Characterization of a KDM5 small molecule inhibitor with antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus

0571883 - ÚOCHB 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Gilmore, S. A. - Tam, D. - Cheung, T. L. - Snyder, C. - Farand, J. - Dick, R. - Matles, M. - Feng, J. Y. - Ramirez, R. - Li, L. - Yu, H. - Xu, Y. - Barnes, D. - Czerwieniec, G. - Brendza, K. M. - Appleby, T. C. - Birkuš, Gabriel - Willkom, M. - Kobayashi, T. - Paoli, E. - Labelle, M. - Boesen, T. - Tay, C. H. - Delaney, W. E. - Notte, G. T. - Schmitz, U. - Feierbach, B.
Characterization of a KDM5 small molecule inhibitor with antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus.
PLoS ONE. Roč. 17, č. 12 (2022), č. článku e0271145. ISSN 1932-6203. E-ISSN 1932-6203
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : histone modifications * expression * liver
OECD category: Virology
Impact factor: 3.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271145

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a global health care challenge and a major cause of liver disease. To find new therapeutic avenues with a potential to functionally cure chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we performed a focused screen of epigenetic modifiers to identify potential inhibitors of replication or gene expression. From this work we identified isonicotinic acid inhibitors of the histone lysine demethylase 5 (KDM5) with potent anti-HBV activity. To enhance the cellular permeability and liver accumulation of the most potent KDM5 inhibitor identified (GS-080) an ester prodrug was developed (GS-5801) that resulted in improved bioavailability and liver exposure as well as an increased H3K4me3:H3 ratio on chromatin. GS-5801 treatment of HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes reduced the levels of HBV RNA, DNA and antigen. Evaluation of GS-5801 antiviral activity in a humanized mouse model of HBV infection, however, did not result in antiviral efficacy, despite achieving pharmacodynamic levels of H3K4me3:H3 predicted to be efficacious from the in vitro model. Here we discuss potential reasons for the disconnect between in vitro and in vivo efficacy, which highlight the translational difficulties of epigenetic targets for viral diseases.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0342780