10.1021/jm050839v
The research focuses on the development of a new class of blockers for the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3, a target for treating autoimmune diseases by selectively suppressing effector memory T cells. The study involves the synthesis and testing of khellinone derivatives, which are selectively alkylated at the 4- or 7-position via the phenolic OH group. The experiments include multiple parallel synthesis to create a library of khellinone derivatives with various substituents at the 4- and 7-positions. The synthesized compounds are then tested for their ability to inhibit Kv1.3 using whole-cell patch-clamp experiments on L929 cells stably expressing Kv1.3. The reactants used in the synthesis include khellinone, khellin, various alkyl or benzyl halides, and other reagents. The analyses involve determining the EC50 values, cytotoxicity, and the effect on human T cell proliferation. The study also explores the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the synthesized compounds and compares their potency, selectivity, and mechanisms of blockade.