AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor and regulator of intracellular and whole-body energy metabolism. We have identified a thienopyridone family of AMPK activators. A-769662 directly stimulated partially purified rat liver AMPK (EC50 = 0.8 microM) and inhibited fatty acid synthesis in primary rat hepatocytes (IC50 = 3.2 microM). Short-term treatment of normal Sprague Dawley rats with A-769662 decreased liver malonyl CoA levels and the respiratory exchange ratio, VCO2/VO2, indicating an increased rate of whole-body fatty acid oxidation. Treatment of ob/ob mice with 30 mg/kg b.i.d. A-769662 decreased hepatic expression of PEPCK, G6Pase, and FAS, lowered plasma glucose by 40%, reduced body weight gain and significantly decreased both plasma and liver triglyceride levels. These results demonstrate that small molecule-mediated activation of AMPK in vivo is feasible and represents a promising approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.
A highly potent and selective DGAT-1 inhibitor was identified and used in rodent models of obesity and postprandial chylomicron excursion to validate DGAT-1 inhibition as a novel approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Specifically, compound 4a conferred weight loss and a reduction in liver triglycerides when dosed chronically in DIO mice and depleted serum triglycerides following a lipid challenge in a dose-dependent manner, thus, reproducing major phenotypical characteristics of DGAT-1(-/-) mice.
Effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive and are critically needed since the burden of these diseases increases across an aging global population. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter that binds to soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to produce cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Impairment of this pathway has been demonstrated in neurodegenerative diseases. Normalizing deficient NO-cGMP signaling could address multiple pathophysiological features of neurodegenerative diseases. sGC stimulators are small molecules that synergize with NO, activate sGC, and increase cGMP production. Many systemic sGC stimulators have been characterized and advanced into clinical development for a variety of non-central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. Here, we disclose the discovery of CY6463, the first brain-penetrant sGC stimulator in clinical development for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and demonstrate its ability to improve neuronal activity, mediate neuroprotection, and increase cognitive performance in preclinical models. In several cellular assays, CY6463 was demonstrated to be a potent stimulator of sGC. In agreement with the known effects of sGC stimulation in the vasculature, CY6463 elicits decreases in blood pressure in both rats and mice. Relative to a non-CNS penetrant sGC stimulator, rodents treated with CY6463 had higher cGMP levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging-blood-oxygen-level-dependent (fMRI-BOLD) signals, and cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) gamma-band oscillatory power. Additionally, CY6463 improved cognitive performance in a model of cognitive disruption induced by the administration of a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. In models of neurodegeneration, CY6463 treatment increased long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices from a Huntington’s disease mouse model and decreased the loss of dendritic spines in aged and Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. In a model of diet-induced obesity, CY6463 reduced markers of inflammation in the plasma. Furthermore, CY6463 elicited an additive increase in cortical gamma-band oscillatory power when co-administered with donepezil: the standard of care in Alzheimer’s disease. Together, these data support the clinical development of CY6463 as a novel treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
Reactions of 2-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinones 2 and 3 with (E)-propenylbenzenes 1 promoted at −78
°C by Ti(IV)−TADDOLates prepared from diol-(+)-4 afford (1R,6R,7R,8R)-8-aryl-3-methoxy-7-methylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-3-en-2,5-diones 5/8 or (1R,5R,6R,7R)-7-aryl-3-hydroxy-6-methylbicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2,8-diones 7/10 in good yield and high ee. (2S,3S)-2-Aryl-6-methoxy-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-ols 6/9 are also found, but in slightly lower ee. Cyclobutanes 5/8 cleanly and
efficiently rearrange to the dihydrobenzofurans 6/9 without loss of enantiomeric purity upon
treatment with the Ti−TADDOLates at higher temperatures. Reactions of (Z)-propenylbenzene
17 and of indene with 2 and 3 give products in moderate enantiomeric purity. Products obtained
from reactions of 1-anisylcycloalkenes with 2 differ significantly in yield and enantiomeric purity.
In the latter reactions, the ee's of the cyclobutane products are consistently much higher than
those of the dihydrobenzofuran products. More significantly, products of different absolute configuration result from different cycloalkenes. With 1-anisylcyclopentene or 1-anisylcyclohexene, all of
the products are of similar configuration and are obtained in comparable yields and ee's. However,
1-anisylcycloheptene affords products that are diastereomeric with those of the 1-anisylcyclopentene,
and in lower ee's. A mechanistic model is proposed. Application of these reactions to the
enantioselective synthesis of the pterocarpan class of isoflavonoid natural products is also reported.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.