Switching on/off aryl hydrocarbon receptor and pregnane X receptor activities by chemically modified tryptamines.

Microbial indoles have been demonstrated as selective or dual agonists and ligands of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). However, structural determinants of microbial indoles selectivity towards both receptors remain elusive. Here, we studied the effects of existing and newly synthesized derivatives of indole microbial metabolite tryptamine on the activity of AhR and PXR receptors. We show that the elongation of indolyl-3-alkaneamine chain, indole N-methylation and conversion of indolyl-3-alkaneamines to oleamides resulted in a major increase of PXR activity and in parallel loss of AhR activity. Using reporter gene assays, RT-PCR and TR-FRET techniques, we have characterized in detail the activation of PXR by novel indolyl-3-alkanyl-oleamides, 1-methyltryptamine and 1-methyltryptamine-acetamide. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated anti-inflammatory and epithelial barrier-protective activity of lead derivatives in intestinal Caco-2 cells, employing the measurement of expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines, tight junction genes, trans-epithelial electric resistance TEER, and dextran-FITC permeability assay. In conclusion, we show that a subtle chemical modifications of simple microbial indole metabolite tryptamine, leads to substantial changes in AhR and PXR agonist activities.

Imidazopyridine-Based 5-HT6 Receptor Neutral Antagonists: Impact of N1-Benzyl and N1-Phenylsulfonyl Fragments on Different Receptor Conformational States.

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) exist in an equilibrium of multiple conformational states, including different active states, which depend on the nature of the bound ligand. In consequence, different conformational states can initiate specific signal transduction pathways. The study identified compound 7e, which acts as a potent 5-hydroxytryptamine type 6 receptor (5-HT6R) neutral antagonist at Gs and does not impact neurite growth (process controlled by Cdk5). MD simulations highlighted receptor conformational changes for 7e and inverse agonist PZ-1444. In cell-based assays, neutral antagonists of the 5-HT6R (7e and CPPQ), but not inverse agonists (SB-258585, intepirdine, PZ-1444), displayed glioprotective properties against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced and doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity. These suggest that targeting the activated conformational state of the 5-HT6R with neutral antagonists implicates the protecting properties of astrocytes. Additionally, 7e prevented scopolamine-induced learning deficits in the novel object recognition test in rats. We propose 7e as a probe for further understanding of the functional outcomes of different states of the 5-HT6R.

1,4,6-Trisubstituted imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines as inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase.

Herein, we report an efficient synthetic approach towards trisubstituted imidazo [4,5-c]pyridines designed as inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Two alternative synthetic routes for the simple preparation of desired compounds with variable substitutions at the N1, C4, C6 positions were introduced with readily available building blocks. Further, the developed synthetic approach was feasible for isomeric compounds bearing imidazo [4,5-b]pyridine scaffolds. In contrast to expectations based on previous studies, the imidazo [4,5-c]pyridine inhibitor exhibited a significantly higher activity against BTK compared to its imidazo [4,5-b]pyridine isomer. An inherent SAR study in the series of imidazo [4,5-c]pyridine compounds revealed a remarkably high tolerance of C6 substitutions for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substituents. Preliminary cellular experiments indicated selective BTK targeting in Burkitt lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma cell lines. The inhibitors could thus serve as starting points for further development, eventually leading to BTK inhibitors that could be used after ibrutinib failure.

New imidazopyridines with phosphodiesterase 4 and 7 inhibitory activity and their efficacy in animal models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Herein, we describe the rapid synthesis of a focused library of trisubstituted imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines and imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines from 2,4-dichloro-3-nitropyridine using the combination of solution-phase/solid-phase chemistry as new potential anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Structure-activity relationship studies, followed by the structure optimization, provided hit compounds (17 and 28) which inhibited phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) with IC50 values comparable to rolipram and displayed different inhibitory potency against phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7). Among them, compound 17 showed a beneficial effect in all the studied animal models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (concanavalin A-induced hepatitis, lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia, collagen-induced arthritis, and MOG35-55-induced encephalomyelitis). In addition, compound 17 showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile after intraperitoneal administration; it was characterized by a fast absorption from the peritoneal cavity and a relatively long terminal half-life in rats. It was found to penetrate brain barrier in mice. The performed experiments sheds light on the impact of PDE7A inhibition for the efficacy of PDE4 inhibitors in these disease conditions.

Imidazopyridine-based selective and multifunctional ligands of biological targets associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

This article provides an overview of compounds based on imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine, imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine scaffolds, which act as potent ligands of diverse molecular targets localized in the central nervous system. A literature survey revealed that various imidazopyridines can be powerful modulators of several diseases associated with CNS dysfunction including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression or sleeping disorders. A description of target enzymes (e.g., ß-secretase, γ-secretase, fatty acid amide hydrolase - FAAH, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 - LRRK2) and selected receptors (e.g., GABA-A, histamine H3, serotonin 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT6, dopamine D4, adenosine A2A, orexin), modes of action of imidazopyridine-based ligands and their therapeutic importance is discussed.

Novel non-sulfonamide 5-HT6 receptor partial inverse agonist in a group of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines with cognition enhancing properties.

A small library of novel 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine derivatives was designed and synthesized as non-sulfonamide 5-HT6 receptor ligands. In vitro evaluation allowed to identify compound 17 (2-ethyl-3-(3-fluorobenzyl)-7-(piperazin-1-yl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) as potent 5-HT6 receptor partial inverse agonist in Gs signaling (Ki = 6 nM, IC50 = 17.6 nM). Compound 17 displayed high metabolic stability, favorable cytochrome P450 isoenzyme (2D6, 3A4) profile, did not affect PgP-protein binding, without evoking mutagenic effects. It was orally bioavailable and brain penetrant. In contrast to intepirdine (SB-742457), which prevented 5-HT6R-elicited neurite growth and behaved as an inverse agonist of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), compound 17 has no influence on neuronal differentiation. Compound 17 exerted significant pro-cognitive properties in novel object recognition (NOR) task in rats reversing both phencyclidine- and scopolamine-induced memory deficits (MED = 1 and 0.3 mg/kg, p.o, respectively). These effects were similar to those produced by intepirdine. Additionally, combination of inactive doses of compound 17 (0.1 mg/kg) and donepezil (0.3 mg/kg) produced synergistic effect to reverse scopolamine-induced memory deficits. Accordingly, investigating putative divergence between inverse agonists and neutral antagonists as cognitive enhancers in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is certainly of utmost interest.

Synthesis of Novel N9-Substituted Purine Derivatives from Polymer Supported α-Amino Acids.

Solid-phase synthesis of purine derivatives bearing an α-amino acid motif in position 9 is described herein. Polymer supported amines were acylated with various Fmoc-α-amino acids and, after cleavage of the protecting group, arylation with 4,6-dichloro-5-nitropyrimidine or 2,4-dichloro-5-nitropyrimidine was performed. The second chlorine atom was replaced with various amines. Subsequent reduction of the nitro group, followed by reaction with aldehydes, afforded the purine scaffold. After cleavage from the polymer support, the target compounds were obtained in very good crude purity, good overall yields, and excellent enantiomeric purity. The anticancer activity of prepared compounds was tested in vitro against human cancer cell lines MCF7 and K562, and they were found to have mild, but clear dose-dependent effects.