Discovery and structural optimization of 4-(4-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones as RORc inverse agonists
作者:Xi-shan Wu、Rui Wang、Yan-li Xing、Xiao-qian Xue、Yan Zhang、Yong-zhi Lu、Yu Song、Xiao-yu Luo、Chun Wu、Yu-lai Zhou、Jian-qin Jiang、Yong Xu
DOI:10.1038/aps.2016.32
日期:2016.11
Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptors (RORs) are orphan nuclear receptors that show constitutive activity in the absence of ligands. Among 3 subtypes of RORs, RORc is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases. Here, we report novel RORc inverse agonists discovered through structure-based drug design. Based on the structure of compound 8, a previously described agonist of RORa, a series of 4-(4-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives were designed and synthesized. The interaction between the compounds and RORc was detected at molecular level using AlphaScreen assay. The compounds were further examined in 293T cells transfected with RORc and luciferase reporter gene. Thermal stability shift assay was used to evaluate the effects of the compounds on protein stability. A total of 27 derivatives were designed and synthesized. Among them, the compound 22b was identified as the most potent RORc inverse agonist. Its IC50 values were 2.39 μmol/L in AlphaScreen assay, and 0.82 μmol/L in inhibition of the cell-based luciferase reporter activity. Furthermore, the compound 22b displayed a 120-fold selectivity for RORc over other nuclear receptors. Moreover, a molecular docking study showed that the structure-activity relationship was consistent with the binding mode of compound 22b in RORc. 4-(4-(Benzyloxy)phenyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives are promising candidates for the treatment of Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis.
视黄酸受体相关孤儿核受体(RORs)是一种孤儿核受体,在没有配体的情况下表现出组成活性。在 RORs 的 3 个亚型中,RORc 是治疗 Th17 介导的自身免疫性疾病的一个很有前景的治疗靶点。在此,我们报告了通过基于结构的药物设计发现的新型 RORc 逆激动剂。基于之前描述的 RORa 激动剂化合物 8 的结构,我们设计并合成了一系列 4-(4-(苄氧基)苯基)-3,4-二氢嘧啶-2(1H)-酮衍生物。利用 AlphaScreen 分析法在分子水平上检测了这些化合物与 RORc 之间的相互作用。在转染了 RORc 和荧光素酶报告基因的 293T 细胞中进一步检测了这些化合物。热稳定性转移试验用于评估化合物对蛋白质稳定性的影响。共设计并合成了 27 种衍生物。其中,化合物 22b 被鉴定为最有效的 RORc 反激动剂。其在 AlphaScreen 试验中的 IC50 值为 2.39 μmol/L,在抑制细胞荧光素酶报告活性中的 IC50 值为 0.82 μmol/L。此外,化合物 22b 对 RORc 的选择性是其他核受体的 120 倍。此外,分子对接研究表明,结构-活性关系与化合物 22b 与 RORc 的结合模式一致。4-(4-(苄氧基)苯基)-3,4-二氢嘧啶-2(1H)-酮衍生物有望用于治疗 Th17 介导的自身免疫性疾病,如类风湿性关节炎、银屑病和多发性硬化症。