Antiinflammatory 2-benzyl-4-sulfonyl-4H-isoquinoline-1,3-diones: novel inhibitors of COX-2.

A series of 2-benzyl-4-sulfonyl-4H-isoquinoline-1,3-diones was prepared. Members of this series are potent and selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in both microsomal and cellular assays. Two representatives demonstrated activity in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats upon oral administration.

Inhibition of human leukocyte elastase by N-substituted peptides containing alpha,alpha-difluorostatone residues at P1.

A series of tripeptides which contain alpha,alpha-difluorostatone residues at P1-P1' and span the S3-S1' subsites have been shown to be potent inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE). The tripeptides described contain the nonproteinogenic achiral residue N-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)glycine at the P2-position. This redidue has previously been shown in the case of HLE to be a good bioisosteric replacement for L-proline. Of the peptides prepared, those which contain the alpha,alpha-difluoromethylene keton derivative of L-valine (difluorostatone) are the preferred residue at the P1-primary specificity position. Substitution at P1 by the corresponding alpha,alpha-difluoromethylene ketones of L-leucine and L-phenylalanine gives inactive compounds. Of the tripeptides described the most potent in vitro compound is ethyl N-[N-CBZ-L-valyl-N-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)glycyl]- 4(S)-amino-2,2-difluoro-3-oxo-5-methylhexanoate (17B) (IC50 = 0.635 microM). It is presumed that the inhibitor 17b interacts with the S3-S1' binding regions of HLE. Additionally extended binding inhibitors were prepared which interact with the S3-S3' binding subsites of HLE. In order to effect interaction with the S1'-S3' subsites of HLE, the leaving group side of cleaved peptides, spacers based upon Gly-Gly, and those linked via the N epsilon of L-lysine were utilized. One of the most potent extended compounds (P3-P3') in vitro is methyl N6-[4(S)-[[N-[N-CBZ-L-valyl-N- (2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)glycyl]amino]-2,2-difluoro-3-oxo-5- methylhexanoyl]-2(S)-(acetylamino)-6-aminohexanoate (24b) (IC50 = 0.057 microM). The described in vitro active inhibitors were also evaluated in hamsters in an elastase-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EPH) model. In this model, intratracheal (it.) administration of 22c, 5 min prior to HLE challenge (10 micrograms, it.) effectively inhibited hemorrhage (94.6%) in a dose-dependent manner. The described alpha,alpha-difluoromethylene ketone inhibitors are assumed to act as transition-state analogs. The inhibition process presumably acts via hemiketal formation with the active site Ser195 of HLE, and is facilitated by the strongly electron withdrawing effect of the alpha,alpha-difluoromethylene functionality.

Bis basic substituted diaminobenzobisthiazoles as potential antiarthritic agents.

A series of benzobisthiazoles were screened for antiinflammatory activity in the carrageenan paw edema and adjuvant arthritis tests. Compound 26, 2,6-bis(N,N-diethylamino)benzo[1,2-d:5,4-d']bisthiazole, was found to inhibit the swelling of the uninjected paw in the prophylactic adjuvant arthritis model with an ED50 of 2.3 mg/kg orally. As with most compounds of this series, 26 was inactive in acute model of inflammation, such as paw edema; like steroids, it showed activity in the granuloma pouch assay but did not inhibit cyclooxygenase, indicating a mode of action different from the classical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID's). At doses higher than those producing antiinflammatory activity, 26 had some immunoregulating properties.

Antiinflammatory 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(2-arylethenyl)phenols.

A series of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(2-arylethenyl)phenols was prepared and examined for their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase in vitro and developing adjuvant arthritis in vivo in the rat. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. Among the best compounds is (E)-2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-[2-(3-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenol (7d). It has an IC50 of 0.67 microM for cyclooxygenase and 2.7 microM for 5-lipoxygenase and an ED50 of 2.1 mg/kg in developing adjuvant arthritis. Additional in vivo data are reported for 7d.

Antiinflammatory benzimidazole derivative with inhibitory effects on neutrophil function.

5-Methyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethylsulfonyl-1H-benzimidazole (BI-L-45 XX) inhibits both neutrophil enzyme release and chemotaxis in vitro and also inhibits chemotaxis in vivo. BI-L-45 XX has an IC50 between 16 microM and 25 microM in inhibiting lysosomal enzyme release from human peripheral blood neutrophils. In a Boyden chamber experiment, BI-L-45 XX inhibited migration in response to fMLP with an IC50 of 5 microM. When given orally to passively sensitized rats at doses of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg, it inhibited migration of neutrophils to the pleural cavity in response to an antigen (ovalbumin) challenge. BI-L-45 XX also shows activity in the developing adjuvant arthritis model, with an ED50 of 45 mg/kg, while exhibiting no significant inhibition of cyclooxygenase in a human platelet assay. This suggests the possibility that its antiinflammatory activity may be in part mediated by its effect on neutrophil function.

Benzimidazole derivatives with atypical antiinflammatory activity.

A number of substituted 2-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-benzimidazoles (4) have demonstrated antiinflammatory activity that appears to have a mechanism distinct from typical cyclooxygenase inhibiting nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Several of these compounds inhibit adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats at 25 mg/kg while showing no activity in the carrageenan paw edema model at up to 100 mg/kg. Two compounds, 4a and 4b, showed no significant inhibition of cyclooxygenase in vitro at concentrations as high as 5 X 10(-5) M. All compounds 4 active in adjuvant-induced arthritis were also found to inhibit release of lysosomal enzymes from neutrophils, raising the possibility that their antiinflammatory effect is at least partially mediated by an effect on neutrophil function.

Human macrophage migration inhibition factor: evidence for subunit structure.

Macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) derived from human lymphoid cell lines was found to lose biologic activity on dialysis. Although activity was not recovered in the dialyzate, mixing experiments demonstrated that the components in the retentate and dialyzate could reassociate to restore activity. The fragment of larger molecular weight (less than 10,000) could inhibit the activity of intact MIF, whereas the smaller molecular weight fragment (5,000 to 10,000) could not. These findings suggest that human MIF is composed of at least two noncovalently linked subunits. In analogy to the situation for certain bacterial toxins, one of these may represent an attachment piece for a target cell membrane receptor.

Antiallergic 9-oxo-11-hydroxy-5H,9H-[2]benzopyrano[4,3-g][1]benzopyrans.

The synthesis and properties of the title compounds 1 are described. Several of these compounds, in addition to being potent inhibitors of the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction of rats against egg albumin challenge, significantly block the effects of several mediators of anaphylaxis in isolated smooth muscle preparations. An improved procedure for the isolation and partial purification of SRS-A from chopped guinea pig lung tissue is also described.

In vitro antagonism of the mediators of allergy by a benzopyrano-benzopyran carboxylic acid PR-D-92-EA.

PR-D-92-EA was tested on isolated guinea pig ileum and rat stomach strips for activity against mediators probably released after allergen antibody union. It antagonized the response produced by histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2ALPHA and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A). The concentrations which blocked 50% of the response were 150, 145, 92, 70, 47, and 32 mug/ml, respectively. This compound may be useful in the treatment of allergic conditions.