ABSTRACT
The medicinal chemistry community has directed considerable efforts toward the discovery of selective inhibitors of interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), given its role in T-cell signaling downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the implications of this target for inflammatory disorders such as asthma. We have previously disclosed a structure- and property-guided lead optimization effort which resulted in the discovery of a new series of tetrahydroindazole-containing selective ITK inhibitors. Herein we disclose further optimization of this series that resulted in further potency improvements, reduced off-target receptor binding liabilities, and reduced cytotoxicity. Specifically, we have identified a correlation between the basicity of solubilizing elements in the ITK inhibitors and off-target antiproliferative effects, which was exploited to reduce cytotoxicity while maintaining kinase selectivity. Optimized analogues were shown to reduce IL-2 and IL-13 production in vivo following oral or intraperitoneal dosing in mice.
Subject(s)
Indazoles/chemistry , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Crystallography, X-Ray , Cytotoxins/chemistry , Cytotoxins/pharmacology , Cytotoxins/toxicity , Female , Humans , Indazoles/pharmacology , Indazoles/toxicity , Interleukin-13/biosynthesis , Interleukin-2/biosynthesis , Jurkat Cells , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Models, Molecular , Molecular Structure , Phosphorylation , Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism , Stereoisomerism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Sulfones/chemistry , Sulfones/pharmacology , Sulfones/toxicity , Sulfoxides/chemistry , Sulfoxides/pharmacology , Sulfoxides/toxicityABSTRACT
Starting from benzylpyrimidine 2, molecular modeling and X-ray crystallography were used to design highly potent inhibitors of Interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK). Sulfonylpyridine 4i showed sub-nanomolar affinity against ITK, was selective versus Lck and its activity in the Jurkat cell-based assay was greatly improved over 2.
Subject(s)
Drug Design , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Pyridines/chemistry , Binding Sites , Crystallography, X-Ray , Kinetics , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Protein Binding , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/metabolism , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Pyrazoles/chemistry , Pyridines/chemical synthesis , Pyridines/metabolism , Structure-Activity Relationship , Sulfones/chemistryABSTRACT
Interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), a member of the Tec family of tyrosine kinases, plays a major role in T-cell signaling downstream of the T-cell receptor (TCR), and considerable efforts have been directed toward discovery of ITK-selective inhibitors as potential treatments of inflammatory disorders such as asthma. Using a previously disclosed indazole series of inhibitors as a starting point, and using X-ray crystallography and solubility forecast index (SFI) as guides, we evolved a series of tetrahydroindazole inhibitors with improved potency, selectivity, and pharmaceutical properties. Highlights include identification of a selectivity pocket above the ligand plane, and identification of appropriate lipophilic substituents to occupy this space. This effort culminated in identification of a potent and selective ITK inhibitor (GNE-9822) with good ADME properties in preclinical species.
