Design, Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Relationship of N-Aryl-N′-(thiophen-2-yl)thiourea Derivatives as Novel and Specific Human TLR1/2 Agonists for Potential Cancer Immunotherapy

Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
2021.0

Abstract

The previous virtual screening of ten million compounds yielded two novel nonlipopeptide-like chemotypes as TLR2 agonists. Herein, we present the chemical optimization of our initial hit, 1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)urea, which resulted in the identification of SMU-C80 (EC<sub>50</sub> = 31.02 ± 1.01 nM) as a TLR2-specific agonist with a 370-fold improvement in bioactivity. Mechanistic studies revealed that SMU-C80, through TLR1/2, recruits the adaptor protein MyD88 and triggers the NF-κB pathway to release cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β from human, but not murine, cells. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first species-specific TLR1/2 agonist reported until now. Moreover, SMU-C80 increased the percentage of T, B, and NK cells <i>ex vivo</i> and activated the immune cells, which suppressed cancer cell growth <i>in vitro</i>. In summary, we obtained a highly efficient and specific human TLR1/2 agonist that acts through the MyD88 and NF-κB pathway, facilitating cytokine release and the simultaneous activation of immune cells that in turn affects the apoptosis of cancer cells.

Knowledge Graph

Similar Paper

Design, Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Relationship of N-Aryl-N′-(thiophen-2-yl)thiourea Derivatives as Novel and Specific Human TLR1/2 Agonists for Potential Cancer Immunotherapy
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021.0
Euodenine A: A Small-Molecule Agonist of Human TLR4
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2014.0
Discovery of novel aporphine alkaloid derivative as potent TLR2 antagonist reversing macrophage polarization and neutrophil infiltration against acute inflammation
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023.0
Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)-7 and -8 Modulatory Activities of Dimeric Imidazoquinolines
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2012.0
Discovery, structure-activity relationship study and biological evaluation of 2-thioureidothiophene-3-carboxylates as a novel class of C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) antagonists
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2020.0
Structure-activity relationship study and biological evaluation of SAC-Garlic acid conjugates as novel anti-inflammatory agents
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2019.0
Development, Optimization, and In Vivo Validation of New Imidazopyridine Chemotypes as Dual TLR7/TLR9 Antagonists through Activity-Directed Sequential Incorporation of Relevant Structural Subunits
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2022.0
Structural Evolution and Translational Potential for Agonists and Antagonists of Endosomal Toll-like Receptors
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021.0
Novel Lysine-Based Thioureas as Mechanism-Based Inhibitors of Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) with Anticancer Activity in a Colorectal Cancer Murine Model
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2019.0
A Novel Bitriazolyl Acyclonucleoside Endowed with Dual Antiproliferative and Immunomodulatory Activity
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2012.0