Saquinavir-NO inhibits S6 kinase activity, impairs secretion of the encephalytogenic cytokines interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Filip Petković, Jana Blaževski, Miljana Momčilović, Gordana Timotijević, Mai-Britt Zocca, Sanja Mijatović, Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, Katia Mangano, Paolo Fagone, Stanislava Stošić-Grujičić, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Djordje Miljković

Index: J. Neuroimmunol. 259(1-2) , 55-65, (2013)

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Abstract

NO-hybridization of the HIV protease inhibitor Saquinavir generates a new chemical entity named Saq-NO, that retains the anti-viral activity and exerts lower toxicity. We show that Saq-NO inhibited the generation of various cytokines in ConA-stimulated unfractionated murine spleen cells and rat lymph nodes stimulated with ConA as well as in purified CD4(+) T cells in vitro and reduced the circulating levels of cytokines in mice challenged with anti-CD3 antibody. Furthermore, Saq-NO reduced IL-17 and IFN-γ production in myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific cells isolated from rats immunized with MBP. These findings translated well into the in vivo setting as Saq-NO ameliorated the course of the disease in two preclinical models of multiple sclerosis. Our results demonstrate that Saq-NO exerts immunomodulatory effects that warrant studies on its application in autoimmune diseases.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.