Radical trapping and inhibition of iron-dependent CNS damage by cyclic nitrone spin traps.

Oxidative damage in the CNS is proposed to play a role in many acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, the nitrone spin trap alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), which reacts covalently with free radicals, has shown efficacy in a variety of animal models of CNS injury. We have synthesized a number of cyclic variants of PBN and examined their activity as radical traps and protectants against oxidative damage in CNS tissue. By using electron spin resonance spectroscopy, the cyclic nitrones MDL 101,002 and MDL 102,832 were shown to trap radicals in a manner similar to that of PBN. All cyclic nitrones tested prevented hydroxyl radical-dependent degradation of 2-deoxyribose and peroxyl radical-dependent oxidation of synaptosomes more potently than PBN. The radical scavenging properties of the cyclic nitrones contributed to a three- to 25-fold increase in potency relative to PBN against oxidative damage and cytotoxicity in cerebellar granule cell cultures. Similar to the phenolic antioxidant MDL 74,722, the nitrones minimized seizures and delayed the time to death in mice following central injection of ferrous iron. Although iron-induced lipid peroxidation was inhibited by MDL 74,722, the nitrones had no effect on this biochemical end point, indicating that iron-induced mortality does not result solely from lipid peroxidation and suggesting additional neuroprotective properties for the nitrones. These results indicate that cyclic nitrones are more potent radical traps and inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in vitro than PBN, and their ability to delay significantly iron-induced mortality in vivo suggests they may be useful in the treatment of acute and chronic neurodegeneration. Furthermore, the stability of the spin trap adducts of the cyclic nitrones provides a new tool for the study of oxidative tissue injury.

Hydroxyl and peroxyl radical trapping by the monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors deprenyl and MDL 72,974A: implications for protection of biological substrates.

We have examined in vitro radical trapping by the monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor deprenyl and compared it to the specific MAO-B inhibitor MDL 72,974A. The capacity for the compounds to prevent .OH-mediated oxidation of biological substrates was examined by determining their ability to inhibit oxidation of 2-deoxyribose and phosphatidylcholine liposomes using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. MDL 72,974A gave a dose-dependent inhibition of 2-deoxyribose oxidation, while deprenyl generated a strong false positive TBARS reaction with both the sugar and the liposomes. When lipid peroxidation was monitored by conjugated diene formation, deprenyl inhibited oxidation while MDL 72,974A was without effect suggesting that trapping of .OH was not responsible for activity. Deprenyl inhibited liposomal peroxidation initiated with the water-soluble peroxyl radical generator 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) (ABAP) with an IC50 of 78 microM as compared to 4.2 mM for MDL 72,974A. A similar difference was observed using the lipophilic peroxyl radical generator 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). The data indicate that radical trapping by the MAO-B inhibitors provides differential protection against biological substrates and may involve trapping of secondary peroxyl radicals rather than .OH.

Evidence for a novel pentyl radical adduct of the cyclic nitrone spin trap MDL 101,002.

3,4-Dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-isoquinoline-2-oxide (MDL 101,002) is a conformationally constrained cyclic analog of the known spin trap alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN). Because of PBN's ability to scavenge free radicals, MDL 101,002 is currently being evaluated in stroke models as a means to ameliorate the oxidative insult associated with reperfusion injury. To augment our understanding of the radical scavenging mechanism of this potential drug, MDL 101,002 was incubated with soybean lipoxygenase in the presence of linoleic acid to study the interaction between MDL 101,002 and free radicals formed during lipid peroxidation. Analysis of the reaction mixture was performed by high performance liquid chromatography using normal phase conditions with detection by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). Similar to the work by Iwahashi et al. [Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1991, 285, 172], who studied the spin trap alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl nitrone (4-POBN), an adduct that suggested the trapping of pentyl radicals by MDL 101,002 was observed. However, the apparent molecular ion for this adduct (246 Da) was 1 Da lower than would be predicted if a pentyl radical had simply added to MDL 101,002. In addition, the adduct exhibited significant absorbance at 304 nm, consistent with the unsaturated nitrone structure of MDL 101,002. To account for these observations, it is postulated that, after the initial capture of a pentyl radical, subsequent abstraction of a hydrogen atom by a neighboring radical occurs to regenerate a nitrone (1-pentyl analog of MDL 101,002). We present evidence for this adduct and offer a mechanism for its formation. These findings indicate that mass spectroscopic analysis of stable nitrone radical adducts may be useful in the identification of radical-dependent damage in vivo and possibly in clinical development of MDL 101,002 as an antioxidant pharmaceutical.

Design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of cyclic nitrones as free radical traps for the treatment of stroke.

Analogs of the cyclic nitrone free radical trap 1 (3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxide, a cyclic analog of phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN)) were prepared in which (1) the fused phenyl ring was replaced with a naphthalene ring, an electron rich heterocycle, or a dimethylphenol, (2) the nitrone-containing ring comprised five, six, or seven atoms, and (3) the gem-dimethyl group was replaced with spirocyclic groups. The most active antioxidant, which bears a dimethylphenol fused to a 7-membered ring nitrone (compound 6h), inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro with an IC50 of 22 microM, a 75-fold improvement over that of 1. The previously observed correlation between lipophilicity and activity vs lipid peroxidation in vitro has been further substantiated and refined by this study. Moreover, certain classes of compounds (namely, dimethylphenols 6g,h and furan 6j) have now been found which are considerably more active in vitro than expected on the basis of their log k'(w) values.

Cyclic nitrone free radical traps: isolation, identification, and synthesis of 3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-4-ol N-oxide, a metabolite with reduced side effects.

A C-4 hydroxylated metabolite (2, 3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-4-ol N-oxide) of the previously described cyclic nitrone free radical trap 1 (3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxide, a cyclic analog of phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN)) was isolated, identified, and synthesized. The metabolite (2), though a less potent antioxidant than 1 in an in vitro lipid peroxidation assay, showed greatly reduced acute toxicity and sedative properties. Several analogs of 2 were prepared in attempts to improve on its weak antioxidant activity while retaining the desirable side effect profile. Effective structural changes included replacement of the gem-dimethyl moiety with spirocycloalkane groups and/or oxidation of the alcohols to the corresponding ketones. All of the analogs were more lipophilic (log k'(w)) and more active in the standard lipid peroxidation assay than 2. In addition, some of the compounds were able to protect cerebellar granule cells against oxidative damage (an in vitro model of oxidative brain injury) with IC50 values well below the value of the lead compound 1. The ketones, as predicted, were much more potent than 2 (and 1) in both of the above assays (up to ca. 200-fold). However, only compounds with a hydroxyl or an acetate group at C-4 displayed significantly reduced acute toxicity and sedative properties relative to those of 1. Importantly, the diminishment of toxicity and sedation were not the result of a lack of brain penetration as both 2 and the corresponding ketone (3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-3H-isoquinolin-4-one N-oxide) achieved equal or greater brain levels than those of 1 when administered to rats i.p.

Characterization of the radical trapping activity of a novel series of cyclic nitrone spin traps.

alpha-Phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) is a nitrone spin trap, which has shown efficacy in animal models of oxidative stress, including stroke, aging, sepsis, and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. We have prepared a series of novel cyclic variants of PBN and evaluated them for radical trapping activity in vitro. Specifically, their ability to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation in liposomes was assessed, as well as superoxide anion (O2(-.)) and hydroxyl radical ((.)OH) trapping activity as determined biochemically and using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. All cyclic nitrones tested were much more potent as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation than was PBN. The unsubstituted cyclic variant MDL 101,002 was approximately 8-fold more potent than PBN. An analysis of the analogs of MDL 101,002 revealed a direct correlation of activity with lipophilicity. However, lipophilicity does not solely account for the difference between MDL 101,002 and PBN, inasmuch as the calculated octanol/water partition coefficient for MDL 101,002 is 1.01 as compared to 1.23 for PBN. This indicated the cyclic nitrones are inherently more effective radical traps than PBN in a membrane system. The most active compound was a dichloro analog in the seven-membered ring series (MDL 104,342), which had an IC50 of 26 mum, which was 550-fold better than that of PBN. The cyclic nitrones were shown to trap (.)OH with MDL 101,002 being 20 25 times more active than PBN as assessed using 2-deoxyribose and p-nitrosodimethylaniline as substrates, respectively. Trapping of (.)OH by MDL 101,002 was also examined by using ESR spectroscopy. When Fenton's reagent was used, the (.)OH adduct of MDL 101,002 yielded a six-line spectrum with hyperfine coupling constants distinct from that of PBN. Importantly, the half-life of the adduct was nearly 5 min, while that of PBN is less than 1 min at physiologic pH. MDL 101,002 also trapped the O2(-.) radical to yield a six-line spectrum with coupling constants very distinct from that of the (.)OH adduct. In mice, the cyclic nitrones ameliorated the damaging effects of oxidative stress induced by ferrous iron injection into brain tissue. Similar protection was not afforded by the lipid peroxidation inhibitor U74006F, thus implicating radical trapping as a unique feature in the prevention of cell injury. Together, the in vivo activity, the stability of the nitroxide adducts, and the ability to distinguish between trapping of (.)OH and O2(-.) suggest the cyclic nitrones to be ideal reagents for the study of oxidative cell injury.

Multiple mechanisms for inhibition of low density lipoprotein oxidation by novel cyclic nitrone spin traps.

Oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) may be a critical atherogenic event owing to the diverse array of biologic effects attributed to modified LDL. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that the lipophilic nitrone spin trap alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) can inhibit Cu(2+)-dependent LDL oxidation while the related, more hydrophilic analog alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butyl nitrone is ineffective. Because the inhibitory activity of PBN is relatively weak as compared to hydrophobic phenolic antioxidants, we have synthesized a number of cyclic analogues of PBN that encompass a wide range of hydrophobicity and examined their ability to inhibit LDL oxidation in vitro. Formation of a six-membered ring by a bond formed from one methyl of the tert-butyl group to the aromatic ring yielded MDL 101,002, which was 3- and 24-fold more active than PBN against Cu2+ and 2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane hydrochloride-dependent oxidation, respectively. The effect of aromatic substituents was examined and, in general, activity positively correlated with hydrophobicity, particularly with Cu2+. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy demonstrated that the PBN adduct in oxidized LDL is composed of a mobile component (exposed to the LDL aqueous phase) and an immobilized component, localized in the lipid-protein interface or in the bulk lipid. The most active cyclic nitrones exhibited only highly immobilized adducts, suggesting they are buried within the particle. Studies with MDL 105,185 (which is a chloro-substituted nitrone containing a seven-membered ring rather than six-membered as for MDL 101,002) demonstrated radical trapping in both the lipid and apoprotein fractions. Compounds in which a spirocyclohexyl ring was substituted for the gem-dimethyl methylene (MDL 102,832 and 101,694) formed hydrophobic Cu2+ complexes that were observed in the lipid fraction by ESR. This result was confirmed by fractionation of LDL oxidation reaction mixtures and spectrophotometric quantitation of associated Cu2+. The ability to bind Cu2+ was dependent upon the presence of the spirocyclohexyl ring. These data demonstrate that cyclic nitrones can inhibit LDL oxidation at exceedingly low concentrations by multiple mechanisms: 1) trapping of lipid-derived radicals, 2) trapping of apoprotein B-derived radicals, and 3) binding of Cu2+ ions. It is suggested that this new class of highly potent spin traps may be used as effective radical traps in free radical biology and medicine.

Protective effects of a cyclic nitrone antioxidant in animal models of endotoxic shock and chronic bacteremia.

Evidence of a role for oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock has been found in animal models. However, the importance of free radicals in chronic models of bacterial infection has not been examined. In this study a novel nitrone radical spin trap is described and its activity in animal models of endotoxic shock and chronic bacteremia were explored. MDL 101,002 is a cyclized variant of alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), an established spin trap. MDL 101,002 can react with free radicals to form persistent adducts as demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. This agent is about 10 times more potent than PBN as an in vitro antioxidant and scavenger of hydroxyl radicals. In a rat endotoxic shock model MDL 101,002 (3-30 mg/kg, i.p.) administered 30 min prior to endotoxin (30 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment reduced mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Peroxide-enhanced chemiluminescence in hepatic homogenates from endotoxin treated rats was elevated indicating that oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion was increased. Importantly, treatment with MDL 101,002 (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to, and 120 min following endotoxin, minimized the increase in chemiluminescence. MDL 101,002 also reduced mortality in a model of chronic bacteremia employing implantation of infected fibrin clots into the peritoneal cavity of gentamicin-treated leukopenic rats. MDL 101,002 (2.5 mg/kg/hr) increased survival from 24% to 52% in these rats. These data are consistent with a role for free radicals in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock and suggest free radicals are also important mediators in chronic models of sepsis.

Multiple lipid oxidation products in low density lipoproteins induce interleukin-1 beta release from human blood mononuclear cells.

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDL) induce the release of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a process that may contribute to atherogenesis. While 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE) is a constituent of oxidized LDL and can by itself induce IL-1 beta release, its potency relative to oxidized LDL suggested that other components of modified LDL may also contribute to this phenomenon. In this study, LDL of varying oxidation states were prepared by altering the Cu2+ to LDL ratio and/or the length of oxidation. The oxidation status of LDL was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), electrophoretic mobility in agarose gels, and the content of 9- and 13-HODE. High Cu2+ to LDL ratios promoted extensive TBARS formation and these LDL were the most potent activators of IL-1 beta release, although LDL with TBARS greater than 50 nmol/mg protein were cytotoxic and IL-1 beta release was diminished. An inverse correlation between HODE content and TBARS was found indicating lipid-derived aldehydes also contribute to IL-1 beta release by oxidized LDL. Accordingly, dialysis of oxidized LDL removed nearly all aldehydes and rendered the LDL unable to induce IL-1 beta release. The alkenals 2,4-decadienal and 2-octenal were tested and shown to induce IL-1 beta release while their saturated homologues had no effect. The predominant aldehyde in Cu(2+)-oxidized LDL was hexanal, with the unsaturated aldehydes 2,4-heptadienal, 2-octenal, and 2,4-decadienal also being present. These data indicate that multiple, lipid-derived species exist in oxidized LDL that can contribute to the release of IL-1 beta.

Ascorbate and phenolic antioxidant interactions in prevention of liposomal oxidation.

Efficient prevention of membrane lipid peroxidation by vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) may involve its regeneration by vitamin C (ascorbate). Conceivably, the efficacy of antioxidants designed as therapeutic agents could be enhanced if a similar regeneration were favorable; thus, a model membrane system was developed which allowed assessment of interaction of phenolic antioxidants with ascorbate and ascorbyl-6-palmitate. Ascorbate alone (50-200 microM) potentiated oxidation of soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes by Fe2+/histidine-Fe3+, an effect which was temporally related to reduction of Fe3+ generated during oxidation. Addition of 200 microM ascorbate to alpha-tocopherol-containing liposomes (0.1 mol%) resulted in marked, synergistic protection. Accordingly, in the presence but not absence of ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol levels were maintained relatively constant during Fe2+/histidine-Fe3+ exposure. Probucol (4,4'-[(1-methylethylidine)bis(thio)]bis[2,6-bis(1,1- dimethylethyl)]phenol), an antioxidant which prevents oxidation of low density lipoproteins, and its analogues MDL 27,968 (4,4'-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(thio)]bis[2,6- dimethyl]phenol) and MDL 28,881 (2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-[(3,7,11- trimethyldodecyl)thio]phenol) prevented oxidation but exhibited no synergy with ascorbate. Ascorbyl-6-palmitate itself was an effective antioxidant but did not interact synergistically with any of the phenolic antioxidants. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed significant differences among the antioxidants in their effect on the liquid-crystalline phase transition of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes. Both alpha-tocopherol and MDL 27,968 significantly reduced the phase transition temperature and the enthalpy of the transition. MDL 28,881 had no effect while probucol was intermediate. The potential for ascorbate or its analogues to interact with phenolic antioxidants to provide a more effective antioxidant system appears to be dictated by structural features and by the location of the antioxidants in the membrane.

Simultaneous analysis of a new cardiotonic agent, MDL 17,043, and its major sulfoxide metabolite in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

MDL 17,043 or 1,3-dihydro-4-methyl-5-[4-(methylthio)benzoyl]-2H-imidazol-2-one, is a new cardiotonic agent being developed for the treatment of congestive heart failure. This communication describes a sensitive and selective analytical procedure for the simultaneous analysis of MDL 17,043 and its major oxidative metabolite in plasma. The method involves addition of internal standard and organic solvent extraction, followed by separation with high-performance liquid chromatography and detection by ultraviolet absorption. The assay has good precision and accuracy. Evidence for the positive identification of the sulfoxide metabolite is also presented.

A comparison of intravenous and subarachnoid lidocaine pharmacokinetics in the rhesus monkey.

A comparative study between intravenous and subarachnoid lidocaine in the rhesus monkey was conducted in an effort to compare the kinetics of lidocaine in the monkey with reported intravenous human data, and to determine the rate and extent of systemic absorption of lidocaine following subarachnoid injection. Each animal received an intravenous and subarachnoid treatment in an effort to determine the fraction of drug absorbed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for each animal based on arterial blood concentrations of lidocaine. In the case of the intravenous data, a standard two-compartment model was used. Subarachnoid injections were evaluated by fitting data to an extravascular one-compartment model and by analog computer fitting of the blood level data to an extravascular two-compartment model. Data for both intravenous and subarachnoid injection were also analysed independent of compartment model. The intravascular parameters, alpha and beta, were in excellent agreement with those reported for man.