Evolution and Discovery of Matrine Derivatives as a New Class of Anti-Hepatic Fibrosis Agents Targeting Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1)

J Med Chem. 2023 Jun 22;66(12):7969-7987. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00286. Epub 2023 Jun 9.

Abstract

A series of new tricyclic matrinane derivatives were continuously synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on genes and proteins related to hepatic fibrosis at the cellular level, including collagen type I α1 chain (COL1A1), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and matrix metalloprotein 2 (MMP-2). Among them, compound 6k exerted an appealing potency and significantly reduced liver injury and fibrosis in both bile duct ligation (BDL) rats and Mdr2 knockout mice. An activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) assay indicated that 6k might directly bind to Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) to inhibit its function and affect the expression of downstream liver fibrosis-related genes and thus regulate liver fibrosis. These results provided a potential novel target for the treatment of liver fibrosis and powerful information for the development of tricyclic matrinanes into promising anti-hepatic fibrosis agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifibrotic Agents
  • Fibrosis
  • Liver
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Matrines*
  • Mice
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Rats
  • Sarcoma, Ewing* / pathology

Substances

  • Antifibrotic Agents
  • Matrines
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS