Modulators of Nuclear Hormone Receptor Activity: Novel Compounds, Diverse Applications for Infectious Diseases, Including Anthrax (B. anthracis)
Description of Invention:
Nuclear hormones such as glucocorticoids dampen inflammatory responses, and thus provide protection to mammals against inflammatory disease and septic shock. The Anthrax lethal factor represses nuclear hormone receptor activity, and thus may contribute to the infectious agent causing even more damage to the host. This observation can be exploited to find new means of studying and interfering with the normal function of nuclear hormone receptors. Scientists at NIH have shown that under the appropriate conditions, these molecules can be used to modulate the activity of various nuclear hormone receptors. Identifying useful agents that modify these important receptors can provide relief in several human disorders such as inflammation, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, malignancies, shock and hypertension.
Applications:
This invention provides novel agents that can interfere with the action of nuclear hormone receptors. It is well known that malfunction or overdrive of these receptors can lead to a number of diseases such as enhanced inflammation; worse sequelae of infection including shock; diabetes; hypertension and steroid resistance. Hence a means of controlling or fine-tuning the activity of these receptors can be of great benefit. Current means of affecting steroid receptor activity are accompanied by undesirable side-effects. Since the conditions for which these treatments are sought tend to be chronic, there is a critical need for safer drugs that will have manageable side-effects.
Advantages:
The observation that the lethal factor from Anthrax has a striking effect on the activity of nuclear hormone receptors opens up new routes to controlling their activity. The means of action of this repressor is sufficiently different from known modulators of hormone receptors (i.e. the classical antagonists). For instance, the repression of receptor activity is non-competitive, and does not affect hormone binding or DNA binding. Also, the efficacy of nuclear hormone receptor repression by Anthrax lethal factor is sufficiently high that the pharmacological effect of this molecule is seen at vanishingly small concentrations. Taken together, these attributes may satisfy some of the golden rules of drug development such as the uniqueness or novelty of the agent's structure, a low threshold for activity, high level of sophistication and knowledge in the field of enquiry, and the leeway to further refine the molecule by rational means.
Development Status:
In vitro studies have been completed, and a limited number of animal studies have been carried out.
Inventors: Esther M. Sternberg (NIMH) Jeanette Webster (NIMH) Leonardo H. Tonelli (NIMH) Stephen H. Leppla (NIAID) Mahtab Moayeri (NIAID)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-247-2002/1 --
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/530,254 filed 04 Apr 2005, claiming priority to 04 Oct 2002
Licensing Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Peter A. Soukas J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-4646
Email: soukasp@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
