Small molecule analogues of the immunomodulatory parasitic helminth product ES-62 have anti-allergy properties

[Display omitted] •Small molecule analogues of the helminth immunomodulator ES-62 have been produced.•Two analogues inhibit mast cell functions and prevent airway hypersensitivity.•The analogues are drug-like and could be considered for treatment of human allergy. ES-62, a glycoprotein secreted by the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by virtue of covalently attached phosphorylcholine moieties. Screening of a library of ES-62 phosphorylcholine-based small molecule analogues (SMAs) revealed that two compounds, termed 11a and 12b, mirrored the helminth product both in inhibiting mast cell degranulation and cytokine responses in vitro and in preventing ovalbumin-induced Th2-associated airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration of the lungs in mice. Furthermore, the two SMAs inhibited neutrophil infiltration of the lungs when administered therapeutically. ES-62-SMAs 11a and 12b thus represent starting points for novel drug development for allergies such as asthma.