Structural Modifications of Nimodipine Lead to Novel PDE1 Inhibitors with Anti-pulmonary Fibrosis Effects
Mengxing Huang, Yi‐Jing Tian, Chuan Han, Runduo Liu, Xi Xie, Yijun Yuan, Yiyi Yang, Zhe Li, Jianwen Chen, Hai‐Bin Luo, Yinuo Wu
Abstract
Our previous research demonstrated that phosphodiesterase-1 (PDE1) could work as a potential target against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Nimodipine, a calcium antagonist commonly used to improve hypertension, was reported to have inhibition against PDE1. Herein, a series of nimodipine analogues were discovered as novel selective and potent PDE1 inhibitors after structural modifications. Compound 2g exhibited excellent inhibitory activity against PDE1C (IC50 = 10 nM), high selectivity over other PDEs except for PDE4, and weak calcium channel antagonistic activity. Administration of compound 2g exhibited remarkable therapeutic effects in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin and prevented myofibroblast differentiation induced by TGF-β1. The expressions of PDE1B and PDE1C were found to be increased and concentrated in the focus of fibrosis. Compound 2g increased the levels of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the lungs of rats with pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the fact that the anti-fibrosis effects of 2g were through the regulation of cAMP and cGMP.