Novel ureidopropanamide based N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonists with potential application for central nervous system disorders characterized by neuroinflammation

Eur J Med Chem. 2017 Dec 1:141:703-720. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.09.023. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Abstract

Formyl peptide receptor2 (FPR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor that plays critical roles in inflammatory reactions. FPR2-specific interaction can be possibly used to facilitate the resolution of pathological inflammatory responses by enhancing endogenous anti-inflammation systems. Starting from our lead agonist 5, we designed new ureidopropanamides derivatives able to activate FPR2 in transfected cells and human neutrophils. The new FPR2 agonists showed good stability towards oxidative metabolism in vitro. Moreover, selected compounds showed anti-inflammatory properties in LPS-stimulated rat primary microglial cells. (S)-3-(4-Cyanophenyl)-N-[[1-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-2-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)ureido]propanamide ((S)-17) emerged as prospective pharmacological tool to study the effects of FPR2 activation in the central nervous system (CNS) being able to reduce IL-1β and TNF-α levels in LPS-stimulated microglial cells and showing good permeation rate in hCMEC/D3 cells, an in vitro model of blood brain barrier. These results are very promising and can open new therapeutic perspectives in the treatment of CNS disorders characterized by neuroinflammation.

Keywords: Blood-brain barrier permeation; Formyl peptide receptor 2; Metabolic stability; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Ureidopropanamides.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / agonists*
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Uridine / chemical synthesis
  • Uridine / chemistry
  • Uridine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, Lipoxin
  • lipoxin A(4) receptor, rat
  • Uridine