KMN-159, a novel EP4 receptor selective agonist, stimulates osteoblastic differentiation in cultured whole rat bone marrow.

KMN-159 is the lead compound from a series of novel difluorolactam prostanoid EP4 receptor agonists aimed at inducing local bone formation while avoiding the inherent side effects of systemic EP4 activation. KMN-159 is a potent, selective small molecule possessing pharmacokinetic properties amenable to local administration. Unfractionated rat bone marrow cells (BMCs) were treated once at plating with escalating doses of KMN-159 (1 pM to 10 µM). The resulting elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels measured 9 days post-dose are consistent with increased osteoblastic differentiation and exposure to KMN-159 at low nanomolar concentrations for as little as 30 min was sufficient to induce complete osteoblast differentiation of the BMCs from both sexes and regardless of age. ALP induction was blocked by an EP4 receptor antagonist but not by EP1 or EP2 receptor antagonists and was not induced by EP2 or EP3 receptor agonists. Addition of BMCs to plates coated with KMN-159 24 days earlier resulted in ALP activation, highlighting the chemical stability of the compound. The expression of phenotype markers such as ALP, type I collagen, and osteocalcin was significantly elevated throughout the osteoblastic differentiation timecourse initiated by KMN-159 stimulation. An increased number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells was observed KMN-159 or PGE2 treated BMCs but only in the presence of exogenous receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL). No change in the number of adipocytes was observed. KMN-159 also increased bone healing in a rat calvarial defect model with a healing rate equivalent to recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Our studies show that KMN-159 is able to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation with a very short time of exposure, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for augmenting bone mass.

Difluoromethylene at the γ-Lactam α-Position Improves 11-Deoxy-8-aza-PGE1 Series EP4 Receptor Binding and Activity: 11-Deoxy-10,10-difluoro-8-aza-PGE1 Analog (KMN-159) as a Potent EP4 Agonist.

A series of small-molecule full agonists of the prostaglandin E2 type 4 (EP4) receptor have been generated and evaluated for binding affinity and cellular potency. KMN-80 and its gem-difluoro analog KMN-159 possess high selectivity relative to other prostanoid receptors. Difluoro substitution is positioned alpha to the lactam ring carbonyl and results in KMN-159's fivefold increase in potency versus KMN-80. The two analogs exhibit electronic and conformational variations, including altered nitrogen hybridization and lactam ring puckering, that may drive the observed difluoro-associated increased potency within this four-compound series.

Assessment of biomarkers of protein anabolism in skeletal muscle during the life span of the rat: sarcopenia despite elevated protein synthesis.

Loss of muscle strength is a principal factor in the development of physical frailty, a condition clinically associated with increased risk of bone fractures, impairments in the activities of daily living, and loss of independence in older humans. A primary determinant in the decline in muscle strength that occurs during aging is a loss of muscle mass, which could occur through a reduction in the rate of protein synthesis, an elevation in protein degradation, or a combination of both. In the present study, rates of protein synthesis and the relative expression and function of various biomarkers involved in the initiation of mRNA translation in skeletal muscle were examined at different times throughout the life span of the rat. It was found that between 1 and 6 mo of age, body weight increased fourfold. However, by 6 mo, gastrocnemius protein synthesis and RNA content per gram of muscle were lower than values observed in 1-mo-old rats. Moreover, the relative expression of two proteins involved in the binding of initiator methionyl-tRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit, eukaryotic initiation factors (eIF)2 and eIF2B, as well as the 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase, S6K1, was lower at 6 mo compared with 1 mo of age. Muscle mass, protein synthesis, and the aforementioned biomarkers remained unchanged until approximately 21 mo. Between 21 and 24 mo of age, muscle mass decreased precipitously. Surprisingly, during this period protein synthesis, relative RNA content, eIF2B activity, relative eIF2 expression, and S6K1 phosphorylation all increased. The results are consistent with a model wherein protein synthesis is enhanced during aging in a futile attempt to maintain muscle mass.