Characterization of four structurally diverse inhibitors of SUR2-containing K_ATP channels

Vascular smooth muscle ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels play critical roles in modulating vascular tone and thus represent important drug targets for diverse cardiovascular pathologies. Despite extensive research efforts spanning several decades, the search for selective inhibitors that can discriminate between vascular K_ATP (i.e. Kir6.1/SUR2B) and pancreatic and brain K_ATP (i.e. Kir6.2/SUR1) channels has, until recently, been unsuccessful. Our group therefore carried out a high-throughput screen of chemically diverse compounds with the goal of discovering specific Kir6.1/SUR2B inhibitors. This screen identified several novel classes of Kir6.1/SUR2B inhibitors, including the first potent (IC₅₀ ~100 nM) and selective inhibitor published to date, termed VU0542270. Here, we expand on this work by disclosing the identity and pharmacological properties of four additional Kir6.1/SUR2B inhibitors that are structurally unrelated to Kir to VU0542270. These inhibitors, named VU0212387, VU0543336, VU0605768, and VU0544086, inhibit Kir6.1/SUR2B with IC₅₀ values ranging from approximately 100 nM to 1 µM and exhibit no apparent inhibitory activity toward Kir6.2/SUR1. Functional analysis of heterologously expressed subunit combinations of Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR1, SUR2A, and SUR2B and demonstrated that all four inhibitors act on SUR2 to induce channel inhibition. Interestingly, VU0543336 and VU0212387 exhibit paradoxical stimulatory effects on Kir6.2/SUR1 at higher doses. This study broadens our understanding of K_ATP channel pharmacology, generally, and reveals novel chemical matter for the development of Kir6.1/SUR2-selective drugs, specifically.