👤 Jay E Wrobel

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are characterized by ECM (extracellular matrix) degradation and chronic vascular inflammation, with macrophages playing a key role. The mechanisms regulating macrophage activation in AAA remain incompletely understood. Vascular macrophages express Olfr2 (olfactory receptor 2), a GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) implicated in inflammation, but its role in AAA development is unknown. We investigated the role of Olfr2 in AAA using PPE (porcine pancreatic elastase) infusion in Olfr2-deficient ( Microarray analysis revealed increased expression of the human Olfr2 regulates monocyte recruitment and macrophage-driven inflammation during AAA. Its genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition protects against AAA, whereas receptor activation worsens the disease. Olfr2 represents a critical modulator of vascular inflammation and a potential therapeutic target in AAA. Show less

T Regulatory T cells (Tregs) from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) exhibit impaired suppressive function, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of Show less

A series of 4-(3-biaryl)quinolines with sulfone substituents on the terminal aryl ring (8) was prepared as potential LXR agonists. High affinity LXRbeta ligands with generally modest binding selectivity over LXRalpha and excellent agonist potency in LXR functional assays were identified. Many compounds had LXRbeta binding IC(50) values <10 nM while the most potent had EC(50) values <1.0 nM in an ABCA1 mRNA induction assay in J774 mouse cells with efficacy comparable to T0901317. Sulfone 8a was further evaluated in LDL (-/-) mice and shown to reduce atherosclerotic lesion progression. Show less

A series of phenyl sulfone substituted quinoxaline were prepared and the lead compound 13 (WYE-672) was shown to be a tissue selective LXR Agonist. Compound 13 demonstrated partial agonism for LXRbeta in kidney HEK-293 cells but did not activate Gal4 LXRbeta fusion proteins in huh-7 liver cells. Although 13 showed potent binding affinity to LXRbeta (IC(50) = 53 nM), it had little binding affinity for LXRalpha (IC(50) > 1.0 microM) and did not recruit any coactivator/corepressor peptides in the LXRalpha multiplex assay. However, compound 13 showed good agonism in THP-1 cells with respect to increasing ABCA1 gene expression and good potency on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 foam cells. In an eight-week lesion study in LDLR -/- mice, compound 13 showed reduction of aortic arch lesion progression and no plasma or hepatic triglyceride increase. These results suggest quinoxaline 13 may have an improved biological profile for potential use as a therapeutic agent. Show less

A series of quinoline-3-carboxamide containing sulfones was prepared and found to have good binding affinity for LXRbeta and moderate binding selectivity over LXRalpha. The 8-Cl quinoline analog 33 with a high TPSA score, displayed 34-fold binding selectivity for LXRbeta over LXRalpha (LXRbeta IC(50)=16nM), good activity for inducing ABCA1 gene expression in a THP macrophage cell line, desired weak potency in the LXRalpha Gal4 functional assay, and low blood-brain barrier penetration in rat. Show less

A series of cinnolines/quinolines was prepared and it was found that 4-phenyl-cinnoline/quinolines with either a 2',3' or 2',5'-disubstituted benzyloxy moiety or the 1-Me-7-indole methoxy moiety on the meta position of the 4-phenyl ring showed good binding selectivity for LXRbeta over LXRalpha. The LXRbeta binding selective modulators displayed good activity for inducing ABCA1 gene expression in J774 macrophage cell line and poor efficacy in the LXRalpha Gal4 functional assay. 26, 37 and 41 were examined for their ability to induce SREBP-1c gene expression in Huh-7 liver cell line and they were weak partial agonists. Show less

A series of substituted 2-benzyl-3-aryl-7-trifluoromethylindazoles were prepared as LXR modulators. These compounds were partial agonists in transactivation assays when compared to 1 (T0901317) and were slightly weaker with respect to potency and efficacy on LXRalpha than on LXRbeta. Lead compounds in this series 12 (WAY-252623) and 13 (WAY-214950) showed less lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells than potent full agonists 1 and 3 (WAY-254011) but were comparable in efficacy to 1 and 3 with respect to cholesterol efflux in THP-1 foam cells, albeit weaker in potency. Compound 13 reduced aortic lesion area in LDLR knockout mice equivalently to 3 or positive control 2 (GW3965). In a 7-day hamster model, compound 13 showed a lesser propensity for plasma TG elevation than 3, when the compounds were compared at doses in which they elevated ABCA1 and ABCG1 gene expression in duodenum and liver at equal levels. In contrast to results previously published for 2, the lack of TG effect of 13 correlated with its inability to increase liver fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene expression, which was up-regulated 4-fold by 3. These results suggest indazoles such as 13 may have an improved profile for potential use as a therapeutic agent. Show less

A series of potent and binding selective LXRbeta agonists was developed using the previously reported non-selective LXR ligand WAY-254011 as a structural template. With the aid of molecular modeling, it was found that 2,3-diMe-Ph, 2,5-diMe-Ph, and naphthalene substituted quinoline acetic acids (such as quinoline 33, 37, and 38) showed selectivity for LXRbeta over LXRalpha in binding assays. Show less