Discovery and Optimization of a Novel Macrocyclic Amidinourea Series Active as Acidic Mammalian Chitinase Inhibitors.
Balestri LJI, Trivisani CI, Orofino F, Fiorucci D, Truglio GI, D'Agostino I, Poggialini F, Botta L, Docquier JD, Dreassi E.
Our research group has been involved for a long time in the development of macrocyclic amidinoureas (MCAs) as antifungal agents. The mechanistic investigation drove us to perform an <i>in silico</i> target fishing study, which allowed the identification of chitinases as one of their putative targets, with <b>1a</b> showing a submicromolar inhibition of <i>Trichoderma viride</i> chitinase. In this work, we investigated the possibility to further inhibit the corresponding human enzymes, acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) and chitotriosidase (CHIT1), involved in several chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Thus, we first validated the inhibitory activity of <b>1a</b> against AMCase and CHIT1 and then designed and synthesized new derivatives aimed at improving the potency and selectivity against AMCase. Among them, compound <b>3f</b> emerged for its activity profile along with its promising <i>in vitro</i> ADME properties. We also gained a good understanding of the key interactions with the target enzyme through <i>in silico</i> studies.