Small Molecule IL-36γ Antagonist as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Plaque Psoriasis

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 24;9(1):9089. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45626-w.

Abstract

IL-36 cytokines are pro-inflammatory members of the IL-1 family that are upregulated in inflammatory disorders. Specifically, IL-36γ is highly expressed in active psoriatic lesions and can drive pro-inflammatory processes in 3D human skin equivalents supporting a role for this target in skin inflammation. Small molecule antagonists of interleukins have been historically challenging to generate. Nevertheless, we performed a small molecule high-throughput screen to identify IL-36 antagonists using a novel TR-FRET binding assay. Several compounds, including 2-oxypyrimidine containing structural analogs of the marketed endothelin receptor A antagonist Ambrisentan, were identified as hits from the screen. A-552 was identified as a the most potent antagonist of human IL-36γ, but not the closely related family member IL-36α, was capable of attenuating IL-36γ induced responses in mouse and human disease models. Additionally, x-ray crystallography studies identified key amino acid residues in the binding pocket present in human IL-36γ that are absent in human IL-36α. A-552 represents a first-in-class small molecule antagonist of IL-36 signaling that could be used as a chemical tool to further investigate the role of this pathway in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / metabolism
  • Psoriasis / pathology
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / pathology
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / therapeutic use

Substances

  • IL36G protein, human
  • Interleukin-1
  • Small Molecule Libraries