Discovery and Structural Optimization of Toddacoumalone Derivatives as Novel PDE4 Inhibitors for the Topical Treatment of Psoriasis

J Med Chem. 2022 Mar 10;65(5):4238-4254. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02058. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated skin disorder manifesting in abnormal skin plaques, and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is an effective target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. Toddacoumalone is a natural PDE4 inhibitor with moderate potency and imperfect drug-like properties. To discover novel and potent PDE4 inhibitors with considerable druggability, a series of toddacoumalone derivatives were designed and synthesized, leading to the compound (2R,4S)-6-ethyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,8-dimethyl-4-(2-methylprop-1-en-1-yl)-2,3,4,6-tetrahydro-5H-pyrano[3,2-c][1,8]naphthyridin-5-one (33a) with high inhibitory potency (IC50 = 3.1 nM), satisfactory selectivity, favorable skin permeability, and a well-characterized binding mechanism. Encouragingly, topical administration of 33a exhibited remarkable therapeutic effects in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Psoriasis* / chemically induced
  • Psoriasis* / drug therapy
  • Skin

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4