Tofacitinib and peficitinib inhibitors of Janus kinase for autoimmune disease treatment: a quantum biochemistry approach

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2024 May 1;26(17):13420-13431. doi: 10.1039/d3cp06332a.

Abstract

Autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ulcerative colitis, are associated with an uncontrolled production of cytokines leading to the pronounced inflammatory response of these disorders. Their therapy is currently focused on the inhibition of cytokine receptors, such as the Janus kinase (JAK) protein family. Tofacitinib and peficitinib are JAK inhibitors that have been recently approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, an in-depth analysis was carried out through quantum biochemistry to understand the interactions involved in the complexes formed by JAK1 and tofacitinib or peficitinib. Computational analyses provided new insights into the binding mechanisms between tofacitinib or peficitinib and JAK1. The essential amino acid residues that support the complex are also identified and reported. Additionally, we report new interactions, such as van der Waals; hydrogen bonds; and alkyl, pi-alkyl, and pi-sulfur forces, that stabilize the complexes. The computational results revealed that peficitinib presents a similar affinity to JAK1 compared to tofacitinib based on their interaction energies.

MeSH terms

  • Adamantane / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adamantane / chemistry
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Janus Kinase 1* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase 1* / chemistry
  • Janus Kinase 1* / metabolism
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Niacinamide* / analogs & derivatives*
  • Niacinamide* / chemistry
  • Piperidines* / chemistry
  • Piperidines* / pharmacology
  • Piperidines* / therapeutic use
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines* / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines* / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Quantum Theory

Substances

  • tofacitinib
  • Pyrimidines
  • Piperidines
  • Niacinamide
  • peficitinib
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors
  • Adamantane
  • Pyrroles
  • JAK1 protein, human