Transthyretin amyloidosis is a fatal disorder caused by transthyretin amyloid aggregation. Stabilizing the native structure of transthyretin is an effective approach to inhibit amyloid aggregation. To develop kinetic stabilizers of transthyretin, it is crucial to explore compounds that selectively bind to transthyretin in plasma. Our recent findings demonstrated that the uricosuric agent benziodarone selectively binds to transthyretin in plasma. Here, we report the development of benziodarone analogues with enhanced potency for selective binding to transthyretin in plasma compared to benziodarone. These analogues featured substituents of chlorine, bromine, iodine, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group, at the 4-position of the benzofuran ring. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that CH···O hydrogen bonds and a halogen bond are important for the binding of the compounds to the thyroxine-binding sites. The bioavailability of benziodarone analogues with 4-Br, 4-Cl, or 4-CH₃ was comparable to that of tafamidis, a current therapeutic agent for transthyretin amyloidosis.

中文翻译：

---

开发具有增强的选择性结合人血浆中运甲状腺素蛋白的效力的苯并呋喃类似物

运甲状腺素蛋白淀粉样变性是由运甲状腺素蛋白淀粉样蛋白聚集引起的致命性疾病。稳定运甲状腺素蛋白的天然结构是抑制淀粉样蛋白聚集的有效方法。为了开发转甲状腺素蛋白的动力学稳定剂，探索选择性结合血浆中转甲状腺素蛋白的化合物至关重要。我们最近的研究结果表明，促尿酸排泄剂苯并碘酮选择性地与血浆中的转甲状腺素蛋白结合。在这里，我们报告了苯并碘酮类似物的开发，与苯并碘酮相比，其选择性结合血浆中转甲状腺素蛋白的效力增强。这些类似物在苯并呋喃环的 4 位上具有氯、溴、碘、甲基或三氟甲基取代基。 X射线晶体结构分析表明CH·O氢键和卤素键对于化合物与甲状腺素结合位点的结合非常重要。苯并碘酮类似物与4-Br、4-Cl或4-CH ₃的生物利用度与tafamidis相当，tafamidis是目前治疗转甲状腺素蛋白淀粉样变性的药物。