Discovery of bardoxolone derivatives as novel orally active necroptosis inhibitors

Small molecule inhibitors targeting heat shock protein 90: An updated review

As a molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays important roles in the folding, stabilization, activation, and degradation of over 500 client proteins, and is extensively involved in cell signaling, proliferation, and survival. Thus, it has emerged as an important target in a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. Therefore, targeted inhibition of HSP90 provides a valuable and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HSP90-related diseases. This review aims to systematically summarize the progress of research on HSP90 inhibitors in the last five years, focusing on their structural features, design strategies, and biological activities. It will refer to the natural products and their derivatives (including novobiocin derivatives, deguelin derivatives, quinone derivatives, and terpenoid derivatives), and to synthetic small molecules (including resorcinol derivatives, pyrazoles derivatives, triazole derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, benzamide derivatives, benzothiazole derivatives, and benzofuran derivatives). In addition, the major HSP90 small-molecule inhibitors that have moved into clinical trials to date are also presented here.

Chemical Constituents from the deep-sea-derived Fungus Aureobasidium melanogenum LUO5

Three new C10 and C12 aliphatic δ-lactones (1-3), three new fatty acid methyl esters (4-6), and eight known compounds (7-14) were isolated from the marine Aureobasidium sp. LUO5. Their structures were established by detailed analyses of the NMR, HRESIMS, optical rotation, and ECD data. All isolates were tested for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Notably, compound 4 displayed the strongest inhibitory effect with the IC50 value of 120.3 nM.

Drugs/agents for the treatment of ischemic stroke: Advances and perspectives

Ischemic stroke (IS) poses a significant threat to global human health and life. In recent decades, we have witnessed unprecedented progresses against IS, including thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and a few medicines that can assist in reopening the blocked brain vessels or serve as standalone treatments for patients who are not eligible for thrombolysis/thrombectomy therapies. However, the narrow time windows of thrombolysis/thrombectomy, coupled with the risk of hemorrhagic transformation, as well as the lack of highly effective and safe medications, continue to present big challenges in the acute treatment and long-term recovery of IS. In the past 3 years, several excellent articles have reviewed pathophysiology of IS and therapeutic medicines for the treatment of IS based on the pathophysiology. Regretfully, there is no comprehensive overview to summarize all categories of anti-IS drugs/agents designed and synthesized based on molecular mechanisms of IS pathophysiology. From medicinal chemistry view of point, this article reviews a multitude of anti-IS drugs/agents, including small molecule compounds, natural products, peptides, and others, which have been developed based on the molecular mechanism of IS pathophysiology, such as excitotoxicity, oxidative/nitrosative stresses, cell death pathways, and neuroinflammation, and so forth. In addition, several emerging medicines and strategies, including nanomedicines, stem cell therapy and noncoding RNAs, which recently appeared for the treatment of IS, are shortly introduced. Finally, the perspectives on the associated challenges and future directions of anti-IS drugs/agents are briefly provided to move the field forward.

Mechanisms of PANoptosis and relevant small-molecule compounds for fighting diseases

Pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis are mainly programmed cell death (PCD) pathways for host defense and homeostasis. PANoptosis is a newly distinct inflammatory PCD pathway that is uniquely regulated by multifaceted PANoptosome complexes and highlights significant crosstalk and coordination among pyroptosis (P), apoptosis (A), and/or necroptosis(N). Although some studies have focused on the possible role of PANpoptosis in diseases, the pathogenesis of PANoptosis is complex and underestimated. Furthermore, the progress of PANoptosis and related agonists or inhibitors in disorders has not yet been thoroughly discussed. In this perspective, we provide perspectives on PANoptosome and PANoptosis in the context of diverse pathological conditions and human diseases. The treatment targeting on PANoptosis is also summarized. In conclusion, PANoptosis is involved in plenty of disorders including but not limited to microbial infections, cancers, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), ischemia-reperfusion, and organic failure. PANoptosis seems to be a double-edged sword in diverse conditions, as PANoptosis induces a negative impact on treatment and prognosis in disorders like COVID-19 and ALI/ARDS, while PANoptosis provides host protection from HSV1 or Francisella novicida infection, and kills cancer cells and suppresses tumor growth in colorectal cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, and other cancers. Compounds and endogenous molecules focused on PANoptosis are promising therapeutic strategies, which can act on PANoptosomes-associated members to regulate PANoptosis. More researches on PANoptosis are needed to better understand the pathology of human conditions and develop better treatment.

Insight from Linker Investigations: Discovery of a Novel Phenylbenzothiazole Necroptosis Inhibitor Targeting Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 1 (RIPK1) from a Phenoxybenzothiazole Compound with Dual RIPK1/3 Targeting Activity

Necroptosis, a regulated cell death form, is a critical contributor in various inflammatory diseases. We previously identified a phenoxybenzothiazole SZM-610 as a RIPK1 and RIPK3 necroptosis inhibitor. We conducted extensive studies to investigate different chemical components' effects on antinecroptosis activity and RIPK1/3 activity. This study focused on replacing the linker in phenoxybenzothiazoles to assess its impact. Remarkably, compound 10, bearing a novel 3,2'-phenylbenzothiazole scaffold, exhibited fourfold more potent nanomolar activity than SZM-610. Unlike SZM-610, this compound inhibited RIPK1 (Kd = 17 nM) and eliminated RIPK3 inhibition at 5000 nM. Various linkages confirmed the 3,2'-phenylbenzothiazole superior potency. Moreover, this compound specifically inhibited necroptosis by inhibiting RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL phosphorylation. In a TNF-induced inflammatory model, it dose-dependently (1.25-5 mg/kg) protected mice from hypothermia and death, surpassing SZM-610's effectiveness. These findings highlight 3,2'-phenylbenzothiazole as a promising lead structure for developing drugs targeting necroptosis-related diseases.

LncRNA MALAT1 Promoted Neuronal Necroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Mice by Stabilizing HSP90

The objective of this research was to investigate the role of lncRNA MALAT1 and HSP90 in the regulation of neuronal necroptosis in mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR). We used male C57BL/6J mice to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and conducted in vitro experiments using the HT-22 mouse hippocampal neuron cell line. The cellular localization of NeuN and MLKL, as well as the expression levels of neuronal necroptosis factors, MALAT1, and HSP90 were analyzed. Cell viability and necroptosis were assessed, and we also investigated the relationship between MALAT1 and HSP90. The results showed that MALAT1 expression increased after MCAO and oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) treatment in both cerebral tissues and cells compared with the control group. The levels of neuronal necroptosis factors and the co-localization of NeuN and MLKL were also increased in MCAO mice compared with the Sham group. MALAT1 was found to interact with HSP90, and inhibition of HSP90 expression led to decreased phosphorylation levels of neuronal necroptosis factors. Inhibition of MALAT1 expression resulted in decreased co-localization levels of NeuN and MLKL, decreased phosphorylation levels of neuronal necroptosis factors, and reduced necroptosis rate in cerebral tissues. Furthermore, inhibiting MALAT1 expression also led to a shorter half-life of HSP90, increased ubiquitination level, and decreased phosphorylation levels of neuronal necroptosis factors in cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that lncRNA MALAT1 promotes neuronal necroptosis in CIR mice by stabilizing HSP90.

Protective Effect of a Novel RIPK1 Inhibitor, Compound 4-155, in Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Sepsis

Excessive inflammatory response is a critical pathogenic factor for the tissue damage and organ failure caused by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. In recent years, drugs targeting RIPK1 have proved to be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy. In this study, we identified a novel anti-inflammatory lead compound 4-155 that selectively targets RIPK1. Compound 4-155 significantly inhibited necroptosis of cells, and its activity is about 10 times higher than the widely studied Nec-1 s. The anti-necroptosis effect of 4-155 was mainly dependent on the inhibition of phosphorylation of RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL. In addition, we demonstrated that 4-155 specifically binds RIPK1 by drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), immunoprecipitation, kinase assay, and immunofluorescence microscopy. More importantly, compound 4-155 could inhibit excessive inflammation in vivo by blocking RIPK1-mediated necroptosis and not influence the activation of MAPK and NF-κB, which is more potential for the subsequent drug development. Compound 4-155 effectively protected mice from TNF-induced SIRS and sepsis. Using different doses, we found that 6 mg/kg oral administration of compound 4-155 could increase the survival rate of SIRS mice from 0 to 90%, and the anti-inflammatory effect of 4-155 in vivo was significantly stronger than Nec-1 s at the same dose. Consistently, 4-155 significantly reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and protected the liver and kidney from excessive inflammatory damages. Taken together, our results suggested that compound 4-155 could inhibit excessive inflammation in vivo by blocking RIPK1-mediated necroptosis, providing a new lead compound for the treatment of SIRS and sepsis.

Repurposing of Ibrutinib and Quizartinib as potent inhibitors of necroptosis

Necroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that has been implicated in multiple diseases. TNF-induced necroptosis is regulated by necrosomes, complexes consisting of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL. In this study, by screening of a small-compound library, we identified dozens of compounds that inhibited TNF-induced necroptosis. According to the mechanisms by which they inhibited necroptosis, these compounds were classified into different groups. We then identified Ibrutinib as an inhibitor of RIPK3 and found that Quizartinib protected against the TNF-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome in mice by inhibiting the activation of RIPK1. Altogether, our work revealed dozens of necroptosis inhibitors, suggesting new potential approaches for treating necroptosis-related diseases.

Pharmaceutical Therapies for Necroptosis in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality are increasing due to an aging population and the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Therefore, innovative cardioprotective measures are required to reduce cardiovascular disease morbidity/mortality. The role of necroptosis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI-RI) is beyond doubt, but the molecular mechanisms of necroptosis remain incompletely elucidated. Growing evidence suggests that MI-RI frequently results from the superposition of multiple pathways, with autophagy, ferroptosis, and CypD-mediated mitochondrial damage, and necroptosis all contributing to MI-RI. Receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPK1 and RIPK3) as well as mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) activation is accompanied by the activation of other signaling pathways, such as Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), NF-κB, and JNK-Bnip3. These pathways participate in the pathological process of MI-RI. Recent studies have shown that inhibitors of necroptosis can reduce myocardial inflammation, infarct size, and restore cardiac function. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms of necroptosis, the links between necroptosis and other pathways, and current breakthroughs in pharmaceutical therapies for necroptosis.

Neuroprotective Strategies for Stroke by Natural Products: Advances and Perspectives

Cerebral ischemic stroke is a disease with high prevalence and incidence. Its management focuses on rapid reperfusion with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy. Both therapeutic strategies reduce disability, but the therapy time window is short, and the risk of bleeding is high. Natural products (NPs) have played a key role in drug discovery, especially for cancer and infectious diseases. However, they have made little progress in clinical translation and pose challenges to the treatment of stroke. Recently, with the investigation of precise mechanisms in cerebral ischemic stroke and the technological development of NP-based drug discovery, NPs are addressing these challenges and opening up new opportunities in cerebral stroke. Thus, in this review, we first summarize the structure and function of diverse NPs, including flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, lactones, quinones, alkaloids, and glycosides. Then we propose the comprehensive neuroprotective mechanism of NPs in cerebral ischemic stroke, which involves complex cascade processes of oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, apoptosis or ferroptosis-related cell death, inflammatory response, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Overall, we stress the neuroprotective effect of NPs and their mechanism on cerebral ischemic stroke for a better understanding of the advances and perspective in NPs application that may provide a rationale for the development of innovative therapeutic regimens in ischemic stroke.

Role of Necroptosis in Central Nervous System Diseases

Necroptosis is a type of precisely regulated necrotic cell death activated in caspase-deficient conditions. Multiple factors initiate the necroptotic signaling pathway, including toll-like receptor 3/4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), dsRNA viruses, and T cell receptors. Presently, TNF-induced necroptosis via the phosphorylation of three key proteins, receptor-interacting protein kinase 1, receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein, is the best-characterized process. Necroptosis induced by Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP-1) and toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon (TRIF) plays a significant role in infectious diseases, such as influenza A virus, Zika virus, and herpesvirus infection. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the close association of necroptosis with multiple diseases, and disrupting necroptosis has been confirmed to be effective for treating (or managing) these diseases. The central nervous system (CNS) exhibits unique physiological structures and immune characteristics. Necroptosis may occur without the sequential activation of signal proteins, and the necroptosis of supporting cells has more important implications in disease development. Additionally, necroptotic signals can be activated in the absence of necroptosis. Here, we summarize the role of necroptosis and its signal proteins in CNS diseases and characterize typical necroptosis regulators to provide a basis for the further development of therapeutic strategies for treating such diseases. In the present review, relevant information has been consolidated from recent studies (from 2010 until the present), excluding the patents in this field.

HSP90 mediates the connection of multiple programmed cell death in diseases

Heat shock protein (HSP) 90, an important component of the molecular chaperone network, is closely concerned with cellular signaling pathways and stress response by participating in the process of maturation and activation of client proteins, playing a crucial role both in the normal and abnormal operation of the organism. In functionally defective tissues, programmed cell death (PCD) is one of the regulable fundamental mechanisms mediated by HSP90, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and others. Here, we show the complex relationship between HSP90 and different types of PCD in various diseases, and discuss the possibility of HSP90 as the common regulatory nodal in multiple PCD, which would provide a new perspective for the therapeutic approaches in disease.

Necroptosis: A Pathogenic Negotiator in Human Diseases

Over the past few decades, mechanisms of programmed cell death have attracted the scientific community because they are involved in diverse human diseases. Initially, apoptosis was considered as a crucial mechanistic pathway for programmed cell death; recently, an alternative regulated mode of cell death was identified, mimicking the features of both apoptosis and necrosis. Several lines of evidence have revealed that dysregulation of necroptosis leads to pathological diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, lung, renal, hepatic, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases. Regulated forms of necrosis are executed by death receptor ligands through the activation of receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)-1/3 and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), resulting in the formation of a necrosome complex. Many papers based on genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that RIPKs and MLKL are the key regulatory effectors during the progression of multiple pathological diseases. This review focused on illuminating the mechanisms underlying necroptosis, the functions of necroptosis-associated proteins, and their influences on disease progression. We also discuss numerous natural and chemical compounds and novel targeted therapies that elicit beneficial roles of necroptotic cell death in malignant cells to bypass apoptosis and drug resistance and to provide suggestions for further research in this field.

Exploring the underlying mechanism of oleanolic acid treating glioma by transcriptome and molecular docking

OBJECTIVE

Oleanolic acid is a promising drug for treating gliomas, but its underlying mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to determine the potential effect of oleanolic acid on glioma and its mechanism.

METHODS

Firstly, the effects of oleanolic acid on the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of glioma U251 cells were detected by in vitro experiments such as MTT assay, cell cloning, and flow cytometry. The transcriptome data of U251 cells treated with oleanolic acid and untreated were sequenced by mRNA, and then the differentially expressed genes were analyzed by gene ontology (GO), genomic encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and protein interaction topology analysis. The underlying mechanism of oleanolic acid was predicted, and the related protein interaction network was constructed. Finally, Western blotting and molecular docking techniques verified the mRNA sequencing results.

RESULTS

Oleanolic acid could effectively inhibit the proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of U251 cells and induce apoptosis. A total of 446 differentially expressed genes were detected by mRNA sequencing, of which 96 genes were up-regulated and 350 down-regulated. Oleanolic acid induces the TNF signal pathway and NOD-like receptor signal pathway at the intracellular level. In addition, OAS2, OASL, IFIT3, RSAD2, and IRF1 may be the core targets of oleanolic acid in treating glioma.

CONCLUSION

Transcriptome combined with molecular docking technique is used to predict the possible mechanism of oleanolic acid in the treatment of glioma, which provides new ideas and insights for developing and researching antitumor drugs.

Small molecules as modulators of regulated cell death against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury contributes to disability and mortality worldwide. Due to the complicated mechanisms and lack of proper therapeutic targets, few interventions are available that specifically target the pathogenesis of IR injury. Regulated cell death (RCD) of endothelial and parenchymal cells is recognized as the promising intervening target. Recent advances in IR injury suggest that small molecules exhibit beneficial effects on various RCD against IR injury, including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and parthanatos. Here, we describe the mechanisms behind these novel promising therapeutic targets and explain the machinery powering the small molecules. These small molecules exert protection by targeting endothelial or parenchymal cells to alleviate IR injury. Therapies of the ideal combination of small molecules targeting multiple cell types have shown potent synergetic therapeutic effects, laying the foundation for novel strategies to attenuate IR injury.

Targeting Necroptosis as a Promising Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder featured by memory loss and cognitive default. However, there has been no effective therapeutic approach to prevent the development of AD and the available therapies are only to alleviate some symptoms with limited efficacy and severe side effects. Necroptosis is a new kind of cell death, being regarded as a genetically programmed and regulated pattern of necrosis. Increasing evidence reveals that necroptosis is tightly related to the occurrence and development of AD. This review aims to summarize the potential role of necroptosis in AD progression and the therapeutic capacity of targeting necroptosis for AD patients.

Novel Soloxolone Amides as Potent Anti-Glioblastoma Candidates: Design, Synthesis, In Silico Analysis and Biological Activities In Vitro and In Vivo

The modification of natural or semisynthetic triterpenoids with amines can be explored as a promising strategy for improving their pharmacological properties. Here, we report the design and synthesis of 11 novel amide derivatives of soloxolone methyl (SM), a cyano enone-bearing derivative of 18βH-glycyrrhetinic acid. Analysis of their bioactivities in vitro and in silico revealed their high toxicity against a panel of tumor cells (average IC50(24 h) = 3.7 µM) and showed that the formation of amide moieties at the C-30 position of soloxolone did not enhance the cytotoxicity of derivatives toward tumor cells compared to SM, though it can impart an ability to pass across the blood–brain barrier. Further HPLC–MS/MS and mechanistic studies verified significant brain accumulation of hit compound 12 (soloxolone tryptamide) in a murine model and showed its high anti-glioblastoma potential. It was found that 12 induced ROS-dependent and autophagy-independent death of U87 and U118 glioblastoma cells via mitochondrial apoptosis and effectively blocked their clonogenicity, motility and capacity to form vessel-like structures. Further in vivo study demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of 12 at a dosage of 20 mg/kg effectively inhibited the growth of U87 glioblastoma in a mouse xenograft model, reducing the proliferative potential of the tumor and leading to a depletion of collagen content and normalization of blood vessels in tumor tissue. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that 12 can be considered as a promising leading compound for drug development in glioblastoma treatment.

The role of necroptosis in disease and treatment

Necroptosis, a distinctive type of programmed cell death different from apoptosis or necrosis, triggered by a series of death receptors such as tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2, and Fas. In case that apoptosis process is blocked, necroptosis pathway is initiated with the activation of three key downstream mediators which are receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). The whole process eventually leads to destruction of the cell membrane integrity, swelling of organelles, and severe inflammation. Over the past decade, necroptosis has been found widely involved in life process of human beings and animals. In this review, we attempt to explore the therapeutic prospects of necroptosis regulators by describing its molecular mechanism and the role it played in pathological condition and tissue homeostasis, and to summarize the research and clinical applications of corresponding regulators including small molecule inhibitors, chemicals, Chinese herbal extracts, and biological agents in the treatment of various diseases.

Ligand-based substituent-anchoring design of selective receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 necroptosis inhibitors for ulcerative colitis therapy

Receptor-interacting protein (RIP) kinase 1 is involved in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC) by regulating necroptosis and inflammation. Our group previously identified TAK-632 (5) as an effective necroptosis inhibitor by dual-targeting RIP1 and RIP3. In this study, using ligand-based substituent-anchoring design strategy, we focused on the benzothiazole ring to obtain a series of TAK-632 analogues showing significantly improving on the anti-necroptosis activity and RIP1 selectivity over RIP3. Among them, a conformational constrained fluorine-substituted derivative (25) exhibited 333-fold selectivity for RIP1 (K_d = 15 nmol/L) than RIP3 (K_d > 5000 nmol/L). This compound showed highly potent activity against cell necroptosis (EC₅₀ = 8 nmol/L) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) induced by TNF-α in vivo. Especially, it was able to exhibit remarkable anti-inflammatory treatment efficacy in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. Taken together, the highly potent, selective, orally active anti-necroptosis inhibitor represents promising candidate for clinical treatment of UC.

Novel insights into RIPK1 as a promising target for future Alzheimer's disease treatment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an intractable neurodegenerative disease showing a clinical manifestation with memory loss, cognitive impairment and behavioral dysfunction. The predominant pathological characteristics of AD include neuronal loss, β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and hyperphosphorylated Tau induced neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), while considerable studies proved these could be triggered by neuronal death and neuroinflammation. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) is a serine/threonine kinase existed at the cross-point of cell death and inflammatory signaling pathways. Emerging investigations have shed light on RIPK1 for its potential role in AD progression. The present review makes a bird's eye view on the functions of RIPK1 and mainly focus on the underlying linkages between RIPK1 and AD from comprehensive aspects including neuronal death, Aβ and Tau, inflammasome activation, BBB rupture, AMPK/mTOR, mitochondrial dysfunction and O-glcNAcylation. Moreover, the discovery of RIPK1 inhibitors, ongoing clinical trials along with future RIPK1-targeted therapeutics are also reviewed.

Structure-based molecular hybridization design of Keap1-Nrf2 inhibitors as novel protective agents of acute lung injury

Blocking the Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway represents as a promising strategy to reduce oxidative stress and related-inflammation, including acute lung injury (ALI). NXPZ-2, a naphthalensulfonamide derivative, was previously reported to effectively inhibit the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) by our group. In the present work, a series of novel isothiocyanate-containing naphthalensulfonamides with the thioether, sulfoxide and sulfone moieties were designed by a structure-based molecular hybridization strategy using NXPZ-2 and the Nrf2 activator sulforaphane. They possessed good Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitory activity and low cytotoxicity. The molecular docking study was performed to further explain the different activity of the thioether-, sulfoxide- and sulfone-containing naphthalensulfonamides. Among these new derivatives, 2-((N-(4-((N-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-4-((3-isothiocyanatopropyl)sulfinyl)phenyl)sulfonamido) naphthalen-1-yl)-4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonamido)acetamide (SCN-16) showed a good K_D2 value of 0.455 μM to disrupt the PPI. In an LPS-induced peritoneal macrophage cell model, this compound could cause a significant increase in the nuclear Nrf2 protein, decrease in the cytosolic Nrf2 protein, and further elevate the downstream protective enzymes HO-1 and NQO-1, which were better than the lead compound NXPZ-2 and sulforaphane. What's more, the production of ROS and NO and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α were also suppressed. In the LPS-induced ALI model, SCN-16 could significantly reduce LPS-induced inflammations and alleviate lung injuries by triggering Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Collectively, our results suggested that SCN-16 could be a novel lead compound targeting Keap1-Nrf2 protective pathway for clinical treatment of ALI.