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Gege C, Hahn F, Wangen C, Häge S, Herrmann A, Uhlig N, Eberlein V, Issmail L, Klopfleisch R, Grunwald T, Marschall M, Kohlhof H, Vitt D. Synthesis and Characterization of DHODH Inhibitors Based on the Vidofludimus Scaffold with Pronounced Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity. ChemMedChem 2024:e202400292. [PMID: 38887198 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
New strategies for the rapid development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies are urgently required for emerging and re-emerging viruses like the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Host-directed antivirals that target universal cellular metabolic pathways necessary for viral replication present a promising approach with broad-spectrum activity and low potential for development of viral resistance. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) was identified as one of those universal host factors essential for the replication of many clinically relevant human pathogenic viruses. DHODH is the rate-limiting enzyme catalyzing the fourth step in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Therefore, it is also developed as a therapeutic target for many diseases relying on cellular pyrimidine resources, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and viral or bacterial infection. Thus, several DHODH inhibitors, including vidofludimus calcium (VidoCa, IMU-838), are currently in development or have been investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of virus infections such as SARS-CoV-2-mediated coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Here, we report the medicinal chemistry optimization of VidoCa that resulted in metabolically more stable derivatives with improved DHODH target inhibition in various mammalian species, which translated into improved efficacy against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gege
- Immunic AG, Lochhamer Schlag 21, 82166, Gräfelfing, Germany
| | - Friedrich Hahn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Wangen
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sigrun Häge
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Nadja Uhlig
- Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Unit Preclinical Validation, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Perlickstrasse 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Valentina Eberlein
- Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Unit Preclinical Validation, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Perlickstrasse 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Leila Issmail
- Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Unit Preclinical Validation, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Perlickstrasse 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Klopfleisch
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 15, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Grunwald
- Department of Vaccines and Infection Models, Unit Preclinical Validation, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Perlickstrasse 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hella Kohlhof
- Immunic AG, Lochhamer Schlag 21, 82166, Gräfelfing, Germany
| | - Daniel Vitt
- Immunic AG, Lochhamer Schlag 21, 82166, Gräfelfing, Germany
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Tang L, Li M, Bai C, Feng X, Hu H, Yao Y, Li B, Li H, Qin G, Xi N, Lv G, Zhang L. Discovery of benzoheterocyclic-substituted amide derivatives as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:856-873. [PMID: 38516590 PMCID: PMC10953477 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00663h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Three series of benzoheterocyclic-substituted amide derivatives were designed and synthesized as potent ASK1 inhibitors in this work. After undergoing continuous structural optimization, compound 17a was discovered to be a novel inhibitor of ASK1 with good potency (kinase, IC50 = 26 nM), noteworthy liver microsomal stability (human, T1/2 = 340.4 min), good pharmacokinetic parameters (rat, T1/2 p.o. = 2.11 h, AUClast p.o. = 10 900 h ng mL-1) and high oral bioavailability (rat, F = 97.9%), while also being inactive towards hERG (IC50 > 10 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Tang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P.R. China
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
- Shaoguan HEC Technology R & D Co., Ltd Shaoguan 512000 P.R. China
| | - Minxiong Li
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Changlin Bai
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Xuejin Feng
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Haiyang Hu
- Sunshine Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Dongguan 523871 P.R. China
| | - Yufen Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University 510006 Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Baiqing Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory Guangzhou 510005 P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Li
- Guangdong Yuchuang Electronics Co., Ltd. Shaoguan 512721 P.R. China
| | - Guohong Qin
- Guangdong Yuchuang Electronics Co., Ltd. Shaoguan 512721 P.R. China
| | - Ning Xi
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University Ningbo 315211 P.R. China
| | - Genpin Lv
- Shaoguan HEC Technology R & D Co., Ltd Shaoguan 512000 P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510006 P.R. China
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Kostyak JC, McKenzie SE, Naik UP. The Function of ASK1 in Sepsis and Stress-Induced Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:213. [PMID: 38203381 PMCID: PMC10778746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a serine-threonine kinase that is ubiquitously expressed in nucleated cells and is responsible for the activation of multiple mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) to regulate cell stress. Activation of ASK1 via cellular stress leads to activation of downstream signaling components, activation of transcription factors, and proinflammatory cytokine production. ASK1 is also expressed in anucleate platelets and is a key player in platelet activation as it is important for signaling. Interestingly, the mechanism of ASK1 activation is cell type-dependent. In this review we will explore how ASK1 regulates a variety of cellular processes from innate immune function to thrombosis and hemostasis. We will discuss how ASK1 influences FcγRIIA-mediated platelet reactivity and how that reactivity drives platelet clearance. Furthermore, we will explore the role of ASK1 in thromboxane (TxA2) generation, which highlights differences in the way ASK1 functions in mouse and human platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C. Kostyak
- Cardeza Center for Hemostasis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Department of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (S.E.M.); (U.P.N.)
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