Myofibroblasts are the key effector cells responsible for excessive extracellular matrix deposition in multiple fibrotic conditions, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis has been implicated in fibrosis, with pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibition currently under clinical evaluation in IPF. Here we demonstrate that rapamycin-insensitive mTORC1 signaling via 4E-BP1 is a critical pathway for TGF-β1 stimulated collagen synthesis in human lung fibroblasts, whereas canonical PI3K/Akt signaling is not required. The importance of mTORC1 signaling was confirmed by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in normal and IPF fibroblasts, as well as in lung cancer-associated fibroblasts, dermal fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells. The inhibitory effect of ATP-competitive mTOR inhibition extended to other matrisome proteins implicated in the development of fibrosis and human disease relevance was demonstrated in live precision-cut IPF lung slices. Our data demonstrate that the mTORC1/4E-BP1 axis represents a critical signaling node during fibrogenesis with potential implications for the development of novel anti-fibrotic strategies.

Aqueous solubility, protein binding and CYP450 inhibition data for compounds containing a variety of heteroaromatic and heteroaliphatic rings were analysed and compared to determine which ring types fared best and worst in these developability screens. The results suggest that certain heterorings are generally more developable than others: how this information may be used and some caveats to be borne in mind are discussed.

Bring on the substitute: Even outside of macrocyclic structures, such as vancomycin, appropriate substitution can give rise to atropisomerism in diaryl ethers. Stereochemical stability about the ArOAr axis at room temperature or above is possible when neither of the rings is symmetrically substituted and when at least one ring carries an ortho tert‐butyl group or equivalent.

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The addition of alkyl nitronate anions to PMB imines, derived from benzaldehyde or straight-chain carbaldehydes, in the presence of a Bronsted acid, proceeds in greater than 90% yield with up to 10:1 diastereoselection favoring the anti isomer. The mechanism of this addition reaction is intriguing and is under investigation. The moderately unstable β-nitro amines can be reduced with samarium diiodide and the PMB group removed with CAN, in good overall yields, to give sensitive 1,2-diamines without erosion of diastereoselectivity. This protocol represents a new, stereoselective synthesis of certain 1,2-diamines.