Molecular characterization of novel and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonists with robust hypolipidemic activity in vivo.
The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is recognized as the primary target of the fibrate class of hypolipidemic drugs and mediates lipid lowering in part by activating a transcriptional cascade that induces genes involved in the catabolism of lipids. We report here the characterization of three novel PPARalpha agonists with therapeutic potential for treating dyslipidemia. These structurally related compounds display potent and selective binding to human PPARalpha and support robust recruitment of coactivator peptides in vitro. These compounds markedly potentiate chimeric transcription systems in cell-based assays and strikingly lower serum triglycerides in vivo. The transcription networks induced by these selective PPARalpha agonists were assessed by transcriptional profiling of mouse liver after short- and long-term treatment. The induction of several known PPARalpha target genes involved with fatty acid metabolism were observed, reflecting the expected pharmacology associated with PPARalpha activation. We also noted the down-regulation of a number of genes related to immune cell function, the acute phase response, and glucose metabolism, suggesting that these compounds may have anti-inflammatory action in the mammalian liver. Whereas these compounds are efficacious in acute preclinical models, extended safety studies and further clinical testing will be required before the full therapeutic promise of a selective PPARalpha agonist is realized.
Kane
Christopher D
CD
Departments of Atherosclerosis Biology, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Pfizer Inc, Groton, Connecticut 06340, USA. christopher.d.kane@pfizer.com
Stevens
Kimberly A
KA
Fischer
James E
JE
Haghpassand
Mehrdad
M
Royer
Lori J
LJ
Aldinger
Charles
C
Landschulz
Katherine T
KT
Zagouras
Panayiotis
P
Bagley
Scott W
SW
Hada
William
W
Dullea
Robert
R
Hayward
Cheryl M
CM
Francone
Omar L
OL
D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D047493:PPAR alpha; D010880:Piperidines