Insulin-degrading enzyme inhibition increases the unfolded protein response and favours lipid accumulation in the liver.

Background And Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease refers to liver pathologies, ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis, with fibrosis ultimately leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although several mechanisms have been suggested, including insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation, its pathophysiology remains imperfectly understood. Over the last decade, a dysfunctional unfolded protein response (UPR) triggered by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress emerged as one of the multiple driving factors.

Benzopyran hydrazones with dual PPARα/γ or PPARα/δ agonism and an anti-inflammatory effect on human THP-1 macrophages.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play a major role in regulating inflammatory processes, and dual or pan-PPAR agonists with PPARγ partial activation have been recognised to be useful to manage both metabolic syndrome and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Previous works have demonstrated the capacity of 2-prenylated benzopyrans as PPAR ligands. Herein, we have replaced the isoprenoid bond by hydrazone, a highly attractive functional group in medicinal chemistry.

Discovery, Structure-Activity Relationships, and In Vivo Activity of Dihydropyridone Agonists of the Bile Acid Receptor TGR5.

A novel series of potent agonists of the bile acid receptor TGR5 bearing a dihydropyridone scaffold was developed from a high-throughput screen. Starting from a micromolar hit compound, we implemented an extensive structure-activity-relationship (SAR) study with the synthesis and biological evaluation of 83 analogues. The project culminated with the identification of the potent nanomolar TGR5 agonist .

Anti-inflammatory effects and improved metabolic derangements in ob/ob mice by a newly synthesized prenylated benzopyran with pan-PPAR activity.

Background And Purpose: Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are widely used to treat metabolic complications; however, the limited effect of PPARα agonists on glucose metabolism and the adverse effects associated with selective PPARγ activators have stimulated the development of novel pan-PPAR agonists to treat metabolic disorders. Here, we synthesized a new prenylated benzopyran (BP-2) and evaluated its PPAR-activating properties, anti-inflammatory effects and impact on metabolic derangements.

Experimental Approach: BP-2 was used in transactivation assays to evaluate its agonism to PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ.

Identification of indole-based activators of insulin degrading enzyme.

Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is a zinc metalloprotease that cleaves numerous substrates among which amyloid-β and insulin. It has been linked through genetic studies to the risk of type-2 diabetes (T2D) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pharmacological activation of IDE is an attractive therapeutic strategy in AD.

Beyond the Rule of 5: Impact of PEGylation with Various Polymer Sizes on Pharmacokinetic Properties, Structure-Properties Relationships of mPEGylated Small Agonists of TGR5 Receptor.

PEGylation of therapeutic agents is known to improve the pharmacokinetic behavior of macromolecular drugs and nanoparticles. In this work, we performed the conjugation of polyethylene glycols (220-5000 Da) to a series of non-steroidal small agonists of the bile acids receptor TGR5. A suitable anchoring position on the agonist was identified to retain full agonistic potency with the conjugates.

Topical Intestinal Aminoimidazole Agonists of G-Protein-Coupled Bile Acid Receptor 1 Promote Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Secretion and Improve Glucose Tolerance.

The role of the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor TGR5 in various organs, tissues, and cell types, specifically in intestinal endocrine L-cells and brown adipose tissue, has made it a promising therapeutical target in several diseases, especially type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, recent studies have shown deleterious on-target effects of systemic TGR5 agonists. To avoid these systemic effects while stimulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secreting enteroendocrine L-cells, we have designed TGR5 agonists with low intestinal permeability.

DHA-derived oxylipins, neuroprostanes and protectins, differentially and dose-dependently modulate the inflammatory response in human macrophages: Putative mechanisms through PPAR activation.

Whereas the anti-inflammatory properties and mechanisms of action of long chain ω3 PUFAs have been abundantly investigated, research gaps remain regarding the respective contribution and mechanisms of action of their oxygenated metabolites collectively known as oxylipins. We conducted a dose-dependent and comparative study in human primary macrophages aiming to compare the anti-inflammatory activity of two types of DHA-derived oxylipins including the well-described protectins (NPD1 and PDX), formed through lipoxygenase pathway and the neuroprostanes (14-A- and 4-F-NeuroP) formed through free-radical mediated oxygenation and expected to be new anti-inflammatory mediators. Considering the potential ability of these DHA-derived oxylipins to bind PPARs and knowing the central role of these transcription factors in the regulation of macrophage inflammatory response, we performed transactivation assays to compare the ability of protectins and neuroprostanes to activate PPARs.

The novel selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) pemafibrate improves dyslipidemia, enhances reverse cholesterol transport and decreases inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Background: Atherosclerosis is characterized by lipid accumulation and chronic inflammation in the arterial wall. Elevated levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B-containing lipoproteins are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). By contrast, plasma levels of functional high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apoA-I are protective against CVD by enhancing reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).

Catalytic site inhibition of insulin-degrading enzyme by a small molecule induces glucose intolerance in mice.

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a protease that cleaves insulin and other bioactive peptides such as amyloid-β. Knockout and genetic studies have linked IDE to Alzheimer's disease and type-2 diabetes. As the major insulin-degrading protease, IDE is a candidate drug target in diabetes.

The human hepatocyte cell lines IHH and HepaRG: models to study glucose, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.

Metabolic diseases reach epidemic proportions. A better knowledge of the associated alterations in the metabolic pathways in the liver is necessary. These studies need in vitro human cell models.