Imidazole Inhibitors of Cytokine Release: Probing Substituents in the 2 Position
作者:Stefan A. Laufer、Hans-Günther Striegel、Gerd K. Wagner
DOI:10.1021/jm020873z
日期:2002.10.1
Novel 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole derivatives were prepared as potential anticytokine agents. Thirty-seven compounds were tested on their ability to inhibit the release of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-beta) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or human whole blood. SARs (structure activity relationships) for substituents-at the 4 and 5 position of the imidazole core were similar to those described for other inhibitors of cytokine. release and p38 MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase. Starting from benzylsulfanyl imidazole 2b (IC50 p(38), 4.0 muM; TNF-alpha, 1.1,muM; IL-1beta, 0.38,muM), the contribution of substituents at the 2 Position to enzyme inhibitory and cellular activity of test compounds was investigated. This strategy led to the identification of compound 2q (IC50 p38, 0.63 muM; TNF-alpha, 0.90 muM; IL-1beta, 0.04,muM), which was 6-10 times more potent than the initial lead 2b with respect to inhibition of p38 and IL-1beta release and equipotently inhibited TNF-alpha release.