Preparation and biological evaluation of a potential photoaffinity label for the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor.

Two aromatic azides (24 and 26) were prepared as potential photoaffinity probes for the PGH2/TXA2 receptor. The compounds are based on the well-characterized PGH2/TXA2 receptor antagonist 13-azaprostanoic acid, with the terminus of its lower side chain replaced with phenoxy (24) or benzyl (26) azide functionality. The two compounds were shown to irreversibly inhibit platelet function after photolysis and resuspension. However, of the two aromatic azides, only the benzyl derivative 26 appeared to be selective for the prostaglandin pathway. The latter compound was also prepared as the aromatic 125I (29) derivative, which may ultimately prove useful as a labeled probe for the identification and isolation of the putative TXA2/PGH2 receptor.

A photoaffinity label for the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor in human blood platelets.

A photoactive iodoarylazide derivative (I-APA-PhN3) of the competitive thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2) antagonist 13-azaprostanoic acid is evaluated. Upon photoactivation, the compound was found to inhibit specifically and irreversibly human platelet aggregation induced by the TXA2/PGH2 mimetic U46619. In receptor-binding studies using [3H]U46619, I-APA-PhN3 exhibited an IC50 of 300 nM for inhibition of U46619 binding. Photoactivation of I-APA-PhN3 resulted in an irreversible 58% reduction in specific binding of U46619. This compound and its corresponding ratio-iodinated form will prove to be useful tools for the isolation and purification of the TXA2/PGH2-binding protein in human platelets.

Characterization of U46619 binding in unactivated, intact human platelets and determination of binding site affinities of four TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists (13-APA, BM 13.177, ONO 3708 and SQ 29,548).

The binding of U46619 and the inhibition of this binding by four TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists (13-APA, BM 13.177, ONO 3708 and SQ 29,548) were studied in unactivated, intact human platelets. Washed platelets were equilibrated with [3H]-U46619 (5 nM) and the time course of binding determined. The receptor-specific binding reached equilibrium within 2-4 minutes, and could be displaced by addition of excess unlabelled ligand. Saturation of this binding was achieved at 750 nM. Scatchard transformation of the saturation binding curve yielded a single class of binding site with a Kd of 108 nM and Bmax of 360 fmole/10(8) platelets. When [3H]-U46619 (4 nM) was incubated with platelets in the presence of increasing concentrations of the antagonists, binding of U46619 was inhibited in a dose dependent manner. The potency series for inhibition of U46619 binding was: SQ 29,548 (IC50 = 7.9 nM) greater than ONO 3708 (IC50 = 38 nM) greater than BM 13.177 (IC50 = 0.91 microM) greater than 13-APA (IC50 = 6.2 microM). These findings are consistent with the notion that these compounds all act as competitive antagonists at the level of the platelet TXA2/PGH2 receptor.

Synthesis of [17,18-3H] trans-13-azaprostanoic acid. A labeled probe for the PGH2/TXA2 receptor.

Because of its highly unstable nature, TXA2, produced by platelet metabolism of arachidonic acid, does not lend itself to use as a receptor probe for its own receptor. As such, the stable TXA2/PGH2 antagonist, trans-13-azaprostanoic acid (trans-13-APA, 12b), was prepared as the [17, 18 3H] derivative [( 3H] trans-13-APA, 12c) to study this receptor and to better evaluate the mechanism of action of these azaprostanoids. Tritiated trans-13-APA, 12c, was prepared in nearly theoretical specific activity (57 Ci/mmole) from (17Z)-trans-13-azaprost-17-enoic acid (11b) by catalytic tritiation. The unsaturated 11b was prepared by condensation of cis-7-amino-3-heptene (8) with 2-(6-carboxyhexyl) cyclopentanone (9), NaBH4 reduction, chromatography, and hydrolysis of the trans isomer so isolated. The olefins 11a and b were also of biochemical interest because of the unsaturation in the lower side chain. The presence of similar unsaturation in PGH3(4) and TXA3 (3) renders these prostaglandins inactive as proaggregatory agents. Evaluation of the antiaggregatory activity of 11a and b indicated it to be about the same potency in inhibiting human platelet aggregation as the parent cis and trans-13-APAs, suggesting that introduction of a double bond at the 17 position in platelet prostaglandin antagonists is unlikely to result in enhanced antiplatelet activity.