Novel Small-Molecule Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 Agonists: Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation for Antiplatelet Therapy

J Med Chem. 2024 Aug 22;67(16):14553-14573. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01371. Epub 2024 Aug 8.

Abstract

ACKR3, an atypical chemokine receptor, has been associated with prothrombotic events and the development of cardiovascular events. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of novel small molecule ACKR3 agonists. Extensive structure-activity relationship studies resulted in several promising agonists with potencies ranging from the low micromolar to nanomolar range, for example, 23 (EC50 = 111 nM, Emax = 95%) and 27 (EC50 = 69 nM, Emax = 82%) in the β-arrestin-recruitment assay. These compounds are selective for ACKR3 versus ACKR2, CXCR3, and CXCR4. Several agonists were subjected to investigations of their P-selectin expression reduction in the flow cytometry experiments. In particular, compounds 23 and 27 showed the highest potency for platelet aggregation inhibition, up to 80% and 97%, respectively. The most promising compounds, especially 27, exhibited good solubility, metabolic stability, and no cytotoxicity, suggesting a potential tool compound for the treatment of platelet-mediated thrombosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Platelet Aggregation* / drug effects
  • Receptors, CXCR* / agonists
  • Receptors, CXCR* / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemical synthesis
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Receptors, CXCR
  • ACKR3 protein, human
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • P-Selectin