Inhibitors of the Purine Salvage Pathway: A Valuable Approach for Antiprotozoal Chemotherapy?

For many years, the purine salvage pathway of parasitic protozoa has been regarded as an attractive chemotherapeutic target. Parasitic protozoa lack de novo synthesis and rely entirely on the purine salvage pathway to meet their purine demands. Because of the great phylogenetic difference between parasite and host, there are often sufficient distinctions that can be exploited to design specific inhibitors for the parasitic enzymes. As a result, this pathway has been thoroughly investigated over the last twenty years. It is only quite recently that the genome studies of Trypanosoma, Leishmania and Plasmodium have been published. Based on these genomic data however, the existence of by-pass mechanisms by other enzymes and transporter systems could be suggested. Taking into account such proposition, the question might arise as to whether inhibition of a single salvage enzyme will be able or not to cause parasite death or growth arrest. In this paper, the key enzymes in the purine salvage pathways of relevant pathogenic species from the genera Trypanosoma, Leishmania and Plasmodium are reviewed. Their potential as drug targets is critically evaluated and where possible, correlated to literature data on antiparasitic activity of their inhibitors. While many studies over the past ten years have yielded contradictory results, this review attempts to clarify these findings by discussing the latest elements of progress in the field. Additionally, as part of a broader discussion on substrate analogue types of inhibitors, special attention is paid to iminoribitol derivatives, serving as transition state analogues of nucleoside-processing enzymes and comprising the most potent inhibitors reported for purine salvage enzymes. More specifically, the development of three generations of immucillins and a newer series of N-(arylmethyl-) substituted iminoribitol derivatives will be discussed. Finally, this review also covers subversive substrates of salvage enzymes: compounds that are transformed by enzymatic activity into cytotoxic agents. Although not by directly intervening in the process of purine recovery, the subversive substrate approach might deliver antiprotozoal compounds that rely on salvage enzymes for their activity.

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of guanidino-alkyl-ribitol derivatives as nucleoside hydrolase inhibitors.

Nucleoside hydrolase (NH) is a key enzyme in the purine salvage pathway. The purine specificity of the IAG-NH from Trypanosoma vivax is at least in part due to cation-pi-stacking interactions. Guanidinium ions can be involved in cation-pi-stacking interactions, therefore a series of guanidino-alkyl-ribitol derivatives were synthesized in order to examine the binding affinity of these compounds towards the target enzyme. The compounds show moderate to good inhibiting activity towards the IAG-NH from T. vivax.

1,2,3-Triazolylalkylribitol derivatives as nucleoside hydrolase inhibitors.

A range of novel 1,2,3-triazolylalkylribitol derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as nucleoside hydrolase inhibitors. The most active compound (11a) has low micromolar potency and is structurally diverse from previously reported nucleoside hydrolase inhibitors, which, along with the simplicity of the chemistry involved in its synthesis, makes it a good lead for the further development of novel nucleoside hydrolase inhibitors.

The therapeutic potential of inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and related proline-specific dipeptidyl aminopeptidases.

In this review the structural and functional aspects of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) will be described, and the therapeutic potential of DPP IV inhibitors will be highlighted. DPP IV will be situated in clan SC, a group of serine proteases that contains several proline specific peptidases. Structural aspects of DPP IV and its interaction with different types of inhibitors are recently revealed by the publication of several crystal structures. Especially the design and development of new DPP IV inhibitors based on the three-dimensional structure, substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism will be discussed. In the last years there was an important development of new pyrrolidine-2-nitriles with very promising therapeutic properties for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The role of DPP IV in peptide metabolism of members of the PACAP/glucagon peptide family, neuropeptides and chemokines has been thoroughly investigated during recent years. This is directly related to the promising therapeutic potential of DPP IV inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and in the treatment of immunological disorders. Several inhibitors are currently under investigation in clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and represent a new class of drugs for the treatment of this disease.

Development of irreversible diphenyl phosphonate inhibitors for urokinase plasminogen activator.

In this letter we report the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of selective, irreversible diphenyl phosphonate inhibitors for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). A diphenyl phosphonate group was introduced on the substratelike peptide Z-d-Ser-Ala-Arg, and modification of the guanidine side chain was investigated. A guanylated benzyl group appeared the most promising side chain modification. A k(app) value in the 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) range for uPA was obtained, together with a selectivity index higher than 240 toward other trypsin-like proteases such as tPA, thrombin, plasmin, and FXa.

Trypanothione as a target in the design of antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial agents.

Trypanothione is the key molecule in the defence mechanism of Trypanosoma and Leishmania against oxidative stress. The uniqueness of trypanothione makes the metabolism of this molecule an attractive target in antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial drug design. It became clear that this antioxidant cascade can be considered as the "Achilles heel" of these parasites. The following targets and their respective inhibitors will be discussed: biosynthesis of trypanothione with glutathionylspermidine synthetase and trypanothione synthetase; biosynthesis of glutathione with gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase; biosynthesis of spermidine with ornithine decarboxylase; trypanothione hydroperoxide metabolism with tryparedoxine peroxidase, tryparedoxine and trypanothione reductase.

Synthesis and evaluation of caffeic acid amides as antioxidants.

A series of amides of caffeic acid has been synthesised and their antioxidant properties evaluated as lipid peroxidation inhibitors. Anilides of caffeic acid were found to be very efficient antioxidants with IC50's of 0.3 microM.

Molecular characterization of dipeptidyl peptidase activity in serum: soluble CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV is responsible for the release of X-Pro dipeptides.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV, EC 3.4.14.5) is a serine type protease with an important modulatory activity on a number of chemokines, neuropeptides and peptide hormones. It is also known as CD26 or adenosine deaminase (ADA; EC 3.5.4.4) binding protein. DPPIV has been demonstrated on the plasmamembranes of T cells and activated natural killer or B cells as well as on a number of endothelial and differentiated epithelial cells. A soluble form of CD26/DPPIV has been described in serum. Over the past few years, several related enzymes with similar dipeptidyl peptidase activity have been discovered, raising questions on the molecular origin(s) of serum dipeptidyl peptidase activity. Among them attractin, the human orthologue of the mouse mahogany protein, was postulated to be responsible for the majority of the DPPIV-like activity in serum. Using ADA-affinity chromatography, it is shown here that 95% of the serum dipeptidyl peptidase activity is associated with a protein with ADA-binding properties. The natural protein was purified in milligram quantities, allowing molecular characterization (N-terminal sequence, glycosylation type, CD-spectrum, pH and thermal stability) and comparison with CD26/DPPIV from other sources. The purified serum enzyme was confirmed as CD26.

Study of the enzymatic degradation of vasostatin I and II and their precursor chromogranin A by dipeptidyl peptidase IV using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry.

The interaction of dipeptidyl peptidase IV with structurally related proteins differing in chain length, namely vasostatin I and II and their precursor protein chromogranin A, was examined using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with electrospray mass spectrometry. Suitable analytical procedures were developed involving the use of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for purification of the enzymatic degradation products and a peptide mapping procedure for evaluating the enzymatic degradation of the large precursor protein chromogranin A. While vasostatin I was found to be a substrate for dipeptidyl peptidase IV, no N-terminal cleavage of Leu-Pro could be noted for chromogranin A. With respect to vasostatin II, N-terminal degradation was only observed after degradation in the C-terminal domain to proteins containing < or = 78 amino acids. The specificity of the N-terminal release of Leu-Pro was proved by addition of a DPP IV specific inhibitor.

The unique properties of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP IV / CD26) and the therapeutic potential of DPP IV inhibitors.

This review deals with the properties and functions of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5). This membrane anchored ecto-protease has been identified as the leukocyte antigen CD26. The following aspects of DPP IV/CD26 will be discussed : the structure of DPP IV and the new family of serine proteases to which it belongs, the substrate specificity, the distribution in the human body, specific DPP IV inhibitors and the role of CD26 in the intestinal and renal handling of proline containing peptides, in cell adhesion, in peptide metabolism, in the immune system and in HIV infection. Especially the latest developments in the search for new inhibitors will be reported as well as the discovery of new natural substrates for DPP IV such as the glucagon-like peptides and the chemokines. Finally the therapeutical perspectives for DPP IV inhibitors will be discussed.

Structure-activity relationship of diaryl phosphonate esters as potent irreversible dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

The previously reported diphenyl 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R, S)-phosphonate (5) was used as a lead compound for the development of potent and irreversible inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5). The synthesis of a series of diaryl 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R,S)-phosphonates with different substituents on the aryl rings (hydroxyl, methoxy, acylamino, sulfonylamino, ureyl, methoxycarbonyl, and alkylaminocarbonyl) started from the corresponding phosphites. A good correlation was found between the electronic properties of the substituent and the inhibitory activity and stability. The most striking divergence of this correlation was the high potency combined with a high stability of the 4-acetylamino-substituted derivative 11e. This compound shows low cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also has favorable properties in vivo. Therefore bis(4-acetamidophenyl) 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R,S)-phosphonate (11e) is considered as a major improvement and will be a highly valuable DPP IV inhibitor for further studies on the biological function of the enzyme and the therapeutic value of its inhibition.

Truncation of macrophage-derived chemokine by CD26/ dipeptidyl-peptidase IV beyond its predicted cleavage site affects chemotactic activity and CC chemokine receptor 4 interaction.

The serine protease CD26/dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26/DPP IV) and chemokines are known key players in immunological processes. Surprisingly, CD26/DPP IV not only removed the expected Gly1-Pro2 dipeptide from the NH2 terminus of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) but subsequently also the Tyr3-Gly4 dipeptide, generating MDC(5-69). This second cleavage after a Gly residue demonstrated that the substrate specificity of this protease is less restricted than anticipated. The unusual processing of MDC by CD26/DPP IV was confirmed on the synthetic peptides GPYGANMED (MDC(1-9)) and YGANMED (MDC(3-9)). Compared with intact MDC(1-69), CD26/DPP IV-processed MDC(5-69) had reduced chemotactic activity on lymphocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, showed impaired mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ through CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), and was unable to desensitize for MDC-induced Ca2+-responses in CCR4 transfectants. However, MDC(5-69) remained equally chemotactic as intact MDC(1-69) on monocytes. In contrast to the reduced binding to lymphocytes and CCR4 transfectants, MDC(5-69) retained its binding properties to monocytes and its anti-HIV-1 activity. Thus, NH2-terminal truncation of MDC by CD26/DPP IV has profound biological consequences and may be an important regulatory mechanism during the migration of Th2 lymphocytes and dendritic cells to germinal centers and to sites of inflammation.

Structure-activity requirements for flavone cytotoxicity and binding to tubulin.

A series of 79 flavones related to centaureidin (3,6,4'-trimethoxy-5, 7,3'-trihydroxyflavone, 1) was screened for cytotoxicity in the NCI in vitro 60-cell line human tumor screen. The resulting cytotoxicity profiles of these flavones were compared for degree of similarity to the profile of 1. Selected compounds were further evaluated with in vitro assays of tubulin polymerization and [3H]colchicine binding to tubulin. Maximum potencies for tubulin interaction and production of differential cytotoxicity profiles characteristic of 1 were observed only with compounds containing hydroxyl substituents at C-3' and C-5 and methoxyl groups at C-3 and C-4'.

Submicron oil-in-water emulsion formulations for mefloquine and halofantrine: effect of electric-charge inducers on antimalarial activity in mice.

Stearylamine, oleic acid, phosphatidylserine and dicetylphosphate have been studied to determine their capacity to induce electric charge on non-ionic submicron emulsions containing halofantrine and mefloquine. The in-vivo antimalarial activity of drug-loaded emulsions, evaluated in mice, was affected by the nature of the additives used. In particular, the electric-charge inducers markedly affected the pharmacological activity of mefloquine, but not of halofantrine. After subcutaneous administration ED50 values (the doses affording 50% protection) were 3 and 15 mg kg(-1), respectively, for halofantrine and mefloquine emulsions without charge inducers. The mefloquine-loaded emulsions with charge inducers were active at 10 mg kg(-1) for dicetylphosphate, 17 mg kg(-1) for phosphatidylserine, 23 mg kg(-1) for oleic acid and 27 mg kg(-1) for stearylamine, again after subcutaneous administration. This work has enabled the formulation of stable emulsions, incorporating drugs with high antimalarial activity, which are proposed for parenteral delivery of these fairly soluble drugs.

In vivo inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity by pro-pro-diphenyl-phosphonate (Prodipine).

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5), also known as CD26, is a membrane-bound serine protease that cleaves off aminoterminal dipeptides from peptides with a penultimate proline (or, at a much slower rate, a penultimate alanine). Recently, we synthesized and characterized a number of dipeptide-derived diphenylphosphonates. Out of the resulting series of slow-binding irreversible inhibitors of DPP IV, diphenyl 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R,S)-phosphonate hydrochloride (Pro-Pro-diphenylphosphonate or Prodipine) was selected for further study. We investigated the in vivo applicability of Prodipine. Male rabbits weighing 3-4 kg received a single intravenous injection with 10 mg Prodipine or saline. After 1 hr, plasma DPP IV activity had decreased to less than 20% of the preinjection value and remained unchanged during a 24-hr observation period. In a next step, we aimed to study (i) the dose dependency and (ii) the duration of the effect after a single intravenous dose of Prodipine. A profound and long-lasting inhibition of plasma DPP IV activity was observed in the treated animals (1, 5 or 10 mg). It took 5 to 8 days to reach half of the pretreatment DPP IV activity and generally more than 20 days for a complete recovery. Systemic treatment with Prodipine not only led to inhibition of plasma DPP IV activity but also decreased tissue DPP IV activity in circulating mononuclear cells, kidney cortex, thymus, spleen, lung, and liver. No differences in activities of the related peptidases aminopeptidase P (APP, EC 3.4.11.9), prolyl oligopeptidase (PO, EC 3.4.21.26), or aminopeptidase M (mAAP, EC 3.4.11.2) were detected between Prodipine-treated and control rabbits. The in vivo applicability of this chemically stable, irreversible inhibitor of DPP IV opens new possibilities, not only to further unravel the biological functions of this intriguing ectopeptidase, but also to explore this enzyme as a new target in various fields of pharmacological research.

Inhibition of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in vivo prolongs cardiac allograft survival in rat recipients.

The CD26 antigen, one of the major costimulatory molecules in T cell activation, was shown to possess dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activity. Previously, we demonstrated that immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients exhibit lower DPP IV serum activity as compared with healthy individuals. In the present study, we analyzed the role of CD26/DPP IV in the immune cascade triggered by organ transplantation and leading to acute rejection of cardiac allografts in rat recipients. Transplantation of hearts from (Lewis x Brown Norway)F1 donors into Lewis hosts resulted in an early (24 hr) increase in cellular CD26 expression, followed by a rise in DPP IV serum activity, which peaked at day 6, i.e., before the time of actual graft loss. Specific targeting of DPP IV activity with a novel, low-molecular-weight inhibitor of the diphenyl-phosphonate group (prodipine) abrogated acute rejection and prolonged cardiac allograft survival to 14.0+/-0.9 days (P<0.0001). Prodipine treatment prevented the early peak of cellular CD26 expression and thoroughly suppressed systemic DPP IV activity. The inhibition of DPP IV was associated with severely impaired host cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vitro. These results demonstrate the role of CD26/DPP IV in alloantigen-mediated immune regulation in vivo and provide the first direct evidence that CD26/DPP IV plays an important role in the mechanism of allograft rejection. The model of targeting CD26/DPP IV may reveal essential interactions on the level of costimulatory alternate T cell activation pathways, allowing a more subtle approach for more selective immunosuppression in transplant recipients.

Characterization of the peptide substrate specificity of glutathionylspermidine synthetase from Crithidia fasciculata.

Trypanothione, a metabolite specific to trypanosomatid parasites, is enzymatically synthesized from spermidine and glutathione by the consecutive action of the ATP-dependent carbon-nitrogen ligases, glutathionylspermidine synthetase and trypanothione synthetase. As part of our programme aimed at developing inhibitors of these enzymes, we have synthesized a series of analogues of glutathione (gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly) and tested them as substrates or inhibitors of glutathionylspermidine synthetase. Recognition at the gamma-glutamyl moiety appears to be essential, as any modification of this part of glutathione results in a total loss of activity as a substrate. Alkylation of the thiol side chain of cysteine with methyl, ethyl or propyl groups yields analogues with catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) as substrates equivalent to or better than glutathione. In contrast, the bulkier S-butyl analogue was a much poorer substrate. Substitution of L-Cys by amino acids with an alkyl side-chain is also well tolerated giving relative catalytic efficiencies of 1.1 and 1.5 for peptide analogues containing L-Val and L-Ile respectively. Other analogues, where the bulk of the alkyl chain is increased further (as in L-Leu or L-Phe) or where the glycine moiety is replaced with L-Ala, are inhibitors rather than substrates.

Development and evaluation of peptide-based prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors--introduction of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-3-fluoropyrrolidine as a lead in inhibitor design.

The current study has been undertaken to develop new and biocompatible inhibitors for prolyl oligopeptidase, a highly specific endopeptidase, proposed to be involved, through its affinity for neuropeptides and kinins, in the processes of learning and memory and in the control of blood pressure. For in vitro evaluation of the inhibitors, human platelet prolyl oligopeptidase was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Northern blot analysis showed that mRNA coding for prolyl oligopeptidase was present in all tissues examined and only one transcript of 3.1 kb was detected. In addition to the human platelet enzyme, we also purified rat brain prolyl oligopeptidase, which proved to have the same characteristics as the human enzyme. In a series of tested peptides, bradykinin was found to be the best substrate. Based on this information, peptides bearing pseudopeptide bonds were generated and evaluated as inhibitors. The experiments clearly demonstrated that changes to the scissile peptide bond significantly decrease the affinity of prolyl oligopeptidase for the peptide derivatives. In our series of synthetic N-terminal blocked dipeptides, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-3-fluoropyrrolidine was the most potent compound. Inhibition was reversible, but the inhibitor was bound tightly. Calculation of its Ki according to Henderson [Henderson, J. P. (1972) Biochem. J. 127, 321-333] yielded a value of 0.8 nM. This compound was not cytotoxic in a cell culture system and inhibited the purified prolyl oligopeptidase from rat as well as from human origin. In vivo evaluation in male Whistar rats showed no acute toxicity. 5 h after administration, the most profound decrease in prolyl oligopeptidase activity was found in the thymus, brain, and testis. This study demonstrates that N-benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-3-fluoropyrrolidine is a potent inhibitor and a promising compound suitable to investigate the physiologic function of the enzyme in vitro and in vivo.

Dipeptide-derived diphenyl phosphonate esters: mechanism-based inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV.

A number of dipeptide diphenyl phosphonate esters were studied as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, focusing on the role of the P2 residue in the inactivation process. The active compounds were slow irreversible inhibitors of the catalytic activity of the enzyme. With proline (or alanine) in the P1 position, the rate constants of inactivation correlated with the acylation rate constants reported for homologous dipeptide derived substrates. The kinetic data indicate that the mechanism of inhibition consists of the formation of a fairly weak initial complex, followed by a slow irreversible inactivation step. This indicates that, as in the case of trypsin-like proteinases, dipeptide diphenyl phosphonate esters form a covalent adduct with the catalytic site of DPP IV, even though this enzyme belongs to a completely distinct class of serine peptidases. Enantioselectivity and secondary specificity further support the evidence that diphenyl phosphonate esters are mechanism-based inhibitors. The dipeptide diphenyl phosphonate esters had a half-life of 3-10 h at 37 degrees C in Tris buffer. The inhibitors were degraded in human plasma, depending on the type of amino-terminal amino acid. The compound with proline in the P2 position was the most resistant to degradation in plasma. Due to their stability and the irreversible nature of the inhibition, the diphenyl phosphonate esters promise to be useful tools in the continuing investigation of the physiological function of dipeptidyl peptidase IV.