title: From imidazoles to pyrimidines: new inhibitors of cytokine release.
abstract: On the basis of model imidazole inhibitors of cytokine release, a series of novel pyridinyl pyrimidine derivatives was prepared and tested on their ability to inhibit the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and human whole blood. In the pyrimidine series, structure-activity relationships (SARs) similar to those of the imidazole series were found, although generally pyrimidine compounds were less potent. Modification of the substituent at the 2 position of the pyrimidine led to the most active compound 14 which inhibited release of TNF-alpha (IC(50) = 3.2 microM) and IL-1beta (IC(50) = 2.3 microM) from PBMC as effectively as the model imidazole inhibitor ML 3163 (TNF-alpha, IC(50) = 3.7 microM; IL-1beta, IC(50) = 0.9 microM). Screening in an isolated enzyme assay revealed both imidazole and pyrimidine compounds as inhibitors of p38 MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. stefan.laufer@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Laufer
authors.forename: Gerd K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C459201:5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(2-methanesulfinylbenzylsulfanyl)-4-pyridin-4-ylpyrimidine; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013454:Sulfoxides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases