1. Academic Validation
  2. ISO-1 binding to the tautomerase active site of MIF inhibits its pro-inflammatory activity and increases survival in severe sepsis

ISO-1 binding to the tautomerase active site of MIF inhibits its pro-inflammatory activity and increases survival in severe sepsis

  • J Biol Chem. 2005 Nov 4;280(44):36541-4. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C500243200.
Yousef Al-Abed 1 Darrin Dabideen Bayan Aljabari Aline Valster Davorka Messmer Mahendar Ochani Mahira Tanovic Kanta Ochani Michael Bacher Ferdinando Nicoletti Christine Metz Valentin A Pavlov Edmund J Miller Kevin J Tracey
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA. yalabed@nshs.edu
Abstract

MIF is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Antibodies against MIF are effective in experimental models of inflammation, and there is interest in strategies to inhibit its deleterious cytokine activities. Here we identify a mechanism of inhibiting MIF pro-inflammatory activities by targeting MIF tautomerase activity. We designed small molecules to inhibit this tautomerase activity; a lead molecule, "ISO-1 ((S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester)," significantly inhibits the cytokine activity in vitro. Moreover, ISO-1 inhibits tumor necrosis factor release from macrophages isolated from LPStreated wild type mice but has no effect on cytokine release from MIFdeficient macrophages. The therapeutic importance of the MIF inhibition by ISO-1 is demonstrated by the significant protection from sepsis, induced by cecal ligation and puncture in a clinically relevant time frame. These results identify ISO-1 as the first small molecule inhibitor of MIF proinflammatory activities with therapeutic implications and indicate the potential of the MIF active site as a novel target for therapeutic interventions in human sepsis.

Figures
Products