Inhibition of 17β-HSD1: SAR of bicyclic substituted hydroxyphenylmethanones and discovery of new potent inhibitors with thioether linker

• Published in: European journal of medicinal chemistry Vol. 82; pp. 394 - 406
• Main Authors: Abdelsamie, Ahmed S., Bey, Emmanuel, Hanke, Nina, Empting, Martin, Hartmann, Rolf W., Frotscher, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 23-07-2014
• Subjects: 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - antagonists & inhibitors; 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism; Animals; Bicyclic substituted hydroxyphenylmethanones (BSHs); Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Discovery; Enzyme Inhibitors - chemical synthesis; Enzyme Inhibitors - chemistry; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Estrogen mimetics; Estrogen-dependent diseases; Human 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (h17β-HSD1) inhibitors; Humans; m17β-HSD1; Mice; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Non-steroidal inhibitors; Phenols - chemical synthesis; Phenols - chemistry; Phenols - pharmacology; Structure-Activity Relationship; Sulfides - chemistry; CC; DAST; Non-steroidal inhibitors; Bicyclic substituted hydroxyphenylmethanones (BSHs); TLC; SERM; E1; 17β-HSD1; E2; ER; 17β-HSD2; Human 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (h17β-HSD1) inhibitors; DCM; RBA; NAD(H); Estrogen mimetics; Estrogen-dependent diseases; GnRH; m17β-HSD1; NADP(H); HPLC
• ISSN: 0223-5234; 1768-3254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.05.074

Estradiol is the most potent estrogen in humans. It is known to be involved in the development and proliferation of estrogen dependent diseases such as breast cancer and endometriosis. The last step of its biosynthesis is catalyzed by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β- HSD1) which consequently is a promising target for the treatment of these diseases. Recently, we reported on bicyclic substituted hydroxyphenylmethanones as potent inhibitors of 17β-HSD1. The present study focuses on rational structural modifications in this compound class with the aim of gaining more insight into its structure–activity relationship (SAR). (4-Hydroxyphenyl)-(5-(3-hydroxyphenylsulfanyl)-thiophen-2-yl)methanone (25) was discovered as a member of a novel potent class of human 17β-HSD1 inhibitors. Computational methods were used to elucidate its interactions with the target protein. The compound showed activity also towards the murine 17β-HSD1 enzyme and thus is a starting point for the design of compounds suitable for evaluation in an animal disease model.
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•Bicyclic substituted hydroxyphenylmethanones were structurally modified.•Inhibition of h17β-HSD1 was evaluated and SARs were derived.•Highly active compounds were found and former conceptions on binding mode confirmed.•A novel inhibitor class was discovered, active also towards murine 17β-HSD1.