In vivo and in vitro SAR of tetracyclic MAPKAP-K2 (MK2) inhibitors. Part I

Pyrrolo[2,3-f]isoquinoline based amino acids, tetracyclic lactams and cyclic ketone analogues are described as novel MK2 inhibitors with IC(50) as low as 5 nM and good selectivity profiles against a number of related kinases including ERK, p38 alpha and JNKs. TNF alpha release was suppressed from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), and a representative compound inhibited LPS induced TNF alpha release in mice illustrating the potential of this series to provide orally active MK2 inhibitors. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.