RESUMO
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a component of the innate immune system involved in the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Aberrant activation by a wide range of exogenous and endogenous signals can lead to chronic, low-grade inflammation. It has attracted a great deal of interest as a drug target due to the association with diseases of large unmet medical need such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and cancer. To date, no drugs specifically targeting inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome have been approved. In this work, we used the known NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor CP-456,773 (aka CRID3 or MCC 950) as our starting point and undertook a Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) analysis and subsequent scaffold-hopping exercise. This resulted in the rational design of a series of novel ester-substituted urea compounds that are highly potent and selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, as exemplified by compounds 44 and 45. It is hypothesized that the ester moiety acts as a highly permeable delivery vehicle and is subsequently hydrolyzed to the carboxylic acid active species by carboxylesterase enzymes. These molecules are greatly differentiated from the state-of-the-art and offer potential in the treatment of NLRP3-driven diseases, particularly where tissue penetration is required.
Assuntos
Ésteres/farmacologia , Indenos/farmacologia , Inflamassomos/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/antagonistas & inibidores , Ureia/análogos & derivados , Ureia/farmacologia , Animais , Sangue/metabolismo , Desenho de Fármacos , Estabilidade de Medicamentos , Ésteres/síntese química , Ésteres/metabolismo , Furanos , Compostos Heterocíclicos de 4 ou mais Anéis/química , Humanos , Indenos/síntese química , Indenos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Estrutura Molecular , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Sulfonamidas , Sulfonas/química , Células THP-1RESUMO
In oncology, the "Warburg effect" describes the elevated production of energy by glycolysis in cancer cells. The ubiquitous and hypoxia-induced 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) plays a noteworthy role in the regulation of glycolysis by producing fructose-2,6-biphosphate (F-2,6-BP), a potent activator of the glycolysis rate-limiting phosphofructokinase PFK-1. Series of amides and sulfonamides derivatives based on a N-aryl 6-aminoquinoxaline scaffold were synthesized and tested for their inhibition of PFKFB3 in vitro in a biochemical assay as well as in HCT116 cells. The carboxamide series displayed satisfactory kinetic solubility and metabolic stability, and within this class, potent lead compounds with low nanomolar activity have been identified with a suitable profile for further in vivo evaluation.
Assuntos
Amidas/química , Fosfofrutoquinase-2/antagonistas & inibidores , Quinoxalinas/química , Quinoxalinas/farmacologia , Sulfonamidas/química , Células HCT116 , Humanos , Cinética , SolubilidadeRESUMO
Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is involved in several key cellular processes and displays increased levels of expression in numerous cancer classes (colon, breast, brain, ovary, prostate and lung). Although no selective MELK inhibitors have yet been approved, increasing evidence suggest that inhibition of MELK would constitute a promising approach for cancer therapy. A weak high-throughput screening hit (17, IC50â¯≈â¯5⯵M) with lead-like properties was optimized for MELK inhibition. The early identification of a plausible binding mode by molecular modeling offered guidance in the choice of modifications towards compound 52 which displayed a 98â¯nM IC50. A good selectivity profile was achieved for a representative member of the series (29) in a 486 protein kinase panel. Future elaboration of 52 has the potential to deliver compounds for further development with chemotherapeutic aims.
Assuntos
Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Tiofenos/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Feminino , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50RESUMO
Energy and biomass production in cancer cells are largely supported by aerobic glycolysis in what is called the Warburg effect. The process is regulated by key enzymes, among which phosphofructokinase PFK-2 plays a significant role by producing fructose-2,6-biphosphate; the most potent activator of the glycolysis rate-limiting step performed by phosphofructokinase PFK-1. Herein, the synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-activity relationship of novel inhibitors of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphataseâ 3 (PFKFB3), which is the ubiquitous and hypoxia-induced isoform of PFK-2, are reported. X-ray crystallography and docking were instrumental in the design and optimisation of a series of N-aryl 6-aminoquinoxalines. The most potent representative, N-(4-methanesulfonylpyridin-3-yl)-8-(3-methyl-1-benzothiophen-5-yl)quinoxalin-6-amine, displayed an IC50 of 14â nm for the target and an IC50 of 0.49â µm for fructose-2,6-biphosphate production in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells. This work provides a new entry in the field of PFKFB3 inhibitors with potential for development in oncology.