Discovery of Novel Imidazo[4,5- c]quinoline Derivatives to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) by Inhibiting Multiple Proinflammatory Signaling Pathways and Restoring Intestinal Homeostasis

J Med Chem. 2022 Sep 22;65(18):11949-11969. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00390. Epub 2022 Sep 2.

Abstract

As a complex pathogenesis driven by immune inflammatory factors and intestinal microbiota, the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may rely on the comprehensive regulation of these important pathogenic factors to reach a favorable therapeutic effect. In the current study, we discovered a series of imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline derivatives that potently and simultaneously inhibited two primary proinflammatory signaling pathways JAK/STAT and NF-κB. Especially, lead compound 8l showed potent inhibitory activities against interferon-stimulated genes (IC50: 3.3 nM) and NF-κB pathways (IC50: 150.7 nM) and decreased the release of various proinflammatory factors at the nanomolar level, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ. In vivo, 8l produced a strong anti-inflammatory activity in both dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced acute enteritis models and restored the structural composition of gut microbiota. Collectively, this study provided valuable lead compounds for the treatment of IBD and revealed the great anti-inflammatory potential of the simultaneous suppression of JAK/STAT and NF-κB signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Colitis* / chemically induced
  • Colitis* / drug therapy
  • Colitis* / metabolism
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / metabolism
  • Interferons
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / pharmacology
  • Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-12
  • Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
  • Interferons
  • Dextran Sulfate