3-Pyridyl substituted aliphatic cycles as CYP11B2 inhibitors: aromaticity abolishment of the core significantly increased selectivity over CYP1A2

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48048. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048048. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases related to abnormally high aldosterone levels. On the basis of our previously identified lead compounds I-III, a series of 3-pyridinyl substituted aliphatic cycles were designed, synthesized and tested as CYP11B2 inhibitors. Aromaticity abolishment of the core was successfully applied to overcome the undesired CYP1A2 inhibition. This study resulted in a series of potent and selective CYP11B2 inhibitors, with compound 12 (IC(50) = 21 nM, SF = 50) as the most promising one, which shows no inhibition toward CYP1A2 at 2 µM. The design conception demonstrated in this study can be helpful in the optimization of CYP inhibitor drugs regarding CYP1A2 selectivity.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors*
  • Drug Design
  • Enalapril / pharmacology
  • Eplerenone
  • Fadrozole / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Spironolactone / analogs & derivatives
  • Spironolactone / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
  • Spironolactone
  • Eplerenone
  • Enalapril
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2
  • Fadrozole
  • exemestane

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.