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Paul A, Nahar S, Nahata P, Sarkar A, Maji A, Samanta A, Karmakar S, Maity TK. Synthetic GPR40/FFAR1 agonists: An exhaustive survey on the most recent chemical classes and their structure-activity relationships. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115990. [PMID: 38039791 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1 or GPR40) is a potential target for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related disorders that have been extensively researched for many years. GPR40/FFAR1 is a promising anti-diabetic target because it can activate insulin, promoting glucose metabolism. It controls T2DM by regulating glucose levels in the body through two separate mechanisms: glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and incretin production. In the last few years, various synthetic GPR40/FFAR1 agonists have been discovered that fall under several chemical classes, viz. phenylpropionic acid, phenoxyacetic acid, and dihydrobenzofuran acetic acid. However, only a few synthetic agonists have entered clinical trials due to various shortcomings like poor efficacy, low lipophilicity and toxicity issues. As a result, pharmaceutical firms and research institutions are interested in developing synthetic GPR40/FFAR1 agonists with superior effectiveness, lipophilicity, and safety profiles. This review encompasses the most recent research on synthetic GPR40/FFAR1 agonists, including their chemical classes, design strategies and structure-activity relationships. Additionally, we have emphasised the structural characteristics of the most potent GPR40/FFAR1 agonists from each chemical class of synthetic derivatives and analysed their chemico-biological interactions. This work will hopefully pave the way for developing more potent and selective synthetic GPR40/FFAR1 agonists for treating T2DM and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhik Paul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
| | - Sourin Nahar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
| | - Pankaj Nahata
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
| | - Arnab Sarkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India; Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Avik Maji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
| | - Ajeya Samanta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
| | - Sanmoy Karmakar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India; Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Tapan Kumar Maity
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, West Bengal, Kolkata, 700 032, India.
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Chen C, Guo SM, Sun Y, Li H, Hu N, Yao K, Ni H, Xia Z, Xu B, Xie X, Long YQ. Discovery of orally effective and safe GPR40 agonists by incorporating a chiral, rigid and polar sulfoxide into β-position to the carboxylic acid. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251:115267. [PMID: 36933395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
GPR40 is primarily expressed in pancreatic islet β-cells, and its activation by endogenous ligands of medium to long-chain free fatty acids or synthetic agonists is clinically proved to improve glycemic control by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion. However, most of the reported agonists are highly lipophilic, which might cause lipotoxicity and the off-target effects in CNS. Particularly, the withdrawal of TAK-875 from clinical trials phase III due to liver toxicity concern threw doubt over the long-term safety of targeting GPR40. Improving the efficacy and the selectivity, thus enlarging the therapeutic window would provide an alternative to develop safe GPR40-targeted therapeutics. Herein, by employing an innovative "three-in-one" pharmacophore drug design strategy, the optimal structural features for GPR40 agonist was integrated into one functional group of sulfoxide, which was incorporated into the β-position of the propanoic acid core pharmacophore. As a result, the conformational constraint, polarity as well as chirality endowed by the sulfoxide significantly enhanced the efficacy, selectivity and ADMET properties of the novel (S)- 2-(phenylsulfinyl)acetic acid-based GPR40 agonists. The lead compounds (S)-4a and (S)-4s exhibited robust plasma glucose-lowering effects and insulinotropic action during an oral glucose tolerance test in C57/BL6 mice, excellent pharmacokinetic profile and little hepatobiliary transporter inhibition, marginal cell toxicities against human primary hepatocyte at 100 μM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, China; Department of Chemistry, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shi-Meng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yuanjun Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - He Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 185 Juqian Street, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Kun Yao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Huxin Ni
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhikan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Ya-Qiu Long
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, China; Department of Pharmacy, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 185 Juqian Street, Changzhou, 213003, China.
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Wang B, Cai Z, Yao H, Jiao S, Chen S, Yang Z, Huang W, Ren Q, Cao Z, Chen Y, Zhang L, Li Z. Discovery of a structurally novel, potent, and once-weekly free fatty acid receptor 1 agonist for the treatment of diabetes. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 245:114883. [PMID: 36343410 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a lifelong disease that requires long-term medication to control glucose levels, and thereby long-acting drug has been clinically needed for improving medical adherence. The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1) was considered as a promising target for several diseases, such as T2DM, pain and fatty liver. However, no once-weekly FFA1 agonist has been reported until now. Herein, we report the successful discovery of ZLY50, the first once-weekly FFA1 agonist with a completely new chemotype, highly agonistic activity and selectivity on FFA1. Moreover, ZLY50 has enough brain exposure to activate FFA1 in brain, and it is the first orally available FFA1 agonist with analgesic activity. Notably, the long-term anti-diabetic and anti-fatty liver effects of ZLY50 (once-weekly) were better than those of HWL-088 (once-daily), a highly potent FFA1 agonist with far stronger glucose-lowering effect than Phase 3 clinical candidate TAK-875. Further mechanism studies suggested that ZLY50 alleviates fatty liver by regulating the expressions of genes related to lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zongyu Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Huixin Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Shixuan Jiao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Siliang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhongcheng Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Wanqiu Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Qiang Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Zhijun Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Ya Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Luyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
| | - Zheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of the Guangdong Provincial Education Department, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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Synthesis, Fungicidal Activity and Plant Protective Properties of 1,2,3-Thiadiazole and Isothiazole-Based N-acyl- N-arylalaninates. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28010419. [PMID: 36615609 PMCID: PMC9822468 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The addition of active groups of known fungicides, or systemic acquired resistance inducers, into novel compound molecules to search for potential antifungal compounds is a popular and effective strategy. In this work, a new series of N-acyl-N-arylalanines was developed and synthesized, in which 1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylcarbonyl or 3,4-dichloroisothiazol-5-ylcarbonyl (fragments from synthetic plant resistance activators tiadinil and isotianil, respectively) and a fragment of N-arylalanine, the toxophoric group of acylalanine fungicides. Several new synthesized compounds have shown moderate antifungal activity against fungi in vitro, such as B. cinerea, R. solani and S. sclerotiorum. In vivo tests against A. brassicicola showed that compound 1d was 92% effective at a concentration of 200 µg/mL, similar to level of tiadinil, a known inducer of systemic resistance. Thus, 1d could be considered a new candidate fungicide for further detailed study. The present results will advance research and influence the search for more promising fungicides for disease control in agriculture.
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Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Mediated by FFA1 Receptor-Evidence Using Miniscope. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042258. [PMID: 35216375 PMCID: PMC8875452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), obtained from diet and dietary supplements, have been tested in clinical trials for the prevention or treatment of several diseases. n-3 PUFAs exert their effects by activation of free fatty acid (FFA) receptors. FFA1 receptor, expressed in the pancreas and brain, is activated by medium- to long-chain fatty acids. Despite some beneficial effects on cognition, the effects of n-3 PUFAs on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are not clearly understood. We examined the effects of FFA1 activation on BBB permeability in vitro, using rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC), and in vivo, by assessing Evans Blue extravasation and by performing live imaging of brain microcirculation in adult rats. AMG837, a synthetic FFA1 agonist, produced a dose-dependent decrease in RBMVEC monolayer resistance assessed with Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS); the effect was attenuated by the FFA1 antagonist, GW1100. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that AMG837 produced a disruption in tight and adherens junction proteins. AMG837 increased Evans Blue content in the rat brain in a dose-dependent manner. Live imaging studies of rat brain microcirculation with miniaturized fluorescence microscopy (miniscope) showed that AMG837 increased extravasation of sodium fluorescein. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FFA1 receptor activation reduced RBMVEC barrier function and produced a transient increase in BBB permeability.
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Free fatty acid receptor 1: a ray of hope in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inflammopharmacology 2021; 29:1625-1639. [PMID: 34669065 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-021-00879-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) is a G-protein coupled receptor with prominent expression on pancreatic beta cells, bones, intestinal cells as well as the nerve cells. This receptor mediates a multitude of functions in the body including release of incretins, secretion of insulin as well as sensation of pain. Since FFAR1 causes secretion of insulin and regulates glucose metabolism, efforts were made to unfold its structure followed by discovering agonists for the receptor and the utilization of these agonists in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Development of such functional FFAR1 agonists is a necessity because the currently available therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus has numerous drawbacks, of which, the major one is hypoglycemia. Since the most prominent effect of the FFAR1 agonists is on glucose concentration in the body, so the major research is focused on treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, though the agonists could benefit other metabolic disorders and neurological disorders as well. The agonists developed so far had one major limitation, i.e., hepatotoxicity. Although, the only agonist that could reach phase 3 clinical trials was TAK-875 developed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals but it was also withdrawn due to toxic effects on the liver. Thus, there are numerous agonists for the varied binding sites of the receptor but no drug available yet. There does seem to be a ray of hope in the drugs that target FFAR1 but a lot more efforts towards drug discovery would result in the successful management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Rani L, Grewal AS, Sharma N, Singh S. Recent Updates on Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (GPR-40) Agonists for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 21:426-470. [PMID: 33100202 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666201023141326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has enthused the development of new antidiabetic targets with low toxicity and long-term stability. In this respect, free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), which is also recognized as a G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), is a novel target for the treatment of T2DM. FFAR1/GPR40 has a high level of expression in β-cells of the pancreas, and the requirement of glucose for stimulating insulin release results in immense stimulation to utilise this target in the medication of T2DM. METHODS The data used for this review is based on the search of several scienctific databases as well as various patent databases. The main search terms used were free fatty acid receptor 1, FFAR1, FFAR1 agonists, diabetes mellitus, G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), GPR40 agonists, GPR40 ligands, type 2 diabetes mellitus and T2DM. RESULTS The present review article gives a brief overview of FFAR1, its role in T2DM, recent developments in small molecule FFAR1 (GPR40) agonists reported till now, compounds of natural/plant origin, recent patents published in the last few years, mechanism of FFAR1 activation by the agonists, and clinical status of the FFAR1/GPR40 agonists. CONCLUSION The agonists of FFAR1/GRP40 showed considerable potential for the therapeutic control of T2DM. Most of the small molecule FFAR1/GPR40 agonists developed were aryl alkanoic acid derivatives (such as phenylpropionic acids, phenylacetic acids, phenoxyacetic acids, and benzofuran acetic acid derivatives) and thiazolidinediones. Some natural/plant-derived compounds, including fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, isoquinoline, and indole alkaloids, were also reported as potent FFAR1 agonists. The clinical investigations of the FFAR1 agonists demonstrated their probable role in the improvement of glucose control. Though, there are some problems still to be resolved in this field as some FFAR1 agonists terminated in the late phase of clinical studies due to "hepatotoxicity." Currently, PBI-4050 is under clinical investigation by Prometic. Further investigation of pharmacophore scaffolds for FFAR1 full agonists as well as multitargeted modulators and corresponding clinical investigations will be anticipated, which can open up new directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lata Rani
- Chitkara University School of Basic Sciences, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Ajmer Singh Grewal
- Chitkara University School of Basic Sciences, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Neelam Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Sukhbir Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
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Cione E, Caroleo MC, Kagechika H, Manetti F. Pharmacophore-guided repurposing of fibrates and retinoids as GPR40 allosteric ligands with activity on insulin release. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:377-383. [PMID: 33525941 PMCID: PMC8759729 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1864629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A classical drug repurposing approach was applied to find new putative GPR40 allosteric binders. A two-step computational protocol was set up, based on an initial pharmacophoric-based virtual screening of the DrugBank database of known drugs, followed by docking simulations to confirm the interactions between the prioritised compounds and GPR40. The best-ranked entries showed binding poses comparable to that of TAK-875, a known allosteric agonist of GPR40. Three of them (tazarotenic acid, bezafibrate, and efaproxiral) affect insulin secretion in pancreatic INS-1 832/13 β-cells with EC50 in the nanomolar concentration (5.73, 14.2, and 13.5 nM, respectively). Given the involvement of GPR40 in type 2 diabetes, the new GPR40 modulators represent a promising tool for therapeutic intervention towards this disease. The ability to affect GPR40 was further assessed in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in which this receptor positively regulates growth activities (EC50 values were 5.6, 21, and 14 nM, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Cione
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences (Department of Excellence 2018-2022), University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences (Department of Excellence 2018-2022), University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Hiroyuki Kagechika
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fabrizio Manetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy (Department of Excellence 2018-2022), University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Governa P, Caroleo MC, Carullo G, Aiello F, Cione E, Manetti F. FFAR1/GPR40: One target, different binding sites, many agonists, no drugs, but a continuous and unprofitable tug-of-war between ligand lipophilicity, activity, and toxicity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 41:127969. [PMID: 33771587 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.127969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The progress made so far in the elucidation of the structure of free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) and its secondary and ternary complexes with partial and full allosteric ligands led to the discovery of various putative binding regions on the FFAR1 surface. Attempts to develop FFAR1 agonists culminated with the identification of TAK-875 (1), whose phase 3 clinical trials were terminated due to potential liver toxicity. In the search of safer agonists, numerous classes of new compounds were designed, synthesized, and tested. Chemical decoration of the scaffolds was rationalized to reach a good balance between lipophilicity, activity, and toxicity. Today, targeting FFAR1 with positive modulators represents an attractive pharmacological tool for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), mainly because of the lack of hypoglycaemic side effects associated with several antidiabetic drugs currently available. Moreover, considering the involvement of FFAR1 in many physio-pathological processes, its agonists are also emerging as possible therapeutic tools for alleviating organ inflammation and fibrosis, as well as for the treatment of CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Governa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, Ed. Polifunzionale, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Aiello
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, Ed. Polifunzionale, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.
| | - Erika Cione
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, Ed. Polifunzionale, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Manetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
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Grundmann M, Bender E, Schamberger J, Eitner F. Pharmacology of Free Fatty Acid Receptors and Their Allosteric Modulators. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041763. [PMID: 33578942 PMCID: PMC7916689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological function of free fatty acids (FFAs) has long been regarded as indirect in terms of their activities as educts and products in metabolic pathways. The observation that FFAs can also act as signaling molecules at FFA receptors (FFARs), a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), has changed the understanding of the interplay of metabolites and host responses. Free fatty acids of different chain lengths and saturation statuses activate FFARs as endogenous agonists via binding at the orthosteric receptor site. After FFAR deorphanization, researchers from the pharmaceutical industry as well as academia have identified several ligands targeting allosteric sites of FFARs with the aim of developing drugs to treat various diseases such as metabolic, (auto)inflammatory, infectious, endocrinological, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. GPCRs are the largest group of transmembrane proteins and constitute the most successful drug targets in medical history. To leverage the rich biology of this target class, the drug industry seeks alternative approaches to address GPCR signaling. Allosteric GPCR ligands are recognized as attractive modalities because of their auspicious pharmacological profiles compared to orthosteric ligands. While the majority of marketed GPCR drugs interact exclusively with the orthosteric binding site, allosteric mechanisms in GPCR biology stay medically underexploited, with only several allosteric ligands currently approved. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the biology of FFAR1 (GPR40), FFAR2 (GPR43), FFAR3 (GPR41), FFAR4 (GPR120), and GPR84, including structural aspects of FFAR1, and discusses the molecular pharmacology of FFAR allosteric ligands as well as the opportunities and challenges in research from the perspective of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Grundmann
- Research and Early Development, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Eckhard Bender
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (E.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Jens Schamberger
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (E.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Frank Eitner
- Research and Early Development, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany;
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Kuranov SO, Luzina OA, Salakhutdinov NF. FFA1 (GPR40) Receptor Agonists Based on Phenylpropanoic Acid as Hypoglycemic Agents: Structure–Activity Relationship. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162020060151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Drzazga A, Cichońska E, Koziołkiewicz M, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Formation of βTC3 and MIN6 Pseudoislets Changes the Expression Pattern of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 Receptors and Improves Lysophosphatidylcholines-Potentiated Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion. Cells 2020; 9:E2062. [PMID: 32917053 PMCID: PMC7565006 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The impaired spatial arrangement and connections between cells creating islets of Langerhans as well as altered expression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) often lead to dysfunction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells and can significantly contribute to the development of diabetes. Differences in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) are noticeable not only in diabetic individuals but also in model pancreatic β cells, e.g., βTC3 and MIN6 β cell lines with impaired and normal insulin secretion, respectively. Now, we compare the ability of GPCR agonists (lysophosphatidylcholines bearing fatty acid chains of different lengths) to potentiate GSIS in βTC3 and MIN6 β cell models, cultured as adherent monolayers and in a form of pseudoislets (PIs) with pancreatic MS1 endothelial cells. Our aim was also to investigate differences in expression of the GPCRs responsive to LPCs in these experimental systems. Aggregation of β cells into islet-like structures greatly enhanced the expression of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 receptors. In contrast, the co-culture of βTC3 cells with endothelial cells converted the GPCR expression pattern closer to the pattern observed in MIN6 cells. Additionally, the efficiencies of various LPC species in βTC3-MS1 PIs also shifted toward the MIN6 cell model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Drzazga
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (E.C.); (M.K.)
| | | | | | - Edyta Gendaszewska-Darmach
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (E.C.); (M.K.)
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13
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Li Z, Zhou Z, Hu L, Deng L, Ren Q, Zhang L. ZLY032, the first-in-class dual FFA1/PPARδ agonist, improves glucolipid metabolism and alleviates hepatic fibrosis. Pharmacol Res 2020; 159:105035. [PMID: 32562818 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) are considered as anti-diabetic targets based on their role in improving insulin secretion and resistance. Based on their synergetic mechanisms, we have previously identified the first-in-class dual FFA1/PPARδ agonist ZLY032. After long-term treatment, ZLY032 significantly improved glucolipid metabolism and alleviated fatty liver in ob/ob mice and methionine choline-deficient diet-fed db/db mice, mainly by regulating triglyceride metabolism, fatty acid β-oxidation, lipid synthesis, inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Notably, ZLY032 exhibited greater advantages on lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function than TAK-875, the most advanced candidate of FFA1 agonists. Moreover, ZLY032 prevented CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by reducing the expressions of genes involved in inflammation and fibrosis development. These results suggest that the dual FFA1/PPARδ agonists such as ZLY032 may be useful for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Zongtao Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Lijun Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Liming Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Qiang Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Luyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
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14
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Li Z, Liu C, Zhou Z, Hu L, Deng L, Ren Q, Qian H. A novel FFA1 agonist, CPU025, improves glucose-lipid metabolism and alleviates fatty liver in obese-diabetic (ob/ob) mice. Pharmacol Res 2020; 153:104679. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Li Z, Zhou Z, Zhang L. Current status of GPR40/FFAR1 modulators in medicinal chemistry (2016–2019): a patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2019; 30:27-38. [DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2020.1698546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of ordinary universities of Guangdong province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Zongtao Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Luyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Evaluation of ordinary universities of Guangdong province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Construction and Application of New Drug Screening Model Systems, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, PR China
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