1,3-Diphenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives as a new series of potent PPARγ partial agonists

A new series of PPARγ partial agonists, 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives, were identified using an improved virtual screening scheme combining ligand-centric and receptor-centric methods. An in vitro assay confirmed the nanomolar binding affinity of 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives such as SP3415. We also characterized the competitive antagonism of SP3415 against rosiglitazone at micromolar concentrations. They showed a PPARγ partial agonistic activity similar to that of a known PPARγ drug, pioglitazone, in a cell-based transactivation assay. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationships of the pyrazole derivatives were investigated through comparative molecular field analysis and binding mode analysis, which provided new insight concerning their partial agonistic effect on PPARγ.