Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of 1,5-isomers of triazole-pyrrolopyrimidine as selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitors.

JAK inhibitors have been considered as useful targets for the treatment of related diseases. However, first-generation JAK inhibitors have side effects such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and headaches which have been suggested to result from high JAK2 inhibition. Second-generation JAK inhibitors with more specific JAK isozyme inhibition have been studied to eliminate these adverse effects. In this study, novel 4-(1,5- or 2,5-triazole)-pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives with aromatic moieties were synthesized as JAK1 inhibitors, and an in vitro enzyme assay was used to evaluate the JAK inhibitory effects. Among these JAK1 inhibitors, the compound 23a showed an IC50 level of 72 nM, as well as being selective against other JAKs by 12 times or more: the results of molecular docking studies suggested that the high JAK1 selectivity resulted from a key interaction between the iodine atom of compound 23a and His-885 of hJAK1.

Discovery of Novel Pyrimidine-Based Capsid Assembly Modulators as Potent Anti-HBV Agents.

Core assembly modulators of viral capsid proteins have been developed as an effective treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we synthesized novel potent pyrimidine derivatives as core assembly modulators, and their antiviral effects were evaluated in in vitro and in vivo biological experiments. One of the synthesized derivatives, compound 23h (R1 = MeSO2, R2 = 1-piperidin-4-amine, R3 = 3-Cl-4-F-aniline) displayed potent inhibitory effects in the in vitro assays (52% inhibition in the protein-based assay at 100 nM and an IC50 value of 181 nM in the serum HBV DNA quantification assay). Moreover, treatment with compound 23h for 5 weeks significantly decreased serum levels of HBV DNA levels (3.35 log reduction) in a human liver-chimeric uPA/SCID mouse model, and these effects were significantly increased when 23h was combined with tenofovir, a nucleotide analogue inhibitor of reverse transcriptase used for the treatment of HBV infection.

Percutaneous Trans-splenic Obliteration for Duodenal Variceal bleeding: A Case Report.

Duodenal varices are a serious complication of portal hypertension. Bleeding from duodenal varices is rare, but when bleeding does occur, it is massive and can be fatal. Unfortunately, the optimal therapeutic modality for duodenal variceal bleeding is unclear. This paper presents a patient with duodenal variceal bleeding that was managed successfully using percutaneous trans-splenic variceal obliteration (PTVO). A 56-year-old man with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis presented with a 6-day history of melena. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large, bluish mass with a nipple sign in the second portion of the duodenum. Coil embolization of the duodenal varix was performed via a trans-splenic approach (i.e., PTVO). The patient no longer complained of melena after treatment. The duodenal varix was no longer visible at the follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed three months after PTVO. The use of PTVO might be a viable option for the treatment of duodenal variceal bleeding.

Discovery and structure-activity relationships of pyrazolodiazepine derivatives as the first small molecule agonists of the Drosophila sex peptide receptor.

In behavioral research, the sex peptide receptor in Drosophila melanogaster (DrmSPR) is the most interesting G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and is involved in post-mating responses such as increased egg-laying and decreased receptivity of the female; during these responses, the receptors are activated by a specific natural peptide agonist (sex peptide, SP). To discover small molecule agonists for DrmSPR, a compound library based on a pyrazolodiazepine scaffold, which was previously reported as a potential privileged structure, was screened. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the hit compounds, which exhibited weak agonistic effects (69-72% activation at 100µM), were explored through the synthesis of various analogs with substituents at the R1, R2, R3 and R4 positions of the pyrazolodiazepine skeleton. As a result, compounds 21 and 31 of the 6-benzyl pyrazolodiazepine derivative series were found to be small molecule agonists for DrmSPR with EC50 values of 3-4µM.

Pheophorbide-a conjugates with cancer-targeting moieties for targeted photodynamic cancer therapy.

Pheophorbide-a, a non-selective photosensitizer, was conjugated with cancer-targeting moieties, such as folic acid, the CRGDLASLC peptide, the cRGDfK peptide and leuprorelin, for the purpose of targeted photodynamic cancer therapy. The cellular uptake of pheophorbide-a conjugates in cancer cells overexpressing the corresponding receptors of the targeting moieties was largely enhanced compared with that in the receptor-negative cells. In the study of in vitro photodynamic activity and selectivity of pheophorbide-a conjugates in the receptor-positive and receptor-negative cells, a pheophorbide-a conjugate, (14) with an αvß6 ligand (CRGDLASLC) exhibited the highest selectivity in the positive FaDu cells. Targeted PDT with 14 induced cell death through apoptosis and morphological apoptosis-like characteristics. These results suggest that pheophorbide-a conjugate 14 could be utilized in selective photodynamic therapy for oral cancers primarily expressing the αvß6 receptor.