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Repurposing Nirmatrelvir for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Network Pharmacology and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Muhammad Suleman1,2, Hira Arbab2, Hadi M Yassine3,4
1Laboratory of Animal Research Center (LARC), Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar.
Abstract:
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and fatal malignancies worldwide, characterized by remarkable molecular heterogeneity and poor clinical outcomes. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis for HCC remains dismal, largely due to late-stage diagnosis and limited therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify novel therapeutic targets and explore alternative strategies, such as drug repurposing, to improve patient outcomes. Methods: In this study, we employed network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the potential therapeutic targets of Nirmatrelvir in HCC. Results: Nirmatrelvir targets were predicted through SwissTarget (101 targets), SuperPred (1111 targets), and Way2Drug (38 targets). Concurrently, HCC-associated genes (5726) were retrieved from DisGeNet. Cross-referencing the two datasets identified 29 overlapping proteins. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network constructed from the overlapping proteins was analyzed using CytoHubba, identifying 10 hub genes, with HDAC1, HDAC3, and STAT3 achieving the highest degree scores. Molecular docking revealed a strong binding affinity of Nirmatrelvir to HDAC1 (docking score = -7.319 kcal/mol), HDAC3 (-6.026 kcal/mol), and STAT3 (-6.304 kcal/mol). Moreover, Nirmatrelvir displayed stable dynamic behavior in repeated 200 ns simulation analyses. Binding free energy calculations using MM/GBSA showed values of -23.692 kcal/mol for the HDAC1-Nirmatrelvir complex, -33.360 kcal/mol for HDAC3, and -21.167 kcal/mol for STAT3. MM/PBSA analysis yielded -17.987 kcal/mol for HDAC1, -27.767 kcal/mol for HDAC3, and -16.986 kcal/mol for STAT3. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate Nirmatrelvir's strong binding affinity towards HDAC3, underscoring its potential for future drug development. Collectively, the data provide computational evidence for repurposing Nirmatrelvir as a multi-target inhibitor in HCC therapy, warranting in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm its clinical efficacy and safety and elucidate its mechanisms of action in HCC.
Insights
Nirmatrelvir shows potential for repurposing in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Computational studies reveal strong binding affinity to key targets like HDAC3, suggesting it could be a multi-target inhibitor for HCC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Computational biology
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant global health challenge due to its high fatality rate and molecular heterogeneity.
- Current treatments for HCC offer limited efficacy, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic targets and drug repurposing strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of Nirmatrelvir as a therapeutic agent for HCC using computational methods.
- To identify and evaluate the binding affinity of Nirmatrelvir to key proteins implicated in HCC development and progression.
Main Methods:
- Network pharmacology was utilized to predict potential targets of Nirmatrelvir.
- Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to assess binding affinities and stability.
- Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified crucial hub genes, including HDAC1, HDAC3, and STAT3.
Main Results:
- Nirmatrelvir demonstrated significant binding affinity to HDAC1, HDAC3, and STAT3, with particularly strong interactions with HDAC3.
- Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stable binding of Nirmatrelvir to these targets over 200 ns.
- Binding free energy calculations (MM/GBSA and MM/PBSA) further supported the favorable interactions between Nirmatrelvir and HDAC3.
Conclusions:
- The study provides computational evidence supporting the repurposing of Nirmatrelvir for HCC therapy.
- Nirmatrelvir's potent binding to HDAC3 suggests its potential as a multi-target inhibitor for HCC.
- Further in vitro and in vivo studies are warranted to validate Nirmatrelvir's efficacy and safety in HCC treatment.
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