The research team exploited a mouse model of chronic lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of beta-sitosterol (BSS) and L-miglustat. The test was also conducted with the collaboration with the CFaCore service.
The results of this project, a continuation of the previous FFC#23/2018), allowed to evaluate the effectiveness in reducing lung inflammation and the ability to fight infection of the two compounds. BSS and L-miglustat would facilitate immune response mechanisms by showing anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties. The experiments highlighted a decrease in the amount of bacteria detected in the airways in mice with chronic P. aeruginosa infection after treatment with BSS and L-miglustat. This preclinical study provides a proof of concept on the properties of BSS and L-miglustat that could achieve the orphan drug designation (ODD) for the treatment of chronic P. aeruginosa infections.

Pubblicaions

• De Gregorio E, Esposito A, Vollario A et al. N-Nonyloxypentyl-l-Deoxynojirimycin Inhibits Growth, Biofilm Formation and Virulence Factors Expression of Staphylococcus aureus, Antibiotics, 2020 Jun 26;9(6):362
• De Fenza M, D’Alonzo D, Esposito A et al. Exploring the effect of chirality on the therapeutic potential of Nalkyl-deoxyiminosugars: anti-inflammatory response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections for application in CF lung disease, Eur J Med Chem, 2019 Aug 1;175:63-71
• Esposito A, D’Alonzo D, De Fenza M et al. Synthesis and Therapeutic Applications of Iminosugars in Cystic Fibrosis, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020 May; 21(9): 3353

Congress abstracts

• Esposito A, De Fenza M, D’Alonzo M et al. N-Alkylated L-iminosugars as novel anti-inflammatory and anti-biofilm tools for cystic fibrosis lung infections, 7th EFMC International Symposium on Advances in Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry, Athene, Greece, 1-5 Settembre 2019
• Esposito A, De Fenza M, D’Alonzo D et al. N-Alkylated L-Iminosugars as novel anti-inflammatory and anti-biofilm tools for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infections, 6th EFMC Young Medicinal Chemist Symposium, Athene, Grecia, 5-6 Settembre 2019