Novel benzofuran derivative DK-1014 attenuates lung inflammation via blocking of MAPK/AP-1 and AKT/mTOR signaling in vitro and in vivo

Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 29;9(1):862. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36925-9.

Abstract

Benzofuran derivatives have wide range of biological activities as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant agent. In this study, we investigated whether the novel benzofuran derivative, DK-1014 has the anti-inflammatory effects on macrophage and lung epithelial cells and anti-asthmatic effects on ovalbumin-treated mice. A series of 2-arylbenzofuran analogues were synthesized and evaluated for NO and interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibition in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Of these analogues, compounds 8, 22a, 22d, and 22 f (DK-1014) exhibited notable inhibitory activity with respect to IL-6 and NO production. In particular, compound DK-1014 strongly reduced IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-9 mRNA expression and IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 production in phorbol myristate acetate stimulated A549 cells, reduced MAPKs phosphorylation and c-fos translocation, and attenuated AKT, p70S6K and GSK phosphorylation. In vivo experiments were also performed on ovalbumin-sensitized and challenged BALB/c mice. DK-1014 reduced the airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammatory cell counts and cytokine levels (IL-4, 5, 13) in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunoglobulin E in serum, and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion in lung tissue. These findings indicate that DK-1014 can protect against allergic airway inflammation through the AP-1 and AKT/mTOR pathways and could be useful source for the development of a therapeutic agent for asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Benzofurans / chemistry*
  • Benzofurans / therapeutic use*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Respiratory Mucosa / drug effects
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Benzofurans
  • Cytokines
  • Transcription Factor AP-1
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • benzofuran