ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO566

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Prospective Repurposing Studies for the Identification of New Promising Vasopressin V2 Receptor Ligands

Session Information

Category: Fluid, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base Disorders

  • 1101 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders: Basic

Authors

  • Angelini, Ines, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Trisciuzzi, Daniela, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
  • Centrone, Mariangela, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Di Mise, Annarita, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Ranieri, Marianna, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Valenti, Giovanna, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Altomare, Cosimo Damiano, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
  • Cotecchia, Susanna, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
  • Nicolotti, Orazio, Department of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
  • Tamma, Grazia, Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
Background

The vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) controls renal water balance. As a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the V2R transduces the vasopressin signals activating the cAMP/PKA pathway. Besides water reabsorption, the activation of V2R is involved in abnormal cell proliferation, cancer, and cyst enlargement in polycystic kidney disease. In this perspective, we performed an inverse screening of a large collection of known drugs to identify novel V2R ligands that might modulate different receptor-mediated effects.

Methods

The inverse screening campaign was run by using PLATO, our homemade target fishing platform. Structure-based studies were also carried out. Renal collecting duct MCD4 cells, stably expressing human V2R and aquaporin-2 (AQP2), were used as an experimental model to test the effects of drugs. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), and calcein fluorescence quenching (CFQ) were applied to evaluate changes in intracellular cAMP and DDAVP-induced water flux.

Results

Our prospective repurposing studies identified five promising drugs as potential V2R ligands (perphenazine, cloxacillin, clopidogrel, cabergoline, and F2544). FRET studies were conducted to test whether these compounds affect the DDAVP-induced cAMP responses. Interestingly, only one of them (F2544) at 1nM concentration significantly reduced the DDAVP-dependent cAMP production. Functional CFQ studies revealed that this modulator reduced the DDAVP-induced water reabsorption, with effects comparable to tolvaptan, a well-known V2R antagonist. In this respect, an in-depth computational investigation showed a nice overlap of the molecular interaction fields generated from the binding sites of V2R and F2544. Finally, molecular docking simulations returned a promising posing and scoring of F2544 in the V2R binding site.

Conclusion

The present findings identify for the first time new V2R ligands by applying an AI-based approach. Moreover, by combining in-depth computational investigations and functional studies F2544 was prioritized for being repurposed for treating diseases associated with abnormal V2R signaling.

Funding

  • Government Support – Non-U.S.