Givinostat (ITF-2357) is a HDAC inhibitor with an IC50 of 198 and 157 nM for HDAC1 and HDAC3, respectively. Givinostat (ITF2357) suppresses total LPS-induced IL-1β production robustly compared with the reduction by ITF3056. At 25, 50, and 100 nM, Givinostat reduced IL-1β secretion more than 70%. Givinostat (ITF-2357) suppresses the production of IL-6 in PBMCs stimulated with TLR agonists as well as the combination of IL-12 plus IL-18. IL-6 secretion decreases to 50% at 50 nM Givinostat, but at 100 and 200 nM, there is no reduction[1]. As shown by the CCK-8 assay, Givinostat (ITF-2357) inhibits JS-1 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with Givinostat ≥500 nM is associated with significant inhibition of JS-1 cell proliferation (P<0.01). Also, the cell inhibition rate significantly differs between the group cotreated with Givinostat ≥250 nM plus LPS and the group without LPS treatment (same Givinostat concentration) (P<0.05)[2]. Givinostat (ITF2357) at 10 mg kg is used as a positive control and, as expected, reduced serum TNFα by 60%. Strikingly, pretreatment of ITF3056 starting at 0.1 mg kg significantly reduces the circulating TNFα by nearly 90%. To achieve a significant increase in serum IL-1β production, a higher dose of LPS is injected (10 mg kg), and blood is collected after 4 h. Similarly, when pretreated with lower doses of Givinostat (ITF-2357) (1 or 5 mg kg), there is a 22% reduction for 1 mg kg and 40% for 5 mg kg[1]. [1]. Li S, et al. Specific inhibition of histone deacetylase 8 reduces gene expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo. J Biol Chem. 2015 Jan 23;290(4):2368-78. [2]. Wang YG, et al. Givinostat inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation and protein acetylation. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jul 21;21(27):8326-39. [3]. Leoni F, et al. The histone deacetylase inhibitor ITF2357 reduces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and systemic inflammation in vivo. Mol Med. 2005 Jan-Dec;11(1-12):1-15.
β-Carboline-1-carboxylic acid is an alkaloid that has been found in P. quassioides and has diverse biological activities. It reduces LPS-induced increases in MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in RAW 264.7 cells when used at a concentration of 15 µg/ml and inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-β1 in A549 cells. β-Carboline-1-carboxylic acid induces cytotoxicity in CT26.WT, K562, and SGC-7901 cells (IC50s = 14.96, 22.11, and 19.7 µg/ml, respectively) but not HepG2 or A549 cells (IC50s = 36.41 and 41.51 µg/ml, respectively). It also inhibits cAMP phosphodiesterase with an IC50 value of 96 µM.
Benpyrine is a highly specific and orally active TNF-α inhibitor with a KD value of 82.1 μM. Benpyrine tightly binds to TNF-α and blocks its interaction with TNFR1, with an IC50 value of 0.109 μM. Benpyrine has the potential for TNF-α mediated inflammatory and autoimmune disease research[1]. Benpyrine (5-20 μM; 14 hours; RAW264.7 cells) pretreatment results in a dose-dependent decrease in the phosphorylation of IκBα in RAW264.7 cells (stimulated with 10 ng mL TNF-α or 1 μg mL LPS). Benpyrine abolishes the TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in RAW264.7 cells[1].Benpyrine only blocks cell death induced by TNF-αWT and Y119A, and increases the cell survival rate up to 80%. Benpyrine does not obviously affect L57A- and Y59L-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells[1]. Benpyrine (25-50 mg kg; oral gavage; daily; for 2 weeks; Balb c mice) treatment significantly relieves the symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis. Benpyrine dose-dependently decreases the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6, and increases the concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10[1].Endotoxemia murine model shows that Benpyrine (25 mg kg) could attenuate TNF-α-induced inflammation, thereby reducing liver and lung injury[1]. [1]. Weiguang Sun, et al. Discovery of an Orally Active Small Molecule TNF-α Inhibitor. J Med Chem. 2020 Jul 15.
β-Defensin-4 is a peptide with antimicrobial properties that protects the skin and mucosal membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. It induces migration of monocytes in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 nM but does not affect migration of neutrophils and eosinophils. β-Defensin-4 (30 μg/ml) stimulates gene expression and production of IL-6, IL-10, CXCL10, CCL2, MIP-3α, and RANTES by keratinocytes. It also stimulates calcium mobilization, migration, and proliferation of keratinocytes when used at concentrations of 30, 10, and 40 μg/ml, respectively. β-Defensin-4 induces IL-31 production by human peripheral blood-derived mast cells in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml and by rat mast cells in vivo following a 500 ng intradermal dose. It also inhibits growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus with lethal concentration (LC) values of 5, 12, and 15 μM, respectively, of S. carnosus (MIC = 4.5 μg/ml), and of C. albicans with a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) value of 7.5 μM.
LL-37 is a cationic and α-helical antimicrobial peptide expressed in human bone marrow, testis, granulocytes, and gingival epithelium and is upregulated in psoriatic lesions. It inhibits growth of Gram-positive E. coli D21 and Gram-negative B. megatarium in a concentration-dependent manner and LL-37 expression is induced in A549 epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and monocyte-derived macrophages following M. tuberculosis infection. LL-37 binds sheep erythrocytes coated with S. minnesota Re-LPS and induces agglutination with a minimal agglutinating concentration (MAC) of 12.1 μg/ml. It is a chemoattractant for, and can induce calcium mobilization in, human monocytes, neutrophils, and T cells that naturally express formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) and FPRL1-transfected HEK293 cells. LL-37 (10-15 μM) pretreatment of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) reduces its infectivity as well as levels of viral genomic RNA and NS1 antigen. In vivo, LL-37 inhibits cecal ligation and puncture-induced caspase-1 activation and pyroptosis of peritoneal macrophages, reduces levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and improves survival in polybacterial septic mice.