DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF INHIBITORS AGAINST BOTH HUMAN AND MOUSE MICROSOMAL PROSTAGLANDIN E\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e SYNTHASE-1 ENZYMES

As the principal pro-inflammatory prostanoid, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) serves as mediator of pain and fever in inflammatory reactions. The biosynthesis of PGE2 starts from arachidonic acid (AA). Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and/or COX-2 converts AA to prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), and PGE2 synthases transform PGH2 to PGE2. Current mainstream approach for treating inflammation-related symptoms remains the application of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs). As both categories shut down the biosynthesis of all downstream prostanoids, their application renders several deleterious effects including gastrointestinalulceration and cardiovascular risk. Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) inhibitors, specifically blocking the production of inflammation-related PGE2, are expected to reduce the adverse effects while retain the anti-inflammation activity. Although several compounds have been reported, only a few have entered clinical trials and none was on the market. Particularly, most of the reported human mPGES-1 inhibitors were not active for wild-type mouse/rat mPGES-1 enzymes, which prevents using the well-established mouse/rat models of inflammation in preclinical studies. Therefore, we expect our designed inhibitors to also be potent against mouse mPGES-1 and thus is suitable for preclinical testing in wild-type mice