Discovery of a novel and orally active Farnesoid X receptor agonist for the protection of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is a leading cause of acute hepatic failure and liver transplantation, while the existing treatments are poorly effective. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective therapeutic drugs for APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a potential target for the treatment of liver disease, and the activation of FXR protects mice against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Compound 5, a glycine-conjugated derivative of FXR agonist 4, was designed to extend the chemical space of existing FXR agonists. Molecular modeling study indicated that compound 5 formed hydrogen bond network with key residues of FXR. Moreover, compound 5 (10 mg/kg) revealed better protective effects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity than parent compound 4 (30 mg/kg). Further mechanical research indicated that compound 5 regulated the expressions of genes related to FXR and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that compound 5 is a promising FXR agonist suitable for further research, and it is the first time to verify that the glycine-conjugated derivative five exerted better protective effects than its parent compound.