Small Molecule Mimetics of α-Helical Domain of IRAK2 Attenuate the Proinflammatory Effects of IL-33 in Asthma-like Mouse Models

IL-33 and its receptor ST2 play important roles in airway inflammation and contribute to asthma onset and exacerbation. The IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway recruits adapter protein myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) to transduce intracellular signaling. MyD88 forms a complex with IL-R–associated kinases (IRAKs), IRAK4 and IRAK2, called the Myddosome (MyD88–IRAK4–IRAK2). The myddosome subsequently activates downstream NF-κB and MAPKs p38 and JNK. We established an asthma-like mouse model by intratracheal administration of IL-33. The IL-33 model has a very similar phenotype compared with the OVA-induced mouse asthma model. The importance of MyD88 in the IL-33/ST2 signaling transduction was demonstrated by the MyD88 knockout mice, which were protected from the IL-33–induced asthma. We synthesized small molecule mimetics of the α-helical domain of IRAK2 with drug-like characteristics based on the recent advances in the designing of α-helix compounds. The mimetics can competitively interfere in the protein–protein interaction between IRAK2 and IRAK4, leading to disruption of Myddosome formation. A series of small molecules were screened using an NF-κB promoter assay in vitro. The lead compound, 7004, was further studied in the IL-33–induced and OVA-induced asthma mouse models in vivo. Compound 7004 can inhibit the IL-33–induced NF-κB activity, disrupt Myddosome formation, and attenuate the proinflammatory effects in asthma-like models. Our data indicate that the Myddosome may represent a novel intracellular therapeutic target for diseases in which IL-33/ST2 plays important roles, such as asthma and other inflammatory diseases.