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Efficient synthesis of several new atropisomeric amino alcohols having 1-phenyl-1 H-pyrrole skeleton are reported. Steric arrangements of the products were confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray measurement. The consequences of the size of the N-substituents on enantioinduction were examined by employing the of diethylzinc to a series of substituted benzaldehydes (yields 91-97%, up to 85% enantiomeric excess). The special effect of the ortho methoxy group of the substrate on the enantioinduction is also interpreted. Chirality 27:216-222, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NRF2-KEAP1 interaction is central for cytoprotection against stresses, giving it high clinical significance. Covalent modification of KEAP1 is an efficient approach, but the covalent inhibitors used in the clinic carry undesired side effects originating in their moderate selectivity. Starting with a phenotypic screen, we identified a new covalent inhibitor chemotype that was optimized to deliver a series of potent and highly selective KEAP1 binders. While the developed compounds showed both cellular and in vivo activity, upregulating antioxidant response element-dependent target genes, they showed no genotoxicity in vitro. The lead compound exhibited broad selectivity in activity-based protein profiling and showed no significant interaction with a panel of commonly studied receptors nor with a broad panel of kinases. The nature of its interaction with KEAP1 and the origin of its selectivity were revealed by X-ray crystallography.

Acute brain slices represent a workhorse model for studying the central nervous system (CNS) from nanoscale events to complex circuits. While slice preparation inherently involves tissue damage, it is unclear how microglia, the main immune cells and damage sensors of the CNS react to this injury and shape neuronal activity ex vivo. To this end, we investigated microglial phenotypes and contribution to network organization and functioning in acute brain slices. We reveal time-dependent microglial phenotype changes influenced by complex extracellular ATP dynamics through P2Y12R and CX3CR1 signalling, which is sustained for hours in ex vivo mouse brain slices. Downregulation of P2Y12R and changes of microglia-neuron interactions occur in line with alterations in the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses over time. Importantly, functional microglia modulate synapse sprouting, while microglial dysfunction results in markedly impaired ripple activity both ex vivo and in vivo. Collectively, our data suggest that microglia are modulators of complex neuronal networks with important roles to maintain neuronal network integrity and activity. We suggest that slice preparation can be used to model time-dependent changes of microglia-neuron interactions to reveal how microglia shape neuronal circuits in physiological and pathological conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background & Aims: Oxidative stress is recognized as a major driver of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression. The transcription factor NRF2 and its negative regulator KEAP1 are master regulators of redox, metabolic and protein homeostasis, as well as detoxification, and thus appear to be attractive targets for the treatment of NASH., Methods: Molecular modeling and X-ray crystallography were used to design S217879 - a small molecule that could disrupt the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction. S217879 was highly characterized using various molecular and cellular assays. It was then evaluated in two different NASH-relevant preclinical models, namely the methionine and choline-deficient diet (MCDD) and diet-induced obesity NASH (DIO NASH) models., Results: Molecular and cell-based assays confirmed that S217879 is a highly potent and selective NRF2 activator with marked anti-inflammatory properties, as shown in primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In MCDD mice, S217879 treatment for 2 weeks led to a dose-dependent reduction in NAFLD activity score while significantly increasing liver Nqo1 mRNA levels, a specific NRF2 target engagement biomarker. In DIO NASH mice, S217879 treatment resulted in a significant improvement of established liver injury, with a clear reduction in both NAS and liver fibrosis. αSMA and Col1A1 staining, as well as quantification of liver hydroxyproline levels, confirmed the reduction in liver fibrosis in response to S217879. RNA-sequencing analyses revealed major alterations in the liver transcriptome in response to S217879, with activation of NRF2-dependent gene transcription and marked inhibition of key signaling pathways that drive disease progression., Conclusions: These results highlight the potential of selective disruption of the NRF2-KEAP1 interaction for the treatment of NASH and liver fibrosis., Impact and Implications: We report the discovery of S217879 - a potent and selective NRF2 activator with good pharmacokinetic properties. By disrupting the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction, S217879 triggers the upregulation of the antioxidant response and the coordinated regulation of a wide spectrum of genes involved in NASH disease progression, leading ultimately to the reduction of both NASH and liver fibrosis progression in mice., Competing Interests: All the authors are/were employees of Servier. Please refer to the accompanying ICMJE disclosure forms for further details., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, play important roles during development. Although bi-directional communication between microglia and neuronal progenitors or immature neurons has been demonstrated, the main sites of interaction and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By using advanced methods, here we provide evidence that microglial processes form specialized contacts with the cell bodies of developing neurons throughout embryonic, early postnatal, and adult neurogenesis. These early developmental contacts are highly reminiscent of somatic purinergic junctions that are instrumental for microglia-neuron communication in the adult brain. The formation and maintenance of these junctions is regulated by functional microglial P2Y12 receptors, and deletion of P2Y12Rs disturbs proliferation of neuronal precursors and leads to aberrant cortical cytoarchitecture during development and in adulthood. We propose that early developmental formation of somatic purinergic junctions represents an important interface for microglia to monitor the status of immature neurons and control neurodevelopment., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study reports regio- and highly diastereoselective preparative methods for the synthesis of versatile alkaloid-type compounds from oxiranylmethyl tetrahydroisoquinolines. 2,5-Methanobenzo[ c]azepines or azetidine-fused heterocycles were synthesized in tandem reactions depending on the absence or presence of a BF 3 co-reagent. A high functional group tolerance has also been demonstrated. DFT calculations with an explicit solvent model confirmed the proposed reaction mechanisms and the role of kinetic controls on the stereochemical outcome of the reported new methods.

Efficient synthesis of several new atropisomeric amino alcohols having 1-phenyl-1H-pyrrole skeleton are reported. Steric arrangements of the products were confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray measurement. The consequences of the size of the N-substituents on enantioinduction were examined by employing the enantioselective catalytic addition of diethylzinc to a series of substituted benzaldehydes (yields 91-97%, up to 85% enantiomeric excess). The special effect of the ortho methoxy group of the substrate on the enantioinduction is also interpreted., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Two new ligand systems related to the previously described DOTTADs have been generated in a simple one step reaction. The first, trans-DOTTADs, were formed by Vilsmeier formylation (followed by cyclisation and N-demethylation) of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-pyrazine-dicarboxylic acid, to give the novel bis-pyridinopyrazine dialdehyde ligands. The corresponding pyrazine diester, reacted similarly to an intermediate iminium ion stage, which gave trans-DOTTAD imines on work-up with amines. The treatment of Hantzsch ester with two equivalents of benzaldehyde gave 7-phenyl-2-(2-phenylethenyl)-7,8-dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyridin-5-one-3-carboxylic acid. This product underwent similar cyclisation with Vilsmeier reagents to give, for example, 6-methyl-2-(2-phenylethenyl)-8-(phenylhydroxymethyl)-6H-[1,6]naphthyridin-5-one-3-carboxylic acid, an example of a semi-DOTTAD.