Discovery of a First-in-Class GPR183 Antagonist for the Potential Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Jianbei Xi, Hongliang Gong, Zheng Li, Yue Li, Yong Wu, Yong Zhang, JianFei Wang, Guo-Huang Fan
Abstract
GPR183 is required for humoral immune responses, and its polymorphisms have been associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Despite increasing attention to GPR183 as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases, relatively few antagonists have been reported, and none of them have progressed to the clinical stage. In this study, we discovered a highly potent GPR183 antagonist, compound 32, with good aqueous solubility, excellent selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. Meanwhile, compound 32 showed exceptional efficacy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease in a mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, with an efficacious dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Functionally, compound 32 significantly reduced the swelling of paws and joints, the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, MCP-1, MMPs, and VEGF, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage damage, pannus formation, and bone erosion in the joints of CIA mice in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, these findings suggest compound 32 as a valuable molecule for further development.