Discovery of potent cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors. 2-Pyridyl- and 2-imidazolylquinazolines possessing cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and thromboxane synthesis inhibitory activities.

Moderate cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (cGMP-PDE, PDE V) inhibitor 2-phenyl-4-anilino-quinazoline (1) was identified utilizing MultiCASE assisted drug design (MCADD) technology. Modification of compound 1 was conducted at the 2-, 4-, and 6-positions of the quinazoline ring for enhancement of cGMP-PDE inhibitory activity. The 6-substituted 2-(imidazol-1-yl)-quinazolines are 1000 times more potent in in vitro PDE V enzyme than the well-known inhibitor zaprinast. The 6-substituted derivatives of 2-(3-pyridyl)quinazoline 84 and 2-(imidazol-1-yl)quinazoline 86 exhibited more than 1000-fold selectivity for PDE V over the other four PDE isozymes. In addition, cGMP-PDE inhibitors 64, 65, and 73 were found to have an additional property of thromboxane synthesis inhibitory activity.

Hydroxylamine analogs of 2,6-di-t-butylphenols: dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase or selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

The preparation of hydroxylamine analogs of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols (DTBP) and the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (CO) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) by these compounds is discussed.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- 4-hydroxyphenyl]methylene]oxazoles, -thiazoles, and -imidazoles: novel dual 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors with antiinflammatory activity.

A variety of benzylideneoxazoles, -thiazoles, and -imidazoles derived from 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol were prepared and evaluated as dual inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. The target compounds exhibit varying degrees of selectivity toward the two enzymes. Several compounds are orally active in the rat carageenan footpad edema (CFE) and mycobacterium footpad edema (MFE) antiinflammatory models. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. From this work, (Z)-5-[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4- hydroxyphenyl]-methylene]-2-imino-4-thiazolidinone methanesulfonate salt (CI-1004) was identified as a potent dual inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 0.77 microM) and cyclooxygenase (IC50 = 0.39 microM), with oral activity (ID40 = 0.6 mg/kg) in the rat MFE model of inflammation.

Comparative in vitro and in vivo activities of two 9-deazaguanine analog inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, CI-972 and PD 141955.

An in-parallel comparison is presented of the in vitro and in vivo properties of two 9-deazaguanine analog inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), CI-972 [8-amino-9-deaza-9-(3-thienylmethyl)guanine] and PD 141955 [9-deaza-9-(3-thienylmethyl)guanine] (published Ki values of 0.83-8.0 and 0.08 microM, respectively). Despite structural similarities, PD 141955 was considerably more potent and active in all systems studied. The respective IC50 values for inhibition of MOLT-4 cell growth in the absence and presence of 10 microM 2'-deoxyguanosine (GdR) were greater than 50 and 5.06 microM for CI-972 and 15.4 and 0.061 microM for PD 141955. PD 141955 induced accumulation of dGTP in GdR-treated MOLT-4 and CEM cells at log-lower concentrations than were required of CI-972, and the magnitude of dGTP accumulation in PD 141955-treated T cell cultures was markedly greater (e.g. 366 vs 100 pmol/10(6) CEM cells at 10 microM). PD 141955 administered orally produced a dose-dependent elevation of plasma inosine and guanosine in rats over a broad concentration range. Mean plasma inosine concentrations following a 150 mg/kg p.o. dose peaked at 6.21 and 13.2 microM in CI-972 and PD 141955-treated rats, respectively. Low levels of inosine were detectable at 50 micrograms/kg following oral administration of PD 141955.

Inhibitors of human purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines, a new class of purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors as potentially T-cell selective immunosuppressive agents. Description of 2,6-diamino-3,5-dihydro-7-(3-thienylmethyl)-4H-pyrrolo[3,2-d] pyrimidin-4-one.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a purine-metabolizing enzyme in the purine cascade and has been a target for drug design for sometime. A series of potent human PNP inhibitors, pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines (9-deazaguanines), has been synthesized and evaluated in the enzyme assay and in the cell line assay using MOLT-4 (T-cell) and MGL-8 (B-cell) lymphoblasts for selectivity. One of the compounds, 2,6-diamino-3,5- dihydro-7-(3-thienylmethyl)-4H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-4-one (11c; CI-972), was found to be moderately potent, competitive, and reversible inhibitor of PNP with Ki = 0.83 microM. It was also found to be selectively cytotoxic to MOLT-4 lymphoblasts (IC50 = 3.0 microM) but not to MGL-8 lymphoblasts and was evaluated further. Compound 11c (CI-972) is under development in the clinic.

Inhibitors of human purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Synthesis and biological activities of 8-amino-3-benzylhypoxanthine and related analogues.

A series of 3-substituted hypoxanthines (6-10, 14-17) and related analogues (22, 23) have been synthesized as inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), which may conceivably act as T-cell-selective immunosuppressive agents with potential utility in autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, in organ transplantations, and in T-cell leukemias. The compounds were evaluated for their PNP activity by a radiochemical assay and also for their cytotoxic effects on a T-lymphoblastoid cell line (MOLT-4). Appropriate substitutions on 3-benzylhypoxanthine (7a) (IC50 in PNP assay, 112 microM; IC50 in MOLT-4 assay, 204.2 microM) increase potency: 8-amino (17a; 42.6, 65.2), 2-hydroxy (9a; 13.4, 28.6), 2-amino (10a; 11.4, 29.1), and 2,8-diamino (16a; 5.0, 11.9). Variation of the 3-aryl substituents of 16a as in 16b-d has thus far failed to further increase potency. Replacement of the 6-oxygen function in 7a with the analoguous nitrogen or sulfur functions, as in 22a and 23a, resulted in little change in activity. Other variations including the increase of the 3-aliphatic chain length as in 6h and 7h (n = 2), the substitution of the phenyl ring with electron-withdrawing groups as in 7e-g, and replacement of the 2-hydrogen with methylthio as in 8a and 14a resulted in decrease of activity. The values for 16a-d represent moderate but significant activities, as compared to the most active inhibitor presently known, 8-amino-9-thienylguanine (1c; 0.17, 0.82). 2,8-Diamino-3-substituted hypoxanthines (16a-d) represent a novel structural type hitherto unreported in the literature, and efficient methodologies for their synthesis were developed in the present studies. The formation of the aminoimidazole moiety occurred through a base-catalyzed 1,5-(O----N)-carbamimidoyl rearrangement (13 to 14, 20 to 16).

The biochemistry and pharmacology of PD 116124 (8-amino-2'-nordeoxyguanosine), an inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP).

PD 116124 (8-amino-2'-nordeoxyguanosine; 2,8-diamino-1,9-dihydro-9- ([2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl)-6H-purin-6-one) is a competitive, reversible inhibitor of human purine nucleoside phosphorylase with an apparent inhibition constant of 0.41 microM. In a cell line system using human MOLT-4 and CEM T lymphoblasts and human MGL-8 and NC-37 B lymphoblasts, PD 116124 failed to inhibit [3H]thymidine uptake at concentrations up to 500 microM. However, in the presence of 10 microM 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo), a noninhibitory dGuo concentration by itself, PD 116124 produced potent inhibition of growth of both T cell lines but not of either B cell line. Significant elevation of intracellular 2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphate was observed in both inhibited T cell lines but not in either B cell line. Greater and more sustained accumulation of 2'-deoxyguanosine triphosphate was observed in T lymphoblasts cultured with PD 116124 plus dGuo than with dGuo only. PD 116124 was only weakly inhibitory in human mixed lymphocyte cultures (IC50 approximately equal to 1420 microM), but in the presence of 10 microM dGuo, the IC50 for PD 116124 was reduced to 108.7 microM. Administration of PD 116124 p.o. to normal male Wistar rats caused dose-dependent elevation of plasma inosine up through 500 mg/kg. Maximal inosine elevation occurred at 30 min after dosing, and elevation was significant even 24 hr after dosing. Guanosine was also elevated, although not in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of PD 116124 i.v. produced marked and statistically significant elevation of both inosine and guanosine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selective in vitro inhibition of human MOLT-4 T lymphoblasts by the novel purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor, CI-972.

CI-972 (2,6-diamino-3,5-dihydro-7-(3-thienylmethyl)-4H-pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidin-4-one monohydrochloride, monohydrate) is a competitive inhibitor of PNPase (E.C. 2.4.2.1., Ki = 0.83 microM) entering clinical trials as a T cell-selective immunosuppressive agent. Neither CI-972 (less than or equal to 50 microM) nor dGuo (less than or equal to 10 microM) inhibited [3H]Thd uptake by human MOLT-4 (T cell) or MGL-8 (B cell) lymphoblasts, but in the presence of 10 microM dGuo, the IC50 for CI-972 decreased to 3.0 microM for MOLT-4 but remained at greater than 50 microM for MGL-8. Inhibition of MOLT-4 growth was associated with an increase in dGTP that was dependent on CI-972 concentration and inhibited by 2'-deoxycytidine. Growth could not be restored by hypoxanthine or adenine. No alterations in GTP pools were noted in MOLT-4, and neither GTP nor dGTP were altered in MGL-8.

Styrylpyrazoles, styrylisoxazoles, and styrylisothiazoles. Novel 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors.

A series of styrylpyrazoles, styrylisoxazoles, and styrylisothiazoles were prepared and found to be dual inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase in rat basophilic leukemia cells. Compounds from this series also were found to inhibit the in vivo production of LTB4 when dosed orally in rats. Among these compounds, di-tert-butylphenols 19 and 33 exhibit oral activity in various models of inflammation and, most importantly, are devoid of ulcerogenic potential.

Biochemical and pharmacological properties of CI-972, a novel 9-deazaguanine analog purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor.

CI-972 (2,6-diamino-3,5-dihydro-7-(3-thienylmethyl)-4H-pyrrolo[3, 2-d]pyrimidin-4-one monohydrochloride, monohydrate) is a novel inhibitor of PNP (Ki = 0.83 microM) under development as a T cell-selective immunosuppressive agent. CI-972 inhibited proliferation (3H-thymidine uptake) of human MOLT-4 (T cell) but not MGL-8 (B cell) lymphoblasts with respective IC50s of 3.0 and greater than 50 microM when tested with 10 microM 2'-deoxyguanosine. Without addition of exogenous 2'-deoxyguanosine, CI-972 was not inhibitory to any human T or B lymphoblastoid cell line tested. 2'-Deoxycytidine (10 microM), but not hypoxanthine or adenine, restored MOLT-4 cell growth. Inhibition of 3H-thymidine uptake in MOLT-4 cells correlated with accumulation of dGTP, while alterations in guanine nucleotides were not observed. 2'-Deoxycytidine (10 microM) also blocked dGTP accumulation in MOLT-4 cells. CI-972 showed activity in vivo over a broad dose range: At 5-150 mg/kg p.o., CI-972 produced dose-dependent elevation of plasma inosine one hr after administration to rats (mean maximum of 2.62 vs. 0.06 microM in controls). Guanosine was also significantly elevated in a concentration-dependent manner, although the effect was not as impressive. Plasma nucleosides remained statistically-significantly elevated for up to four hr following a single oral dose of CI-972.

Pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines, a new class of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitors as potential T-cell selective immunosuppressive agents.

Previously, we have described the synthesis and biological activity of 2,8-diamino-1,9-dihydro-9-(2-thienylmethyl)-6H-purin-6-one (PD 119229; Cl-950) as a potent and competitive PNP inhibitor. As a part of our continuing efforts to develop a PNP inhibitor for autoimmune diseases, we have synthesized a series of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines as PNP inhibitors. In this series, 2,6-diamino-3,5-dihydro-7-(3- thienylmethyl)-4H-pyrrolo-[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-one (Cl-972) was found to be a potent, competitive inhibitor of PNP with Ki of 0.83 microM. It was also found to be selectively cytotoxic to human MOLT-4 (T cell) (IC50 = 3.0 microM) but non-toxic to MGL-8 (B cell) lymphoblasts. Cl-972 is under development as a potential T-cell selective immunosuppressive agent. Synthesis and biological activities of the series are discussed.

8-Amino-9-substituted guanines: potent purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitors.

A series of 8-amino-9-substituted guanines was synthesized and their activity evaluated against human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). All compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of human PNP (IC50s: 0.17-126 microM). They were also selectively cytotoxic to MOLT-4 lymphoblasts in the presence of a nontoxic amount (10 microM) of the PNP substrate, 2'-deoxyguanosine (GdR). The most potent of these analogs, 2,8-diamino-1,9-dihydro-9-(2-thienylmethyl)-6H-purin-6-one (8-amino-9-(2-thienylmethyl)guanine; PD 119,229) has an IC50 of 0.17 microM (Ki = 0.067 microM), significantly more potent than the known standard, 8-aminoguanosine (IC50 = 1.40 microM). Thus it represents the most potent PNP inhibitor known to date when tested without limiting the concentration of inorganic phosphate.

Preliminary report on 8-amino-9-(2-thienylmethyl)guanine (PD 119,229), a novel and potent purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor.

PD 119,229 [8-amino-9-(2-thienylmethyl)guanine] is a novel and potent inhibitor of human erythrocyte purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) with a Ki of 0.067 microM. In a cell line assay using human MOLT-4 (T cell) and MGL-8 (B cell) lymphoblasts, PD 119,229 alone had no effect on the growth of either cell line at the highest concentration tested (100 microM). However, in the presence of a nontoxic concentration of 2'-deoxyguanosine (10 microM), the IC50 values of PD 119,229 for MOLT-4 and MGI-8 40-fold either cell line at the highest concentration tested (100 microM). However, in the presence of a nontoxic concentration of 2'-deoxyguanosine (10 microM), the IC50 values of PD 119,229 for MOLT-4 and MGI-8 were 0.9 and greater than 100 microM, respectively. The inhibition of growth of MOLT-4 was accompanied by a 40-fold increase in dGTP and a two-fold reduction in GTP, while no alteration in nucleotide profile was noted in MGL-8. Both the inhibition of growth of MOLT-4 and the accumulation of dGTP were substantially prevented by coaddition of 2'-deoxycytidine.

Inhibitors of human purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Synthesis, purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibition, and T-cell cytotoxicity of 2,5-diaminothiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one and 2,5-diaminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one. Two thio isosteres of 8-aminoguanine.

8-Aminoguanine is a potent inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and also a substrate of PNP. Two thio isosteres of 8-aminoguanine, 2,5-diaminothiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one (2) and 2,4-diaminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one (3), which cannot be substrates of PNP, were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against PNP. They were found to be weak inhibitors of PNP and to be noncytotoxic for MOLT-4 T-cells in culture.

Antipsoriatic drugs as inhibitors of soybean lipoxygenase. A possible mode of action.

Eight known antipsoriatic drugs of diverse structures were tested on the basis of their structural similarity with arachidonic acid and known inhibitors of lipoxygenase. A correlation was observed between their antipsoriatic activity and lipoxygenase inhibition suggesting that a common underlying mechanism of action might be involved.

Soybean lipoxygenase inhibition by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

Eighteen known nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) were tested for their action against soybean lipoxygenase (E.C.1.13.11.12) using linoleic acid as substrate. It was found that the best inhibitors of lipoxygenase were naproxen, BW 755C, indomethacin and isoxicam. Drugs with intermediate potency were meclofenamic acid, phenylbutazone and benoxaprofen. Other drugs such as ibuprofen and zomepirac were only weakly active in the test.

Isoxicam and related 4-hydroxy-N-isoxazolyl-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxides. Potent nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents.

A novel series of antiinflammatory agents, N-isoxazolyl-3-carboxamides of 4-hydroxy-2H-1,2-benzothiazine 1,1-dioxide, was synthesized and evaluated as antiinflammatory agents in the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema (CIRPE) assay and adjuvant-induced polyarthritis (AIP) assay. Several analogues were found to be equipotent or more potent than aspirin and phenylbutazone. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. One of the compounds, 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(5-methyl-3-isoxazolyl)-2H-1,2-benzothiazine 3-carboxamide 1,1-dioxide (3a; isoxicam), was found to be 3 times as potent as phenylbutazone in the CIRPE and in the therapeutic AIP assays. Isoxicam (3a) is presently undergoing phase III clinical trial as an antiarthritic drug.