2. Academic Validation
  3. The discovery of 12β-methyl-17-epi-18-nor-bile acids as potent and selective TGR5 agonists

The discovery of 12β-methyl-17-epi-18-nor-bile acids as potent and selective TGR5 agonists

  • Eur J Med Chem. 2023 Mar 15;250:115143. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115143.
Andreas Luxenburger 1,  Lawrence D Harris 2,  Elizabeth M Ure 2,  Wanting Jiao 2,  Anthony D Woolhouse 2,  Scott A Cameron 2,  Alex Weymouth-Wilson 3,  Richard H Furneaux 2,  Janet L Pitman 4,  Simon F R Hinkley 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, 69 Gracefield Rd, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand. Electronic address: Andreas.Luxenburger@vuw.ac.nz.
  • 2 Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, 69 Gracefield Rd, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand.
  • 3 ICE Pharma, 68 Weld Street, RD2, Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand.
  • 4 School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
PMID: 36841086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115143
Abstract

Recent discoveries have demonstrated that the physiological function of bile acids extends to the regulation of diverse signaling processes through interactions with nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors, most notably the Farnesoid-X nuclear receptor (FXR) and the G protein-coupled Bile Acid Receptor 1 (GPBAR1, also known as TGR5). Targeting such signaling pathways pharmacologically, i.e. with bile acid-derived therapeutics, presents great potential for the treatment of various metabolic, inflammatory immune, liver, and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we report the discovery of two potent and selective TGR5 agonists (NZP196 and 917). These compounds are the taurine conjugates of 6α-ethyl-substituted 12β-methyl-18-nor-bile acids with the side chain being located on the α-face of the steroid scaffold. The compounds emerged from a screening effort of a diverse library of 12β-methyl-18-nor-bile acids that were synthesized from 12β-methyl-18-nor-chenodeoxycholic acid and its C17-epimer. Upon testing for FXR activity, both compounds were found to be inactive, thus revealing selectivity for TGR5.

Keywords

12β-Methyl-18-nor-bile acids; Bile acid; FXR; Farnesoid X receptor; G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1; GPBAR1; In vitro efficacy; Molecular docking; SEAP reporter assay; Structure−activity relationship; TGR5 agonists.

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