Structure-based drug discovery of novel fused-pyrazolone carboxamide derivatives as potent and selective AXL inhibitors

As a novel and promising antitumor target, AXL plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, immunosuppression and drug resistance of various malignancies, which has attracted extensive research interest in recent years. In this study, by employing the structure-based drug design and bioisosterism strategies, we designed and synthesized in total 54 novel AXL inhibitors featuring a fused-pyrazolone carboxamide scaffold, of which up to 20 compounds exhibited excellent AXL kinase and BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability inhibitions. Notably, compound 59 showed a desirable AXL kinase inhibitory activity (IC50: 3.5 nmol/L) as well as good kinase selectivity, and it effectively blocked the cellular AXL signaling. In turn, compound 59 could potently inhibit BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability (IC50: 1.5 nmol/L) and significantly suppress GAS6/AXL-mediated cancer cell invasion, migration and wound healing at the nanomolar level. More importantly, compound 59 oral administration showed good pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo antitumor efficiency, in which we observed significant AXL phosphorylation suppression, and its antitumor efficacy at 20 mg/kg (qd) was comparable to that of BGB324 at 50 mg/kg (bid), the most advanced AXL inhibitor. Taken together, this work provided a valuable lead compound as a potential AXL inhibitor for the further antitumor drug development.

Quality evaluation methods of Poria based on yield and content of alkali extracted polysaccharide / 中国中药杂志

To improve the quality control methods of Poria and develop and utilize its resources fully, alkaline extraction was used in this study to determine the yield and content of alkali-soluble polysaccharides of Poria. The alkali-soluble extracts of Poria were obtained according to the optimum extraction conditions on the basis of single-factor test, and 30 batches of samples were determined. The structure and chemical composition of the alkali-soluble extracts was characterized by high-performance gel permeation chromatography(HPGPC), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry(FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone(PMP-HPLC). The results showed that the content of the alkali-soluble extracts was in the range of 46.98%-73.86%. The main component was β-(1→3)-glucan, and its molecular mass was about 1.093×10~5. Further, the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharides of Poria was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC coupled with the evaporative light scattering detector(HPLC-ELSD), and 30 batches of samples were measured. The results indicated that the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharides determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry was in the range of 73.70%-92.57%, and the content of samples from Hubei province was slightly higher than that from Yunnan province, Anhui province and Hunan province. The content of alkali-soluble polysaccharides determined by HPLC-ELSD was in the range of 51.42%-76.69%, and the samples from Hunan province had slightly higher content than that from the other three provinces. The content determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry was higher than that by HPLC-ELSD. However, the content determined by HPLC-ELSD was close to that of alkali-soluble extract, which could accurately characterize the content of alkali-soluble polysaccharides in Poria, and the method was simple and repeatable. Therefore, it is recommended that the quantitative analysis method for alkali-soluble extract and alkali-soluble polysaccharides by HPLC-ELSD be used in the quality standards of Poria in Chinese Pharmacopeia.

Pyrazolone copper complex induces apoptosis in BEL-7404 hepatocellular carcinoma cells through extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by novel pyrazolone copper complex (P-FAH-Cu-bpy) on human hepatoma cell line BEL-7404. Methods P-FAH-Cu-bpy was prepared by solution method. The crystal structure of P-FAH-Cu-bpy was determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The effect of P-FAH-Cu-bpy on the viability of BEL-7404 cells in vitro was detected by MTT assay. The morphology and apoptotic karyotype changes of BEL-7404 cells were observed by inverted microscope and Hoechst 33258 staining, respectively. The effects of P-FAH-Cu-bpy on apoptosis, cell cycle, R O S, mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration was detected by scratch test. The effects of P-FAH-Cu-bpy on apoptosis, migration and invasion-related protein expression in BEL-7404 cells were assessed by Western blot. Results P-FAH-Cu-bpy as a pentacoordinate copper (II) complex with a twisted tetragonal pyramidal configuration suppressed cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, induced apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the levels of intracellular ROS. The expression levels of Bax, cytochrome C, Cleavedcaspase-3/9/8 and Cleaved-PARP were up-regulated, while the expression levels of caspase-7 and Bcl-2 were down-regulated; cell migration and invasion were inhibited. Conclusion P-FAH-Cu-bpy suppresses BEL-7404 cell growth through both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways.

Antitumor effect of cadmium (Ⅱ) complex of pyrazolone derivatives on melanoma B16 cells in vitro and in vivo / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the antitumor effect of cadmium (Ⅱ) complex of pyrazolone derivatives 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-propionyl-5-pyrazolone salicyloyl hydrazide-cadmium (Ⅱ) (Cd-PMPP-SAL) on the murine melanoma B16 cells in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms. METHODS B16 cells were incubated with Cd-PMPP-SAL at 1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg·L-1 for 24, 48 or 72 h. The prolifera? tion rate of B16 cel s was evaluated by MTT assay. B16 cel s were incubated with Cd-PMPP-SAL at 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg·L-1 for 24 h, while cell morphology was observed by Hoechst33258 staining. Apop?tosis of B16 cells was detected by Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI staining. The activity of caspases in B16 cells was detected by caspase activity assay. C57BL/6J mice were inoculated subcutaneously with B16 cells to establish a tumor-bearing model. Five days later, Cd-PMPP-SAL at 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg·kg-1 was injected into tumors of C57BL/6J mice once a day for 12 d. The body mass was recorded daily. One day after the last administration, all the mice were killed and the tumor was harvested. Tumor volume and mass were measured, and the tumor inhibitory rates were calculated. Pathological changes of the tumor, liver and lung were observed under a microscope. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in tumor tissues were detected by immuno?histochemistry. The apoptotic cells in transplanted tumor tissues were detected by TUNEL. RESULTS Cd-PMPP-SAL inhibited the proliferation of B16 cells. The IC50 was 4.946 mg · L-1, and 95% confidence interval was 4.24-5.65 mg · L-1. The apoptosis rates(12.8 ± 1.4)% and (18.4 ± 0.4)% of Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · L-1 groups were significantly higher than those of control group (1.7 ± 0.1)% (P<0.01). The activity of caspase 3 and 9 of Cd-PMPP-SAL 25.00 mg · L-1 group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in caspases 3/7. The relative tumor volumes of Cd-PMPP-SAL 6.25, 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg-1 treated groups from the 8th day of treatment were significantly decreased compared with the model group (P<0.01). The result of paraffin sections showed that the transplanted tumor tissues in Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg- 1 groups exhibited different degrees of necrosis, but there was no significant pathological damage to the liver or lung tissues of mice. Compared with model group, expressions of VEGF and FGF2 in Cd-PMPP-SAL 12.50 and 25.00 mg · kg-1 treated groups were significantly inhibited (P<0.05), and apoptotic cell rates were significantly higher (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Cd-PMPP-SAL can inhibit growth of B16 cells in vivo and in vitro, which may be associated with induction of tumor cell apoptosis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

Clinical Features of Immediate Hypersensitivity to Isopropylantipyrine

Hypersensitivities induced by isopropylantipyrine (IPA), a pyrazolone derivative within the wider family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are rarely reported. We characterized the clinical features of 12 patients with IPA-induced hypersensitivity. Twelve patients with immediate hypersensitivity to IPA were enrolled and classified into two groups: group I, consisting of eight patients (66.7%) with selective hypersensitivity; and group II, consisting of four patients (33.3%) showing cross-intolerance to other NSAIDs. Skin prick and intradermal and oral provocation tests with IPA were performed. To confirm selective hypersensitivity, an aspirin oral provocation test was also conducted. The most common manifestations were cutaneous reactions (91.7%), followed by anaphylaxis (66.7%), respiratory (41.7%), ocular (16.7%), and gastrointestinal reactions (16.7%). The median age and the median age at onset were 34.5 (range, 23-55) years and 28.0 (range, 7-47) years, respectively. In both groups I and II, all patients showed negative responses to skin prick testing, whereas only two patients in group I were positive in response to intradermal IPA tests. The response time after drug exposure was shorter in group I than in group II. Here, we report on two types of IPA hypersensitivity: selective and cross-intolerant NSAID hypersensitivity. An immediate IgE-mediated reaction may be involved in patients with selective hypersensitivity, whereas a cyclooxygenase-1-related inhibition mechanism may be a responsible mechanism for the patients with cross-intolerance to multiple NSAIDs.

Structure activity relationship studies of synthesised pyrazolone derivatives of imidazole, benzimidazole and benztriazole moiety for anti-inflammatory activity.

In the present investigation, a series of some synthesis and biological evaluation of some pyrazolone derivatives with imidazole, benzimidazole and benztriazole moiety were synthesized and tested for their anti-inflammatory activity in-vitro using celecoxib as a reference drug. Compound 8d was found to be the most potent derivative of the series with 75 %inhibition of inflammation.

Comparison of Two Methods for Determination of Cyanide in Quality-Controlled Water Sample / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To explore an easy, rapid and suitable method for determination of cyanide with lower concentration in quality_controlled water sample. Methods To overcome the shortcomings in determination of low concentration cyanide in water by iso_niacin_pyrazolone spectrophotometry and pyridin_barbituric acid spectrophotometry, the iso_niacin_barbituric acid spectrophotometry was studied for determining the lower concentration cyanide in water, the data obtained were compared with those obtained from the standard method iso_niacin_pyrazdone spectrophotometry. Results The results showed no statistically significant differences between these two methods. The precision, accuracy and other indexes all accorded with the analysis criteria. Conclusion The iso_niacin_barbituric acid spectrophotometry was easier to operate, more rapid and lower cost, the conditions of colorimetry were easier to be controlled compared with those of iso_niacin_pyrazolone spectrophotometry.