RepSox

RepSox

Clinical data
Routes of administration	Oral
ATC code	none
Legal status
Legal status	In general: unscheduled
Identifiers
IUPAC name 2-[5-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]-1,5-naphthyridine
CAS Number	446859-33-2^Y
PubChem CID	449054
ChemSpider	395681
UNII	JT8ZW3H2ST
ChEBI	CHEBI:190969
ChEMBL	ChEMBL185238
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID80332295
ECHA InfoCard	100.190.188
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C17H13N5
Molar mass	287.326 g·mol^−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES CC1=NC(=CC=C1)C2=C(C=NN2)C3=NC4=C(C=C3)N=CC=C4
InChI InChI=InChI=1S/C17H13N5/c1-11-4-2-5-16(20-11)17-12(10-19-22-17)13-7-8-14-15(21-13)6-3-9-18-14/h2-10H,1H3,(H,19,22) Key:LBPKYPYHDKKRFS-UHFFFAOYSA-N

RepSox is a small molecule inhibitor of TGFβR1,^[1][2] also known as ALK5. As a mimetic of the effects of the SOX2 protein, it has gained attention in the fields of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

It was identified after the discovery of the Yamanaka factors.^[3] It has shown promise in a variety of in-vitro and in-vivo rodent trials modelling various diseases. It inhibits TGFβR1 autophosphorylation by preventing the protein from binding with ATP, inhibits the binding of TGF-β to TGFβR1, and prevents the transcription of genes activated by TGFβR1 with nanomolar potency.^[4] RepSox is a member of the 1,5-naphthyridine class.

Research

In an in-vivo trial of rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis, RepSox was shown to prevent bone loss.^[1] RepSox is included as a part of some chemical cocktails intended for cellular reprogramming and anti-aging,^[5] where it works by inducing the expression of the gene Nanog.^[6]

RepSox suppresses the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells via suppression of the JNK/Smad3 signalling pathway, and was able to induce cell cycle arrest, promote apoptosis and prevent migration of the cancer cells. The results were replicated both in-vitro and in-vivo.^[7]

RepSox was able to promote the transformation of glial cells to neurons in the enteric nervous system of adult mice, consequently influencing gastrointestinal motility, and underlining a potential therapeutic use of RepSox in enteric neuropathies.^[8]

History

RepSox was discovered by a team at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute looking for way to induce pluripotency without inserting the gene Sox2 into cells. They discovered a molecule which was capable of this but also was able to reprogram cells in the absence of c-Myc, a tumour promoting gene. They named the molecule RepSox since it can replace Sox2 and in homage to the Boston Red Sox.^[3]

References

1. Mei L, Sang W, Chen Z, Zheng L, Jin K, Lou C, et al. (December 2018). "Small molecule inhibitor RepSox prevented ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by suppressing osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption". Journal of Cellular Physiology. 233 (12): 9724–9738. doi:10.1002/jcp.26914. PMID 30059597. S2CID 51867699.
2. Mishra T, Bhardwaj V, Ahuja N, Gadgil P, Ramdas P, Shukla S, et al. (June 2022). "Improved loss-of-function CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in human cells concomitant with inhibition of TGF-β signaling". Molecular Therapy. Nucleic Acids. 28: 202–218. doi:10.1016/j.omtn.2022.03.003. PMC 8961078. PMID 35402072.
3. Baker M (15 October 2009). "RepSox hits a home run". Nature Reports Stem Cells: 1. doi:10.1038/stemcells.2009.130.
4. Gellibert F, Woolven J, Fouchet MH, Mathews N, Goodland H, Lovegrove V, et al. (August 2004). "Identification of 1,5-naphthyridine derivatives as a novel series of potent and selective TGF-beta type I receptor inhibitors". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 47 (18): 4494–4506. doi:10.1021/jm0400247. PMID 15317461.
5. Knyazer A, Bunu G, Toren D, Mracica TB, Segev Y, Wolfson M, et al. (December 2021). "Small molecules for cell reprogramming: a systems biology analysis". Aging. 13 (24): 25739–25762. doi:10.18632/aging.203791. PMC 8751603. PMID 34919532.
6. Ichida JK, Blanchard J, Lam K, Son EY, Chung JE, Egli D, et al. (November 2009). "A small-molecule inhibitor of tgf-Beta signaling replaces sox2 in reprogramming by inducing nanog". Cell Stem Cell. 5 (5): 491–503. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2009.09.012. PMC 3335195. PMID 19818703.
7. He D, Gao J, Zheng L, Liu S, Ye L, Lai H, et al. (November 2021). "TGF‑β inhibitor RepSox suppresses osteosarcoma via the JNK/Smad3 signaling pathway". International Journal of Oncology. 59 (5). doi:10.3892/ijo.2021.5264. PMC 8460063. PMID 34533199.
8. Shi CJ, Lian JJ, Zhang BW, Cha JX, Hua QH, Pi XP, et al. (January 2023). "TGFβR-1/ALK5 inhibitor RepSox induces enteric glia-to-neuron transition and influences gastrointestinal mobility in adult mice". Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 44 (1): 92–104. doi:10.1038/s41401-022-00932-4. PMC 9813375. PMID 35794374.