Design and Structure-Activity Relationships of Isothiocyanates as Potent and Selective -Acylethanolamine-Hydrolyzing Acid Amidase Inhibitors.

-Acylethanolamines are signaling lipid molecules implicated in pathophysiological conditions associated with inflammation and pain. -Acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) favorably hydrolyzes lipid palmitoylethanolamide, which plays a key role in the regulation of inflammatory and pain processes. The synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies encompassing the isothiocyanate pharmacophore have produced potent low nanomolar inhibitors for hNAAA, while exhibiting high selectivity (>100-fold) against other serine hydrolases and cysteine peptidases.

Design and synthesis of cyanamides as potent and selective N-acylethanolamine acid amidase inhibitors.

N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) inhibition represents an exciting novel approach to treat inflammation and pain. NAAA is a cysteine amidase which preferentially hydrolyzes the endogenous biolipids palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). PEA is an endogenous agonist of the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), which is a key regulator of inflammation and pain.