Discovery and Optimization of Selective and in Vivo Active Inhibitors of the Lysophosphatidylserine Lipase α/β-Hydrolase Domain-Containing 12 (ABHD12)

J Med Chem. 2019 Feb 14;62(3):1643-1656. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01958. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Abstract

ABHD12 is a membrane-bound hydrolytic enzyme that acts on the lysophosphatidylserine (lyso-PS) and lysophosphatidylinositol (lyso-PI) classes of immunomodulatory lipids. Human and mouse genetic studies point to a key role for the ABHD12-(lyso)-PS/PI pathway in regulating (neuro)immunological functions in both the central nervous system and periphery. Selective inhibitors of ABHD12 would offer valuable pharmacological probes to complement genetic models of ABHD12-regulated (lyso)-PS/PI metabolism and signaling. Here, we provide a detailed description of the discovery and activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) guided optimization of reversible thiourea inhibitors of ABHD12 that culminated in the identification of DO264 as a potent, selective, and in vivo active ABHD12 inhibitor. We also show that DO264, but not a structurally related inactive control probe (S)-DO271, augments inflammatory cytokine production from human THP-1 macrophage cells. The in vitro and in vivo properties of DO264 designate this compound as a suitable chemical probe for studying the biological functions of ABHD12-(lyso)-PS/PI pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Piperidines / toxicity
  • Pyridines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / toxicity
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • THP-1 Cells
  • Thiourea / chemical synthesis
  • Thiourea / pharmacology*
  • Thiourea / toxicity

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Piperidines
  • Pyridines
  • ABHD12 protein, human
  • Abhd12 protein, mouse
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases
  • Thiourea