Potent and Selective Agonists of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate 1 (S1P1): Discovery and SAR of a Novel Isoxazole Based Series

J Med Chem. 2016 Mar 24;59(6):2820-40. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00089. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Abstract

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is the endogenous ligand for the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors (S1P1-5) and evokes a variety of cellular responses through their stimulation. The interaction of S1P with the S1P receptors plays a fundamental physiological role in a number of processes including vascular development and stabilization, lymphocyte migration, and proliferation. Agonism of S1P1, in particular, has been shown to play a significant role in lymphocyte trafficking from the thymus and secondary lymphoid organs, resulting in immunosuppression. This article will detail the discovery and SAR of a potent and selective series of isoxazole based full agonists of S1P1. Isoxazole 6d demonstrated impressive efficacy when administered orally in a rat model of arthritis and in a mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Discovery
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Isoxazoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Isoxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Lymphatic System / cytology
  • Lymphatic System / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lysophospholipids / agonists*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Sphingosine / agonists
  • Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Isoxazoles
  • Lysophospholipids
  • sphingosine 1-phosphate
  • Sphingosine