Structure-activity relationships in human Toll-like receptor 8-active 2,3-diamino-furo[2,3-c]pyridines

J Med Chem. 2012 Sep 27;55(18):8137-51. doi: 10.1021/jm301066h. Epub 2012 Sep 7.

Abstract

In our ongoing search toward identifying novel and synthetically simpler candidate vaccine adjuvants, we hypothesized that the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines, readily accessible via the Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé multicomponent reaction, would possess sufficient structural similarity with TLR7/8-agonistic imidazoquinolines. With pyridoxal as the aldehyde component, furo[2,3-c]pyridines, rather than the expected imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, were obtained, which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and crystallography. Several analogues were found to activate TLR8-dependent NF-κB signaling. In a focused library of furo[2,3-c]pyridines, a distinct SAR was observed with varying substituents at C2. In human PBMCs, none of the furo[2,3-c]pyridines showed any proinflammatory cytokine induction but upregulated several chemokine ligand genes. In immunization studies in rabbits, the most active compound showed prominent adjuvantic effects. The complete lack of proinflammatory cytokine induction coupled with strong adjuvantic activity of the novel furo[2,3-c]pyridines render this hitherto unknown chemotype an attractive class of compounds which are expected to be devoid of local or systemic reactogenicity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemical synthesis
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Pyridines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines / chemistry*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / agonists*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Pyridines
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8