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Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) selective inhibitors could play a role in the treatment of lung inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, the previously reported 4-methoxybiphenylsulfonyl hydroxamate and carboxylate based inhibitors (1b and 2b) were modified to enhance their selectivity for MMP-12. In the newly synthesized thioaryl derivatives, the nature of the zinc binding group (ZBG) and the sulfur oxidation state were changed. Biological assays carried out in vitro on human MMPs with the resulting compounds led to identification of a sulfide, 4a, bearing an N-1-hydroxypiperidine-2,6-dione (HPD) group as new ZBG. Compound 4a is a promising hit compound since it displayed a nanomolar affinity for MMP-12 with a marked selectivity over MMP-9, MMP-1, and MMP-14. Solution complexation studies with Zn 2+ were performed to characterize the chelating abilities of the new compounds and confirmed the bidentate binding mode of HPD derivatives. X-ray crystallography studies using MMP-12 and MMP-9 catalytic domains were carried out to rationalize the biological results.

Overexpression of macrophage elastase (MMP-12), a member of the matrix metalloproteinases family, can be linked to tissue remodeling and degradation in some inflammatory processes, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and atherosclerosis. On this basis, MMP-12 can be considered an attractive target for studying selective inhibitors that are useful in the development of new therapies for COPD and other inflammatory diseases. We report herein the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of a new series of compounds, possessing an arylsulfonyl scaffold, for their potential as selective inhibitors of MMP-12. The best compound in the series showed an IC50 value of 0.2 nM, with good selectivity over MMP-1 and MMP-14. A docking study was carried out on this compound in order to investigate its binding interactions with MMP-12, and NMR studies on the complex with the MMP-12 catalytic domain were able to validate the proposed binding mode.

As the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be massively up-regulated in degenerative tissues and degrade the extracellular matrix, these key enzymes are promising targets for the therapy of cancer and other degenerative diseases. Here, we are presenting a series of new non-peptidic hydroxamate-based matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, MMPIs, incorporating the iminodiacetic (IDA) hydroxamic acid scaffold, as mimics of truncated peptidic MMPIs. A series of alkylaryl and sulfonylaryl groups, on the IDA basic scaffold, was investigated with the aim of improving potency and selectivity against MMPs involved in degenerative diseases. The sulfonamide based IDA derivatives studied (compounds B1-B3) showed to be potent (nM range) against deep S1' pocket MMPs enzymes (i.e., MMP-2).

Substitution reactions of 6I-O-p-tolylsulfonylcyclomaltoheptaose with alkyl- and arylamines in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and various pyrrolidinones were investigated. An unexpected reaction of the tosyl group with pyrrolidinones was observed resulting in products deriving from nucleophilic attack by the lactam carbonyl oxygen and further opening of the heterocyclic ring. The new compounds have been fully characterized by ESIMS and NMR analyses.