Electrophilic warhead-based design of compounds preventing NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis

J Med Chem. 2014 Dec 26;57(24):10366-82. doi: 10.1021/jm501072b. Epub 2014 Dec 4.

Abstract

Pyroptosis is a caspase-1-dependent pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death implicated in the pathogenesis of autoinflammatory diseases as well as in disorders characterized by excessive cell death and inflammation. Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is a key event in the pyroptotic cascade. In this study, we describe the synthesis and chemical tuning of α,β-unsaturated electrophilic warheads toward the development of antipyroptotic compounds. Their pharmacological evaluation and structure-activity relationships are also described. Compound 9 was selected as a model of this series, and it proved to be a reactive Michael acceptor, irreversibly trapping thiol nucleophiles, which prevented both ATP- and nigericin-triggered pyroptosis of human THP-1 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, 9 and other structurally related compounds, inhibited caspase-1 and NLRP3 ATPase activities. Our findings can contribute to the development of covalent, multitarget antipyroptotic compounds targeting molecular components of the NLRP3 inflammasome regulatory pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Caspase 1 / chemistry
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Design*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / drug effects*
  • Kidney Tubules
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Methacrylates / pharmacology
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Inflammasomes
  • Methacrylates
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • ethyl 2-((2-chlorophenyl)(hydroxy)methyl)acrylate
  • Caspase 1
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases