Repurposing raltegravir for reducing inflammation and treating cancer: a bioinformatics analysis

Inflammation is a defensive mechanism that safeguards the human body against detrimental stimuli. Within this intricate process, ADAM17, a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, emerges as an indispensable element, fostering the activation of diverse inflammatory and growth factors within the organism. Nonetheless, ADAM17 malfunctions can augment the rate of growth, inflammatory factors, and subsequent damage. Thus, in this study, we examined and repurposed drugs to suppress the activity of ADAM17. To this end, we employed bioinformatics techniques such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and pharmacokinetic studies. Five FDA-approved drugs including Raltegravir, Conivaptan, Paclitaxel, Saquinavir, and Venetoclax with the ability to impede the activity of the ADAM17 metalloenzyme were identified. Moreover, these drugs did not include strong zinc-binding functional groups when verified by the ACE functional group finder. However, further in silico analysis has indicated that Raltegravir demonstrates a commendable interaction with the active site amino acids and exhibits the most favorable pharmacokinetic properties compared to others. Considering the results of bioinformatics tools, it can be concluded that Raltegravir as an antiviral drug could be repurposed to prevent severe inflammatory response and tumorigenesis resulting from ADAM17 malfunction.