Cornell University

Natalya Smirnova

Rajiv R Ratan

Irina Gazaryan

Compounds for inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHDs) having the general formula (1). Methods of using these and related compounds for treating a patient having a condition that would benefit from inhibiting HIF PHD are also described herein.

Prolylhydroxylase inhibitors and methods of use

The NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcriptional regulator of antioxidant defense and detoxification. To directly monitor stabilization of Nrf2 we fused its Neh2 domain, responsible for the interaction with its nucleocytoplasmic regulator, Keap1, to firefly luciferase (Neh2-luciferase). It is shown herein that Neh2 domain is sufficient for recognition, ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of Neh2-luciferase fusion protein. The novel Neh2-luc reporter system allows direct monitoring of the adaptive response to redox stress and classification of drugs based on the time-course of reporter activation. The novel reporter was used to screen a library of compounds to identify activators of Nrf2. The most robust and yet non toxic Nrf2 activators found&#x2014;nordihydroguaiaretic acid, fisetin, and gedunin-induced astrocyte-dependent neuroprotection from oxidative stress via an Nrf2-dependent mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

White Plains, NY, United States of America

Natalya Smirnova