Download MendeleyDiscovery of kaempferol derivatives as novel PDE4 inhibitors for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Cao, Y., Liao, X., Huang, P., Lu, R., Wu, Q., Zhong, K., Wang, X., Yang, Y., Liu, X., Fan, J.J., Chen, F., Wang, X., He, X., Luo, H.B.(2026) Eur J Med Chem 304: 118505-118505
- PubMed: 41443085 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.118505
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9VDD - PubMed Abstract:
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease with a rapidly rising global incidence. Despite its growing prevalence, effective therapeutic options for IPF remain limited. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors have recently emerged as promising anti-fibrotic candidates. In this study, the natural product kaempferol was identified as a weak PDE4 inhibitor with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 22 μM and structure-based optimization by targeting M-pocket was performed, yielding a lead compound LH17 with dramatically improved potency (IC 50 of 73 nM). Crystallographic analysis revealed that this kaempferol-derived compound LH17 displayed distinct interactions with PDE4 M-pocket. Notably, lead LH17 demonstrated remarkable anti-fibrotic efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo models, underscoring its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for IPF treatment. This study also could establish a rational strategy for optimizing weakly bioactive natural PDE4 inhibitors into potent therapeutics.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Organizational Affiliation:
