Discovery of Novel Secretory Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors Using Virtual Screen

Human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) was reported to be associated with inflammatory diseases and considered as a potential drug target for inflammation and other related disease treatment. Although many human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitors were reported, few entered into the drug development stage due to various problems. In this study, we discovered seven novel human nonpancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitors using virtual screen. Of the 99 compounds tested by continuous fluorescence assay, seven are potent human nonpancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitors with micromolar IC50 values. Typical molecules include 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl protected alpha-phenylalanine derivatives and azo compounds, which may serve as novel scaffold for developing potent human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitors. These compounds bind to human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A(2) by interacting with the catalytic calcium ion and the hydrophobic regions in the substratebinding pocket.