Download MendeleyDesign of spiro-heterocyclic substituted diaminonaphthalene Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction inhibitors as novel anti-depressant agents.
Chen, Y., Qin, Q., Ding, W., Yu, R., Wang, R., Ji, H., Yan, J., Ma, H., Jiang, C.S., Sun, Y., Zhuang, C.(2025) Eur J Med Chem 296: 117848-117848
- PubMed: 40513368 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117848
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9KVW - PubMed Abstract:
Oxidative stress, inflammation and the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway are validated to be related to depression. Theoretically, modulating Keap1 and Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) should be an effective method to activate Nrf2 for the treatment of major depressive disorders. We previously reported NXPZ-2, a 1,4-diaminonaphthalene, as a Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitor that exhibited promising effects in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. However, its pharmacokinetic properties were limited. Herein, we, for the first time, developed a series of heterocyclic substituted diaminonaphthalenes by an "Escape from Flatland" strategy to improve sp 3 hybridized carbons. These compounds exhibited strong binding affinity for Keap1. A crystallographic analysis revealed the high-resolution (1.44 Å) binding of CD-10 with the Keap1 protein, elucidating the complexity of CD-10's binding mechanism. In an LPS-stimulated BV2 cell model, CD-10 demonstrated the best anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory potential. Furthermore, CD-10's ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier has been significantly improved. In a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model, treatment with CD-10 effectively alleviated anxiety and depressive behaviors and restored serum neurotransmitter levels by promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Overall, our findings validate that the Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitor holds promise as a preclinical candidate for the treatment of depression.
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China; The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
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