Z1456467176 alleviates gouty arthritis by allosterically modulating P2X7R to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. 2022

Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a central process in initiating gout flares. The unique conformational rearrangement of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) upon ATP binding is critical for the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. However, studies on allosteric modulation of P2X7R in gout treatment are limited. Here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic implications of targeting P2X7R in gout by designing a P2X7R allosteric inhibitor and validating the inhibitory function on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Through virtual screening, we identified Z1456467176 (N-{3-[(2-aminoethyl) sulfamoyl] phenyl}-2-methyl-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl] propanamide hydrochloride) bound to the drug-binding pocket as a potential antagonist of P2X7R. In functional assays, ATP- or BzATP-induced P2X7R function was assessed in vitro in HEK-293T cells overexpressing hP2X7R (dye uptake assay) and macrophages (IL-1β release assay). Z1456467176 exhibited a stable and significant P2X7R inhibitory effect. Importantly, in MSU crystal-induced gout, the presence and involvement of ATP were confirmed. Z1456467176 blocked ATP-induced activation of the NLRP3-caspase-1-IL-1β pathway and exerted promising effects in reducing gouty joint inflammation in rats. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies showed that the P27XR protein conformation was remodeled by Z1456467176 binding. Collectively, our results provide a potent P2X7R allosteric inhibitor that facilitates the remission of MSU crystal-induced gout inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that allosteric inhibition of P2X7R represents a new direction in gout treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
February 2024, Alternative therapies in health and medicine,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
January 2019, Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
January 2021, Journal of inflammation research,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
August 2021, International immunopharmacology,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
November 2021, International immunopharmacology,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
April 2021, International immunopharmacology,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
October 2023, International immunopharmacology,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
January 2023, European review for medical and pharmacological sciences,
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
April 2018, Rheumatology (Oxford, England),
Xiaoling Li, and Yiming Liu, and Chengyu Luo, and Jinhui Tao
January 2022, Journal of natural medicines,
Copied contents to your clipboard!