A monoselective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 agonist prevents allograft rejection in a stringent rat heart transplantation model

Chem Biol. 2006 Nov;13(11):1227-34. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2006.09.017.

Abstract

FTY720 is an immunomodulator with demonstrated efficacy in a phase II trial of relapsing multiple sclerosis. FTY720-phosphate, the active metabolite generated upon phosphorylation in vivo, acts as a potent agonist on four of the five known sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P(1)) receptors. AUY954, an aminocarboxylate analog of FTY720, is a low nanomolar, monoselective agonist of the S1P(1) receptor. Due to its selectivity and pharmacokinetic profile, AUY954 is an excellent pharmacological probe of S1P(1)-dependent phenomena. Oral administration of AUY954 induces a profound and reversible reduction of circulating lymphocytes and, in combination with RAD001 (Certican/Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor), is capable of prolonging the survival of cardiac allografts in a stringent rat transplantation model. This demonstrates that a selective agonist of the S1P(1) receptor is sufficient to achieve efficacy in an animal model of transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Everolimus
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Male
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / agonists*
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Thiophenes / chemical synthesis
  • Thiophenes / pharmacokinetics
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • beta-Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • beta-Alanine / chemical synthesis
  • beta-Alanine / pharmacokinetics
  • beta-Alanine / pharmacology

Substances

  • AUY 954
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, Lysosphingolipid
  • Thiophenes
  • beta-Alanine
  • Everolimus
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Sirolimus