Design, Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Dual Inhibitors of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase and 5-Lipoxygenase

J Med Chem. 2020 Oct 22;63(20):11498-11521. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00561. Epub 2020 Oct 12.

Abstract

Inhibition of multiple enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade leads to synergistic anti-inflammatory effects. Merging of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) pharmacophores led to the discovery of a dual 5-LOX/sEH inhibitor, which was subsequently optimized in terms of potency toward both targets and metabolic stability. The optimized lead structure displayed cellular activity in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, oral bioavailability, and target engagement in vivo and demonstrated profound anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic efficiency in a kidney injury model caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice. These results pave the way for investigating the therapeutic potential of dual 5-LOX/sEH inhibitors in other inflammation- and fibrosis-related disease models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / genetics
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Design*
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / enzymology
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase
  • Epoxide Hydrolases
  • EPHX2 protein, human