MICAL-2 Inhibitor II, CCG-203971

A cell-permeable nipecotic bis(amide), chemically modified from CCG-1423 (Cat. No. 555558) for reduced toxicity (non-toxic up to 100 µM in PC-3 cultures and 100 mg/kg/d in mice via i.p.), that effectively downregulates SRF/MLK1 (MRTF-A) target genes mRNA level in primary dermal fibroblast cultures from SSc (systemic sclerosis) patients (IC₅₀ ≤30 µM post 24 h incubation) as well as in LPA-stimulated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (IC₅₀ = 1 - 3 µM; drug added 23 h prior to 1 h 10 µM LPA stimulation). Likewise, 3-day 10 µM CCG-203971 treatment is shown to reduce cellular α-SMA (α smooth muscle actin) protein and proliferation of SSc dermal fibroblasts to the same level as seen in dermal fibroblasts from healthy donors as well as to prevent 10 ng/mL TGFβ-induced α-SMA upregulation in normal dermal fibroblasts. When administered via intraperitoneal injection (100 mg/50 µL DMSO/kg/12 h), CCG-203971 is reported to be efficacious in preventing bleomycin-(100 µg/µL/1 cm² skin/animal/day s.c.) induced skin fibrosis in mice (skin thickness = 1.9- vs. 3.5-fold of control, with or without drug treatment at the end of 2-wk induction period) in vivo.

A cell-permeable, bioavailable, conformationally restricted form of CCG-1423 (Cat. No. 555558) that exhibits enhanced potency (IC₅₀ = 4.2 µM vs 16.6 µM for PC-3 cell migration), but reduced off-target toxicity (IC₅₀ >100 µM in PC3 cells). Selectively represses sclerodermal fibroblasts proliferation without affecting normal cells (~30 µM). Shown to be more effective in reducing MRTF/SRF-regulated gene transcriptional signaling than Y-27632 (Cat. No. 688000). Suppresses Rho/MRTF/SRF-regulated fibrotic gene expression in primary dermal fibroblasts derived from systemic sclerosis patients in a dose-dependent manner and reverses myofibroblast phenotype in TGFβ-stimulated normal dermal fibroblasts. Blocks MRTF nuclear localization by interfering with the microtubule associated monooxygenase, calponin and LIM domain containing 2 (MICAL-2), mediated regulation of intranuclear actin polymerization. Although exhibits a short in-vivo half-life (~25 min), at higher dosage effectively prevents bleomycin-induced fibrosis in C57BL/6J mice (100 mg/kg, i.p., b.i.d.).

Please note that the molecular weight for this compound is batch-specific due to variable water content.

A cell-permeable, restricted form of CCG-1423 with enhanced potency (IC₅₀ = 4.2 µM vs 16.6 µM for PC-3 cell migration), but reduced off-target toxicity.

Cell permeable: yes

Primary Target
MICAL-2

Following reconstitution, aliquot and freeze (-20°C). Stock solutions are stable for up to 6 months at -20°C.

Haak, A.J., et al. 2014. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.349, 480.
Johnson, L.A., et al. 2014. Inflamm. Bowel Dis.20, 154.
Bell, J.L., et al. 2013. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.23, 3826.

CALBIOCHEM is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Toxicity: Standard Handling (A)