Background:

CC-401 hydrochloride is a potent inhibitor of all three forms of JNK with Ki of 25 to 50 nM.
CC-401 has at least 40-fold selectivity for JNK compared with other related kinases, including p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK2), protein kinase C, Lck, zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP70). In cell-based assays, 1 to 5 μM CC-401 provides specific JNK inhibition. CC-401, a small molecule that is a specific inhibitor of all three JNK isoforms. CC-401 competitively binds the ATP binding site in JNK, resulting in inhibition of the phosphorylation of the N-terminal activation domain of the transcription factor c-Jun. The specificity of this inhibitor is tested in vitro using osmotic stress of the HK-2 human tubular epithelial cell line. CC-401 inhibits sorbitol-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun in a dosage-dependent manner. However, CC-401 does not prevent sorbitol-induced phosphorylation of JNK, p38, or ERK[1].
The staining of p-JNK is moderately induced in bevazicumab and Oxaliplatin treatments as compared to control, and in the CC-401-treated samples p-cJun content is significantly lower, consistent with effective JNK inhibition. DNA damage is modestly elevated in combined treatments with CC-401[2]. CC-401 treatment from days 7 to 24 slows the progression of proteinuria, which is significantly reduced compared to the no-treatment and vehicle groups at days 14 and 21. However, there is still an increase in the degree of proteinuria at day 21 in CC-401-treated rats compared to proteinuria at day 5. The vehicle and no-treatment groups developed renal impairment at day 24 as shown by an increase in serum creatinine. This is prevented by CC-401 treatment[3].
Reference:
[1]. Ma FY, et al. A pathogenic role for c-Jun amino-terminal kinase signaling in renal fibrosis and tubular cell apoptosis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Feb;18(2):472-84.
[2]. Vasilevskaya IA, et al. Inhibition of JNK Sensitizes Hypoxic Colon Cancer Cells to DNA-Damaging Agents. Clin Cancer Res. 2015 Sep 15;21(18):4143-52.
[3]. Ma FY, et al. Blockade of the c-Jun amino terminal kinase prevents crescent formation and halts established anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in the rat. Lab Invest. 2009 Apr;89(4):470-84.