Discovery of Triazinone Derivatives as Novel, Specific, and Direct NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors for the Treatment of DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis

J Med Chem. 2023 Oct 12;66(19):13428-13451. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00696. Epub 2023 Sep 27.

Abstract

NLRP3 is an intracellular sensor protein that causes inflammasome formation and pyroptosis in response to a wide range of stimuli. Aberrant activation of NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in various chronic inflammatory diseases, making it a promising target for therapeutic intervention. In this work, a series of novel triazinone inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome were designed and synthesized. Compound L38 was identified for its excellent activity and acceptable metabolic stability among 41 compounds. Additionally, mechanism studies indicated that L38 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis by suppressing gasdermin D cleavage, ASC oligomerization, and NLRP3 inflammasome assembly while leaving mitochondrial ROS production, lysosome damage, and chloride/potassium efflux unaffected. Further investigation revealed that L38 could bind to the NACHT domain to exert inflammatory properties. Importantly, L38 exhibited positive therapeutic effects in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis mouse model. Taken together, this study presents a promising inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome deserving further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / chemically induced
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Inflammasomes* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism
  • Pyroptosis

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein