MK-7246 is a potent and specific CRTH2 antagonist (Ki: 2.5 nM).

MK-7246 competes for [3H]PGD2 specific binding to cell membranes expressing recombinant human CRTH2 with high-affinity (Ki, 2.5 nM). MK-7246 displays relatively high selectivity for CRTH2 with an affinity 149-fold lower for the DP receptor (Ki, 373±96 nM) and ≥1500-fold lower for the other prostanoid receptors (Ki, 7668±2169 nM for EP2, 3804±1290 nM for TP). MK-7246 is also tested in a panel of 157 enzyme and receptor assays at concentrations up to 100 μM and small but significant activity is detected only on phosphodiesterase 1 (PDE1, IC50=33.2 μM) and MAPK3 (ERK1, IC50=49.4 μM) [1].

Whether the inhibition of a clinically-relevant mechanism of allergic lung inflammation such as CRTH2 will lead to a suppression of inflammatory responses is investigated in A. alternata challenged Brown Norway rats (n=8 per group). CRTH2 inhibitor MK-7246 is orally administered 1 h before and 23 h post-intratracheal instillation of the A. alternata. MK-7246 produces a dose-dependent decrease in the number of eosinophils with a maximal inhibition of 74±5% in the 100 mg/kg group (P<0.05), IL-5 (80±12%) and IL-13 (76±14%) cytokines levels (P<0.05) [2].

The binding kinetics of [3H]MK-7246 (specific activity, 41 Ci/mmol) at human CRTH2 is characterized using recombinant HEK293E cell membranes. The radioligand binding experimental condition for CRTH2 as follows: the incubation mixture contains 10 mM MgCl2 instead of MnCl2, 10 nM [3H]MK-7246, and 1.25 μg of membrane protein. Total binding represents 10% of the radioligand adds to the incubation media, and specific binding at equilibrium corresponded to 85 to 95% of the total binding. The membranes are first incubated with [3H]MK-7246 for 120 min in the absence (total binding) or presence (nonspecific binding) of 10 μM MK-7246. To one series of total binding incubation tubes, 10 μM MK-7246 or 100 μM PGD2 is added to initiate dissociation of the radioligand from the receptor, and the reaction is left to proceed for up to 300 min. The samples are then harvested and processed as detailed above. The association and dissociation kinetic data analysis is done by nonlinear regression curve-fitting using Prism software to determine the observed on rate (Kobs) and dissociation rate (koff) constants, and t1/2 of on and off rates [1].

Intratracheal Budesonide is dosed 1 h prior to and 23 h post the A. alternate intratracheal dose while oral Budesonide (3 mg/kg) is administered 2 h before and 22 h post the A. alternata extract instillation. An intratracheally dosed Budesonide is prepared. MK-7246 (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) is administered orally 1 h before and 23 h post an A. alternata extract instillation in order to examine the effect of the CRTH2 antagonist on A. alternata elicited pulmonary inflammatory responses. Budesonide dosed orally is used as a positive control in both experiments. The animals are lightly anesthetized with 3% Isoflurane (supplemented with 100% oxygen), either 2 h following oral dosing or 1 h following intratracheal dosing. The animals are also secured on a rodent work stand to facilitate the localization of the larynx and tracheal openings. The micro sprayer needle is inserted into the trachea and 0.1 mL of 10,000 μg/mL (total of 1000 μg) A. alternata extract is administered using a micro sprayer. The animals are observed until they recover from anesthesia and then return to their cages and allow food and water ad libitum [2].