Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling investigation of new chiral fibrates with PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma agonist activity

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that govern lipid and glucose homeostasis playing a central role in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Medications targeted to PPARs have been established to treat hyper-lipidemia (fibrates) and insulin resistance (glitazones). Thus, there is significant interest in developing new and specific ligands for these receptors. Here, we present the results of the screening of new ligands of PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma. Optical isomers of new chiral fibrates were synthesized and tested in cell-based assays. Compound (S)-7 showed a dual PPARU alpha/gamma activity, and its stereochemistry was crucial in receptor activation. Protease protection experiments suggested that this compound binds directly to PPAR. Moreover, computational studies showed that it properly docks to PPAR alpha and gamma ligand binding pockets. Interestingly, (S)-7 exhibited only a modest capacity to induce the differentiation of murine fibroblasts 3T3-L1 into adipocytes compared to rosiglitazone, a well-known PPAR gamma agonist.