Carboxamide Derivatives Are Potential Therapeutic AHR Ligands for Restoring IL-4 Mediated Repression of Epidermal
Gijs Rikken1, Noa J M van den Brink1, Ivonne M J J van Vlijmen-Willems1
1Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center (Radboudumc), 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common T-helper 2 (Th2) lymphocyte-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by disturbed epidermal differentiation (e.g., filaggrin (FLG) expression) and diminished skin barrier function. Therapeutics targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), such as coal tar and tapinarof, are effective in AD, yet new receptor ligands with improved potency or bioavailability are in demand to expand the AHR-targeting therapeutic arsenal. We found that carboxamide derivatives from laquinimod, tasquinimod, and roquinimex can activate AHR signaling at low nanomolar concentrations. Tasquinimod derivative (IMA-06504) and its prodrug (IMA-07101) provided full agonist activity and were most effective to induce FLG and other epidermal differentiation proteins, and counteracted IL-4 mediated repression of terminal differentiation. Partial agonist activity by other derivatives was less efficacious. The previously reported beneficial safety profile of these novel small molecules, and the herein reported therapeutic potential of specific carboxamide derivatives, provides a solid rationale for further preclinical assertation.
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