Peripheral Selective Oxadiazolylphenyl Alanine Derivatives as Tryptophan Hydroxylase 1 Inhibitors for Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease

J Med Chem. 2021 Jan 28;64(2):1037-1053. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01560. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) has been recently suggested as a promising therapeutic target for treating obesity and fatty liver disease. A new series of 1,2,4-oxadiazolylphenyl alanine derivatives were identified as TPH1 inhibitors. Among them, compound 23a was the most active in vitro, with an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value of 42 nM, showed good liver microsomal stability, and showed no significant inhibition of CYP and hERG. Compound 23a inhibited TPH1 in the peripheral tissue with limited BBB penetration. In high-fat diet-fed mice, 23a reduced body weight gain, body fat, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Also, 23a improved glucose intolerance and energy expenditure. Taken together, compound 23a shows promise as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity and fatty liver diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity / drug effects
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Alanine / chemical synthesis*
  • Alanine / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Fatty Liver / drug therapy*
  • Glucose Intolerance / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • TPH1 protein, human
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase
  • Alanine