Human Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 8-Specific Agonistic Activity in Substituted Pyrimidine-2,4-diamines

J Med Chem. 2016 Sep 8;59(17):8082-93. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00872. Epub 2016 Aug 19.

Abstract

Activation of human toll-like receptor-8 (TLR8) evokes a distinct cytokine profile favoring the generation of Type 1 helper T cells. A multiplexed high-throughput screen had led to the identification of N(4)-butyl-5-iodo-6-methylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine as a pure TLR8 agonist, and a detailed structure-activity relationship study of this chemotype was undertaken. A butyl substituent at N(4) was optimal, and replacement of the 5-iodo group with chloro, bromo, or fluoro groups led to losses in potency, as did the introduction of aromatic bulk. Drawing from our previous structure-based design, several 5-alkylamino derivatives were evaluated. Significant enhancement of potency was achieved in 5-(4-aminobutyl)-N(4)-butyl-6-methylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine. This compound potently induced Th1-biasing IFN-γ and IL-12 in human blood, but lower levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. These results suggest that the inflammatory and reactogenic propensities of this compound could be considerably more favorable than other TLR8 agonists under evaluation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • B7-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interleukin-12 / blood
  • Interleukin-1beta / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Interleukin-8 / blood
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / genetics

Substances

  • B7-1 Antigen
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • Pyrimidines
  • TLR8 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma