Sulfur mustard induced mast cell degranulation in mouse skin is inhibited by a novel anti-inflammatory and anticholinergic bifunctional prodrug.

Sulfur mustard (SM, bis(2-chloroethyl sulfide) is a potent vesicating agent known to cause skin inflammation, necrosis and blistering. Evidence suggests that inflammatory cells and mediators that they generate are important in the pathogenic responses to SM. In the present studies we investigated the role of mast cells in SM-induced skin injury using a murine vapor cup exposure model. Mast cells, identified by toluidine blue staining, were localized in the dermis, adjacent to dermal appendages and at the dermal/epidermal junction. In control mice, 48-61% of mast cells were degranulated. SM exposure (1.4g/m3 in air for 6min) resulted in increased numbers of degranulated mast cells 1-14days post-exposure. Treatment of mice topically with an indomethacin choline bioisostere containing prodrug linked by an aromatic ester-carbonate that targets cyclooxygenases (COX) enzymes and acetylcholinesterase (1% in an ointment) 1-14days after SM reduced skin inflammation and injury and enhanced tissue repair. This was associated with a decrease in mast cell degranulation from 90% to 49% 1-3days post SM, and from 84% to 44% 7-14days post SM. These data suggest that reduced inflammation and injury in response to the bifunctional indomethacin prodrug may be due, at least in part, to abrogating mast cell degranulation. The use of inhibitors of mast cell degranulation may be an effective strategy for mitigating skin injury induced by SM.

Multi-inhibitor prodrug constructs for simultaneous delivery of anti-inflammatory agents to mustard-induced skin injury.

The molecular pathology of sulfur mustard injury is complex, with at least nine inflammation-related enzymes and receptors upregulated in the zone of the insult. A new approach wherein inhibitors of these targets have been linked by hydrolyzable bonds, either one to one or via separate preattachment to a carrier molecule, has been shown to significantly enhance the therapeutic response compared with the individual agents. This article reviews the published work of the authors in this drug development domain over the last 8 years.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of SRX246: a potent and selective vasopressin 1a antagonist.

SRX246 is a potent, highly selective, orally bioavailable vasopressin 1a receptor antagonist that represents a novel mechanism of action for the treatment of mood disorders. The compound previously showed efficacy in animal models of mood disorders and excellent safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers in phase I clinical trials. In this study, SRX246 was further characterized in rats and dogs. In vitro determinations of permeability, protein binding, hepatocyte metabolism, and cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibition and in vivo assessments of pharmacokinetics were conducted. In parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and PAMPA-blood-brain barrier models, SRX246 was comparable to highly permeable, orally active pharmaceuticals. SRX246 hydrochloride salt was 95.5 ± 1.7%, 95.9 ± 1.3%, and 98.6 ± 0.4% bound to rat, dog, and human serum proteins, respectively, and was stable in serum after a 4 h incubation at 37°C. P450 enzyme inhibition results showed a very low potential for drug-drug interactions. Metabolism in primary hepatocytes demonstrated that SRX246 was stable in humans and moderately metabolized in dogs and rats. Plasma pharmacokinetics findings showed a half-life (T½ ) of 2 and 6 h in rat and dog, respectively. Rat brain levels following a single oral dose were approximately 20% of plasma values with a T½ of 6 h. The observed profile for SRX246 supports further development.

Synthesis and evaluation of potent and selective human V1a receptor antagonists as potential ligands for PET or SPECT imaging.

SRX246 is a potent, highly selective human vasopressin V1a antagonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier in rats. CNS penetration makes SRX246 an ideal candidate for potential radiolabeling and use in visualization and characterization of the role of the V1a receptor in multiple stress-related disorders. Before radiolabeling studies, cold reference analogs of SRX246 were prepared. This study describes the synthesis and in vitro screening for human V1a receptor binding and permeability of fluoro, iodo, and methyl reference compounds for SRX246 and the preparation of a tin precursor. For each compound, the potential utility of corresponding radiolabeled analogs for PET and SPECT imaging is discussed.