Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2511816 Biochemical Pharmacology 2016 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

Development of new immunosuppressing agents is necessary in organ transplantation or immune diseases. Because Ppc-1 exhibits a suppressing effect on interleukin-2 (IL2) production in Jurkat cells, we synthesized and screened Ppc-1 derivatives that preserve prenylated quinolinecarboxylic acid (PQA) structure, and identified compound 18 (PQA-18) as a novel molecule with immunosuppressing effect. PQA-18 suppressed not only IL2 but also IL4, IL6, and tumor necrosis factor-α production in human peripheral lymphocytes without affecting cell viability. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis and in vitro kinase assay revealed that PQA-18 inhibits kinase activity of p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2). Administration of PQA-18 by intraperitoneal injection suppressed the population of a subset of regulatory T cells and the immunoglobulin (Ig) production against T cell-dependent antigens in mice. Treatment with the PQA-18 ointment on Nc/Nga mice, a model of human atopic dermatitis, improved skin lesions and serum IgE levels. These results suggest that PQA-18 is a unique PAK2 inhibitor with potent immunosuppressing effects in vitro and in vivo. PQA-18 may be a valuable lead for the development of novel immunosuppressants.

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