Cell experiment:

E6446 is assayed for the suppression of BALB/c mouse spleen interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in response to stimulation by oligonucleotide CpG1668. E6446 is added to dissociated splenocytes (5 × 105 per well in complete RPMI/10% fetal bovine serum in a 96-well plate) before addition of TLR agonists. Cells are stimulated for 72 hours, and supernatants are removed for ELISA analysis of IL-6. Mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) are generated by culturing BALB/c marrow cells in RPMI containing 100 ng/mL Flt3 ligand for 7 days. Cells (1 × 105) in 50 μL are assayed for IL-6 production after overnight or 24-hour stimulation with various TLR ligands. For studies using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Ficoll-separated mononuclear cells are isolated from healthy volunteer donors, washed, and plated with stimulatory oligonucleotide CpG2216 in complete RPMI for 72 hours. Interferon in supernatant is quantified by ELISA[1].

Animal experiment:

Mice[1]MRL/lpr mice are dosed orally five times a week with 20 or 60 mg/kg E6446 or 60 mg/kg hydroxychloroquine beginning at 5 weeks of age. Cytoxan is administered at 50 mg/kg i.p. every 10 days. A serum sample is taken immediately before the beginning of treatment to monitor changes in autoreactive antibodies. Subsequently, serum samples are collected approximately monthly and analyzed for anti-dsDNA by ELISA after 1:500 dilution. Body weights and urine samples are taken at the same interval, and proteinuria is assessed by ChemStrips. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are assessed using commercially available HEp2 slide kits, with serum diluted to 1:100 in kit buffer. ANA scores are read blinded[1].

E6446 dihydrochloride is a potent and orally acitve TLR7 and TLR9 antagonist, used in the research of deleterious inflammatory responses.

E6446 dihydrochloride is a potent and orally acitve TLR7 and TLR9 inhibitor. E6446 potently suppresses DNA stimulation of HEK:TLR9 cells, with an IC50 value of 10 nM, but is significantly less effective at suppressing LPS endotoxin stimulation of HEK:TLR4 cells or R848 stimulation of HEK:TLR7 cells. E6446 potently inhibits IL-6 production induced by CpG2216 but is ineffective against induction by the TLR3 ligand poly inosine-cytosine. The ability of E6446 to inhibit TLR7 is ligand dependent, E6446 is a potent inhibitor of IL-6 induction by RNA but a relatively poor inhibitor of IL-6 induction by the small molecule imidazoquinoline ligand R-848. E6446 suppress TLR9-DNA interaction in vitro, with an IC50 in the 1 to 10 &#181M range[1]. E6446 (0.01-0.03 μM) specifically inhibits TLR9 activation with CpG ODN 2006, and blocks TLR7/8 activated by the imidazoquinoline compound R848 at 2-8 μM. E6446 reduces 50% of TLR4 activation at 30 μM, and shows IC50s of 0.01 μM and 0.23 μM in HEK-TLR9 cells stimulated with oligo 2006 and in human PBMCs stimulated with oligo 2216, respectively[2].

E6446 (20 mg/kg, p.o.) almost cmlpletely inhibits CpG1668-induced IL-6 production, and dose-dependently suppresses the development of ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) in mice at 20 and 60 mg/kg[1]. E6446 (20, 60 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibits TLR9 signaling in mice. E6446 (60, 120 mg/kg, p.o.) prevents hyperresponsiveness of TLRs and LPS-induced septic shock in rodent malaria, diminishes TLR responsiveness during acute malaria, suppresses activation of both TLR7 and TLR9[2].

[1]. Lamphier M, et al. Novel small molecule inhibitors of TLR7 and TLR9: mechanism of action and efficacy in vivo. Mol Pharmacol. 2014 Mar;85(3):429-40. [2]. Franklin BS, et al. Therapeutical targeting of nucleic acid-sensing Toll-like receptors prevents experimental cerebral malaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Mar 1;108(9):3689-94.