Germacrane Sesquiterpenoids as a New Type of Anticardiac Fibrosis Agent Targeting Transforming Growth Factor β Type I Receptor

J Med Chem. 2019 Sep 12;62(17):7961-7975. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00708. Epub 2019 Aug 26.

Abstract

A germacrane sesquiterpenoid library containing 30 compounds (2-31) was constructed by structural modification of a major component aristolactone (1) from the traditional Chinese medicine Aristolochia yunnanensis. Compound 11 was identified as a promising anticardiac fibrosis agent by systematic screening of this library. 11 could inhibit the expression of fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagens in transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1)-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts at a micromolar level and ameliorate myocardial fibrosis and heart function in abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) rats at 5 mg/kg dose. Mechanistic study revealed that 11 inhibited the TGFβ/small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling pathway by targeting TGFβ type I receptor (IC50 = 14.9 ± 1.6 nM). The structure-activity relationships (SARs) study indicated that the unsaturated γ-lactone ring and oxidation of C-1 were important to the activity. These findings may provide a new type of structural motif for future anticardiac fibrosis drug development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / physiopathology
  • Constriction
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / isolation & purification
  • Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane