A fungal metabolite zearalenone as a CFTR inhibitor and potential therapy of secretory diarrheas

• Main Authors: Paradorn Muangnil, Saravut Satitsri, Kwanruthai Tadpetch, Patchreenart Saparpakorn, Varanuj Chatsudthipong, Supa Hannongbua, Vatcharin Rukachaisirikul, Chatchai Muanprasat
• Other Authors: Kasetsart University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/45201
• Institution: Mahidol University

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. Overstimulation of CFTR-mediated Cl − secretion plays an important role in the pathogenesis of secretory diarrheas, which remain an important global health problem. This study aimed to identify inhibitors of CFTR-mediated Cl − secretion from a library of fungus-derived compounds and to evaluate their pharmacological properties and anti-diarrheal utility. We identified zearalenone, 7′-dehydrozearalenone and 8′-hydroxyzearalenone isolated from the seagrass-derived fungus Fusarium sp. PSU-ES123 as inhibitors of CFTR-mediated Cl − secretion in human intestinal epithelial (T84) cells. Being the most potent fungal metabolite capable of inhibiting CFTR-mediated Cl − secretion, zearalenone reversibly inhibited CFTR Cl − channel activity in T84 cells with an IC 50 of ∼0.5 μM. Functional and biochemical analyses and molecular docking studies indicate that zearalenone binds to the β-estradiol binding sites in the ATP-binding pockets on NBD1 and NBD2 of CFTR. Mechanisms of CFTR inhibition by zearalenone do not involve activation of phosphodiesterases, protein phosphatases, multidrug-resistance protein 4 and AMP-activated protein kinases. Importantly, zearalenone significantly inhibited cholera toxin (CT)-induced Cl − secretion in T84 cells and blocked CT-induced intestinal fluid secretion in mice. Collectively, our study indicates that zearalenone represents the first class of fungus-derived CFTR inhibitors. Further development of this class of compounds may provide an effective treatment of secretory diarrheas.