Structure-activity relationship investigation for benzonaphthyridinone derivatives as novel potent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) irreversible inhibitors

Beilei Wanga, Yuanxin Denga, Yongfei Chena, Kailin Yua, Aoli Wanga, Qianmao Lianga, Wei Wanga, Cheng Chena, Hong Wua, Chen Hua, Weili Miaod, Wooyoung Hure, Wenchao Wanga

doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.06.016

Abstract

Through a structure-based drug design approach, a tricyclic benzonaphthyridinone pharmacophore was used as a starting point for carrying out detailed medicinal structure-activity relationhip (SAR) studies geared toward characterization of a panel of proposed BTK inhibitors, including 6 (QL-X-138), 7 (BMX-IN-1) and 8 (QL-47). These studies led to the discovery of the novel potent irreversible BTK inhibitor, compound 18 (CHMFL-BTK-11). Kinetic analysis of compound 18 revealed an irreversible binding efficacy (k_inact/K_i) of 0.01 μM⁻¹s⁻¹. Compound 18 potently inhibited BTK kinase Y223 auto-phosphorylation (EC₅₀ < 100 nM), arrested cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in Ramos, MOLM13 and Pfeiffer cells. We believe these features would make 18 a good pharmacological tool for studying BTK-related pathologies.