2. Academic Validation
  3. Novel thiazolones for the simultaneous modulation of PPARγ, COX-2 and 15-LOX to address metabolic disease-associated portal inflammation

Novel thiazolones for the simultaneous modulation of PPARγ, COX-2 and 15-LOX to address metabolic disease-associated portal inflammation

  • Eur J Med Chem. 2025 May 5:289:117415. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117415.
Mai S El-Shoukrofy 1,  Azza Ismail 1,  Reem H Elhamammy 2,  Sherien A Abdelhady 3,  Rasha Nassra 4,  Monica S Makkar 5,  Mahmoud A Agami 5,  Ahmed Wahid 2,  Hisham A Nematalla 6,  Minh Sai 7,  Daniel Merk 8,  Ahmed F El-Yazbi 9,  Ahmed S F Belal 1,  Ali H Eid 10,  Perihan A Elzahhar 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
  • 3 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Canal El Mahmoudia Street, Beside Green Plaza Complex 21648, Alexandria, Egypt.
  • 4 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21131, Egypt.
  • 5 Faculty of Pharmacy and the Research & Innovation Hub, Alamein International University, Alamein, 5060335, Egypt.
  • 6 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22516, Egypt.
  • 7 Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377, Munich, Germany.
  • 8 Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377, Munich, Germany; Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
  • 9 Faculty of Pharmacy and the Research & Innovation Hub, Alamein International University, Alamein, 5060335, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
  • 10 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar. Electronic address: ali.eid@qu.edu.qa.
  • 11 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt. Electronic address: perihan.elzahhar@alexu.edu.eg.
PMID: 40022874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117415
Abstract

A hybrid pharmacophore model, based on structural motifs previously identified by our team, was employed to generate ligands that simultaneously target COX-2, 15-LOX, and PPARγ in the context of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Notable COX-2 inhibitory activities (IC50 = 0.065-0.24 μM) were observed relative to celecoxib (IC50 = 0.049 μM). The two most effective 15-LOX inhibitors, 2a and 2b, exhibited 69 % and 57 % of quercetin's action, respectively. Utilizing the rat hemi-diaphragm model to assess in vitro glucose uptake capacity, compounds 2a and 2b demonstrated significant glucose uptake potential in the absence of Insulin, surpassing that of pioglitazone. Compound 2a activated PPARγ with an EC50 value of 3.4 μM in a Gal4-hybrid reporter gene assay, indicating partial agonistic action. Interesting binding interactions with targets of interest were identified by molecular docking studies. As well, the expression levels of 20-HETE, Il-1β and TNF-α were decreased in LPS-challenged RAW264.7 macrophages upon treatment with compound 2a. The pharmacokinetic analysis of 2a and assessment of its in vivo efficacy in addressing hepatic impairment in rat models of diabetes and pre-diabetes were carried out. Together, these findings may offer preliminary insights into the potential of these compounds for further refinement in the existing therapeutic arsenals for metabolic diseases.

Keywords

15-LOX; COX-2; Liver inflammation; Metabolic diseases; Multi-targeting; PPARγ; Thiazolones.

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