Optimization and biological evaluation of aminopyrimidine-based IκB kinase β inhibitors with potent anti-inflammatory effects

Eur J Med Chem. 2016 Nov 10:123:544-556. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.07.075. Epub 2016 Aug 1.

Abstract

Targeting IκB kinase β (IKKβ) can be a promising strategy in the development of a therapeutic treatment of inflammatory diseases because IKKβ is well-recognized as a key mediator of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In this study, we have successfully developed a structure-activity relationship (SAR) profile of the aminopyrimidine-based IKKβ inhibitors through the structure-based design strategy to improve the physicochemical properties and cellular activity in terms of the anti-inflammatory effects. Representative compounds exhibited desirable activity in nitric oxide (NO) reduction by inhibiting the synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and strongly inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α). The inhibitory effects of 8e on the phosphorylation in the NF-κB pathway further supported that the suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway induced the anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory effect; IKKβ; Inhibitor; NO reduction; Structure-activity relationship.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • NF-kappa B
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Solvents
  • 2-aminopyrimidine
  • Nitric Oxide
  • I-kappa B Kinase