Adenosine deaminase inhibitors: synthesis and biological evaluation of unsaturated, aromatic, and oxo derivatives of (+)-erythro-9-(2'S-hydroxy-3'R-nonyl)adenine [(+)-EHNA].

The synthesis and biological evaluation of three classes of chain-modified derivatives of (+)-EHNA are described. Among the 5', 6'-unsaturated derivatives, the Z-isomer was the most potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (ADA) but 3-fold less active than (+)-EHNA. Several 9-aralkyladenines (ARADs) have been prepared, and their inhibitory activity was determined. A minimum of two carbon atoms separating the aromatic ring from the adenine-bearing carbon (C-3') was found to be essential for ADA activity equal to or slightly greater than that of (+)-EHNA. Finally, replacement of the C-5' carbon with an oxygen resulted in reduced potency.

Adenosine deaminase inhibitors. Synthesis and biological evaluation of aralkyladenines (ARADS).

Several 9-aralkyladenines have been prepared and their ADA inhibitory activity was determined. A minimum of two carbon atoms separating the aromatic ring from the adenine-bearing carbon (C3') was found essential for potent activity.

Regulation of adenosine concentration and cytoprotective effects of novel reversible adenosine deaminase inhibitors.

The physiological role of adenosine (Ado) is well known. Although a number of pharmacological attempts have been made to manipulate Ado concentrations in ischemic conditions in different tissues, none have been clinically accepted up to now, mostly due to insufficient elevation of Ado concentrations or unacceptable toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the biochemical and pharmacological actions of several novel erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) analogs to identify new reversible adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitors with potential clinical utility. In cell culture experiments, these compounds elevate cellular Ado concentrations under conditions of simulated ischemic stress but very little, if any, under normoxic conditions. Two compounds were selected for study: 9'-chloro-EHNA (CPC-405) and 9'-phthalimido-EHNA (CPC-406), which specifically inhibit ADA in cell-free preparations as well as in intact cells. CPC-405 and CPC-406 do not affect adenosine kinase activity, and they do not affect adenosine transport (influx). CPC-405 and CPC-406 are also more potent than EHNA in elevating adenosine release from human astrocytoma cells and bovine heart microvascular endothelial cells in 2-deoxyglucose-simulated ischemia or under anaerobic conditions. Inhibition of adenosine deaminase by CPC-405 or CPC-406, as well as the 2'-deoxyadenosine toxicity expressed in the presence of these ADA inhibitors, is reversed when the inhibitors are removed by washing the cells. In the isolated rat heart model of ischemia, these novel ADA inhibitors showed enhanced recovery of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, +dP/dtmax and -dP/dtmax. In the rat hippocampal slice model of hypoxia, these compounds also showed neuroprotective effects on CA1 hypoxic injury. In conclusion, these novel ADA inhibitors may represent clinically useful Ado elevating compounds that show cardioprotective, as well as neuroprotective, effects. Also, their potential for immunotoxicity, if any, appears to be transient in nature, representing an important clinical advantage compared with tight-binding ADA inhibitors such as deoxycoformycin.

Adenosine deaminase inhibitors. Synthesis and biological evaluation of putative metabolites of (+)-erythro-9-(2S-hydroxy-3R-nonyl)adenine.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of three chain-hydroxylated (+)-erythro-9-(2S-hydroxy-3R-nonyl)adenine [(+)-EHNA] derivatives are reported. Hydroxy groups at positions 9', 8', and 8',9' (12, 25, and 16) were introduced by either epoxidation or hydroboration of a terminal olefinic intermediate. Affinities for calf intestinal adenosine deaminase (ADA) were determined from the steady-state inhibition of adenosine deamination. Ki values of 0.82, 3.8, 6.4, and 15.8 nM were estimated for (+)-EHNA, 9'-hydroxy-(+)-EHNA (12), 8'-hydroxy-(+)-EHNA (25), and 8',9'-dihydroxy-(+)-EHNA (16), respectively, by assuming a single class of binding sites. However, the data for all inhibitors conformed more closely to the kinetics of a heterogeneous system with different affinities for two or more binding sites. The fairly high potencies of 12 and 25 suggest that other substitutions at the terminal position of the nonyl chain could yield useful ADA inhibitors.