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An Angle on MK2 Inhibition—Optimization and Evaluation of Prevention of Activation Inhibitors
Author(s) -
Hedström Ulf,
Norberg Monica,
Evertsson Emma,
Lever Sarah R.,
Munck af Rosenschöld Magnus,
Lönn Hans,
Bold Peter,
Käck Helena,
Berntsson Pia,
Vinblad Johanna,
Liu Jianming,
Welinder Anette,
Karlsson Johan,
Snijder Arjan,
Pardali Katerina,
Andersson Ulf,
Davis Andrew M.,
Mogemark Mickael
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemmedchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.817
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1860-7187
pISSN - 1860-7179
DOI - 10.1002/cmdc.201900303
Subject(s) - protein kinase a , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , kinase , chemistry , mitogen activated protein kinase , signal transduction , context (archaeology) , mapk/erk pathway , biochemistry , biology , paleontology
Abstract The mitogen‐activated protein kinase p38α pathway has been an attractive target for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. While a number of p38α inhibitors have been taken to the clinic, they have been limited by their efficacy and toxicological profile. A lead identification program was initiated to selectively target prevention of activation (PoA) of mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) rather than mitogen‐ and stress‐activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), both immediate downstream substrates of p38α, to improve the efficacy/safety profile over direct p38α inhibition. Starting with a series of pyrazole amide PoA MK2 inhibitor leads, and guided by structural chemistry and rational design, a highly selective imidazole 9 (2‐(3′‐(2‐amino‐2‐oxoethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐3‐yl)‐ N ‐(5‐( N , N ‐dimethylsulfamoyl)‐2‐methylphenyl)‐1‐propyl‐1 H ‐imidazole‐5‐carboxamide) and the orally bioavailable imidazole 18 (3‐methyl‐ N ‐(2‐methyl‐5‐sulfamoylphenyl)‐2‐( o ‐tolyl)imidazole‐4‐carboxamide) were discovered. The PoA concept was further evaluated by protein immunoblotting, which showed that the optimized PoA MK2 compounds, despite their biochemical selectivity against MSK1 phosphorylation, behaved similarly to p38 inhibitors in cellular signaling. This study highlights the importance of selective tool compounds in untangling complex signaling pathways, and although 9 and 18 were not differentiated from p38α inhibitors in a cellular context, they are still useful tools for further research directed to understand the role of MK2 in the p38α signaling pathway.