Discovery of Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of NF-κB Signaling with Antiinflammatory and Anticancer Properties

Excessive NF-κB activation contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Small-molecule inhibitors of NF-κB signaling have significant therapeutic potential especially in treating inflammatory diseases and cancers. In this study, we performed a cell-based high-throughput screening to discover novel agents capable of inhibiting NF-κB signaling. On the basis of two hit scaffolds from the screening, we synthesized 69 derivatives to optimize the potency for inhibition of NF-κB activation, leading to successful discovery of the most potent compound Z9j with over 170-fold enhancement of inhibitory activity. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that Z9j inhibited NF-κB signaling via suppression of Src/Syk, PI3K/Akt, and IKK/IκB pathways. This novel compound also demonstrated antiinflammatory and anticancer activities, warranting its further development as a potential multifunctional agent to treat inflammatory diseases and cancers.