Novel benzoxazole derivatives DCPAB and HPAB attenuate Th1 cell-mediated inflammation through T-bet suppression

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 7:7:42144. doi: 10.1038/srep42144.

Abstract

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a critical inflammatory cytokine, is primarily produced by T helper 1 (Th1) cells and accelerates the pathogenesis of inflammatory colitis. Pharmacological suppression of IFN-γ production attenuates dysregulated inflammatory responses and may be beneficial for treating inflammatory disease. In this study, we aimed to discover potent anti-inflammatory compounds that suppress IFN-γ production and found that the novel benzoxazole derivatives, 2-((3,4-dichlorophenyl) amino) benzo[d]xazol-5-ol (DCPAB) and 2-((3,4-hydroxyphenyl) amino) benzo[d]xazol-5-ol (HPAB), suppressed IFN-γ production by T cells. Treatment of CD4+ T cells with DCPAB and HPAB selectively inhibited Th1 cell development, and DCPAB more potently suppressed IFN-γ than HPAB did. Interestingly, DCPAB and HPAB significantly suppressed the expression of T-box containing protein expressed in T cells (T-bet) that activates IFN-γ gene transcription. DCPAB additionally suppressed transcriptional activity of T-bet on IFN-γ gene promoter, whereas HPAB had no effect on T-bet activity. IFN-γ suppressive activity of DCPAB and HPAB was impaired in the absence of T-bet but was retrieved by the restoration of T-bet in T-bet-deficient T cells. Furthermore, DCPAB and HPAB attenuated inflammatory colitis development that was induced by CD4+ T cells in vivo. We suggest that the novel benzoxazole derivatives, DCPAB and HPAB, may have therapeutic effects on inflammatory colitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • Benzoxazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Benzoxazoles / pharmacology*
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Colitis / drug therapy*
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Interferon-gamma / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / drug effects
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / pathology
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / deficiency
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / pathology
  • Th1 Cells / transplantation

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibodies
  • Benzoxazoles
  • CD3 Complex
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Interferon-gamma