Substituted quinazolinones as kinase inhibitors endowed with anti-fibrotic properties

• Novel 3-substituted quinazolinones have been synthesized.
• Compounds were tested against kinases involved in fibrogenic processes.
• The compounds were tested in HSCs and ISEMFs.
• Quinazolinones target multiple essential pathways of the fibrogenic process.
• The compounds reduced the expression of genes involved in fibrosis.

Some new 3-substituted quinazolinones were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of kinases involved in fibrogenic process. The compounds were tested against a panel of both tyrosine and serine–threonine kinases. The profile of selectivity of some representative compounds was investigated through molecular docking studies. The most interesting compounds were also evaluated in vitro as potential agents for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Quinazolinone derivatives reduced proliferation and expression of genes involved in the fibrogenic process in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (ISEMFs). Furthermore some compounds downregulated phosphorylation of p38MAPK. Our findings provide evidences that 3-substituted quinazolinones target multiple essential pathways of the fibrogenic process.

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