Urokinase receptor derived peptides as potent inhibitors of the formyl peptide receptor type 1-triggered cell migration

Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Jan 1:143:348-360. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.030. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Abstract

The receptor for the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) is a widely recognized master regulator of cell migration. We and others have previously documented that the uPAR(84-95) sequence, interacts with the formyl peptide receptors (FPR)s, henceforth inducing cell migration of several cell lines, including leukocytes, and the synthetic shorter peptide (Ser88-Arg-Ser-Arg-Tyr92, SRSRY) retains chemotactic activity in vitro and in vivo. Recently, we have developed the head-to-tail cyclic analog [SRSRY], a new potent and stable inhibitor of monocyte trafficking. This prompted us to develop novel cyclic and linear analogs of [SRSRY] with the aim to broaden the knowledge about structure-activity relationships of peptide [SRSRY]. Herein we report their synthesis, effects on cell migration, conformational and docking analyses which served to envisage a new pharmacophore model for inhibitors of FPR1-triggered cell migration.

Keywords: Formyl peptide receptors; Peptide conformational analysis; Peptide inhibitors of cell migration; Peptide structure-activity relationships; Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / chemistry
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • FPR1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator