Design, synthesis, and evaluation of quinazoline T cell proliferation inhibitors

We report here on a class of quinazoline molecules that inhibit T cell proliferation. The most potent compound N-p-tolyl-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) quinazolin-4-amine (S101) and its close analogs were found to inhibit the proliferation of T cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Jurkat cells, with IC₅₀ in the sub-micromolar range. The inhibitor induced G2 cell cycle arrest but did not inhibit IL-2 secretion. The anti-proliferative effect correlated with inhibition of the tyrosine phosphorylation of SLP-76, a molecular element in the signaling pathway of the T cell receptor (TCR). The inhibitor restrained proliferation of lymphocytes with much higher potency than non-hematopoietic cells. This new class of specific T cell proliferation inhibitors may serve as lead molecules for the development of agents aimed at diseases in which T cell signaling plays a role and agents to induce tolerance to grafted tissues or organs.