Benzylamide antagonists of protease activated receptor 2 with anti-inflammatory activity

Activation of protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) has been implicated in inflammatory and metabolic disorders and its inhibition may yield novel therapeutics. Here, we report a series of PAR2 antagonists based on C-terminal capping of 5-isoxazolyl-L-cyclohexylalanine-L-isoleucine, with benzylamine analogues being effective new PAR2 antagonists. 5-Isoxazolyl-L-cyclohexylalanine-L-isoleucine-2-methoxybenzylamine (10) inhibited PAR2-, but not PAR1-, induced release of Ca(2+) (IC50 0.5 μM) in human colon cells, IL-6 and TNFα secretion (IC50 1-5 μM) from human kidney cells, and was anti-inflammatory in acute rat paw inflammation (ED50 5 mg/kg sc). These findings show that new benzylamide antagonists of PAR2 have anti-inflammatory activity.