Project description:Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is approved in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. DMF is also a component in a defined-mixture product with three salts of monoethyl fumarate (MEF) that is approved in Germany for the treatment of psoriasis. Characterizing common or distinct pharmacodynamic properties of DMF and MEF would provide insights into the mechanisms of action of delayed-release DMF versus fixed combination products containing DMF and MEF salts. In this study we evaluated the pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics of DMF and MEF in central nervous system and peripheral tissues of naïve mice following a single dose or 10 daily doses of DMF, MEF, or a combination of the two. DMF and MEF exhibited similar pharmacokinetic profiles, but differences were noted in biodistribution: monomethyl fumarate (MMF, the primary metabolite of DMF) exhibited a higher degree of brain penetration, whereas MEF was preferentially partitioned into kidney. Both common and distinct pharmacodynamic responses were observed in all assessed tissues for DMF and MEF alone or in combination. These findings indicate that all fumaric acid esters cannot be considered equivalent, and combinations of compounds may exert effects not observed when agents are used individually.
Project description:Delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is approved in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. DMF is also a component in a defined-mixture product with three salts of monoethyl fumarate (MEF) that is approved in Germany for the treatment of psoriasis. Characterizing common or distinct pharmacodynamic properties of DMF and MEF would provide insights into the mechanisms of action of delayed-release DMF versus fixed combination products containing DMF and MEF salts. In this study we evaluated the pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics of DMF and MEF in central nervous system and peripheral tissues of naïve mice following a single dose or 10 daily doses of DMF, MEF, or a combination of the two. DMF and MEF exhibited similar pharmacokinetic profiles, but differences were noted in biodistribution: monomethyl fumarate (MMF, the primary metabolite of DMF) exhibited a higher degree of brain penetration, whereas MEF was preferentially partitioned into kidney. Both common and distinct pharmacodynamic responses were observed in all assessed tissues for DMF and MEF alone or in combination. These findings indicate that all fumaric acid esters cannot be considered equivalent, and combinations of compounds may exert effects not observed when agents are used individually.
Project description:IL-17-producing CD8+ (Tc17)T cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), thereby representing a promising target for therapy. We found that dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a first-line medication for MS upregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) by glutathione depletion in murine Tc17 cells, which limited IL-17 and diverted Tc17 cells towards cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) signature. DMF enhanced PI3K-AKT-FOXO1-T-bet- as well as STAT5-signaling leading to restricted permissive histone state at the Il17 locus. T-bet-deficiency, inhibiting PI3K-AKT, STAT5 or histone deacetylases prevented DMF-ROS-mediated IL-17 suppression. In MS patients with stable response, DMF suppressed IL-17 production by CD8+ T-cells and triggered diversion from Tc17 towards CTL signature along with enriched ROS-, PI3K-AKT-FOXO1-signaling, demonstrating comparable regulation across species. Accordingly, in the mouse model for MS, DMF limited Tc17-encephalitogenicity. Our findings disclose DMF-ROS-AKT-driven pathway, which selectively modulates Tc17 fate to ameliorate MS, thus opening avenue to develop markers and targets for specific therapy.
Project description:IL-17-producing CD8+ (Tc17)T cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), thereby representing a promising target for therapy. We found that dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a first-line medication for MS upregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) by glutathione depletion in murine Tc17 cells, which limited IL-17 and diverted Tc17 cells towards cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) signature. DMF enhanced PI3K-AKT-FOXO1-T-bet- as well as STAT5-signaling leading to restricted permissive histone state at the Il17 locus. T-bet-deficiency, inhibiting PI3K-AKT, STAT5 or histone deacetylases prevented DMF-ROS-mediated IL-17 suppression. In MS patients with stable response, DMF suppressed IL-17 production by CD8+ T-cells and triggered diversion from Tc17 towards CTL signature along with enriched ROS-, PI3K-AKT-FOXO1-signaling, demonstrating comparable regulation across species. Accordingly, in the mouse model for MS, DMF limited Tc17-encephalitogenicity. Our findings disclose DMF-ROS-AKT-driven pathway, which selectively modulates Tc17 fate to ameliorate MS, thus opening avenue to develop markers and targets for specific therapy.
Project description:E. coli K-12 ATCC 25404 in LB medium with 5-fluorouracil 10 uM biofilm cells relative to E. coli K-12 ATCC 25404 in LB DMF biofilm cells. The same amount of stock 5-fluoroacil stock solution (0.1% of the volume) was added as DMF into the LB DMF.