ABSTRACT
Class B G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain an underexploited target for drug development. The calcitonin receptor (CTR) family is particularly challenging, as its receptors are heteromers comprising two distinct components: the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) or calcitonin receptor (CTR) together with one of three accessory proteins known as receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). CLR/RAMP1 forms a CGRP receptor, CLR/RAMP2 forms an adrenomedullin-1 (AM1) receptor, and CLR/RAMP3 forms an adrenomedullin-2 (AM2) receptor. The CTR/RAMP complexes form three distinct amylin receptors. While the selective blockade of AM2 receptors would be therapeutically valuable, inhibition of AM1 receptors would cause clinically unacceptable increased blood pressure. We report here a systematic study of structure-activity relationships that has led to the development of first-in-class AM2 receptor antagonists. These compounds exhibit therapeutically valuable properties with 1000-fold selectivity over the AM1 receptor. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of AM2 antagonists.
Subject(s)
Receptors, Adrenomedullin/antagonists & inhibitors , Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry , Small Molecule Libraries/pharmacology , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Discovery , Female , Humans , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Molecular Docking Simulation , Receptors, Adrenomedullin/metabolism , Small Molecule Libraries/therapeutic use , Structure-Activity Relationship , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/metabolismABSTRACT
The hormone adrenomedullin has both physiological and pathological roles in biology. As a potent vasodilator, adrenomedullin is critically important in the regulation of blood pressure, but it also has several roles in disease, of which its actions in cancer are becoming recognized to have clinical importance. Reduced circulating adrenomedullin causes increased blood pressure but also reduces tumor progression, so drugs blocking all effects of adrenomedullin would be unacceptable clinically. However, there are two distinct receptors for adrenomedullin, each comprising the same G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), together with a different accessory protein known as a receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP). The CLR with RAMP2 forms an adrenomedullin-1 receptor, and the CLR with RAMP3 forms an adrenomedullin-2 receptor. Recent research suggests that a selective blockade of adrenomedullin-2 receptors would be therapeutically valuable. Here we describe the design, synthesis, and characterization of potent small-molecule adrenomedullin-2 receptor antagonists with 1000-fold selectivity over the adrenomedullin-1 receptor, although retaining activity against the CGRP receptor. These molecules have clear effects on markers of pancreatic cancer progression in vitro, drug-like pharmacokinetic properties, and inhibit xenograft tumor growth and extend life in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Taken together, our data support the promise of a new class of anticancer therapeutics as well as improved understanding of the pharmacology of the adrenomedullin receptors and other GPCR/RAMP heteromers.
ABSTRACT
A potent inhibitor of PI3Kδ that is ≥ 200 fold selective for the remaining three Class I PI3K isoforms and additional kinases is described. The hypothesis for selectivity is illustrated through structure activity relationships and crystal structures of compounds bound to a K802T mutant of PI3Kγ. Pharmacokinetic data in rats and mice support the use of 3 as a useful tool compound to use for in vivo studies.
Subject(s)
Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Tryptophan/chemistry , Animals , Binding Sites , Computer Simulation , Female , Injections, Intravenous , Liver/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mutation , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Protein Isoforms/antagonists & inhibitors , Protein Isoforms/genetics , Protein Isoforms/metabolism , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacokinetics , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
PI3Kδ is a lipid kinase and a member of a larger family of enzymes, PI3K class IA(α, ß, δ) and IB (γ), which catalyze the phosphorylation of PIP2 to PIP3. PI3Kδ is mainly expressed in leukocytes, where it plays a critical, nonredundant role in B cell receptor mediated signaling and provides an attractive opportunity to treat diseases where B cell activity is essential, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis. We report the discovery of novel, potent, and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors and describe a structural hypothesis for isoform (α, ß, γ) selectivity gained from interactions in the affinity pocket. The critical component of our initial pharmacophore for isoform selectivity was strongly associated with CYP3A4 time-dependent inhibition (TDI). We describe a variety of strategies and methods for monitoring and attenuating TDI. Ultimately, a structure-based design approach was employed to identify a suitable structural replacement for further optimization.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy , Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors , Drug Discovery , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/enzymology , Benzimidazoles/chemistry , Benzimidazoles/pharmacology , Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Cell Line , Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Models, Molecular , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/chemistry , Protein Conformation , Substrate Specificity , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Addition of the 4-fluorophenylpyrazole group to the previously described 2-azadecalin glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist 1 resulted in significantly enhanced functional activity. SAR of the bridgehead substituent indicated that whereas groups as small as methyl afforded high GR binding, GR functional activity was enhanced by larger groups such as benzyl, substituted ethers, and aminoalkyl derivatives. GR antagonists with binding and functional activity comparable to mifepristone were discovered (e.g., 52: GR binding K(i) 0.7 nM; GR reporter gene functional K(i) 0.6 nM) and found to be highly selective over other steroid receptors. Analogues 43 and 45 had >50% oral bioavailability in the dog.
Subject(s)
Isoquinolines/chemistry , Isoquinolines/pharmacology , Pyrazoles/chemistry , Pyrazoles/pharmacology , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/antagonists & inhibitors , Animals , Aza Compounds/chemical synthesis , Aza Compounds/chemistry , Aza Compounds/pharmacokinetics , Aza Compounds/pharmacology , Dogs , Isoquinolines/chemical synthesis , Isoquinolines/pharmacokinetics , Kinetics , Pyrazoles/chemical synthesis , Pyrazoles/pharmacokinetics , Rats , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The 2-azadecalin ring system was evaluated as a scaffold for the preparation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists. High affinity, selective GR antagonists were discovered based on a hypothetical binding mode related to the steroidal GR antagonist RU-43044. 2-Benzenesulfonyl substituted 8a-benzyl-hexahydro-2H-isoquinolin-6-ones exemplified by (R)-37 had low nanomolar affinity for GR with moderate functional activity (200 nM) in a reporter gene assay. These compounds were devoid of affinity for other steroidal receptors (ER, AR, MR, and PR). Analogues based on an alternative putative binding mode (CP-like) were found to be inactive.
