2. Academic Validation
  3. Specific activin receptor-like kinase 3 inhibitors enhance liver regeneration

Specific activin receptor-like kinase 3 inhibitors enhance liver regeneration

  • J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014 Dec;351(3):549-58. doi: 10.1124/jpet.114.216903.
Daisuke Tsugawa 1,  Yuki Oya 1,  Ryota Masuzaki 1,  Kevin Ray 1,  Darren W Engers 1,  Martin Dib 1,  Nhue Do 1,  Kaori Kuramitsu 1,  Karen Ho 1,  Audrey Frist 1,  Paul B Yu 1,  Kenneth D Bloch 1,  Craig W Lindsley 1,  Corey R Hopkins 1,  Charles C Hong 1,  Seth J Karp 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (D.T., Y.O., R.M., K.R., S.J.K.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, Tennessee (D.W.E., C.W.L., C.R.H.); Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (M.D., N.D.); Department of Surgery, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan (K.K.); Department of Surgery (K.H.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (P.B.Y.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Anesthesia Center for Critical Care Research, Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (K.D.B.); Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (C.W.L.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (A.F., C.C.H.).
  • 2 The Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (D.T., Y.O., R.M., K.R., S.J.K.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Nashville, Tennessee (D.W.E., C.W.L., C.R.H.); Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (M.D., N.D.); Department of Surgery, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan (K.K.); Department of Surgery (K.H.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (P.B.Y.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Anesthesia Center for Critical Care Research, Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (K.D.B.); Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (C.W.L.); and Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (A.F., C.C.H.) [email protected].
PMID: 25271257 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.216903
Abstract

Pharmacologic agents to enhance liver regeneration after injury would have wide therapeutic application. Based on previous work suggesting inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling stimulates liver regeneration, we tested known and novel BMP inhibitors for their ability to accelerate regeneration in a partial hepatectomy (PH) model. Compounds were produced based on the 3,6-disubstituted pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidine core of the BMP antagonist dorsomorphin and evaluated for their ability to inhibit BMP signaling and enhance liver regeneration. Antagonists of the BMP Receptor activin receptor-like kinase 3 (ALK3), including LDN-193189 (LDN; 4-[6-[4-(1-piperazinyl)phenyl]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]-quinoline), DMH2 (4-(2-(4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl)phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine; VU0364849), and the novel compound VU0465350 (7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; VU5350), blocked SMAD phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo, and enhanced liver regeneration after PH. In contrast, an antagonist of the BMP Receptor ALK2, VU0469381 (5-(6-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)quinolone; 1LWY), did not affect liver regeneration. LDN did not affect liver synthetic or metabolic function. Mechanistically, LDN increased serum interleukin-6 levels and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation in the liver, and modulated other factors known to be important for liver regeneration, including suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and p53. These findings suggest that inhibition of ALK3 may be part of a therapeutic strategy for treating human liver disease.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-110245
    BMP Receptor Antagonist