Erratum: Author correction to 'Discovery and identification of EIF2AK2 as a direct key target of berberine for anti-inflammatory effects' [Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 13 (2023) 2138-2151].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.12.009.].

Identification of dihydroquinolizinone derivatives with nitrogen heterocycle moieties as new anti-HBV agents.

The sustained loss of HBsAg is considered a pivotal indicator for achieving functional cure of HBV. Dihydroquinolizinone derivatives (DHQs) have demonstrated remarkable inhibitory activity against HBsAg both in vitro and in vivo. However, the reported neurotoxicity associated with RG7834 has raised concerns regarding the development of DHQs. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of DHQs incorporating nitrogen heterocycle moieties. Almost all of these compounds exhibited potent inhibition activity against HBsAg, with IC50 values at the nanomolar level. Impressively, the compound (S)-2a (10 µM) demonstrated a comparatively reduced impact on the neurite outgrowth of HT22 cells and isolated mouse DRG neurons in comparison to RG7834, thereby indicating a decrease in neurotoxicity. Furthermore, (S)-2a exhibited higher drug exposures than RG7834. The potent anti-HBV activity, reduced neurotoxicity, and favorable pharmacokinetic profiles underscore its promising potential as a lead compound for future anti-HBV drug discovery.

Design, synthesis and triglyceride-lowering activity of tricyclic matrine derivatives for the intervention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Thirty new tricyclicmatrinic derivatives were successively synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity on the accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in AML12 cells, using 12 N-m-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyl matrine (1) as the hit compound. Among the analogues, compound 7n possessing 11-trimethylbutylamine quaternary exerted the highest in vitro TG-lowering potency, as well as a good safety profile. 7n significantly attenuated the hepatic injury and steatosis, and ameliorated dyslipidemia and dysglycemia in the mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet. Primary mechanism study revealed that upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α (PPARα)-carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) pathway mediated the efficacy of 7n. Our study provides powerful information for developing this kind of compound into a new class of anti-NAFLD candidates, and compound 7n is worthy of further investigation as an ideal lead compound.

Synthesis of peptidomimetics as antibiotic adjuvants for combination with aztreonam to combat MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the multipledrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens with few drugs available for treatment. Antibiotic adjuvant approach provides an alternative and complementary strategy. In this study, the stereo-structure-activity relationship of monobactams against MDR Gram-negative organisms was extended. Meanwhile, a series of novel peptidemimetic derivatives as antibiotic adjuvants was synthesized and evaluated for their synergistic effects with aztreonam (AZT) against P. aeruginosa, using dipeptide PAßN as the lead. Among the analogues, compound 22j showed a significant synergistic effect against MDR P. aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo, presumably through the mechanism of affecting the permeability of outer membrane. Thus, we identified 22j as a novel peptidemimetic lead compound to potentiate the activity of AZT against MDR P. aeruginosa, which is worthy of further development as antibiotic adjuvant candidates.

Evolution and development of potent monobactam sulfonate candidate IMBZ18g as a dual inhibitor against MDR Gram-negative bacteria producing ESBLs.

A series of new monobactam sulfonates is continuously synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial efficacies against Gram-negative bacteria. Compound 33a (IMBZ18G) is highly effective in vitro and in vivo against clinically intractable multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative strains, with a highly druglike nature. The checkerboard assay reveals its significant synergistic effect with ß-lactamase inhibitor avibactam, and the MIC values against MDR enterobacteria were reduced up to 4-512 folds. X-ray co-crystal and chemoproteomic assays indicate that the anti-MDR bacteria effect of 33a results from the dual inhibition of the common PBP3 and some class A and C ß-lactamases. Accordingly, preclinical studies of 33a alone and 33a‒avibactam combination as potential innovative candidates are actively going on, in the treatment of ß-lactamase-producing MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Discovery and identification of EIF2AK2 as a direct key target of berberine for anti-inflammatory effects.

Using chemoproteomic techniques, we first identified EIF2AK2, eEF1A1, PRDX3 and VPS4B as direct targets of berberine (BBR) for its synergistically anti-inflammatory effects. Of them, BBR has the strongest affinity with EIF2AK2 via two ionic bonds, and regulates several key inflammatory pathways through EIF2AK2, indicating the dominant role of EIF2AK2. Also, BBR could subtly inhibit the dimerization of EIF2AK2, rather than its enzyme activity, to selectively modulate its downstream pathways including JNK, NF-κB, AKT and NLRP3, with an advantage of good safety profile. In EIF2AK2 gene knockdown mice, the inhibitory IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α secretion of BBR was obviously attenuated, confirming an EIF2AK2-dependent anti-inflammatory efficacy. The results highlight the BBR's network mechanism on anti-inflammatory effects in which EIF2AK2 is a key target, and inhibition of EIF2AK2 dimerization has a potential to be a therapeutic strategy against inflammation-related disorders.

Discovery and development of palmatine analogues as anti-NASH agents by activating farnesoid X receptor (FXR).

Sixty-one palmatine (PMT) derivatives, of which twenty-eight were new, were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-fibrogenic activities via collagen type I α 1 (COL1A1)-promoter based luciferase model in LX-2 cells, taking 2,3,10-trimethoxy-9-p-isopropyloxyprotopalmatine bromide (1) as the lead. Among them, compound 3a exerted the highest potency with the IC50 value of 8.19 µmol/L and SI value of 8.59, and reduced the expressions of multiple fibrogenic biomarkers, including COL1A1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA and TIMP1 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, it significantly reduced liver steatosis and inflammation, and especially attenuated the degree of liver fibrosis in choline-deficient, l-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced NASH mice model in vivo. Mechanism study indicated that it significantly ameliorated liver injury by activating farnesoid X receptor (FXR). BDL-induced fibrosis rats model further verified its liver-protective and anti-fibrosis activities. Therefore, PMT derivatives constituted a new family of non-steroidal FXR agonists as anti-NASH candidates, with the advantage of good safety profile, and are worthy for further investigation.

Identification of dihydroquinolizinone derivatives with cyclic ether moieties as new anti-HBV agents.

RG7834, a dihydroquinolizinone (DHQ) candidate developed by Roche Pharma, was expected to realize the "functional cure of HBV". However, it was dismissed in phase I clinical trial due to its neurotoxicity. In this study, a series of new DHQ derivatives containing a cyclic ether or benzo-fused (cyclic) ether moiety were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro activity. Many of them exhibited potent inhibition activity against HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA. More importantly, in the in vitro neurotoxicity evaluation, most of the PC12 cells treated with RG7834 became round and even shrunken with the disappearance of neurites; in contrast, most of the cells treated by (2'S, 6S)-1a, showed similar morphological structures to the control group with clearly visible neurites, indicating that (2'S, 6S)-1a could have improved neurotoxicity. The first study of the structure-neurotoxicity relationship of DHQs paves the way for the future development of DHQs.

Discovery of new riminophenazine analogues as antimycobacterial agents against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Twenty-three new riminophenazine and pyrido[3,2-b]quinoxaline derivatives were prepared and examined for their antimycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, taking clofazimine (1) as the lead. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis revealed that the introduction of a heterocycle or diethylamine substituted benzene moiety on the N-5 atom might be beneficial for activity. The most potent compound 7m also displayed enhanced activity against wild-type as well as multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB clinical isolates, with the MICs ranging from 0.08 to 1.25 µg/mL, especially effective toward strain M20A507, resistant to 1. Further mechanism study indicated that its anti-TB activity was independent of cell membrane disruption, but related to NDH-2 reduction and the resulting high ROS production. Our study provides instructive guidance for the further development of clofazimine derivatives into promising antimicrobial agents against MDR and XDR TB.

Identification of benzothiazones containing a hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol moiety as antitubercular agents against MDR-MTB.

IMB1603, a spiro-benzothiazone compound discovered by our lab, displayed potent anti-MTB activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we reported a series of new BTZs containing the hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol moiety based on the structure of IMB1603. Among them, BTZs 11 and 24 displayed potent anti-MTB (MIC < 0.035 µM) and MDR-MTB (MIC, 0.053-0.102 µM) activity, good solubility (1.82-1.85 µg mL-1), and low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 200 µM), suggesting BTZs 11 and 24 may serve as promising candidates for further study. The molecular docking study of 11 toward DprE was also investigated, and revealed that 11 mimicked the binding pattern of PBTZ169 in the active site of DprE1.

Identification of benzothiazinones containing an oxime functional moiety as new anti-tuberculosis agents.

A series of benzothiazinones (BTZs) containing an oxime moiety, based on the structure of ZR-10 discovered in our lab, were designed and synthesized. Most of the compounds with alkoxyimino groups attached to the piperazine or cyclohexyl ring of PBTZ169, exhibit excellent in vitro activity against both drug-sensitive and clinically isolated multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains (MIC: < 0.016-0.037 µg/mL) and low cell cytotoxicity. Two close PBTZ169-analogues 3a and 3b with proper ADME/T and PK properties show potent in vivo efficacy in an acute mouse model of tuberculosis. Compound 3a is under evaluation as a potential clinical candidate for treatment of tuberculosis.

Design, synthesis and biological activity of N-(2-phenoxy)ethyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides as new antitubercular agents.

A series of N-(2-phenoxy)ethyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides (IPAs), based on the structure of WZY02 discovered in our lab, were designed and synthesized as new anti-TB agents. Results reveal that many of them exhibit excellent in vitro inhibitory activity with low nanomolar MIC values against both drug-sensitive MTB strain H37Rv and drug-resistant clinical isolates. Compounds 15b and 15d display good safety and pharmacokinetic profiles, suggesting their promising potential to be lead compounds for future antitubercular drug discovery.

hERG optimizations of IMB1603, discovery of alternative benzothiazinones as new antitubercular agents.

IMB1603, a new benzothiazinone lead discovered by our lab, exhibited potent anti-MTB activity in vitro and in vivo, but significant hERG binding potency (IR > 90% at 10 µM). Thus, we embarked on a lead optimization program with the goal of identifying alternative leads that could reduce the hERG liability without sacrificing antimycobacterial potency. Compounds 2c and 4c were identified to maintain the anti-MTB activity (MICs <0.035-0.078 µM), and had lower hERG binding affinity (IR < 50% at 10 µM). Both of them were also found to have acceptable safety and pharmacokinetic properties. Studies to determine the in vivo efficacy of 2c and 4c are currently underway.