Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) is a multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein removing X-Pro dipeptide from the amino-terminus of the peptide chain. This evolutionary conserved sequence protects a number of biologically active peptides against the unspecific proteolytic cleavage. DPP-IV belongs into the group of "Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV Activity and/or Structure Homologues" (DASH), which, except the canonical DPP-IV, comprises fibroblast activation protein-α/seprase (FAP), and several other molecules. However several of DASH molecules are the enzymes, they execute at least some of their biological functions by non-proteolytic protein-protein interactions. DASH molecules, their substrates and binding partners are parts of "DASH system" which is affected in several pathological process including a cancer. Specifically DPP-IV and its closest structural relative FAP are among others expected to be involved in the development and progression of malignant glioma. In this study we showed the expression and colocalization of DPP-IV and FAP in glioma cells in vitro and in human high grade gliomas. In addition to the DPP-IV/FAP double positive transformed glial cells, we also identified a subpopulation of FAP positive mesenchymal cells located in the perivascular compartment. Moreover we described the...

Fermentation and roasting of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) decrease levels of polyphenolic flavanol compounds. However, it is largely unknown how these changes in polyphenol levels caused by processing affect cocoa's anti-diabetic and anti-obesity bioactivities, such as inhibition of certain enzymes in the body. Polyphenol profiles, protein-binding abilities, presence of compounds termed oxidative polymers, and abilities to inhibit α-glucosidase, pancreatic α-amylase, lipase, and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP4) in vitro were compared between unfermented bean (UB), fermented bean (FB), unfermented liquor (UL), and fermented liquor (FL) cocoa extracts. Overall, there were significant decreases (p<0.05) in total polyphenols, flavanols, and anthocyanins between the two sets of unfermented and fermented cocoa extracts (CEs). All CEs effectively inhibited α-glucosidase (lowest IC50 = 90.0 ug/mL for UL) and moderately inhibited α-amylase (lowest IC50=183 ug/mL for FL), lipase (lowest IC25=65.5 ug/mL for FB), and DPP4 (lowest IC25=1585 ug/mL for FB) in dose-dependent manners. Fermentation and roasting of the samples affected inhibition of each enzyme differently (both processes enhanced α-amylase inhibition). Improved α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitions were correlated with presence of different classifications of oxidative polymers, suggesting that these compounds could be contributing to the bioactivities observed. Some α-glucosidase inhibition might be due to non-specific protein-binding. Improved DPP4 inhibition was strongly correlated to increased CE degree of polymerization. In conclusion, potential enzyme inhibition activities of cocoa were not necessarily negatively affected by the large polyphenol losses that occur during fermentation and roasting. Additionally, it is possible that more complex compounds could be present in cocoa that contribute to its potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesity bioactivities. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Plasmodium falciparum dipeptidyl aminopeptidase 1 (DPAP1) contributes to the degradation of hemoglobin by releasing dipeptides from globin oligopeptides in the food vacuole. The lack of success at DPAP1 gene disruption suggests that this exopeptidase is important for efficient growth during the erythrocytic asexual stage. DPAP1 is therefore an attractive target for the development of anti-malarial drugs that block the catabolism of hemoglobin. To guide the design of selective, potent DPAP1 inhibitors, it is necessary to characterize the substrate specificity of this enzyme along with its human homolog cathepsin C. Although native purification of DPAP1 is possible, the amount of purified enzyme obtained is insufficient for extensive biochemical characterization. To overcome this obstacle, a strategy was developed for the recombinant expression of soluble DPAP1 in the bacterium Escherichia coli and for its activation in vitro. The production of active recombinant DPAP1 presents three challenges: 1) expression of the protein in soluble form, 2) generation of the native N-terminus, and 3) cleavage of the pro-domain. Soluble expression of DPAP1 was achieved by fusing it to the C-terminus of maltose-binding protein (MBP). A linker sequence encoding a tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) cleavage site was introduced between MBP and DPAP1 such that TEVp cleavage would generate the presumed native N-terminus of DPAP1. Incubation of the MBP-DPAP1 fusion with TEVp resulted in the release of free DPAP1which hydrolyzed the fluorogenic substrate proyly-arginyl-7-amido-4 methyl coumarin (Pro-Arg-AMC). Various proteases were tested for the ability to excise the pro-region. Treatment with both trypsin and papain removed the pro-region and increased DPAP1 activity two to three fold. When assayed with Pro-Arg-AMC, trypsin-treated DPAP1 had kinetic properties similar to native enzyme whereas papain-treated DPAP1 deviated from Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Using a combinational dipeptidyl substrate library, the substrate specificities of native and recombinant (trypsin-activated) DPAP1, as well as of human cathepsin C were profiled. We find that both DPAP1 and human cathepsin C accept a wide spectrum of amino acid side chains at the substrate P1 and P2 positions. Interestingly, several P2 residues show high selectivity for DPAP1 or cathepsin C. The collected data point to the feasibility of designing inhibitors that are specific for DPAP1 over cathepsin C. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

L’incidence de l’hypertension et du diabète de type II (DT2) augmente à travers le monde. Les interventions diététiques sont une des voies les plus efficaces pour contrôler ou prévenir l’hypertension et le DT2. Des aliments qui fournissent non seulement tous les nutriments nécessaires au corps humain, mais aussi des inhibiteurs contre l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine (ACE) et la dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) pourraient offrir une nouvelle alternative pour contrôler ou prévenir ces maladies. Le babeurre, le lait, les protéines de lactosérum et les protéines de blanc d’œuf sont connues pour contenir des inhibiteurs de l’ACE et de la DPP-4. Dans cette étude, plusieurs laits fermentés ont été produits par fermentation de ces milieux riches en protéines dans des conditions communément utilisées en industrie pour fabriquer les yogourts. Les produits fermentés obtenus ont ensuite été digérés dans un système digestif in vitro. Les extraits solubles obtenus ont été criblés contre les enzymes ACE et DPP-4. Les résultats montrent que la fermentation seule est rarement suffisante pour la production d’inhibiteurs de l’ACE et de la DPP-4. L’étape de digestion est nécessaire pour libérer ces inhibiteurs. Les analyses de spectrométrie de masse ont permis d’identifier 4 inhibiteurs de la DPP-4 et 9 de l’ACE dont 5 sont connus pour être bioactifs chez le rat. Cette étude préliminaire montre que des laits fermentés non conventionnels à base de babeurre, de concentrés protéiques de lactosérum et de protéines de blanc d’oeuf seraient une source potentielle d’inhibiteurs de l’ACE et de la DPP-4. / Incidence of hypertension and Type II diabetes (T2D) is increasing world wide. Dietetic intervention is one of the most effective way to prevent and control hypertension and T2D. Food that non-only provide all necessary nutriments but also provide ACE and DPP-4 inhibitors could offer a new health tool to prevent or control hypertension and T2D. Buttermilk, milk, whey proteins and white eggs proteins are known to possess ACE and DPP-4 inhibitors. In this regard, several fermented milks were produced using industrial starters and conditions. The products were then digested in a 2-steps in vitro digestive model. The resulting soluble extracts were screened against ACE and DPP-4 enzymes. Results showed that fermentation only did not produce ACE and DPP-4 inhibitors while the digestive process is required to release these inhibitors. Mass spectroscopy analysis of allowed the identification of 4 DPP-4 inhibitors and 9 ACE which 5 of them are known to be bioactive. This work provides the basis to produce fermented milks with ACE and DPP-4 inhibitors. Further analysis will be required to confirm if these yoghurts can improve blood pressure and glycemic response in humans.

Dados recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que a enzima dipeptidil peptidase IV (DPPIV), uma serino-protease que pode ser encontrada ancorada na membrana celular de diversos tipos celulares ou na forma solúvel no plasma, possui um papel importante na fisiopatologia da insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Mais especificamente, demonstramos que a atividade da DPPIV circulante está associada com piores desfechos cardiovasculares em modelo experimental e pacientes com IC. Ademais, observamos que a inibição crônica da DPPIV atenua o desenvolvimento e/ou a progressão da IC em ratos submetidos à injúria do miocárdio. Entretanto, não é sabido se a inibição desta peptidase é capaz de reverter a disfunção cardiorrenal em ratos com IC estabelecida. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo testar a hipótese que a inibição da DPPIV exerce efeitos terapêuticos em ratos com IC. Para tal, ratos com IC foram tratados diariamente com o inibidor da DPPIV Vildagliptina (80 ou 120 mg/kg/dia) ou veículo (HF) durante quatro semanas. Ratos Sham não-tratados foram utilizados como controle. Análises ecocardiográficas demonstraram que ratos HF exibiram área fracional (FAC) menor e tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) maior que ratos Sham. Por sua vez, o tratamento com a dose maior de Vildagliptina foi capaz de aumentar a FAC e diminuir o TRIV. Esta melhora funcional foi acompanhada por melhoras estruturais, visto que a inibição da DPPIV foi capaz de reduzir a hipertrofia cardíaca e a deposição de colágeno intersticial no miocárdio remanescente de ratos tratados com Vildagliptina em comparação aos ratos HF. Adicionalmente, ratos com IC exibiram maior teor de água nos pulmões, menor excreção urinária de sódio, menor fluxo urinário e menor ritmo de filtração glomerular em comparação ao grupo Sham. Por sua vez, o manuseio renal de sal e água foi completamente restaurado pelo tratamento crônico com 120 mg/kg/dia Vildagliptina. A normalização da função renal induzida pela inibição crônica da DPPIV foi associada com um aumento da expressão do receptor do peptídeo-1 semelhante ao glucagon (GLP-1) e maior ativação da proteína cinase A em córtex renal, isto é, da via de sinalização deflagrada pela ligação GLP-1/GLP-1R. Além disso, os níveis pós-prandiais do GLP-1, principal substrato da DPPIV que exerce ações insulinotrópicas, cardio e renoprotetoras, estavam mais baixos em ratos HF que em ratos Sham. Esta diminuição dos níveis circulantes de GLP-1 (ativo e total) em ratos HF foi acompanhada de intolerância à glicose bem como de maiores níveis plasmáticos de insulina. A inibição da DPPIV com Vildagliptina melhorou a biodisponibilidade e a secreção de GLP-1 após carga oral de glicose. Em conjunto, estes resultados sugerem que a inibição da DPPIV melhora a função cardiorrenal e metabólica de ratos com IC. Além disso, a secreção e a biodisponibilidade do GLP-1 encontram-se prejudicadas em ratos com IC e o tratamento com Vildagliptina é capaz de restaurar a sinalização mediada por este peptídeo. Assim, os inibidores da DPPIV podem ser eficazes não apenas para a prevenção, mas também para o tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca em ratos / Recent data from our laboratory suggest that the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a serine protease that can be found anchored in the cell membrane of different cell types or in the soluble form in plasma, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). More specifically, we have demonstrated that the activity of circulating DPPIV is associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes in an experimental model and patients with HF. In addition, we have found that chronic inhibition of DPPIV attenuates the development and/or progression of HF in rats with myocardial injury. However, it is unknown whether the inhibition of this peptidase is able to reverse the cardiorenal dysfunction in rats with established HF. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of DPPIV exerts therapeutic effects in rats with HF. To this end, HF rats were treated daily with the DPPIV inhibitor vildagliptin (80 or 120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (HF) for four weeks. Untreated Sham rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that HF rats exhibit lower fractional area change (FAC) and higher isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) than Sham rats. On the other hand, treatment with the highest dose of vildagliptin was able to increase FAC and decrease IVRT. These functional improvements were accompanied by structural improvements, since inhibition of DPPIV was also able to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition in the remaining myocardium of rats treated with vildagliptin rats compared to HF. In addition, HF rats exhibited higher water content in the lungs, lower urinary sodium excretion, lower urinary flow and lower glomerular filtration rate compared to the Sham group. In turn, the renal handling of salt and water was completely restored by chronic treatment with vildagliptin 120 mg/kg/day. Normalization of the renal function induced by chronic inhibition of DPPIV was associated with an increase in the expression of the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and enhanced protein kinase A activation in the renal cortex, the signaling pathway triggered by bind between GLP-1/GLP-1R. In addition, the postprandial levels of GLP-1, the main substrate of DPPIV that exerts insulinotropic, cardio and renoprotective actions, were lower in HF rats than in Sham. This decrease in circulating levels of GLP-1 (active and total) in HF rats was accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance and higher plasma insulin levels. The inhibition of the DPPIV with vildagliptin improved the bioavailability and secretion after an oral glucose load. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibition of DPPIV ameliorates the cardiorenal and metabolic function of rats with HF. Furthermore, bioavailability and secretion of GLP-1 are impaired in HF rats and vildagliptin is able to restore the signaling mediated by this peptide. Therefore, DPPIV inhibitors can be effective not only in preventing but also for the treatment of HF in rats

Dados recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que a enzima dipeptidil peptidase IV (DPPIV), uma serino-protease que pode ser encontrada ancorada na membrana celular de diversos tipos celulares ou na forma solúvel no plasma, possui um papel importante na fisiopatologia da insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Mais especificamente, demonstramos que a atividade da DPPIV circulante está associada com piores desfechos cardiovasculares em modelo experimental e pacientes com IC. Ademais, observamos que a inibição crônica da DPPIV atenua o desenvolvimento e/ou a progressão da IC em ratos submetidos à injúria do miocárdio. Entretanto, não é sabido se a inibição desta peptidase é capaz de reverter a disfunção cardiorrenal em ratos com IC estabelecida. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo testar a hipótese que a inibição da DPPIV exerce efeitos terapêuticos em ratos com IC. Para tal, ratos com IC foram tratados diariamente com o inibidor da DPPIV Vildagliptina (80 ou 120 mg/kg/dia) ou veículo (HF) durante quatro semanas. Ratos Sham não-tratados foram utilizados como controle. Análises ecocardiográficas demonstraram que ratos HF exibiram área fracional (FAC) menor e tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) maior que ratos Sham. Por sua vez, o tratamento com a dose maior de Vildagliptina foi capaz de aumentar a FAC e diminuir o TRIV. Esta melhora funcional foi acompanhada por melhoras estruturais, visto que a inibição da DPPIV foi capaz de reduzir a hipertrofia cardíaca e a deposição de colágeno intersticial no miocárdio remanescente de ratos tratados com Vildagliptina em comparação aos ratos HF. Adicionalmente, ratos com IC exibiram maior teor de água nos pulmões, menor excreção urinária de sódio, menor fluxo urinário e menor ritmo de filtração glomerular em comparação ao grupo Sham. Por sua vez, o manuseio renal de sal e água foi completamente restaurado pelo tratamento crônico com 120 mg/kg/dia Vildagliptina. A normalização da função renal induzida pela inibição crônica da DPPIV foi associada com um aumento da expressão do receptor do peptídeo-1 semelhante ao glucagon (GLP-1) e maior ativação da proteína cinase A em córtex renal, isto é, da via de sinalização deflagrada pela ligação GLP-1/GLP-1R. Além disso, os níveis pós-prandiais do GLP-1, principal substrato da DPPIV que exerce ações insulinotrópicas, cardio e renoprotetoras, estavam mais baixos em ratos HF que em ratos Sham. Esta diminuição dos níveis circulantes de GLP-1 (ativo e total) em ratos HF foi acompanhada de intolerância à glicose bem como de maiores níveis plasmáticos de insulina. A inibição da DPPIV com Vildagliptina melhorou a biodisponibilidade e a secreção de GLP-1 após carga oral de glicose. Em conjunto, estes resultados sugerem que a inibição da DPPIV melhora a função cardiorrenal e metabólica de ratos com IC. Além disso, a secreção e a biodisponibilidade do GLP-1 encontram-se prejudicadas em ratos com IC e o tratamento com Vildagliptina é capaz de restaurar a sinalização mediada por este peptídeo. Assim, os inibidores da DPPIV podem ser eficazes não apenas para a prevenção, mas também para o tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca em ratos / Recent data from our laboratory suggest that the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a serine protease that can be found anchored in the cell membrane of different cell types or in the soluble form in plasma, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). More specifically, we have demonstrated that the activity of circulating DPPIV is associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes in an experimental model and patients with HF. In addition, we have found that chronic inhibition of DPPIV attenuates the development and/or progression of HF in rats with myocardial injury. However, it is unknown whether the inhibition of this peptidase is able to reverse the cardiorenal dysfunction in rats with established HF. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of DPPIV exerts therapeutic effects in rats with HF. To this end, HF rats were treated daily with the DPPIV inhibitor vildagliptin (80 or 120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (HF) for four weeks. Untreated Sham rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that HF rats exhibit lower fractional area change (FAC) and higher isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) than Sham rats. On the other hand, treatment with the highest dose of vildagliptin was able to increase FAC and decrease IVRT. These functional improvements were accompanied by structural improvements, since inhibition of DPPIV was also able to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition in the remaining myocardium of rats treated with vildagliptin rats compared to HF. In addition, HF rats exhibited higher water content in the lungs, lower urinary sodium excretion, lower urinary flow and lower glomerular filtration rate compared to the Sham group. In turn, the renal handling of salt and water was completely restored by chronic treatment with vildagliptin 120 mg/kg/day. Normalization of the renal function induced by chronic inhibition of DPPIV was associated with an increase in the expression of the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and enhanced protein kinase A activation in the renal cortex, the signaling pathway triggered by bind between GLP-1/GLP-1R. In addition, the postprandial levels of GLP-1, the main substrate of DPPIV that exerts insulinotropic, cardio and renoprotective actions, were lower in HF rats than in Sham. This decrease in circulating levels of GLP-1 (active and total) in HF rats was accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance and higher plasma insulin levels. The inhibition of the DPPIV with vildagliptin improved the bioavailability and secretion after an oral glucose load. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibition of DPPIV ameliorates the cardiorenal and metabolic function of rats with HF. Furthermore, bioavailability and secretion of GLP-1 are impaired in HF rats and vildagliptin is able to restore the signaling mediated by this peptide. Therefore, DPPIV inhibitors can be effective not only in preventing but also for the treatment of HF in rats

"Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV Activity and/or Structure Homologues"(DASH) represent a newly defined group of multifunctional molecules, typically bearing dipeptidyl peptidase-IV- like hydrolytic activity. Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) cleaves out X-Pro dipeptides from the N-terminus of peptides. Other molecules carrying similar enzyme activity, such as Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), DPP-II, DPP8 and DPP9 or even DPP-IV structure-like but hydrolytically inactive molecules (DPP6 and DPP10) also belong to this group. Recent knowledge suggest a substantial role of DASH in cancer pathogenesis. The aim of this study is a preparation of a biological model and its use for understanding the mechanisms of interaction(s) between transformed glial cells and stroma in the processes of origin and development of tumors derived from neuroectoderm. Stable transfected human glioblastoma cell lines with inducible gene expression of DPP-IV, Fibroblast activation protein and their enzymatically inactive mutated forms, were prepared within the project. Prepared cell lines are used as a tool for studying not only the "autocrine" importance of DPP-IV and FAP for the expressing cells in in-vitro, but also for their potential "paracrine" effect(s) within the tumor microenvironment after homotopic implantation into the...

No sistema cardiovascular, modificações de pressão e shear stress devido ao fluxo sanguíneo influenciam a morfologia e a patofisiologia dos vasos sanguíneos e do coração. Neste trabalho, estudamos o papel de duas moléculas transmembrânicas do Sistema Renina-Angiotensina: a Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina (ECA) e o Receptor de Angiotensina do tipo I (AT1) como mecanosensoras e mecanotransdutoras dessas forças físicas. A ECA foi por muito tempo conhecida somente por sua ação em converter Angiotensina I em Angiotensina II e por inativar a Bradicinina. Recentemente foi demonstrado que a ECA, além dos efeitos enzimáticos já conhecidos, pode ter sua cauda citoplasmática fosforilada e desencadear vias de sinalização intracelular. Observamos que o shear stress, mas não o estiramento, induziu a diminuição da fosforilação da porção citoplasmática da ECA após 5 minutos de estímulo e se mantém até 18 horas. Demonstramos também que a porção extracelular da ECA tem papel fundamental como mecanosensora e que a via intracelular da JNK participa da mecanotransdução em resposta ao shear stress. Além disto, demonstramos que a diminuição da fosforilação da ECA está associada na diminuição da sua expressão pelo shear stress. O receptor AT1 é a principal molécula efetora das ações da angiotensina II. Recentemente foi demonstrado que esse receptor pode também ser ativado por forças físicas, estiramento celular, independentemente da presença da angiotensina II. No presente estudo, observamos que o receptor AT1 é ativado pelo shear stress e que o Candesartan, mas não o Losartan, é capaz de impedir esta resposta. A via intracelular ativada é dependente de proteína-G e da entrada de cálcio do meio extracelular. Interessantemente, a pré-exposicao dos receptores ao shear stress diminuem a responsividade dos receptores ao peptídeo Angiotensina II porém a Angiotensina II não é capaz de inibir a ativação pelo shear stress.. Em conjunto, demonstramos novos mecanismos de ação da ECA e do AT1 que são duas importantes moléculas do sistema renina angiotensina. A modulação destes componentes por estímulos mecânicos traz novas possibilidades de intervenções farmacologicas sobre esse sistema bem como o melhor entendimento da participação dessas moléculas na fisiopatologia cardiovascular. / Hemodynamic forces such as pressure and shear stress modulate the patophysiolgy of the cardiovascular system. In this study, we investigated two transmembranic key molecules of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as mechanosensors and mechanotransducers of physical forces: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) and Angiotensin II type 1 Receptor (AT1). ACE is an enzyme that converts angiotensin I in angiotensin II. Recently, it was demonstrated that ACE cytoplasmic tail can be phosphorylated by ACE inhibitors and elicited intracellular cell signaling. Here, we observed that shear stress, but not stretch, decreased ACE cytoplasmic phosphorylation after 5 minutes and maintained up to 18 hours. ACE extracellular portion act as mechanosensor and JNK pathway participate in the mechanotransduction activation. In addition, we also demonstrate that decrease in ACE phosphorylation is involved in ACE expression downregulation by shear stress. AT1 receptor is the main effector molecule of angiotensin II cellular responses. It has recently been shown that AT1 receptor can directly be activated by mechanical stretch stress through an angiotensin-II-independent mechanism. In the present study, we observed that shear stress also activates AT1 receptor which is blocked by Candesartan, but not by Losartan. The intracellular pathway activated by shear stress involves both G-protein and extracellular calcium. Interestingly, preconditioning of AT1 receptor by shear stress impairs its responsiveness to angiotensin II while the pretreatment with angiotensin II still allow AT1 responsiveness to shear stress. Altogether, we demonstrated that ACE and AT1 receptor activates intracellular signal in response to mechanical force. This new concept for the RAS, the modulation of these molecules by mechanical forces gives new insigh into the discovery for pharmacological interventions to the RAS

A cruzaína é a principal cisteíno protease encontrada no parasito Trypanosoma cruzi, o agente etiológico da Doença de Chagas. A enzima é essencial para o desenvolvimento e sobrevivência do parasito dentro do hospedeiro e possui uma excelente validação pré-clínica como alvo susceptível à ação de fármacos. Várias classes de inibidores peptídicos reversíveis e irreversíveis, baseados no estado de transição, inibem efetivamente a cruzaína. No entanto, a maioria destes inibidores ainda não apresenta perfis farmacodinâmicos/farmacocinéticos adequados e/ou estão relacionados com potenciais efeitos fora do alvo (do inglês, off-target). Com o objetivo de encontrar inibidores mais eficientes e seletivos, foi aplicado uma abordagem de planejamento de ligantes baseada em hipótese, combinando quiminformática, síntese orgânica, ensaios bioquímicos e determinação do modo de interação para validar os compostos planejados como inibidores de cruzaína. Neste trabalho, é mostrado um conjunto de dipeptidil-nitrilas que foram sintetizadas e avaliadas com base nestes métodos para investigar as interações nos subsítios S1, S2 e S3 de cruzaína. Nossos resultados demonstram o sucesso da abordagem aplicada que resultou na identificação de vários inibidores da cruzaína em concentrações que chegam a sub-micromolar. Alguns dos compostos dessa classe de dipeptidil-nitrilas também são agentes tripanossomicidas por apresentar concentrações efetivas com formas infectivas do T. cruzi em baixo micromolar. / Cruzain is the major cysteine protease found in the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The enzyme is essential for the development and survival of the parasite within host cells, having excellent pre-clinical validation evidence as a druggable target. Several classes of peptide inhibitors including transition state-based reversible and irreversible ones effectively inhibit cruzain. However, most of these inhibitors still have poor PK/PD profiles and are related with potential off target effects. In order to find more efficient and selective inhibitors, we have applied the hypothesis driven ligand design approach, combining cheminformatics, organic synthesis, biochemical assays and mode of binding determination to validate the designed compounds as cruzain inhibitors. Here, we show a set of dipeptidyl nitriles that were synthetized and evaluated based on these methods to probe interactions at S1, S2 and S3 pockets of cruzain binding site. Our results unveil the success of the applied approach that yielded in the identification of several cruzain inhibitors at sub-micromolar concentrations. Some of the compounds of this class of dipeptidyl nitriles are also trypanocidal agents with effective concentrations in the low micromolar range against infective forms of T. cruzi.

La modification post-traductionnelle des chimiokines par la dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4 ou CD26) régule négativement le trafic des lymphocytes, et son inhibition améliore la migration des lymphocytes T et l'immunité anti-tumorale en préservant la forme fonctionnelle de CXCL10. En étendant ces résultats initiaux aux humains et à un modèle préclinique de carcinome hépatocellulaire, nous avons découvert un nouveau mécanisme par lequel l'inhibition de DPP4 améliore les réponses anti-tumorales par le recrutement des éosinophiles. Plus précisément, l'administration d'inhibiteurs de DPP4 (DPP4i) conduit à des concentrations tumorales plus élevées de CCL11 (ou eotaxine) et à une augmentation de la migration des éosinophiles exprimant CCR3 dans les tumeurs. Un meilleur contrôle de la croissance tumorale a été observé lors du traitement par DPP4i, un effet conservé chez les souris Rag2–/– mais abrogé uniquement lors de la déplétion des éosinophiles ou de l'inhibition de leur dégranulation. Nous avons également démontré que l'expression tumorale d’IL-33 était nécessaire et suffisante pour une réponse anti-tumorale médiée par les éosinophiles et que ce mécanisme contribuait à l'efficacité des inhibiteurs de points de contrôle immunitaires. Ces résultats révèlent un nouveau mécanisme par lequel le contrôle tumoral est médiée par IL-33 et les éosinophiles, mécanisme ici révélé lorsque les mécanismes endogènes de régulation immunitaire par DPP4 sont inhibés. / Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4 or CD26)–mediated post-translational modification of chemokines has been shown to negatively regulate lymphocyte trafficking, and its inhibition enhances T cell migration and tumor immunity by preserving functional CXCL10. In extending these initial findings to humans and pre-clinical hepatocellular carcinoma models, we discovered a new mechanism whereby DPP4 inhibition improves anti-tumor responses by eosinophil recruitment. Specifically, administration of DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i) resulted in higher concentrations of CCL11 (or eotaxin) and increased CCR3-mediated eosinophil migration into mouse tumors. Enhanced tumor control was observed upon treatment with DPP4i, an effect strikingly preserved in Rag2–/– mice, and abrogated only upon depletion of eosinophils or inhibition of their degranulation. We further demonstrated that tumor expression of IL-33 was necessary and sufficient for eosinophil-mediated anti-tumor responses, and that this mechanism contributed to checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. These findings provide new insight into IL-33- and eosinophil-mediated tumor control, revealed when endogenous mechanisms of DPP4 immune regulation are inhibited.