Development of the First Two-Pore Domain Potassium Channel TWIK-Related K+ Channel 1-Selective Agonist Possessing in Vivo Antinociceptive Activity

J Med Chem. 2017 Feb 9;60(3):1076-1088. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01285. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Abstract

The TWIK-related K+ channel, TREK-1, has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for the development of a novel class of analgesic drugs, suggesting that activation of TREK-1 could result in pain inhibition. Here, we report the synthesis of a series of substituted acrylic acids (1-54) based on our previous work with caffeate esters. The analogues were evaluated for their ability to modulate TREK-1 channel by electrophysiology and for their in vivo antinociceptive activity (acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate assays), leading to the identification of a series of novel molecules able to activate TREK-1 and displaying potent antinociceptive activity in vivo. Furyl analogue 36 is the most promising of the series.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / agonists*

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain
  • potassium channel protein TREK-1