Halting the Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus-1: The Discovery of an Effective Dual αvβ6/αvβ8 Integrin Ligand

J Med Chem. 2021 May 27;64(10):6972-6984. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00533. Epub 2021 May 7.

Abstract

Over recent years, αvβ6 and αvβ8 Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) integrins have risen to prominence as interchangeable co-receptors for the cellular entry of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). In fact, the employment of subtype-specific integrin-neutralizing antibodies or gene-silencing siRNAs has emerged as a valuable strategy for impairing HSV infectivity. Here, we shift the focus to a more affordable pharmaceutical approach based on small RGD-containing cyclic pentapeptides. Starting from our recently developed αvβ6-preferential peptide [RGD-Chg-E]-CONH2 (1), a small library of N-methylated derivatives (2-6) was indeed synthesized in the attempt to increase its affinity toward αvβ8. Among the novel compounds, [RGD-Chg-(NMe)E]-CONH2 (6) turned out to be a potent αvβ6/αvβ8 binder and a promising inhibitor of HSV entry through an integrin-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, the renewed selectivity profile of 6 was fully rationalized by a NMR/molecular modeling combined approach, providing novel valuable hints for the design of RGD integrin ligands with the desired specificity profile.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Integrins / chemistry*
  • Integrins / metabolism
  • Ligands*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / therapeutic use
  • Protein Binding
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Integrins
  • Ligands
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • integrin alphavbeta6
  • integrin alphavbeta8
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid