Targeting Type 2 Diabetes with C-Glucosyl Dihydrochalcones as Selective Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

J Med Chem. 2017 Jan 26;60(2):568-579. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01134. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

Abstract

Inhibiting glucose reabsorption by sodium glucose co-transporter proteins (SGLTs) in the kidneys is a relatively new strategy for treating type 2 diabetes. Selective inhibition of SGLT2 over SGLT1 is critical for minimizing adverse side effects associated with SGLT1 inhibition. A library of C-glucosyl dihydrochalcones and their dihydrochalcone and chalcone precursors was synthesized and tested as SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibitors using a cell-based fluorescence assay of glucose uptake. The most potent inhibitors of SGLT2 (IC50 = 9-23 nM) were considerably weaker inhibitors of SGLT1 (IC50 = 10-19 μM). They showed no effect on the sodium independent GLUT family of glucose transporters, and the most potent ones were not acutely toxic to cultured cells. The interaction of a C-glucosyl dihydrochalcone with a POPC membrane was modeled computationally, providing evidence that it is not a pan-assay interference compound. These results point toward the discovery of structures that are potent and highly selective inhibitors of SGLT2.

MeSH terms

  • Chalcones / chemical synthesis
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Chalcones / toxicity
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Glucosides / chemical synthesis
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glucosides / toxicity
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors*

Substances

  • Chalcones
  • Glucosides
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • SLC5A1 protein, human
  • SLC5A2 protein, human
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
  • 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine