Therapeutic treatment of a novel selective JAK3/JAK1/TBK1 inhibitor, CS12192, in rat and mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a representative autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and joint destruction. Although biological inhibitors such as TNF-α and IL-6 antibodies have achieved success in clinical therapy, small molecule inhibitors against the Janus kinases (JAKs) involved in the signaling pathways of various cytokine receptors have gained more attraction as safe and efficacious options. In this study, we identified CS12192 as a novel selective JAK3/JAK1/TBK1 inhibitor and investigated its pharmacological effects on the experimental arthritis models in rat and mouse. We found that CS12192 showed a more selective inhibitory activity on JAK3, and to a less extent on JAK1 and TBK1, that were verified by decreased activation of p-STATs and p-IRF3 as well as down-regulation of IFN gene expression in the cultured cells with relevant stimuli. Furthermore, oral treatment with CS12192 dose-dependently ameliorated the disease severity, hind paw swelling, body weight loss, and bone destruction in rat models of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In a mouse CIA model, CS12192 also attenuated the disease severity, which was correlated with the suppressed CD4+ T cell activation and Th17 function, as well as the reduced cytokine levels in sera and pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine gene expression in joint tissue. Corroboratively, RANKL-induced osteoclast formation was inhibited by CS12192. Thus, these results suggest that CS12192 as a novel selective JAK inhibitor has therapeutic potential for the treatment of RA and may provide a new strategy for the control of autoimmune diseases.

Selective approach toward multifunctionalized lactams by lewis acid promoted PhSe group transfer radical cyclization.

We have developed a regiospecific and highly stereoselective strategy for constructing the five-/six-membered monocyclic and bicyclic nitrogen heterocycle skeletons using PhSe group transfer radical cyclization of alpha-phenylseleno amido esters promoted by a Lewis acid (e.g., Yb(OTf)(3)) under UV irradiation. We obtained 5-/6-exo-trig mode cyclization products for the N-allyl/homoallyl substrates, whereas the enamide substrate gave 5-endo-trig ring closure.

Synthesis of gamma-butyrolactams by photoinduced PhSe group transfer radical cyclization and formal synthesis of (+/-)-isocynometrine with diphenyldiselenide as promoter.

We have developed a strategy for constructing nitrogen heterocycles by photoinduced PhSe group transfer radical cyclization. trans-Alpha,beta-disubstituted gamma-butyrolactams (2-pyrrolidinones) were prepared in good yields (38-73%) with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity from N-alkenyl alpha-PhSe beta-keto amides. Reaction outcomes were modulated by the steric effect of the substituents on the nitrogen atom of the cyclization precursors and the stereoelectronic effect of the substrates. Diphenyldiselenide, as an additive, was found to promote ring closure. The advantage of this strategy in natural product synthesis is demonstrated by a formal synthesis of (+/-)-isocynometrine.