Human lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is an NADH-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, playing a crucial role in the aerobic glycolysis of tumor cells. Additionally, LDHA is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of glyoxylate to oxalate in the liver, excessive accumulation of which leads to hyperoxaluria. Representative LDHA inhibitors reported to date include GNE-140, NCATS-SM1441, and CHK-336. In this study, NCATS-SM1441 was used as the lead compound. Based on the analysis of its cocrystal binding mode with LDH, the key carboxythiazole and aromatic pharmacophores were retained, while the original substituted pyrazole linker was replaced with urea linker moieties to simplify the structure. As a result, nine urea derivatives were designed and synthesized. Subsequently, on the basis of structure-activity relationship and molecular docking studies, nine target triazole compounds were further designed. Ultimately, triazole compound 25 was found to exhibit the most potent LDHA inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 1.59 μmol/L) in vitro. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the interactions between compound 25 and key amino acid residues. Finally, the prediction of physicochemical properties and the evaluation of cell viability were performed for compound 25. The study provides an experimental basis for future development of novel LDHA inhibitors with improved drugability.

The cellular oxygen sensor factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) is a JmjC domain-containing 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the hydroxylation of specific asparagine residues in the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α. This modification inhibits HIF transcriptional activity by suppressing its interaction with the transcriptional coactivator p300/CBP. FIH inhibitors have attracted considerable attention due to their potential metabolic regulatory capabilities, particularly their significant therapeutic potential in improving lipid metabolic disorders. This review provides a detailed discussion of the catalytic mechanism of FIH and its biological functions in regulating the HIF pathway. In addition, it highlights recent advances in the development of FIH inhibitors and further explores their potential applications in the treatment of lipid metabolic diseases, offering new insights for the development of drugs targeting lipid metabolism disorders.