Potent and Orally Bioavailable Inverse Agonists of RORγt Resulting from Structure-Based Design
作者:Frank Narjes、Yafeng Xue、Stefan von Berg、Jesper Malmberg、Antonio Llinas、Roine I. Olsson、Johan Jirholt、Hanna Grindebacke、Agnes Leffler、Nafizal Hossain、Matti Lepistö、Linda Thunberg、Hanna Leek、Anna Aagaard、Jane McPheat、Eva L. Hansson、Elisabeth Bäck、Stefan Tångefjord、Rongfeng Chen、Yao Xiong、Ge Hongbin、Thomas G. Hansson
DOI:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00783
日期:2018.9.13
Retinoic acid receptor related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR gamma t), has been identified as the master regulator of T(H)17-cell function and development, making it an attractive target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by a small-molecule approach. Herein, we describe our investigations on a series of 4-aryl-thienyl acetamides, which were guided by insights from X-ray cocrystal structures. Efforts in targeting the cofactor-recruitment site from the 4-aryl group on the thiophene led to a series of potent binders with nanomolar activity in a primary human-T(H)17-cell assay. The observation of a DMSO molecule binding in a subpocket outside the LBD inspired the introduction of an acetamide into the benzylic position of these compounds. Hereby, a hydrogen-bond interaction of the introduced acetamide oxygen with the backbone amide of Glu379 was established. This greatly enhanced the cellular activity of previously weakly cell-active compounds. The best compounds combined potent inhibition of IL-17 release with favorable PK in rodents, with compound 32 representing a promising starting point for future investigations.