Discovery of the first dual inhibitor of the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein and soluble epoxide hydrolase using pharmacophore-based virtual screening

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 20:7:42751. doi: 10.1038/srep42751.

Abstract

Leukotrienes (LTs) are pro-inflammatory lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid (AA) with roles in inflammatory and allergic diseases. The biosynthesis of LTs is initiated by transfer of AA via the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) to 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). FLAP inhibition abolishes LT formation exerting anti-inflammatory effects. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) converts AA-derived anti-inflammatory epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) to dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (di-HETEs). Its inhibition consequently also counteracts inflammation. Targeting both LT biosynthesis and the conversion of EETs with a dual inhibitor of FLAP and sEH may represent a novel, powerful anti-inflammatory strategy. We present a pharmacophore-based virtual screening campaign that led to 20 hit compounds of which 4 targeted FLAP and 4 were sEH inhibitors. Among them, the first dual inhibitor for sEH and FLAP was identified, N-[4-(benzothiazol-2-ylmethoxy)-2-methylphenyl]-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea with IC50 values of 200 nM in a cell-based FLAP test system and 20 nM for sEH activity in a cell-free assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Inhibitors / chemistry
  • 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell-Free System
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Leukotrienes / biosynthesis
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Inhibitors
  • 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Leukotrienes
  • Epoxide Hydrolases