Drug repurposing for Chagas disease: In vitro assessment of nimesulide against Trypanosoma cruzi and insights on its mechanisms of action

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 10; p. e0258292
• Main Authors: Trindade, Joana D'Arc S, Freire-de-Lima, Célio Geraldo, Côrte-Real, Suzana, Decote-Ricardo, Debora, Freire de Lima, Marco Edilson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 22-10-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-inflammatory agents; Apoptosis; Benznidazole; Cell death; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chagas disease; Chagas Disease - drug therapy; Chagas Disease - parasitology; Complications and side effects; Drug Repositioning; Drug therapy; Drugs; Ethanol; Health aspects; Infections; Inflammation; Laboratory animals; Life Cycle Stages - drug effects; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular structure; Nifurtimox; Nimesulide; Nitrogen dioxide; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Parasites; Parasites - drug effects; Parasitic diseases; Patient outcomes; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Side effects; Sulfonamides - chemistry; Sulfonamides - pharmacology; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Tropical diseases; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Trypanosoma cruzi - growth & development; Trypanosoma cruzi - physiology; Trypanosoma cruzi - ultrastructure; Vector-borne diseases; Brazil; United States > US; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258292

Chagas disease is a neglected illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and its treatment is done only with two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole. However, both drugs are ineffective in the chronic phase, in addition to causing serious side effects. This context of therapeutic limitation justifies the continuous research for alternative drugs. Here, we study the in vitro trypanocidal effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide, a molecule that has in its chemical structure a toxicophoric nitroaromatic group (NO2). The set of results obtained in this work highlights the potential for repurposing nimesulide in the treatment of this disease that affects millions of people around the world.