The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a crucial role in regulating the metabolism of bile acids, lipids, and sugars. Consequently, it is implicated in the treatment of various diseases, including cholestasis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cancer. The advancement of novel FXR modulators holds immense importance, especially in managing metabolic disorders. In this study, a series of oleanolic acid (OA) derivatives bearing 12β-O-(γ-glutamyl) groups were designed and synthesized. Using a yeast one-hybrid assay, we established a preliminary structure–activity relationship (SAR) and identified the most potent compound, 10b, which selectively antagonizes FXR over other nuclear receptors. Compound 10b can differentially modulate the downstream genes of FXR, including with the upregulation of the CYP7A1 gene. In vivo testing revealed that 10b (100 mg·Kg−1) not only effectively inhibits lipid accumulation in the liver but also prevents liver fibrosis in both BDL rats and HFD mice. Molecular modeling indicated that the branched substitution of 10b extends into the H11–H12 region of FXR-LBD, possibly accounting for its CYP7A1 upregulation, which is different from a known OA 12β-alkonate. These findings suggest that 12-glutamyl OA derivative 10b represents a promising candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
法尼类固醇 X 受体(FXR)在调节胆汁酸、脂类和糖类的新陈代谢中起着至关重要的作用。因此,它被用于治疗各种疾病,包括胆汁淤积症、糖尿病、高脂血症和癌症。新型 FXR 调节剂的开发具有极其重要的意义,尤其是在治疗代谢紊乱方面。本研究设计并合成了一系列带有 12β-O-(γ-glutamyl) 基团的齐墩果酸 (OA) 衍生物。利用酵母单杂交试验,我们建立了初步的结构-活性关系(SAR),并确定了最有效的化合物 10b,它能选择性地拮抗 FXR 而不是其他核受体。化合物 10b 可以对 FXR 的下游基因进行不同程度的调节,包括上调 CYP7A1 基因。体内试验显示,10b(100 毫克-千克-1)不仅能有效抑制肝脏中的脂质积累,还能防止 BDL 大鼠和 HFD 小鼠的肝纤维化。分子建模表明,10b 的支链取代延伸至 FXR-LBD 的 H11-H12 区域,可能是其 CYP7A1 上调的原因,这与已知的 OA 12β-alkonate 不同。这些研究结果表明,12-谷氨酰OA衍生物10b是治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(NASH)的一种有前途的候选药物。