Cridanimod is an inducer of type I interferon (IFN) production.1,2 It induces IRF3 phosphorylation, IFN-β production, and NF-κB activation in wild-type, but not in stimulator of interferon genes (STING) mutant, murine macrophages.1 In vivo, cridanimod (112-1,792 mg/kg) increases plasma levels of IFN in weanling and adult mice.2 Cridanimod inhibits viral infection in mouse models of Semliki forest, coxsackie B1, Columbia SK, herpes, and pseudorabies viruses with protective doses (PD50s) ranging from 17-320 mg/kg.3 It increases uterine expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in ovariectomized rats.4 Cridanimod also reverses tamoxifen-induced decreases in progesterone receptor expression in young rats.
References
1. Cavlar, T., Deimling, T., Ablasser, A., et al. Species-specific detection of the antiviral small-molecule compound CMA by STING. EMBO J. 32(10), 1440-1450 (2013).
2. Taylor, J.L., Schoenherr, C.K., and Grossberg, S.E. High-yield interferon induction by 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone in mice and hamsters. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 18(1), 20-26 (1980).
3. Kramer, M.J., Cleeland, R., and Grunberg, E. Antiviral activity of 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 9(2), 233-238 (1976).
4. Surkov, K.G., Tsyrlina, E.V., Konstantinova, M.M., et al. Neovir, an interferon inductor, modifies expression of steroid hormone receptors in hormone-dependent tissues and restores sensitivity to tamoxifen in patients with inoperable breast cancer. Vopr. Onkol. 42(6), 28-32 (1996).