No-donors: an emerging class of compounds in medicinal chemistry.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Fruttero.
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The design of new vasodilator derivatives in which two different pharmacophoric groups are present in a single molecule has been pursued by substitution of NO-prodrug furoxan moieties for the furanylcarbonyl function in Prazosin, a well-known alpha 1-receptor antagonist. The aim was to obtain new antihypertensive agents in which two vasodilation mechanisms, alpha 1-antagonist and NO-mediated, can operate in an appropriate balance. The alpha 1-antagonist activity was assessed on rat aortic strips in the presence and in the absence of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), a well-known scavenger of nitric oxide. The resulting hybrids displayed different pharmacological behaviors. When the 4-furoxanylcarbonyl system, bearing an ester or an amide function at the 3-position, was present (derivatives 7a,b), hybrids with predominant alpha 1-antagonist activity were obtained. By contrast, in the derivative 7c, in which the nitrile function is linked to the 3-position of the furoxan ring, the NO-mediated vasodilating properties are predominant. Finally, the (furoxanylsulfonyl)piperidine derivatives 13a,b showed NO vasodilation and alpha 1-antagonist activities in an appropriate balance. For the furoxan derivatives, the NO-dependent vasodilating ability, assessed on the K(+)-depolarized aortic strip, and the NO release features under the action of thiol cofactors are also discussed.
1. The mechanism of action and biological activity of a series of R-substituted and di-R-substituted phenylfuroxans is reported. 2. Maximal potency as vasodilators on rabbit aortic rings, precontracted with noradrenaline (1 microM), was shown by phenyl-cyano isomers and by the 3,4-dicyanofuroxan, characterized by a potency ratio 3-10 fold higher than glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). This effect was reduced upon coincubation with methylene blue or oxyhaemoglobin (10 microM). 3. The furoxan derivatives showing maximal potency as vasodilators were also able to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation, with IC50 values in the sub-micromolar range. 4. The furoxan derivatives were able to stimulate partially purified, rat lung soluble guanylate cyclase; among the most active compounds, the 3-R-substituted isomers displayed a higher level of stimulatory effect than the 4-R analogues. 5. Solutions (0.1 mM) of all the tested furoxans, prepared using 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, (diluting 10 mM DMSO stock solutions) did not release nitric oxide (NO) spontaneously; however in presence of 5 mM L-cysteine, a significant NO-releasing capacity was observed, which correlated significantly with their stimulation of the guanylate cyclase activity.
L-methionine (Met) oxidation products in tripeptides, in Met-enkephalin and in the bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor have been identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The oxidation of Met residues by stoichiometric amounts of chloramine-B, H2O2 and I2 yields a mixture of L-methionine sulfoxide (Met (O)) and dehydro-L-methionine (DH-Met), Met (O) and DH-Met, respectively, at pH 7.0 and 25.0 degrees C. The formation of DH-Met occurs only if the amino-group of Met is not derivatized. The analysis of 1H and 13C NMR spectra allows us to quantitate Met oxidation products, to ascertain the relative proportion of the R and S forms of Met (O) and DH-Met, and to reveal the presence of a Met residue at the N-terminal position in peptides and proteins.
4-Phenyl-3-furoxancarbonitrile (2) affords nitric oxide under the action of thiol cofactors. Two principal products were isolated in the reaction with thiophenol: the phenylcyanoglyoxime (6) and 5-amino-3-phenyl-4-(phenylthio)isoxazole (7). Mechanisms which could account for the formation of these two products are discussed. Compound 2 is an efficient activator of the rat lung soluble guanylate cyclase, displays high vasodilatory activity on strips of rat thoracic aorta precontracted with noradrenaline, and is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation.
Synthesis and structural characterization of some ring-open analogues of Prazosin containing either the guanidine substructure or urea-equivalent groups are described. The opening of the pyrimidine ring in Prazosin is very important as far as the affinity for alpha 1-adrenoceptor is concerned. The pA2 values of the ring-open derivatives are 10(4)-10(5) fold lower than that of the parent. It is probable that the affinity decrease principally reflects a negative influence of the conformational factors in the interaction with the alpha 1-receptor. The derivative 5 containing the guanidine moiety, charged at physiological pH, is as active as the other derivatives containing the uncharged urea-equivalent groups. This behaviour indicates, in this class of compounds, the importance of H-bonding interactions with the receptor. When in the ring-open models the ethanediamino substructure is substituted for the piperazine ring additional decrease in activity occurs.
The inhibition mechanism of the dimeric human placenta glutathione transferase (GST P1-1) by the antibiotic p-carboxyphenylazoxycyanide (calvatic acid) has been investigated at pH 7.0 and 30.0 degrees C. Experiments performed at different calvatic acid/GST P1-1 molar ratios indicate that one mole of calvatic acid inactivates one mole of the homodimeric enzyme molecule, containing two catalytically equivalent active sites. The apparent second order rate constant for GST P1-1 inactivation is 2.4 +/- 0.3 M-1 s-1. The recovery of all the 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitro-benzoic acid)-titratable thiol groups as well as the original catalytic activity of GST P1-1 after treatment of the inhibited enzyme with dithiothreitol indicates that two disulfide bridges per dimer, likely between Cys47 and Cys101, have been formed during the reaction with calvatic acid. To the best of the authors knowledge, calvatic acid represents a unique case of enzyme inhibitor acting also throughout its reaction product(s).
Endothelial cells (EC) produce platelet activating factor (PAF) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in response to inflammatory agents such as thrombin. Upon cell stimulation a calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is activated which hydrolyzes a membrane phospholipid to yield 1-0-alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phospho-choline (lyso-PAF) and free arachidonic acid. Lyso-PAF is in turn converted into PAF by a specific acetyltransferase and arachidonic acid is metabolized via cyclic endoperoxides to PGI2. In the present study we report that S35b (4-methyl-3-phenylsulfonylfuroxan), a new phenyl-sulfonylfuroxan compound with potent antiaggregatory effect, inhibits thrombin-induced PAF synthesis and acetyltransferase activation as well as PGI2 production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a concentration-dependent way. Additionally, we show that S35b stimulates the production of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in HUVEC in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At high concentration, S35b potentiates the cAMP increase induced by iloprost or forskolin without having a significant influence on cAMP level itself. Potentiation of cAMP increase during agonist-induced EC stimulation seems not to be important for the effect of S35b on cellular function as the compound is active in inhibiting PAF production when endothelial cells are pretreated with indomethacin to block PGI2 synthesis. The increase of cGMP evoked by S35b may account for the effect on endothelial cell function.
In the present work recent results obtained in the pharmacochemistry of the furoxan system are reported. In particular, after a brief description of the salient points of the furoxan chemistry, the synthesis and the properties of a series of Nifedipine and Prazosin analogues, containing this heterocyclic system, are described. Since we observed that a few furoxan derivatives are able to elicit both a dose-dependent rise in platelet cGMP levels and to promote a dose-dependent inhibition of AA-induced [Ca++] rise, and that many substituted furoxans show potent vasodilating and antiaggregatory activity, the possibility of using the furoxan system as a lead in the design of new vasodilators is also discussed.
A series of 4-methyl-3-(arylthio)furoxans were synthesized by oxidation of 1-(arylthio)-2-methylglyoxymes with dinitrogen tetroxide. Reduction with trimethyl phosphite of the furoxan derivatives afforded the corresponding furazans, while oxidation with an equimolar amount of 30% hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid or with an excess of 81% hydrogen peroxide in trifluoroacetic acid afforded the corresponding arylsulfinyl and arylsulfonyl analogues, respectively. All the furoxan and furazan derivatives showed activity as inhibitors of platelet aggregation. 4-Methyl-3-(arylsulfonyl)furoxans were the most potent derivatives of the series. 4-Methyl-3-(phenylsulfonyl)furoxan (10a), one of the most active derivatives, inhibits the AA-induced increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ and production of malondialdehyde. A primary action of the compound on cyclooxygenase is excluded, as a stable epoxymethano analogue of prostaglandin H2 does not reverse the inhibitory effect of 10a. This compound produces a significant increase in cGMP which is likely to cause inhibition at an early stage of the platelet activation pathway.
The effects of S35b (4-methyl-3-phenyl sulfonylfuroxan), a new phenyl sulfonylfuroxan compound, were investigated on human platelets activated by different agonists. Platelet aggregation evoked by arachidonic acid (AA), collagen, ADP and thrombin was inhibited by the drug in a dose-dependent manner. S35b inhibited the AA-induced increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and production of malondialdehyde. A primary action of the compound on cyclooxygenase is unlikely since: (1) U-46619 (15s-hydroxy-11,9-[epoxymethano]-prosta-5Z,13E-dienoic acid, a stable epoxymethano analog of prostaglandin H2) could not reverse the inhibitory effect of S35b on AA-induced aggregation and [Ca2+]i increase; (2) U-46619-induced aggregation and [Ca2+]i rise were inhibited by S35b; and (3) at high collagen concentrations platelet aggregation (which is unresponsive to aspirin under such conditions) was blocked by S35b as well. Thus the drug action is likely to be exerted at an early step of the platelet activation pathway. The elevation in the platelet cGMP level evoked by S35b in a time- and concentration-dependent manner can account for the inhibitory effect: increased cGMP levels could interfere, for instance, with G protein-phospholipase C coupling and subsequent phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
Analogues of 3-amino-4-[2-[(5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-furyl)methylthio]ethylamino] furazan (1) containing carbonyl groups joined to the amino functions linked to the furazan system have been synthetized and investigated for their H2-antagonist properties on the isolated guinea pig right atrium. The presence of the carbonyl group lowers the activity in respect to the corresponding leads. The decrease in activity is only by 1-2 orders of magnitude in the 3-acylamino-furazan series versus inactivity in the 4-acylamino isomers and in the diacylated series.
The inhibitory effect of mono-, bis-, tris- and tetra-benzamidine structures (benzamidine, DAPP, TAPB and TAPP, respectively) on the catalytic properties of human alpha-, beta- and gamma-thrombin (alpha-, beta- and gamma-thrombin, respectively) was investigated (between pH 2.0 and 7.0, I = 0.1 M; T = 37.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C). The affinity of DAPP, TAPB and TAPP for alpha- and beta-thrombin is higher than that found for benzamidine association around neutrality, converging in the acidic pH limb; in contrast, benzamidine, DAPP, TAPB and TAPP show the same value of the association inhibition constant (Ki; M-1) for gamma-thrombin over the whole pH range explored. On lowering the pH from 5.5 to 3.0, the decrease in affinity for benzamidine binding to alpha-, beta- and gamma-thrombin, as well as for DAPP, TAPB and TAPP association to gamma-thrombin reflects the acidic-pK shift, upon inhibitor binding of a single ionizing group. On the other hand, values of Ki for DAPP, TAPB and TAPP binding to alpha- and beta-thrombin appear to be modulated by the acidic-pK shift, upon inhibitor association, of two equivalent proton-binding residues over the same pH range. By considering molecular models of the serine proteinase:inhibitor complexes, the observed binding behaviour of benzamidine, DAPP, TAPB and TAPP to alpha-, beta- and gamma-thrombin has been related to the inferred stereochemistry of the enzyme:inhibitor contact region(s).
A series of furazanyl- and furoxanyl-1,4-dihydropyridines has been synthesized and tested for their cardiovascular activity. The new compounds showed a modest activity in comparison with nifedipine and some selectivity for the myocardial muscle. The most active compound was diethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-phenyl-4-furoxanyl)-3,5-pyridine dicarboxylate, 4d.
The inhibitory effect of bis-, tris- and tetra-benzamidine derivatives (DAPP, TAPB and TAPP, respectively) on the catalytic properties of bovine beta-trypsin (beta-trypsin), human alpha-thrombin (alpha-thrombin) and porcine pancreatic beta-kallikrein-B (beta-kallikrein-B) was investigated (between pH 2.0 and 7.0, I = 0.1 M; T = 37.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C), and analyzed in parallel with that of benzamidine, commonly taken as a molecular inhibitor model of serine proteinases. Over the whole pH range explored, benzamidine, DAPP, TAPB and TAPP, show the same value of the association inhibition constant (Ki, M-1) for beta-trypsin; at variance, the affinity of DAPP, TAPB and TAPP for alpha-thrombin and beta-kallikrein-B is higher than that found for benzamidine association around neutrality, but tends to converge in the acidic pH limb. On lowering the pH from 5.5 to 3.0, the decrease in affinity for benzamidine binding to beta-trypsin, alpha-thrombin and beta-kallikrein-B as well as for DAPP, TAPB and TAPP association to beta-trypsin reflects the acidic-pK shift, upon inhibitor binding, of a single ionizing group. Over the same pH range, values of Ki for DAPP, TAPB and TAPP binding to alpha-thrombin and beta-kallikrein-B appear to be modulated by the acidic-pK shift, upon inhibitor association, of two equivalent proton-binding residues. Considering the X-ray three dimensional structures and the computer-generated molecular models of the serine proteinase inhibitor complexes, the observed binding behaviour of benzamidine, DAPP, TAPB and TAPP to beta-trypsin, alpha-thrombin and beta-kallikrein-B has been related to the inferred stereochemistry of the enzyme:inhibitor contact region(s).
Synthesis and structural characterization of 3 sulfanilamido-1-phenylpyrazoles bearing on 1-phenyl group nitro substituent o-, m-, p-positioned are reported. All derivatives are analysed through 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The MIC values obtained against Escherichia coli are briefly discussed in terms of structure-activity relationship.
A few ethers and oximes structurally related to classical H2-antagonists have been synthetized and tested for their in vitro H2-antagonist activity. The compounds in which cyclic "urea equivalent" groups are joined to a cyclohexylmethyl moiety showed a high increase of activity in comparison with the unsubstituted analogues. This finding supports the hypothesis of the existence of an accessorial binding area on H2-receptor near the site fitted by cyclic "urea equivalent" groups.
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