7 research outputs found
Genetically engineered E. coli Nissle attenuates hyperammonemia and prevents memory impairment in bileâduct ligated rats
Hyperammonemia associated with chronic liver disease (CLD) is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The gut is a major source of ammonia production that contributes to hyperammonemia in CLD and HE and remains the primary therapeutic target for lowering hyperammonemia. As an ammoniaâlowering strategy, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 bacterium was genetically modified to consume and convert ammonia to arginine (SâARG). SâARG was further modified to additionally synthesize butyrate (SâARG+BUT). Both strains were evaluated in bileâduct ligated (BDL) rats; experimental model of CLD and HE.
Methods
Oneâweek postâsurgery, BDLs received nonâmodified EcN (EcN), SâARG, SâARG+BUT (3x1011 CFU/day) or vehicle until sacrifice at 3â or 5âweeks. Plasma (ammonia/proâinflammatory/liverâfunction), liver fibrosis (hydroxyproline), liver mRNA (proâinflammatory/fibrogenic/antiâapoptotic) and colon mRNA (proâinflammatory) biomarkers were measured postâsacrifice. Memory, motorâcoordination, muscleâstrength, and locomotion were assessed at 5âweeks.
Results
In BDLâVeh rats, hyperammonemia developed at 3â and further increased at 5âweeks. This rise was prevented by SâARG and SâARG+BUT, whereas EcN was ineffective. Memory impairment was prevented only in SâARG+BUT vs BDLâVeh. Systemic inflammation (ILâ10/MCPâ1/endotoxin) increased at 3â and 5âweeks in BDLâVeh. SâARG+BUT attenuated inflammation at both timepoints (except 5âweek endotoxin) vs BDLâVeh, whereas SâARG only attenuated IPâ10 and MCPâ1 at 3âweeks. Circulating (ALT/AST/ALP/GGT/albumin/bilirubin) and gene expression liverâfunction markers (ILâ10/ILâ6/ILâ1ÎČ/TGFâÎČ/αâSMA/collagenâ1α1/Bclâ2) were not normalized by either strain. Colonic mRNA (TNFâα/ILâ1ÎČ/occludin) markers were attenuated by synthetic strains at both timepoints vs BDLâVeh.
Conclusion
SâARG and SâARG+BUT attenuated hyperammonemia, with SâARG+BUT additional memory protection likely due to greater antiâinflammatory effect. These innovative strategies, particularly SâARG+BUT, have potential to prevent HE
An engineered bacterial therapeutic lowers urinary oxalate in preclinical models and in silico simulations of enteric hyperoxaluria
Abstract Enteric hyperoxaluria (EH) is a metabolic disease caused by excessive absorption of dietary oxalate leading to the formation of chronic kidney stones and kidney failure. There are no approved pharmaceutical treatments for EH. SYNB8802 is an engineered bacterial therapeutic designed to consume oxalate in the gut and lower urinary oxalate as a potential treatment for EH. Oral administration of SYNB8802 leads to significantly decreased urinary oxalate excretion in healthy mice and nonâhuman primates, demonstrating the strain's ability to consume oxalate inâvivo. A mathematical modeling framework was constructed that combines inâvitro and inâvivo preclinical data to predict the effects of SYNB8802 administration on urinary oxalate excretion in humans. Simulations of SYNB8802 administration predict a clinically meaningful lowering of urinary oxalate excretion in healthy volunteers and EH patients. Together, these findings suggest that SYNB8802 is a promising treatment for EH
Engineered bacteria producing arylâhydrocarbon receptor agonists protect against ethanolâinduced liver disease in mice
International audienceBackground and Purpose Gut bacteria metabolize tryptophan into indoles. Intestinal levels of the tryptophan metabolite indoleâ3âacetic acid are reduced in patients with alcoholâassociated hepatitis. Supplementation of indoleâ3âacetic acid protects against ethanolâinduced liver disease in mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of engineered bacteria producing indoles as Arylâhydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) agonists. Methods C57BL/6 mice were subjected to chronicâplusâbinge ethanol feeding and orally given PBS, control Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) or engineered EcNâAhr. The effects of EcN and EcNâAhr were also examined in mice lacking Ahr in interleukin 22 (Il22)âproducing cells. ResultsThrough the deletion of endogenous genes trpR and tnaA , coupled with over expression of a feedbackâresistant tryptophan biosynthesis operon, EcNâAhr were engineered to overproduce tryptophan. Additional engineering allowed conversion of this tryptophan to indoles including indoleâ3âacetic acid and indoleâ3âlactic acid. EcNâAhr ameliorated ethanolâinduced liver disease in C57BL/6 mice. EcNâAhr upregulated intestinal gene expression of Cyp1a1 , Nrf2 , Il22 , Reg3b , and Reg3g , and increased Il22âexpressing type 3 innate lymphoid cells. In addition, EcNâAhr reduced translocation of bacteria to the liver. The beneficial effect of EcNâAhr was abrogated in mice lacking Ahr expression in Il22âproducing immune cells. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that tryptophan metabolites locally produced by engineered gut bacteria mitigate liver disease via Ahrâmediated activation in intestinal immune cells
Discovery of HSD-621 as a Potential Agent for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
11ÎČ-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ÎČ-HSD1)
catalyzes the conversion of inactive glucocorticoid cortisone to its
active form, cortisol. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling
pathway has been linked to the pathophysiology of diabetes and metabolic
syndrome. Herein, the structureâactivity relationship of a
series of piperazine sulfonamide-based 11ÎČ-HSD1 inhibitors is
described. (<i>R</i>)-3,3,3-Trifluoro-2-(5-(((<i>R</i>)-4-(4-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)Âphenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl)Âsulfonyl)Âthiophen-2-yl)-2-hydroxypropanamide <b>18a</b> (HSD-621) was identified as a potent and selective 11ÎČ-HSD1
inhibitor and was ultimately selected as a clinical development candidate.
HSD-621 has an attractive overall pharmaceutical profile and demonstrates
good oral bioavailability in mouse, rat, and dog. When orally dosed
in C57/BL6 diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice, HSD-621 was efficacious
and showed a significant reduction in both fed and fasting glucose
and insulin levels. Furthermore, HSD-621 was well tolerated in drug
safety assessment studies