title: SRC family kinase inhibitors antagonize the toxicity of multiple serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin in human embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons.
abstract: Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the causative agents of botulism, are potent inhibitors of neurotransmitter release from motor neurons. There are currently no drugs to treat BoNT intoxication after the onset of the disease symptoms. In this study, we explored how modulation of key host pathways affects the process of BoNT intoxication in human motor neurons, focusing on Src family kinase (SFK) signaling. Motor neurons derived from human embryonic stem (hES) cells were treated with a panel of SFK inhibitors and intoxicated with BoNT serotypes A, B, or E (which are responsible for >95 % of human botulism cases). Subsequently, it was found that bosutinib, dasatinib, KX2-391, PP1, PP2, Src inhibitor-1, and SU6656 significantly antagonized all three of the serotypes. Furthermore, the data indicated that the treatment of hES-derived motor neurons with multiple SFK inhibitors increased the antagonistic effect synergistically. Mechanistically, the small molecules appear to inhibit BoNTs by targeting host pathways necessary for intoxication and not by directly inhibiting the toxins' proteolytic activity. Importantly, the identified inhibitors are all well-studied with some in clinical trials while others are FDA-approved drugs. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of targeting host neuronal pathways, rather than the toxin's enzymatic components, to antagonize multiple BoNT serotypes in motor neurons.
authors.affiliation: Geneva Foundation, Tacoma, WA, USA, erkan.kiris@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiris
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Peyser
authors.forename: Hao T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Glenn Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Gomba
authors.forename: Krishna P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kota
authors.forename: Rekha G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Panchal
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gussio
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tessarollo
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavari
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D059748:Proteolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D065288:Serogroup; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019061:src-Family Kinases; D001905:Botulinum Toxins