Navigating from cellular phenotypic screen to clinical candidate: selective targeting of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Matico, R., Grauwen, K., Chauhan, D., Yu, X., Abdiaj, I., Adhikary, S., Adriaensen, I., Aranzazu, G.M., Alcazar, J., Bassi, M., Brisse, E., Canellas, S., Chaudhuri, S., Delgado, F., Dieguez-Vazquez, A., Du Jardin, M., Eastham, V., Finley, M., Jacobs, T., Keustermans, K., Kuhn, R., Llaveria, J., Leenaerts, J., Linares, M.L., Martin, M.L., Martin-Perez, R., Martinez, C., Miller, R., Munoz, F.M., Muratore, M.E., Nooyens, A., Perez-Benito, L., Perrier, M., Pietrak, B., Serre, J., Sharma, S., Somers, M., Suarez, J., Tresadern, G., Trabanco, A.A., Van den Bulck, D., Van Gool, M., Van Hauwermeiren, F., Varghese, T., Vega, J.A., Youssef, S.A., Edwards, M.J., Oehlrich, D., Van Opdenbosch, N.(2025) EMBO Mol Med 17: 54-84
- PubMed: 39653810
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-024-00181-4
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
9DH3 - PubMed Abstract:
The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a pivotal role in host defense and drives inflammation against microbial threats, crystals, and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Dysregulation of NLRP3 activity is associated with various human diseases, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Patients with NLRP3 mutations suffer from Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS) emphasizing the clinical significance of modulating NLRP3. In this study, we present the identification of a novel chemical class exhibiting selective and potent inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Through a comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) campaign, we optimized the lead molecule, compound A, for in vivo applications. Extensive in vitro and in vivo characterization of compound A confirmed the high selectivity and potency positioning compound A as a promising clinical candidate for diseases associated with aberrant NLRP3 activity. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in developing targeted therapies for conditions involving NLRP3-mediated inflammation, opening avenues for further preclinical and clinical investigations.
Organizational Affiliation:
Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Discovery Technologies and Molecular Pharmacology (DTMP), Spring House, PA, 19044, USA.