etiology of POF remains to be further elucidated. Conclusion. This case report emphasizes the importance of the early detection of congenital hypothyroidism through newborn screening. Severe hypothyroidism is rarely seen due to the wide availability of the TSH assay and its diagnosis should instigate further work-up for its etiology. Concomitant premature ovarian failure in the absence of an autoimmune thyroid disorder should prompt further investigation for another etiology since premature ovarian failure is not commonly associated with congenital hypothyroidism.

Pharmaceuticals, May 31, 2022

Pharmaceuticals

Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and... more Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and myelin repair during adulthood. Their differentiation and maturation processes are regulated by a complex molecular machinery driven mainly by triiodothyronine (T3), the genomic active form of thyroid hormone, which binds to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), regulating the expression of target genes. Different molecular tools have been developed to mimic T3 action in an attempt to overcome the myelin repair deficit that underlies various central nervous system pathologies. In this study, we used a well-established in vitro model of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to test the effects of two compounds: the TRβ1 ligand IS25 and its pro-drug TG68. We showed that treatment with TG68 induces OPC differentiation/maturation as well as both the natural ligand and the best-known TRβ1 synthetic ligand, GC-1. We then described that, unlike T3, TG68 can fully overcome ...

Pharmaceuticals

The identification of effective pharmacological tools for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents one... more The identification of effective pharmacological tools for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents one of the main challenges for therapeutic discovery. Due to the variety of pathological processes associated with AD, a promising route for pharmacological intervention involves the development of new chemical entities that can restore cellular homeostasis. To investigate this strategy, we designed and synthetized SG2, a compound related to the thyroid hormone thyroxine, that shares a pleiotropic activity with its endogenous parent compound, including autophagic flux promotion, neuroprotection, and metabolic reprogramming. We demonstrate herein that SG2 acts in a pleiotropic manner to induce recovery in a C. elegans model of AD based on the overexpression of Aβ42 and improves learning abilities in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Further, in vitro ADME-Tox profiling and toxicological studies in zebrafish confirmed the low toxicity of this compound, which represents a chemical starting point fo...

Antioxidants

The complex network of malfunctioning pathways occurring in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative... more The complex network of malfunctioning pathways occurring in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) represents a huge hurdle in the development of new effective drugs to be used in therapy. In this context, redox reactions act as crucial regulators in the maintenance of neuronal microenvironment homeostasis. Particularly, their imbalance results in the severe compromising of organism’s natural defense systems and subsequently, in the instauration of deleterious OS, that plays a fundamental role in the insurgence and progress of NDDs. Despite the huge efforts in drug discovery programs, the identification process of new therapeutic agents able to counteract the relentless progress of neurodegenerative processes has produced low or no effective therapies. Consequently, a paradigm-shift in the drug discovery approach for these diseases is gradually occurring, paving the way for innovative therapeutical approaches, such as polypharmacology. The aim of this review is to pro...

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Activation of thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic alterat... more Activation of thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic alterations, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we investigated the effect of TG68, a novel THRβ agonist, on fatty liver accumulation and liver injury in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6 mice fed HFD for 17 or 18 weeks, a time when all mice developed massive steatohepatitis, were then given TG68 at a dose of 9.35 or 2.8 mg/kg for 2 or 3 weeks, respectively. As a reference compound, the same treatment was adopted using equimolar doses of MGL-3196, a selective THRβ agonist currently in clinical phase III. The results showed that treatment with TG68 led to a reduction in liver weight, hepatic steatosis, serum transaminases, and circulating triglycerides. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated activation of THRβ, as confirmed by increased mRNA levels of Deiodinase-1 and Malic enzyme-1, and changes in lipid metabolism, as revealed by increased expression of Acyl-CoA Oxidase-1 a...

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2021

We report the synthesis of novel first-in-class 2-oxindole-based derivatives as dual PDK1-AurA ki... more We report the synthesis of novel first-in-class 2-oxindole-based derivatives as dual PDK1-AurA kinase inhibitors as a novel strategy to treat Ewing sarcoma. The most potent compound 12 is suitable for progression to in vivo studies. The specific attributes of 12 included nanomolar inhibitory potency against both phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) and Aurora A (AurA) kinase, with acceptable in vitro ADME-Tox properties (cytotoxicity in 2 healthy and 14 hematological and solid cancer cell-lines; inhibition of PDE4C1, SIRT7, HDAC4, HDAC6, HDAC8, HDAC9, AurB, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and hERG). X-ray crystallography and docking studies led to the identification of the key AurA and PDK1/12 interactions. Finally, in vitro drug-intake kinetics and in vivo PK appear to indicate that these compounds are attractive lead-structures for the design and synthesis of PDK1/AurA dual-target molecules to further investigate the in vivo efficacy against Ewing Sarcoma.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Thyromimetics, whose physicochemical characteristics are analog to thyroid hormones (THs) and the... more Thyromimetics, whose physicochemical characteristics are analog to thyroid hormones (THs) and their derivatives, are promising candidates as novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and metabolic pathologies. In particular, sobetirome (GC-1), one of the initial halogen-free thyromimetics, and newly synthesized IS25 and TG68, with optimized ADME-Tox profile, have recently attracted attention owing to their superior therapeutic benefits, selectivity, and enhanced permeability. Here, we further explored the functional capabilities of these thyromimetics to inhibit transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis. TTR is a homotetrameric transporter protein for THs, yet it is also responsible for severe amyloid fibril formation, which is facilitated by tetramer dissociation into non-native monomers. By combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, computational simulation, and biochemical assays, we found that GC-1 and newly designed diphenyl-methane-based thyromimetics, namely IS25 and TG68,...

Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2020

NDDs are progressive multifactorial disorders that impair memory, cognition, movements, and gener... more NDDs are progressive multifactorial disorders that impair memory, cognition, movements, and general functioning. This deterioration is mostly due to inflammation triggered by aberrant protein deposition, oxidative stress and modification in lipid pathways. Because of these multifactorial aspects, the development of multi-target directed ligand (MTDL) could represent a potential strategy for the treatment of NDDs. Recently, the thyronamine-like analog SG-2, originally developed as a synthetic TAAR1 agonist, has revealed to efficiently reprogram lipid metabolism and to produce memory-enhancement in mice1. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the basic mechanisms of memory. LTP is inhibited by beta-Amyloid oligomers (Aβ), and in the early stage of AD it is selectively impaired in the entorhinal cortex (EC). In the present study, to further expand our knowledge on the potential of this novel analog to act as a neuroprotective agent, we investigated if administration of SG-2 has any ef...

Frontiers in Medicine, 2020

Cell Proliferation, 2020

ObjectivesAlthough the hepatomitogenic activity of triiodothyronine (T3) is well established, the... more ObjectivesAlthough the hepatomitogenic activity of triiodothyronine (T3) is well established, the wide range of harmful effects exerted by this hormone precludes its use in liver regenerative therapy. Selective agonists of the beta isoform of thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ) do not exhibit T3‐induced cardiotoxicity and show a good safety profile in patients with NASH. The aim of this study was to investigate whether two novel TRβ agonists, the prodrug TG68 and the active compound IS25 could stimulate hepatocyte proliferation without T3/TRα‐dependent side effects.MethodsRats were treated with three different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 μg/100 g body weight) for one week. Hepatocyte proliferation, liver injury and serum biochemical parameters were measured by immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR and Western blot.ResultsBoth drugs increased hepatocyte proliferation as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation (from 14% to 28% vs 5% of controls) and mitotic activity. Enhanced proliferation occurred...

Molecules, 2020

3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and the recently developed analog SG-2 are rapidly emerging as promising... more 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and the recently developed analog SG-2 are rapidly emerging as promising multi-target neuroprotective ligands able to reprogram lipid metabolism and to produce memory enhancement in mice. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the multi-target effects of these novel drug candidates, here we investigated whether the modulation of SIRT6, known to play a key role in reprogramming energy metabolism, might also drive the activation of clearing pathways, such as autophagy and ubiquitine-proteasome (UP), as further mechanisms against neurodegeneration. We show that both T1AM and SG-2 increase autophagy in U87MG cells by inducing the expression of SIRT6, which suppresses Akt activity thus leading to mTOR inhibition. This effect was concomitant with down-regulation of autophagy-related genes, including Hif1α, p53 and mTOR. Remarkably, when mTOR was inhibited a concomitant activation of autophagy and UP took place in U87MG cells. Since both compounds activat...