Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling of 1-benzyl-1H-imidazoles as selective inhibitors of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2).

Luc Roumen, Joris W Peeters, Judith M A Emmen, Ilona P E Beugels, Erica M G Custers, Marcel de Gooyer, Ralf Plate, Koen Pieterse, Peter A J Hilbers, Jos F M Smits, Jef A J Vekemans, Dirk Leysen, Harry C J Ottenheijm, Henk M Janssen, J J Rob Hermans

Index: J. Med. Chem. 53 , 1712-25, (2010)

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Abstract

Reducing aldosterone action is beneficial in various major diseases such as heart failure. Currently, this is achieved with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, however, aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitors may offer a promising alternative. In this study, we used three-dimensional modeling of CYP11B2 to model the binding modes of the natural substrate 18-hydroxycorticosterone and the recently published CYP11B2 inhibitor R-fadrozole as a rational guide to design 44 structurally simple and achiral 1-benzyl-1H-imidazoles. Their syntheses, in vitro inhibitor potencies, and in silico docking are described. Some promising CYP11B2 inhibitors were identified, with our novel lead MOERAS115 (4-((5-phenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzonitrile) displaying an IC(50) for CYP11B2 of 1.7 nM, and a CYP11B2 (versus CYP11B1) selectivity of 16.5, comparable to R-fadrozole (IC(50) for CYP11B2 6.0 nM, selectivity 19.8). Molecular docking of the inhibitors in the models enabled us to generate posthoc hypotheses on their binding modes, providing a valuable basis for future studies and further design of CYP11B2 inhibitors.