Design and synthesis of cyanamides as potent and selective N-acylethanolamine acid amidase inhibitors.

N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) inhibition represents an exciting novel approach to treat inflammation and pain. NAAA is a cysteine amidase which preferentially hydrolyzes the endogenous biolipids palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). PEA is an endogenous agonist of the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), which is a key regulator of inflammation and pain. Thus, blocking the degradation of PEA with NAAA inhibitors results in augmentation of the PEA/PPAR-α signaling pathway and regulation of inflammatory and pain processes. We have prepared a new series of NAAA inhibitors exploring the azetidine-nitrile (cyanamide) pharmacophore that led to the discovery of highly potent and selective compounds. Key analogs demonstrated single-digit nanomolar potency for hNAAA and showed >100-fold selectivity against serine hydrolases FAAH, MGL and ABHD6, and cysteine protease cathepsin K. Additionally, we have identified potent and selective dual NAAA-FAAH inhibitors to investigate a potential synergism between two distinct anti-inflammatory molecular pathways, the PEA/PPAR-α anti-inflammatory signaling pathway,1-4 and the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 pathways which are known for their antiinflammatory and antinociceptive properties.5-8 Our ligand design strategy followed a traditional structure-activity relationship (SAR) approach and was supported by molecular modeling studies of reported X-ray structures of hNAAA. Several inhibitors were evaluated in stability assays and demonstrated very good plasma stability (t1/2 > 2 h; human and rodents). The disclosed cyanamides represent promising new pharmacological tools to investigate the potential role of NAAA inhibitors and dual NAAA-FAAH inhibitors as therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammation and pain.

Synthesis and evaluation of potent and selective MGL inhibitors as a glaucoma treatment.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) inhibition provides a potential treatment approach to glaucoma through the regulation of ocular 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels and the activation of CB1 receptors. Herein, we report the discovery of new series of carbamates as highly potent and selective MGL inhibitors. The new inhibitors showed potent nanomolar inhibitory activity against recombinant human and purified rat MGL, were selective (>1000-fold) against serine hydrolases FAAH and ABHD6 and lacked any affinity for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Protein-based 1H NMR experiments indicated that inhibitor 2 rapidly formed a covalent adduct with MGL with a residence time of about 6 h. This interconversion process "intrinsic reversibility" was exploited by modifications of the ligand's size (length and bulkiness) to generate analogs with "tunable' adduct residence time (τ). Inhibitor 2 was evaluated in a normotensive murine model for assessing intraocular pressure (IOP), which could lead to glaucoma, a major cause of blindness. Inhibitor 2 was found to decrease ocular pressure by ∼4.5 mmHg in a sustained manner for at least 12 h after a single ocular application, underscoring the potential for topically-administered MGL inhibitors as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of glaucoma.

Design and Synthesis of Highly Potent and Specific ABHD6 Inhibitors.

Fine-tuning than complete disruption of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) metabolism in the brain represents a promising pharmacological approach to limit potential untoward effects associated with complete blockade of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), the primary hydrolase of 2-AG. This could be achieved through a/b-hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6) inhibition, which will provide a smaller and safer contribution to 2-AG regulation in the brain. Pharmacological studies with ABHD6 inhibitors have recently been reported, where modulation of ABHD6 activity either through CB1R-dependent or CB1R-independent processes showed promise in preclinical models of epilepsy, neuropathic pain and inflammation. Furthermore in the periphery, ABHD6 modulates 2-AG and other fatty acid monoacylglycerols (MAGs) and is implicated in Type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and potentially other diseases. Herein, we report the discovery of single-digit nanomolar potent and highly specific ABHD6 inhibitors with >1000-fold selectivity against MGL and FAAH. The new ABHD6 inhibitors provide early leads to develop therapeutics for neuroprotection and the treatment of inflammation and diabetes.

Design and Structure-Activity Relationships of Isothiocyanates as Potent and Selective N-Acylethanolamine-Hydrolyzing Acid Amidase Inhibitors.

N-Acylethanolamines are signaling lipid molecules implicated in pathophysiological conditions associated with inflammation and pain. N-Acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) favorably hydrolyzes lipid palmitoylethanolamide, which plays a key role in the regulation of inflammatory and pain processes. The synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies encompassing the isothiocyanate pharmacophore have produced potent low nanomolar inhibitors for hNAAA, while exhibiting high selectivity (>100-fold) against other serine hydrolases and cysteine peptidases. We have followed a target-based structure-activity relationship approach, supported by computational methods and known cocrystals of hNAAA. We have identified systemically active inhibitors with good plasma stability (t1/2 > 2 h) and microsomal stability (t1/2 ∼ 15-30 min) as pharmacological tools to investigate the role of NAAA in inflammation, pain, and drug addiction.