| 1. |
- El-Saadi, Walid, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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A head-to-head comparison of myocardial strain by fast-strain encoding and feature tracking imaging in acute myocardial infarction
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2297-055X. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMyocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of heart failure. Left ventricular adverse remodeling is common post-MI. Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between reduced myocardial strain and the development of adverse remodeling. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with fast-strain encoding (fast-SENC) or feature tracking (FT) enables rapid assessment of myocardial deformation. The aim of this study was to establish a head-to-head comparison of fast-SENC and FT in post-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, with clinical 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DEcho) as a reference. MethodsThirty patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI were investigated. All participants underwent CMR examination with late gadolinium enhancement, cine-loop steady-state free precession, and fast-SENC imaging using a 1.5T scanner as well as a 2DEcho. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), segmental longitudinal strain (SLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and segmental circumferential strain (SCS) were assessed along with the MI scar extent. ResultsThe GCS measurements from fast-SENC and FT were nearly identical: the mean difference was 0.01 (2.5)% (95% CI - 0.92 to 0.95). For GLS, fast-SENC values were higher than FT, with a mean difference of 1.8 (1.4)% (95% CI 1.31-2.35). Tests of significance for GLS did not show any differences between the MR methods and 2DEcho. Average strain in the infarct-related artery (IRA) segments compared to the remote myocardium was significantly lower for the left anterior descending artery and right coronary artery culprits but not for the left circumflex artery culprits. Fast-SENC displayed a higher area under the curve for detecting infarcted segments than FT for both SCS and SLS. ConclusionGLS and GCS did not significantly differ between fast-SENC and FT. Both showed acceptable agreement with 2DEcho for longitudinal strain. Segments perfused by the IRA showed significantly reduced strain values compared to the remote myocardium. Fast-SENC presented a higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting infarcted segments than FT.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Maria L.E., et al.
(författare)
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Autoantibodies to Disease-Related Proteins in Joints as Novel Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Arthritis & Rheumatology. - : Wiley. - 2326-5191 .- 2326-5205. ; 75:7, s. 1110-1119
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. This study was undertaken to develop and characterize a multiplex immunoassay for detection of autoantibodies against peptides derived from proteins known to play a role in development of arthritis and that are also expressed in joints.Methods. We selected peptides from the human counterpart of proteins expressed in the joints, based on mouse models that showed these to be targeted by pathogenic or regulatory antibodies in vivo. Using bead-based flow immunoassays measuring IgG antibodies, we selected triple helical or cyclic peptides, containing the epitopes, to avoid collinear reactivity. We characterized the analytical performance of the immunoassay and then validated it in 3 independent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohorts (n = 2,110), Swedish age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and patients with osteoarthritis (OA), patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Results. Screening assays showed 5 peptide antigens that discriminated RA patients from healthy controls with 99% specificity (95% confidence interval [CI] 98-100%). In our validation studies, we reproduced the discriminatory capacity of the autoantibodies in 2 other RA cohorts, showing that the autoantibodies had high discriminatory capacity for RA versus OA, PsA, and SLE. The novel biomarkers identified 22.5% (95% CI 19-26%) of early RA patients seronegative for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor. The usefulness of the biomarkers in identifying seronegative RA patients was confirmed in validation studies using 2 independent cohorts of RA patients and cohorts of patients with OA, PsA, and SLE.Conclusion. A multiplex immunoassay with peptides from disease-related proteins in joints was found to be useful for detection of specific autoantibodies in RA serum. Of note, this immunoassay had high discriminatory capacity for early seronegative RA.
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| 4. |
- Andréasson, Måns, 1994-
(författare)
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Redefining the essential molecular aspects that drive interactions between small molecules and G-quadruplex DNA
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- G-Quadruplex (G4) structures are secondary nucleic acid structures located in guanine-rich regions of DNA and RNA sequences, involved in gene regulation and cellular maintenance. Efforts to target G4s in a therapeutic setting are scarce, mainly due to vague details about the binding interactions between the ligands and the G4 structure combined with the lack of emphasis on drug-like properties early in the ligand development process. Furthermore, the ability to target specific G4 structures with small drug-like molecules remains a big challenge to overcome in the field. In this thesis, extensive organic synthesis developments coupled with computational-aided design and orthogonal in vitro assays has been used in tandem to reveal in-depth knowledge about ligand-to-G4 interactions. First, a macrocyclic approach was applied to design and discover novel G4 ligands which showed that macrocycles offer a solid foundation for ligand design. Next, computational tools to optimise the macrocyclic molecular conformation were used based on the macrocycles' abilities to stack on the G4 surface. In addition, macrocyclic, and non-macrocyclic ligands that bound G4 with high potency were shown to correlate with electron-deficient electrostatic potential (ESP) maps. The frequent inclusion of cationic residues in G4 ligands and their enhancement on ligand-to-G4 binding was, thereof, ascribed to their impact on the electrostatic character of the ligands' arene-arene interactions with the G4 surface, and not through direct electrostatic ionic interactions. In addition, the dispersion energetic component in the arene-arene interactions between the G4 ligand and the G4 was discovered to be paramount for ligand-to-G4 binding. The implementation of these descriptors in practice resulted in the discovery of potent G4 binders with adequate pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, accentuating the significance of understanding the molecular interactions between ligands and G4s in rational ligand design. Finally, a G4 ligand conjugated to an oligonucleotide was demonstrated as a modular approach to achieve selective binding of a ligand to a specific G4 structure.
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| 5. |
- Aoun, M., et al.
(författare)
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Antigen-presenting autoreactive B cells activate regulatory T cells and suppress autoimmune arthritis in mice
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Experimental Medicine. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. - 0022-1007 .- 1540-9538. ; 220:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- B cells undergo several rounds of selection to eliminate potentially pathogenic autoreactive clones, but in contrast to T cells, evidence of positive selection of autoreactive B cells remains moot. Using unique tetramers, we traced natural autoreactive B cells (C1-B) specific for a defined triple-helical epitope on collagen type-II (COL2), constituting a sizeable fraction of the physiological B cell repertoire in mice, rats, and humans. Adoptive transfer of C1-B suppressed arthritis independently of IL10, separating them from IL10-secreting regulatory B cells. Single-cell sequencing revealed an antigen processing and presentation signature, including induced expression of CD72 and CCR7 as surface markers. C1-B presented COL2 to T cells and induced the expansion of regulatory T cells in a contact-dependent manner. CD72 blockade impeded this effect suggesting a new downstream suppressor mechanism that regulates antigen-specific T cell tolerization. Thus, our results indicate that autoreactive antigen-specific naive B cells tolerize infiltrating T cells against self-antigens to impede the development of tissue-specific autoimmune inflammation.
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| 6. |
- Apprato, Giulia, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the chemical space of orally bioavailable PROTACs
- 2024
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Ingår i: Drug Discovery Today. - : Elsevier. - 1359-6446 .- 1878-5832. ; 29:4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- A principal challenge in the discovery of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as oral medications is their bioavailability. To facilitate drug design, it is therefore essential to identify the chemical space where orally bioavailable PROTACs are more likely to be situated. To this aim, we extracted structure-bioavailability insights from published data using traditional 2D descriptors, thereby shedding light on their potential and limitations as drug design tools. Subsequently, we describe cuttingedge experimental, computational and hybrid design strategies based on 3D descriptors, which show promise for enhancing the probability of discovering PROTACs with high oral bioavailability.
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| 7. |
- Atilaw, Yoseph, et al.
(författare)
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Solution Conformations Shed Light on PROTAC Cell Permeability
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-5875 .- 1948-5875. ; 12:1, s. 107-114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) induce intracellular degradation of target proteins. Their bifunctional structure puts degraders in a chemical space where ADME properties often complicate drug discovery. Herein we provide the first structural insight into PROTAC cell permeability obtained by NMR studies of a VHL-based PROTAC (1), which is cell permeable despite having a high molecular weight and polarity and a large number of rotatable bonds. We found that 1 populates elongated and polar conformations in solutions that mimic extra- and intracellular compartments. Conformations were folded and had a smaller polar surface area in chloroform, mimicking a cell membrane interior. Formation of intramolecular and nonclassical hydrogen bonds, π–π interactions, and shielding of amide groups from solvent all facilitate cell permeability by minimization of size and polarity. We conclude that molecular chameleonicity appears to be of major importance for 1 to enter into target cells.
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| 8. |
- Ballante, Flavio, et al.
(författare)
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Docking Finds GPCR Ligands in Dark Chemical Matter
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 63:2, s. 613-620
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-throughput screening has revealed dark chemical matter, a set of drug-like compounds that has never shown bioactivity despite being extensively assayed. If dark molecules are found active at a therapeutic target, their extraordinary selectivity profiles make excellent starting points for drug development. We explored if ligands of therapeutically relevant G-protein-coupled receptors could be discovered by structure-based virtual screening of the dark chemical matter. Molecular docking screens against crystal structures of the A(2A) adenosine and the D-4 dopamine receptors were carried out, and 53 top-ranked molecules were evaluated experimentally. Two ligands of each receptor were discovered, and the most potent had sub-micromolar affinities. Analysis of bioactivity data showed that the ligands lacked activity at hundreds of off-targets, including several that are associated with adverse effects. Our results demonstrate that virtual screening provides an efficient means to mine the dark chemical space, which could contribute to development of drugs with improved safety profiles.
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| 9. |
- Begnini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Cell Permeability of Isomeric Macrocycles : Predictions and NMR Studies
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-5875 .- 1948-5875. ; 12:6, s. 983-990
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conformation-dependent 3D descriptors have been shown to provide better predictions of the physicochemical properties of macrocycles than 2D descriptors. However, the computational identification of relevant conformations for macrocycles is nontrivial. Herein, we report that the Caco- 2 cell permeability difference between a pair of diastereomeric macrocycles correlated with their solvent accessible 3D polar surface area and radius of gyration. The descriptors were calculated from the macrocycles’ solution- phase conformational ensembles and independently from ensembles obtained by conformational sampling. Calculation of the two descriptors for three other stereo- and regioisomeric macrocycles also allowed the correct ranking of their cell permeability. Methods for conformational sampling may thus allow ranking of passive permeability for moderatelyflexible macrocycles, thereby contributing to the prioritization of macro- cycles for synthesis in lead optimization.
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| 10. |
- Begnini, Fabio
(författare)
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Discovery of Novel Macrocyclic Ligands for Difficult Targets : Applications to Natural Product Derived Keap1 Inhibitors
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The development of small-molecule ligands for biological targets that possess large, featureless or highly polar binding sites is a challenging task. This thesis is focused on a novel lead generation strategy to identify macrocyclic ligands for difficult-to-drug targets, as well as on the relationship between cell permeability and the conformations of macrocycles.A database of natural products was investigated to compile a set of macrocyclic cores to be used for in silico screening on difficult-to-drug targets. Docking of this set on Keap1, a target considered challenging due to its large and polar binding site, identified the core of the natural product cyclothialidine as a starting point for lead generation. Synthesis and evaluation of a small number of analogues provided a novel macrocyclic Keap1 inhibitor with potency in the low micromolar range that displayed cellular activity. Investigation of the structure-activity relationship of the lead inhibitor identified two positions amenable for optimization. In silico libraries were constructed at both positions using structure-based design to improve the affinity for Keap1. Subsequent synthesis of approximately 100 compounds led to an optimized lead series with potency in the low nanomolar range, providing a 100-fold improvement from the starting point. Additionally, the difference in passive cell permeability for a pair of diastereoisomeric macrocycles was rationalized on the basis of differences in their solution-phase conformations, that were determined by NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, for two sets of moderately flexible isomeric macrocycles, it was shown that the molecular descriptors predicted from conformational sampling correlated with cell permeability. This method may find use for prioritization of macrocycles prior to embarking on demanding synthetic routes.
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