Anti-androgenic activity of substituted azo- and azoxy-benzene derivatives.

Substituted phenylazo and phenylazoxy compounds were systematically prepared and their anti-androgenic activity was measured in terms of (1) the growth-inhibiting effect on an androgen-dependent cell line, SC-3, and (2) the binding affinity to nuclear androgen receptor. Generally, azo/azoxy compounds showed cell toxicity, and the growth-inhibiting effects on SC-3 cells correlated with the toxicity. However, some compounds, including 4,4'-dinitroazobenzene (25), 4,4'-dimethoxyazobenzene (33), and 2,2'-dichloroazoxybenzene (47), possessed potent anti-androgenic activity without apparent cell toxicity.

Modulators of tumor necrosis factor alpha production bearing dicarba-closo-dodecaborane as a hydrophobic pharmacophore.

Previous studies on the structural development of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production regulators derived from thalidomide (N-alpha-phthalimidoglutarimide) revealed that a hydrophobic substituent at the nitrogen atom of the phthalimide ring is critical for potent activity. We have designed and prepared phthalimide derivatives bearing a boron cluster, dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (carborane), which has a hydrophobic character and spherical geometry, as a novel candidate of biological response modifiers. These compounds were shown to regulate TNF-alpha production by HL-60 cells, as expected. The result provides a further example of the application of carborane as a hydrophobic pharmacophore of biologically active molecules.

[Chemical control of cell differentiation of human myeloleukemia K562 cell line].

Human myeloid leukemia K562 cells can be induced to differentiate to mature cells bidirectionary, i.e., hemin induces erythroid differentiation, while 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induces differentiation to monocytes. The differentiation-inducing activity of various hemin-related compounds suggested certain structural requirements for the activity: 1) the iron moiety of hemin is not essential, and 2) the propionic acid side chains of hemin play an important role in the differentiation and induction. In addition, we have examined the influence of some bioresponse-modifying factors on hemin/protoporphyrin IX-induced differentiation of K562 cell line. Retinoids and tubulin-disruptors, themselves did not induce differentiation, enhanced hemin/protoporphyrin IX-induced differentiation of K562 cells. We also examined the possible involvement of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) in hemin/protoporphyrin IX-induced differentiation on K562 cell lines. The PBR specific ligands modified hemin-induced differentiation. These results suggest a requirement for retinoids (or retinoids-like cofactors) for hemin/protoporphyrin IX-induced differentiation of K562 cells and the involvement of PBR in erythroid differentiation of K562 cell line. Further we showed that TPA suppresses hemin-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells, while retinoids augment it. TPA is a potent inducer of heme oxygenase (HO), which catabolizes heme to biliverdin. An HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), suppresses TPA-induced K562 cell differentiation to monocytes. It was also found that cotreatment of K562 cells with SnPP and TPA induces erythroid differentiation of K562 cells, though SnPP alone or TPA alone does not induce erythroid differentiation, suggesting a role of HO in the directional switch of differentiation.

Potent homophthalimide-type inhibitors of B16F10/L5 mouse melanoma cell invasion.

Recently, we developed a series of novel and potent aminopeptidase inhibitors with a homophthalimide skeleton. Among them, N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)homophthalimide (PIQ-22) possesses a specific aminopeptidase-inhibiting activity more potent than that of bestatin or actinonin, as assayed in terms of hydrolysis of L-alanine 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Ala-AMC) by human acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cells. We show here that PIQ-22 and its 2,6-dimethylphenyl derivative (PIQ-11) are more potent inhibitors of tumor cell invasion than bestatin and actinonin in a Matrigel assay using mouse melanoma B16F10/L5 cells.

Novel small molecule nonpeptide aminopeptidase n inhibitors with a cyclic imide skeleton.

A novel series of small molecule nonpeptide aminopeptidase N (APN) inhibitors with a N-phenylphthalimide or N-phenylhomophthalimide skeleton were prepared. Evaluation of their protease inhibitory activities revealed that (i) some N-phenylphthalimide analogs are potent APN inhibitors, but they are also inhibitors of another protease, dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP-IV), and (ii) some N-phenylhomophthalimide analogs, including 2-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (PIQ-22), are potent and specific inhibitors of APN without DPP-IV-inhibitory activity. The structure-activity relationship studies of N-phenylphthalimides and N-phenylhomophthalimides are reviewed. PIQ-22 showed potent tumor-cell invasion-inhibitory activity.

Modification by heme oxygenase inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin, of cellular differentiation of human myeloid leukemia K562 cell line.

Human myeloid leukemia K562 cells can be induced to differentiate to mature cells bidirectionally, i.e., hemin induces erythroid differentiation, while 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induces differentiation to monocytes. TPA is also a potent inducer of heme oxygenase (HO), which catabolizes heme to biliverdin. We show here that TPA suppresses hemin-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells, while retinoids augment it. Further, an HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), suppresses TPA-induced K562 cell differentiation to monocytes. It was also found that co-treatment of K562 cells with SnPP and TPA induces erythroid differentiation of K562 cells, though SnPP alone or TPA alone does not induce erythroid differentiation, suggesting a role of HO in the directional switch of differentiation.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production enhancing activity of substituted 3'-methylthalidomide: influence of substituents at the phthaloyl moiety on the activity and stereoselectivity.

The synthesis and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production enhancing activity of substituted 3'-methylthalidomides on human leukemia cell line HL-60 stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) are described. Though the introduction of an electron-donating amino group at the phthaloyl moiety of alpha-methylthalidomides enhanced the activity, substituted alpha-methylthalidomides showed decreased stereoselectivity as compared to that of non-substituted alpha-methylthalidomide. The data indicates that the TNF-alpha production enhancing activity of thalidomide derivatives depends on both the electronic-state of substituents at the fused benzene ring and the stereochemistry of the glutarimide moiety.

Isolation and structure of an antimitotic cyclic peptide, ustiloxin F: chemical interrelation with a homologous peptide, ustiloxin B.

Ustiloxin F, a microtubule inhibitor, was isolated as a minor metabolite of Ustilaginoidea virens. The structure was determined from the spectral data and by chemical interrelation to ustiloxin B through reductive removal of the sulfoxide-containing side chain of ustiloxin B to give ustiloxin F. Ustiloxin F inhibited microtubule assembly with an IC50 value of 10.3 microM.

Synthesis and anti-tubulin activity of ustiloxin D derivatives.

Ustiloxin D, produced by the rice plant pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens, exhibits potent anti-tubulin activity. In order to elucidate the effects of functional groups in ustiloxin D on its activity, several derivatives were synthesized and their anti-tubulin activities were estimated. The N,N-dimethylamino derivative and the 14-O-methyl derivative were inactive (IC50 > 50 microM). 20-Hydroxymethylated ustiloxin D showed decreased inhibitory activity compared with ustiloxin D.

Asymmetric synthesis of antimitotic combretadioxolane with potent antitumor activity against multi-drug resistant cells.

The (S,S)-enantiomer of combretadioxolane (3), designed as a chirally preorganized derivative of combretastatin A-4, exhibited quite strong tubulin polymerization-inhibitory activity (IC50: 4-6 microM). (S,S)-3 is 20 times more potent than vincristine as an in vitro growth inhibitor (in terms of GI50) of the multi-drug-resistant (MDR) cell line PC-12, which produces P-glycoprotein.

Interaction of arenastatin A with porcine brain tubulin.

Arenastatin A, isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Dysidea arenaria, is an antimitotic depsipeptide containing a 16-membered ring. Interaction of the compound with tubulin was investigated by the use of [3H]arenastatin A and other microtubule disruptors. Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of one binding site for arenastatin A per tubulin heterodimer with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.8 x 10(-6) M. Rhizoxin was a competitive inhibitor of arenastatin A binding, and vinblastine also inhibited arenastatin A binding in a partially competitive manner. Arenastatin A had no inhibitory effect on colchicine binding to tubulin.

Effects of arenastatin A and its synthetic analogs on microtubule assembly.

Inhibition of microtubule assembly by arenastatin A (1) and five synthetic analogs (3-7) was examined. Arenastatin A and the triamide 6 showed potent and moderately strong inhibitory activities, respectively (IC50; 2.3 microM for 1, 7.8 microM for 6) and also depolymerized preformed microtubules. The other analogs tested showed no activity.

Taxuspine D, a new taxane diterpene from Taxus cuspidata with potent inhibitory activity against Ca(2+)-induced depolymerization of microtubules.

A new taxane diterpenoid, taxuspine D (1), possessing an enolacetate moiety, has been isolated from stems of the Japanese yew Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc., and the structure elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Taxuspine D (1) markedly inhibited Ca(2+)-induced depolymerization of microtubules.

Ustiloxins, new antimitotic cyclic peptides: interaction with porcine brain tubulin.

Biochemical and electron microscopic studies demonstrated that ustiloxins A-D, which are antimitotic 13-membered cyclic peptides produced by the rice plant pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens, strongly inhibited the polymerization of porcine brain tubulin in vitro and depolymerized pre-formed microtubules. The IC50 values of polymerization inhibited by ustiloxins A-D were determined to be 0.7, 2.8, 4.4 and 6.6 microM, respectively, under the experimental conditions used, indicating that ustiloxin A is the most potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerization currently known. Ustiloxins A-C were found to inhibit the binding of radiolabelled rhizoxin to tubulin with inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.08, 0.13 and 0.23 microM, respectively, and also inhibited the binding of radiolabelled phomopsin A as strongly as rhizoxin. These results suggest that the binding site of ustiloxins is identical with that of rhizoxin.

Ustiloxins, antimitotic cyclic peptides from false smut balls on rice panicles caused by Ustilaginoidea virens.

Ustiloxins A (1a), B (1b), C (1c), D (1d) and E (1e), antimitotic peptides, have been isolated from the water extract of false smut balls caused on the panicles of rice plant by a fungus Ustilaginoidea virens. The structure of 1b was assigned from its spectral property and its amino acid analysis in relation to 1a whose structure was determined previously by a combination of X-ray crystallographic and amino acid analyses. Structures of 1c and 1d were elucidated by their spectroscopic data, specially based on their 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Bioactivities of these compounds against microtubule assembly as well as mammal, plant and fungal cells have been studied.

Interaction of ustiloxin A with bovine brain tubulin.

Ustiloxin A is a modified peptide derived from false smut balls on rice panicles, caused by the fungus Ustilaginoidea virens; structurally, it resembles phomopsin A. Ustiloxin A is cytotoxic and is an inhibitor of microtubule assembly in vitro. Because of its resemblance to phomopsin A, we examined its interaction with tubulin and compared the results with those obtained with phomopsin A and dolastatin 10, both of which were found previously to have very similar effects. We determined that ustiloxin A inhibited the formation of a particular intra-chain cross-link in beta-tubulin, as do vinblastine, maytansine, rhizoxin, phomopsin A, dolastatin 10, halichondrin B and homohalichondrin B; this is in contrast to colchicine and podophyllotoxin which do not inhibit formation of this cross-link. Ustiloxin A also inhibited the alkylation of tubulin by iodo[14C]acetamide, as do phomopsin A and dolastatin 10; vinblastine was almost as potent as inhibitor of alkylation as ustiloxin A, whereas maytansine, halichondrin B and homohalichondrin B have little or no effect. In addition, ustiloxin A inhibited exposure of hydrophobic areas on the surface of the tubulin molecule. In this respect, ustiloxin A was indistinguishable from phomopsin A but slightly more effective than dolastatin 10 and considerably more effective than vinblastine; this provides a strong contrast to maytansine, rhizoxin, and homohalichondrin B which have no effect on exposure of hydrophobic areas and to halichondrin B which enhances exposure. Lastly, ustiloxin A strongly stabilized the binding of [3H]colchicine to tubulin. The combination of ustiloxin A with cholchicine stabilized tubulin with a half-life of over 8 days, comparable with results obtained with phomopsin A and colchicine. A comparison of the structures of ustiloxin A, phomopsin A and dolastatin 10 raised the possibility that the strong stabilization of the tubulin structure may require a short segment of hydrophobic amino acids such as the modified valine-isoleucine sequence present in all three compounds. The rest of the structure, specifically the large ring of ustiloxin A and phomopsin A, may serve to place this sequence in an appropriate conformation to interact with tubulin.

"Lupinosis"-like lesions in mice caused by ustiloxin, produced by Ustilaginoieda virens: a morphological study.

A crude toxin, obtained by methanol-extraction of a water extract of false smut balls (INA-KOUJI in Japanese) caused by Ustilaginoidea virens on rice panicles, was injected into mice intraperitoneally. Single injection of 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract was not lethal but caused acute, occasional necrosis of hepatocytes and renal tubular cells, followed by increased number of mitotic figures with occasional multinuclear giant cells. Erosions and ulceration of the forestomach and atrophy of the thymus were observed a week later. Repeated intraperitoneal injection of the crude toxin at the levels of 12 and 25 mg/kg body weight induced more severe necrosis of the liver and kidneys, with delayed occurrence of mitosis. Forestomach erosion also occurred. Serial injection for 10-12 days of either 3 or 6 mg/kg of the crude extract or 400 micrograms/kg of ustiloxin A, using the purified crystals, caused relatively mild but definite liver and kidney lesions similar to those described above. The lesions in the liver and kidney were quite similar to those observed in lupinosis caused by phomopsin A, a mycotoxin produced by Phomopsis leptostromiformis. Isolation of the toxic substance indicates that the contaminated rice panicles may cause toxicosis of cattle, although no field outbreaks have occurred yet.

Three quantitative assays for human erythroid burst-promoting activity of recombinant growth factors and of omentum-conditioned medium.

Human erythroid burst-promoting activity (BPA) of recombinant growth factors and crude materials, of media conditioned by omentum tissue (OMCM), and of media conditioned by the bladder carcinoma cell line (HTB9CM) was measured by three different culture methods. Using the two-stage culture method, significant activity was shown in OMCM (137%-329% of the control), HTB9CM (102%-333%), recombinant human (rh) granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) (179%-220%), rh interleukin 3 (rhIL-3) (232%-676%), and rh insulin-like growth factor 1 (rh IGF-1) (106%-175%), whereas there was no significant increase in the number of erythroid bursts by the same additives when the one-stage culture or the delayed erythropoietin method was employed. Linear dose-response curves were observed in the tested range of rhIL-3 and rhGM-CSF. We also observed that 1) a larger amount of rhGM-CSF was required for the optimal stimulation of erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) than for the optimal stimulation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM), and 2) even the maximum dose of rhGM-CSF increased erythroid bursts to a lesser extent than was possible by the addition of rhIL-3. The former results implies that BPA is not the major activity of GM-CSF, and the latter result, although it is not conclusive, suggests that the GM-CSF-responsive BFU-E represent only a subset population of BFU-E responsive to IL-3. The two-stage culture is a useful assay method for screening BPA in biological materials with respect to accuracy, dose responsiveness, and reproducibility.

The production of differentiation autoinducing activity by WEHI-3B D+ leukemia cells.

We studied the differentiation autoinducing activity in WEHI-3B D+ cell-conditioned medium (WCM). After culturing 10(6)/ml WEHI-3B D+ cells in RPMI-1640 medium without fetal calf serum (FCS) for 4 days, the supernatant was collected. The medium, concentrated 50-fold by YM-5 membrane filtration, was fractionated by gel exclusion on Ultrogel AcA44. We evaluated the effect of each of the four fractions on differentiation in WEHI-3B D+ cells by morphological, functional, and cytochemical criteria after adding the fractions to liquid or soft-agar cultures of 10(3) cells in 1 ml RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% FCS; the experimental cultures contained 10% of the fractions, with a control for each without the fraction. The growth of WEHI-3B D- cells in culture was inhibited by the addition of fraction P only (mol. wt. 10,000-20,000 daltons). In these same cultures, the cells were granulocyte-like, strongly positive for naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase, and had phagocytic activity. Colonies grown in agar culture with fraction P also exhibited a peripheral halo of loosely dispersed cells around a central aggregate. Fraction P contained neither granulocyte colony-stimulating activity nor burst-promoting activity. These results suggest that fraction P contains differentiation autoinducing factor that is different from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or interleukin 3.