Discovery of a First-in-Class GPR183 Antagonist for the Potential Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

J Med Chem. 2023 Dec 14;66(23):15926-15943. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01364. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

GPR183 is required for humoral immune responses, and its polymorphisms have been associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Despite increasing attention to GPR183 as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases, relatively few antagonists have been reported, and none of them have progressed to the clinical stage. In this study, we discovered a highly potent GPR183 antagonist, compound 32, with good aqueous solubility, excellent selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. Meanwhile, compound 32 showed exceptional efficacy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, with an efficacious dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Functionally, compound 32 significantly reduced the swelling of paws and joints, the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, MCP-1, MMPs, and VEGF, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, pannus formation, and bone erosion in the joints of CIA mice in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, these findings suggest compound 32 as a valuable molecule for further development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental* / chemically induced
  • Arthritis, Experimental* / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Mice

Substances

  • Cytokines