Development of a robust scintillation proximity assay for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B using the catalytically inactive (C215S) mutant.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases are a class of enzymes that function to modulate tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins and play an essential role in regulating cell function. PTP1B has been implicated in the negative regulation of the insulin signaling pathway by dephosphorylating the activated insulin receptor. Inhibiting this phosphatase and preventing the insulin-receptor downregulation has been suggested as a target for the treatment of Type II diabetes. A high-throughput screen for inhibitors of PTP1B was developed using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) with GST-- or FLAG--PTP1B((1-320)) and a potent [(3)H]-tripeptide inhibitor. The problem of interference from extraneous oxidizing and alkylating agents which react with the cysteine active-site nucleophile was overcome by the use of the catalytically inactive C215S form of the native enzyme (GST--PTP1B(C215S)). The GST--PTP1B was linked to the protein A scintillation bead via GST antibody. The radiolabeled inhibitor when bound to the enzyme gave a radioactive signal that was competed away by the unknown competitive compounds. Further utility of PTP1B(C215S) was demonstrated by mixing in the same well both the catalytically inactive GST--PTP1B(C215S) and the catalytically active FLAG--CD45 with an inhibitor. Both a binding and kinetic assay was then performed in the same 96-well plate with the inhibition results determined for the PTP1B(C215S) (binding assay) and CD45 (activity assay). In this way inhibitors could be differentiated between the two phosphatases under identical assay conditions in one 96-well assay plate. The use of a mutant to reduce interference in a binding assay and compare with activity assays is also amenable for most cysteine active-site proteases.

In vitro metabolism considerations, including activity testing of metabolites, in the discovery and selection of the COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib (MK-0663).

Characterization of the metabolites of the COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib (MK-0663 and L-791,456) produced in vitro indicate formation of an N-oxide pyridine and hydroxymethyl pyridine that can further be glucuronidated or oxidized to an acid. Significant turnover is observed in human hepatocytes. Several CYPs are involved in the oxidative biotranformations and, from in vitro studies, etoricoxib is not a potent CYP3A4 inducer or inhibitor. Based on an in vitro whole blood assay, none of the metabolites of etoricoxib inhibits COX-1 or contributes significantly to the inhibition of COX-2.

Etoricoxib (MK-0663): preclinical profile and comparison with other agents that selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2.

We report here the preclinical profile of etoricoxib (MK-0663) [5-chloro-2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)-3-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl) pyridine], a novel orally active agent that selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), that has been developed for high selectivity in vitro using whole blood assays and sensitive COX-1 enzyme assays at low substrate concentration. Etoricoxib selectively inhibited COX-2 in human whole blood assays in vitro, with an IC(50) value of 1.1 +/- 0.1 microM for COX-2 (LPS-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis), compared with an IC(50) value of 116 +/- 8 microM for COX-1 (serum thromboxane B2 generation after clotting of the blood). Using the ratio of IC(50) values (COX-1/COX-2), the selectivity ratio for the inhibition of COX-2 by etoricoxib in the human whole blood assay was 106, compared with values of 35, 30, 7.6, 7.3, 2.4, and 2.0 for rofecoxib, valdecoxib, celecoxib, nimesulide, etodolac, and meloxicam, respectively. Etoricoxib did not inhibit platelet or human recombinant COX-1 under most assay conditions (IC(50) > 100 microM). In a highly sensitive assay for COX-1 with U937 microsomes where the arachidonic acid concentration was lowered to 0.1 microM, IC(50) values of 12, 2, 0.25, and 0.05 microM were obtained for etoricoxib, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, and celecoxib, respectively. These differences in potency were in agreement with the dissociation constants (K(i)) for binding to COX-1 as estimated from an assay based on the ability of the compounds to delay the time-dependent inhibition by indomethacin. Etoricoxib was a potent inhibitor in models of carrageenan-induced paw edema (ID(50) = 0.64 mg/kg), carrageenan-induced paw hyperalgesia (ID(50) = 0.34 mg/kg), LPS-induced pyresis (ID(50) = 0.88 mg/kg), and adjuvant-induced arthritis (ID(50) = 0.6 mg/kg/day) in rats, without effects on gastrointestinal permeability up to a dose of 200 mg/kg/day for 10 days. In squirrel monkeys, etoricoxib reversed LPS-induced pyresis by 81% within 2 h of administration at a dose of 3 mg/kg and showed no effect in a fecal 51Cr excretion model of gastropathy at 100 mg/kg/day for 5 days, in contrast to lower doses of diclofenac or naproxen. In summary, etoricoxib represents a novel agent that selectively inhibits COX-2 with 106-fold selectivity in human whole blood assays in vitro and with the lowest potency of inhibition of COX-1 compared with other reported selective agents.

2-heterosubstituted-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-5-trifluoromethyl pyridines as selective and orally active cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

A series of novel 2-alkoxy, 2-thioalkoxy and 2-amino-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenylpyridines has been synthesized and shown to be highly potent and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Structure-activity relationship studies have demonstrated that central pyridine ring substituents play an important role in the COX-2 potency, selectivity vs the COX-1 enzyme, and oral activity.

[Difluro(phosphono)methyl]phenylalanine-containing peptide inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Peptides containing the non-hydrolysable phosphotyrosine analogue 4-[difluro(phosphono)methyl]phenylalanine [Phe(CF2P)] were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) PTP1B, CD45, PTPbeta, LAR and SHP-1. We have identified peptides containing two adjacent Phe(CF2P) residues as potent inhibitors of PTPs. The tripeptide having the sequence Glu-Phe(CF2P)-Phe(CF2P) is a potent and selective inhibitor of PTP1B. This peptide inhibits PTP1B with an IC50 of 40 nM, which is at least 100-fold lower than with other PTPs. A second tripeptide, Pro-Phe(CF2P)-Phe(CF2P), is most potent against PTPbeta, with an IC50 of 200 nM, and inhibits PTP1B with an IC50 of 300 nM. These data suggest that it is possible to develop selective, active-site-directed, reversible, potent inhibitors of PTPs.

Quinolines as potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors: synthesis and biological profile of L-746,530.

Leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors have potential as new therapeutic agents for asthma and inflammatory diseases. A series of novel substituted 2-cyanoquinolines have been synthesized and the structure activity relationships were evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit the formation of leukotrienes via the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme. [1S,5R]-2-Cyano-4-(3-furyl)-7-¿3-fluoro-5-[3-(3 alpha-hydroxy-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]-octanyl)]phenoxymethyl ¿quinoline (L-746,530) 3 represents a distinct class of inhibitors and possesses in vitro and in vivo potency comparable or superior to naphthalenic analog (L-739,010) 2.

2-Pyridinyl-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenylpyridines: selective and orally active cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

A series of novel 2-pyridinyl-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenylpyridines has been synthesized and evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit the isozymes of cyclooxygenase, COX-1, and COX-2. Optimum COX-2 activity is observed by introduction of a substituent at C5 of the central pyridine. 5- Chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(2-methyl-5-pyridinyl)pyridine 33 was identified as the optimum compound in this series.

Spinal injuries due to front-end bale loaders.

Of 22 patients admitted to Plains Health Centre, Regina, from January 1979 to April 1986 with spinal injuries due to farming accidents, 7 had injuries related to tractor-mounted front-end bale loaders. In contrast, none of the 12 patients admitted with farm-related spinal injuries from 1974 through 1978 had injuries related to bale loaders. All seven injuries occurred when a front-end loader was used to move a large, round hay bale. In each case when the loader arms were raised past the horizontal plane the bale rolled back onto the unprotected tractor operator. There were five thoracic injuries, one cervical injury and one lumbar injury. All seven bony injuries healed. Four of the patients had permanent neurologic sequelae; two of the four had paraplegia. All seven patients suffered disability that impaired work performance; all five farmers suffered some loss of income. None of these injuries would have occurred if available safety equipment had been in place.