2-[[(4-Amino-2-pyridyl)methyl]sulfinyl]benzimidazole H+/K+-ATPase inhibitors. The relationship between pyridine basicity, stability, and activity.

The benzimidazole sulfoxide class of antisecretory H+/K+-ATPase inhibitors need to possess high stability under neutral physiological conditions yet rearrange rapidly at low pH to the active sulfenamide 2. Since the initial reaction involves internal nucleophilic attack by the pyridine nitrogen, control of the pyridine pKa is critical. In this paper we show that by utilizing the powerful electron-donating effect of a 4-amino substituent on the pyridine, moderated by the electron-withdrawing effect of a 3- or 5-halogen substituent, a combination of high potency (as inhibitors of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion) and good stability under physiological conditions can be obtained. Furthermore, the role of the steric interaction between the 3/5-substituents and the 4-substituent in modifying the electron-donating ability of the 4-amino group is exemplified, and additional factors affecting stability are identified. One compound, in particular, 2-[[(3-chloro-4-morpholino-2- pyridyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-5-methoxy-(1H)-benzimidazole (3a, SK&F 95601), was chosen for further development and evaluation in man.

Selective thyromimetics. Cardiac-sparing thyroid hormone analogues containing 3'-arylmethyl substituents.

Introduction of specific arylmethyl groups at the 3'-position of the thyroid hormone 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), and its known hormonally active derivatives, gives liver-selective, cardiac-sparing thyromimetics, with potential utility as plasma cholesterol lowering agents. Selectivity-conferring 3'-substituents include substituted benzyl, e.g. p-hydroxybenzyl, and heterocyclic methyl, e.g. 2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrid-5-ylmethyl and 6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-ylmethyl. Correlations between in vivo and in vitro receptor binding affinities show that liver/heart selectivity does not depend on receptor recognition but on penetration or access to receptors in vivo. QSAR studies of the binding data of a series of 20 3'-arylmethyl T3 analogues show that electronegative groups at the para position increase both receptor binding and selectivity in vivo. However, increasing 3'-arylmethyl hydrophobicity increases receptor binding but reduces selectivity. Substitution at ortho and meta positions reduces both binding and selectivity. Replacement of the 3,5-iodo groups by halogen or methyl maintains selectivity, with 3,5-dibromo analogues in particular having increased potency combined with oral bioavailability. Diphenyl thioether derivatives also have improved potency but are less orally active. At the 1-position, the D enantiomer retains selectivity, but removal of the alpha-amino group to give a propionic acid results in loss of selective thyromimetic activity.

Thyroid hormone analogues. Synthesis of 3'-substituted 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronines and quantitative structure-activity studies of in vitro and in vivo thyromimetic activities in rat liver and heart.

Twenty-nine novel 3'-substituted derivatives of the thyroid hormone 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) have been synthesized by using established methods and by a new route involving manipulation of a 3'-formyl intermediate. In vitro hormone receptor binding (to intact nuclei) and in vivo thyromimetic activity (induction of mitochondrial 3-phosphoglycerate oxidoreductase, GPDH) were measured in rat liver and heart for these new analogues and for the 18 previously reported 3'-substituted 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronines. Analysis of the binding data using theoretical conformational and quantitative structure-affinity methods implies that the 3'-substituent recognition site on the thyroid hormone receptor is hydrophobic and limited in depth to the length of the natural iodo substituent, but has sufficient width to accommodate a phenyl or cyclohexyl group. Receptor binding is reduced by approximately 10-fold in 3'-acyl derivatives which form strong intramolecular acceptor hydrogen bonds with the adjacent 4'-hydroxyl. The compounds studied showed no differences in their relative affinities for heart and liver nuclei, suggesting that receptors in these tissues are similar. However, the relationships between thyromimetic activity (induction of GPDH) and nuclear binding showed some tissue differences. A high correlation between activity and binding is observed for full agonists in the heart, but an equally significant correlation for the liver data is only seen when 3'-substituent bulk (molar refractivity) is included in the analysis. These results suggest the possibility that differential tissue penetration or access to receptors may occur in vivo.

The specificity of omeprazole as an (H+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitor depends upon the means of its activation.

Omeprazole (OME) is a novel acid secretion inhibitor, believed to act directly on the gastric proton pump, the (H+ + K+)-ATPase. Inhibition of ATPase activity is associated with an incorporation of [14C]OME into gastric vesicles containing the (H+ + K+)-ATPase, and both processes are greatly enhanced if the OME is exposed to acidic pH. This, and other evidence, suggests that the acidic environment of the (H+ + K+)-ATPase generates from OME a reactive intermediate which covalently inhibits the pump. We have compared the means by which the OME was acid-activated with the specificity of inhibition (amount of incorporation of omeprazole required to produce 100% inhibition of K+-stimulated ATPase activity). The stoichiometry of incorporation has been related to the number of detectable catalytic phosphorylation sites in each preparation (an index of the number of functional pumps). In lyophilised gastric vesicles, where the membrane barriers separating the cytoplasmic and luminal faces of the enzyme are substantially destroyed, incubation with OME at pH 6.1 produced a progressive inhibition and incorporation over 120 min. Complete inhibition of K+-ATPase required 13 +/- 3 (SEM; N = 4) moles of OME incorporation per phosphorylation site. In intact gastric vesicles, under conditions shown independently to result in proton pumping and the acidification of the vesicle interior (150 mM KCl, 9 microM valinomycin, 2 mM Mg-ATP pH 7.0), inhibition and incorporation occurred more rapidly (15 min). Complete inhibition of K+-ATPase required only 1.8 +/- 0.15 (SEM; N = 3) moles of OME per phosphorylation site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A thyromimetic that decreases plasma cholesterol levels without increasing cardiac activity.

A number of agents that mimic the ability of the thyroid hormone, T3, to decrease plasma cholesterol levels are described; one is as effective as T3 at reducing cholesterol levels and stimulating liver function, but has very little effect on cardiac function and is thus less likely to be toxic. The agent may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Studies on the mechanism of action of omeprazole.

The effects of omeprazole on preparations of pig gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase have been studied. Omeprazole was found to inhibit the (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition was more pronounced at pH 6.1 compared with pH 7.4 and decreased as the concentration of (H+ + K+)-ATPase preparation increased. The potency of omeprazole was therefore highly dependent upon the conditions used. When pre- incubated with (H+ + K+)-ATPase preparation (30 micrograms protein/ml) for 30 min at 37 degrees and pH 6.1, omeprazole inhibited the (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity with an IC50 of 3.9 microM. This inhibition was shown to be irreversible in nature. Whilst omeprazole itself was not very potent as an inhibitor of the (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity at pH 7.4 (IC50 = 36 microM), transient acidification of omeprazole resulted in the formation of a compound(s) which produced marked inhibition at this pH (IC50 = 5.2 microM). The effects of omeprazole in the absence of acidification may have resulted from the rate-limiting formation of this compound. Radiolabelled omeprazole was shown to incorporate into the (H+ + K+)-ATPase preparation in a time-dependent and pH-dependent manner. Omeprazole, radiolabelled in three separate positions (the sulphur atom and the two adjacent carbon atoms), incorporated with equivalent time courses suggesting that the incorporation did not involve a fragmentation of the omeprazole molecule. Under conditions shown to produce a 50% inhibition of (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity, [14C] omeprazole had incorporated to a level of 4-5 nmoles/mg protein. Incorporation continued beyond the point required to produce 100% inhibition of (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity and reached 30 nmoles/mg protein after 5 hr. Prior acidification of the omeprazole resulted in a more rapid initial rate of incorporation although the final level of incorporation was lower than for omeprazole. Omeprazole was also shown to interact with the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from dog kidney. Omeprazole inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity (IC50 = 186 microM). Acid-degraded omeprazole inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity with greater potency (IC50 = 19 microM) and was also shown to incorporate into this enzyme preparation.

Changes in cardiac function following administration of thyroid hormones in thyroidectomised rats: assessment using the isolated working rat heart preparation.

We investigated the changes in cardiac function following alterations in thyroid state of rats, using the isolated working heart preparation. This technique allows heart rate, contractility, and pump function to be studied under controlled conditions. Surgical thyroidectomy resulted in significant impairment of cardiac function. Single doses of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) or L-thyroxine (T4) were given to thyroidectomised rats. Cardiac function was restored to normal within 48 h of administration of 0.5 mg/kg T3 or 2.5 mg/kg T4 without significant changes in heart weight. The dose-response relationships between T3 and T4 and cardiac function showed that significant changes occurred after single doses of T3, 0.02 mg/kg, or T4, 0.5 mg/kg. An increase in contractility was seen within 12 h of administration of T3, before other physiological effects of T3 are reported to occur. This indicates that the change in contractility is the result of a direct effect of thyroid hormones on the heart and is not secondary to changed loading conditions of the heart. Changes in heart rate occurred between 18 and 48 h. The maximum heart rate achieved did not exceed that in hearts from euthyroid rats, although contractility could be increased above euthyroid levels.

3'-Acetyl-3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine: a novel highly active thyromimetic with low receptor affinity.

The 4'-phenolic hydroxyl group of thyroid hormones plays an important role in receptor binding, and it has been suggested that the interaction of this hydroxyl group with the receptor involves hydrogen bonding via donation of the acidic hydrogen in a trans disposition to the 3'-substituent of the hormones. In order to test this hypothesis we have synthesised, and measured the hepatic receptor affinity and thyromimetic activity of 3'-acetyl-3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (3'-Ac-T2), a compound in which the formation of such a receptor-phenol hydrogen bond is precluded by the presence of a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the 3'-acetyl- and 4'-hydroxyl groups. In confirmation of the hypothesis, 3'-Ac-T2 has a low affinity (0.5% of that of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine, T3) for the T3-receptor in isolated rat hepatic nuclei. By contrast the thyromimetic activity (assessed by its ability to induce rat hepatic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and increase the qO2 of liver slices) was roughly equal to that of T3. This apparent discrepancy was resolved when it was found that the capacity of 3'-Ac-T2 to occupy hepatic receptors after in vivo administration, was about 100 times greater than predicted from its in vitro affinity. The reason for this difference between in vivo and in vitro nuclear binding is unknown at the present time.

The effects of histamine H2 receptor antagonists on androgen action in vivo and dihydrotestosterone binding to the rat prostate androgen receptor in vitro.

Several histamine H2 receptor antagonists have been tested for antiandrogenic activity by determining their effects on accessory sex organ weights in castrate testosterone propionate (TP) treated rats and on [3H] dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binding to the androgen receptor of the rat ventral prostate in vitro. When given in high doses cimetidine and metiamide possessed antiandrogenic activity whereas the other H2 receptor antagonists SK&F 92456, SK&F 92994, SK&F 92629 amd SK&F 93479 did not Cimetidine, metiamide and SK&F 92456 inhibited (3H] DHT binding to rat ventral prostate androgen receptor in vitro whereas SK&F 92629 and SK&F 93479 did not. SK&F 92994 affects DHT binding only slightly. Of the compounds that are similar to cimetidine in their potency as H2 receptor antagonists only metiamide was antiandrogenic. However SK&F 92994 and SK&F 93479 are not antiandrogenic despite being more potent than cimetidine as H2 antagonists. It is concluded that the antiandrogenicity of cimetidine and metiamide was not related to their activity as histamine H2 receptor antagonists.

Some properties of phosphofructokinase from kidney cortex and their relation to glucose metabolism.

1. Phosphofructokinase from rat kidney cortex has been partially purified by using a combination of isoelectric and ammonium sulphate precipitation. This preparation was free of enzymes which interfered with the measurement of either product of phosphofructokinase. 2. At concentrations greater than the optimum, ATP caused inhibition which was decreased by raising the fructose 6-phosphate concentration. This suggested that ATP reduced the affinity of phosphofructokinase for the other substrate. Citrate potentiated the ATP inhibition. 3. AMP and fructose 1,6-diphosphate relieved the inhibition by ATP or citrate by increasing the affinity of the enzyme for fructose 6-phosphate. 4. K(+) is shown to stimulate and Ca(2+) to inhibit phosphofructokinase. 5. The similarity between the complex properties of phosphofructokinase from kidney cortex and other tissues (e.g. cardiac and skeletal muscle, brain and liver) suggests that the enzyme in kidney cortex tissue is normally subject to metabolic control, similar to that in other tissues.

Control of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in rat kidney cortex slices.

1. Glucose uptake or glucose formation has been studied in kidney cortex slices to investigate metabolic control of phosphofructokinase and fructose-diphosphatase activities. 2. Glucose uptake is increased and glucose formation is decreased by anoxia, cyanide or an uncoupling agent. Under these conditions the intracellular concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and ATP decreased whereas that of fructose diphosphate either increased or remained constant, and the concentrations of AMP and ADP increased. 3. Glucose uptake was decreased, and glucose formation from glycerol or dihydroxyacetone was increased, by the presence of ketone bodies or fatty acids, or after starvation of the donor animal. Under these conditions, the concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate and citrate were increased, whereas those of fructose diphosphate and the adenine nucleotides were unchanged (see also Newsholme & Underwood, 1966). 4. It is concluded that anoxia and cell poisons increase glucose uptake and decrease gluconeogenesis by stimulating phosphofructokinase and inhibiting fructose diphosphatase, whereas ketone bodies, fatty acids or starvation increase gluconeogenesis and decrease glucose uptake through the citrate inhibition of phosphofructokinase.