1,3-Diaryl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindole derivatives: a new series of potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors in which a sulfonyl group is not a structural requisite.

Novel tetrahydro-2H-isoindoles have been prepared and evaluated as inhibitors of the COX-2 isoenzyme. A 1,3-diaryl substitution on the central polycyclic ring system and absence of a sulfonyl moiety are the two structural features of this chemical series. A short and easy synthetic pathway produced several derivatives which were shown to be potent and selective COX-2 vs COX-1 inhibitors (IC(50) = 0. 6-100 nM for COX-2, 100->1000 nM for COX-1). Structural modifications established that a bicyclic ring appended to the pyrrole nucleus and 4,4'-difluoro substitution on the phenyl rings were optimal for high inhibitory potency. Activity was confirmed in the human whole blood assay and subsequently in the murine air-pouch model in which in vivo PGE2 inhibitory activity was evaluated with respect to gastric tolerance (ED(50) for inhibition of exudate PGE2 of 3 mg/kg and gastric PGE2 of 20 mg/kg). Gastric tolerance was further assessed after administration to mice of high doses (up to 400 mg/kg) of the inhibitors by measurement of gastric damage. This panel of studies allowed selection of a number of tetrahydro-2H-isoindoles which were compared in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Compounds 32 and 37 showed the most potent activity with ED(50) values for edema inhibition in the noninjected paw of 0. 35 and 0.15 mg/kg/day, respectively, after oral administration. In addition, this interesting antiinflammatory profile was accompanied by a protective effect against arthritis-induced osteopenia, the decrease being 50% with a dose of 0.25 mg/kg/day.

Dual inhibition of human leukocyte elastase and lipid peroxidation: in vitro and in vivo activities of azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and perhydroindole derivatives.

A series of potent and selective human leukocyte elastase (HLE) inhibitors of the Val-Pro-Val type has been developed. Initially, the central proline residue was replaced by nonnatural amino acids Phi ((2S,3aS,7aS)-perhydroindole-2-carboxylic acid) and Abo ((3S)-2-azabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane-3-carboxylic acid), and secondly several groups able to confer antioxidant properties to the molecule were introduced at the lipophilic N-terminal side chain. When compared to reference inhibitors, in vitro HLE inhibitory potency was maintained (10-100 nM) both with compounds containing the antioxidant moiety at the end of the N-terminal side chain and with compounds in which the N-terminal valine of the tripeptidic sequence had been replaced by a epsilon-substituted lysine. The lipidic peroxidation inhibitory potency of this series of inhibitors was found to be similar to that of the reference antioxidant compounds (around 1 microM). Moreover, HLE-induced hemorrhage in the hamster lung was effectively prevented (40-60% at 15 micrograms/kg) by most of the inhibitors tested when administered intratracheally 3 h before instillation of elastase. Among the most active analogs, compounds 11a,c,g were still active when administered 18 h before elastase. Interestingly, compound 14a was able to prevent HLE-mediated lung damage when administered 72 h prior to enzymatic challenge, indicating exceptional stability and retention in the lung. Finally, in a 14-day chronic model of emphysema in the hamster, 14a significantly conserved alveolar spaces, a marker of lung tissue destruction, and was more potent than reference inhibitor ICI 200 880. This indicates that addition of peroxidation inhibitory properties to an HLE inhibitor can provide a powerful in vivo inhibitor of pulmonary tissue destruction.

Configuration and preferential solid-state conformations of perindoprilat (S-9780). Comparison with the crystal structures of other ACE inhibitors and conclusions related to structure-activity relationships.

The conformation of perindoprilat, an antihypertensive drug, is studied in the solid state by X-ray analysis. The resolution of its structure reveals important analogies between its observed conformation and that of several ACE inhibitors of the same family. This comparison points out a constant relative orientation of the functional groups, regardless of the molecular environment. This angular constancy appears to us as not being accidental and is a good argument for the spatial design of the ACE binding site. Although ACE is a carboxydipeptidase, the binding site may not contain two but one unique hydrophobic pocket receiving the C-terminal end of the inhibitors.

New prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors: in vitro and in vivo activities of azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, and perhydroindole derivatives.

A series of potent and selective prolylendopeptidase (PEP) inhibitors of the alpha-keto heterocyclic type has been obtained by replacing the classical central proline of 1-[1-(4-phenylbutanoyl)-L-prolyl]pyrrolidine (SUAM 1221,3) by non-natural amino acids PHI, ABO, and ABH. These 4-phenylbutanoyl side-chain-containing inhibitors exhibited potent in vitro inhibitory potencies with IC50 around 30 nM (compounds 24 and 25). Modulation of the side chain by replacement of the terminal phenyl ring by the dicyclopropyl moiety afforded derivatives 30 and 32 with improved potencies (IC50 between 10 and 20 nM). Furthermore, replacing the linear 4-phenylbutanoyl side chain by the (2-phenylcyclopropyl)carbonyl entity provided potent inhibitors with IC50 culminating at 0.9 nM on a rat cortex enzymatic preparation (compound 70). The configuration of the cyclopropyl ring had to be R,R in order to obtain not only a strong PEP inhibition in vitro but also a good activity in vivo, exemplified by inhibitor 68, which gave ID50 ip and po of 0.3 and 1 mg/kg, respectively. Finally, demonstration of the cognition-enhancing properties of compound 54 was given in the passive avoidance test using scopolamine-induced amnesia in the rat, where it dose dependently inhibited the scopolamine-induced decrease in avoidance response.

Disease-modifying anti-osteoarthritic drugs: current therapies and new prospects around protease inhibition.

Although osteoarthritis is commonly found in the elderly, the pathophysiological mechanisms of this degenerative disease are still poorly understood. Among the many factors leading to cartilage degradation, the proteolytic activity of a panel of enzymes seems to play a major role, leading to the cleavage of collagen and proteoglycans, the two main components of cartilagenous matrix. Aspartic, cysteine, serine and metalloproteases have been detected in or around the osteoarthritic articulation and their enzymatic activity is reviewed here. The cartilage-sparing properties of the respective inhibitors are listed, giving rise to the hypothesis that some of these compounds could be developed as chondroprotective agents.

Biguanide derivatives: agonist pharmacology at 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptors in vitro.

The effects of 24 biguanide and four guanidine derivatives on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)3 receptors in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells were examined using radioligand binding and whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Displacement of the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [3H]BRL 43694 by phenylbiguanide (PBG) derivatives revealed Ki values ranging from 3.4 x 10(-4) to 4.4 x 10(-10) M. The rank order of potency of agonists was 2,3,5-trichloro-PBG > 2,3-dichloro-PBG = 2,5-dichloro-PBG = 3,5-dichloro-PBG > 3,4-dichloro-PBG = 3-chloro-PBG > 2-chloro-PBG = 4-chloro-PBG = 2-methyl-PBG = 2,4-difluoro-PBG > PBG = 2-trifluoro-5-chloro-PBG > 4-fluoro-PBG = 3-trifluoromethyl-PBG > 4-nitro-PBG = 1,5-bis-4-chloro-PBG = 3,5-ditrifluoromethyl-PBG > 4-ethoxy-PBG >> 4-sulfonic acid-PBG. All of the benzylbiguanides and indanylbiguanide were inactive on [3H]BRL 43694 binding or displaced it only weakly. The four guanidine derivatives were quite inactive. In the PBG series, all antagonist competition curves were steep (pseudo-Hill coefficients ranging from 1.05 to 1.58), monophasic, and best fit with a one-site model. Among PBG derivatives, the chlorinated compounds exhibited a good degree of selectivity for 5-HT3 receptors versus other 5-HT receptor subtypes and other neurotransmitter binding sites. Electrophysiological studies showed that the PBG derivatives tested produced rapid inward currents, at a holding potential of -65 mV, that showed rapid desensitization. The current induced by the 2,3,5-trichloro-PBG derivative was inhibited by the specific 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ICS 205-930 but was unaffected by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin. Analysis of concentration-response curves for the PBG derivatives gave EC50 values ranging from 2.2 x 10(-5) to 2.7 x 10(-8) M and Hill slopes ranging from 1.02 to 2.10. The rank order of potency was similar to that obtained from the binding data, and a good correlation was found between Ki and EC50 values. It is concluded that the triple-chloro substitution yielded a compound that is 30-fold more potent than 3-chloro-PBG and approximately 10-fold more potent than dichloro-PBG derivatives, making 2,3,5-trichloro-PBG the most potent 5-HT3 agonist described thus far.

In vivo immunopharmacological properties of tuftsin and four analogs.

Four analogs of the natural macrophage-activator peptide tuftsin (T-K-P-R) were synthesized with the aim of obtaining compounds more effective in the stimulation of the immune system than tuftsin. Modifications to the parent tuftsin molecule were (i) substitution of the proline (P) residue, and/or (ii) replacement of the N-terminal residue threonine (T). The study presented here shows that the integrity of the NH2 terminus is not mandatory for a full biological tuftsin-like activity. Our data also suggest that the analogue F-(psi)-K-ABO-R, where ABO is a non-natural amino acid, is a promising agent for immunotherapy of infectious and neoplasic diseases for which tuftsin has already demonstrated some efficacy.

New tripeptidic thrombin inhibitors. Influence of P2 and P3 residues on activity and selectivity.

Structural variations of P2 and P3 residues in tripeptidic boroarginine thrombin inhibitors led to compounds with similar potency than reference compound DuP 714, but with enhanced selectivity for thrombin compared to plasmin.

Synthesis and ACE inhibitory activity of the stereoisomers of perindopril (S 9490) and perindoprilate (S 9780).

Perindopril, a powerful ACE inhibitor contains 5 chiral carbons, thus there is the possibility of 2(5) = 32 stereoisomers for the general structure 1. These 32 stereoisomers were synthesized by cross-coupling the 8 stereoisomers of perhydroindole 2-carboxylic acid benzylester with the 4 stereoisomers of 2-(1-carbethoxybutylamino) propionic acid 4, then hydrogenating the resulting benzylesters. Each stereoisomer of perindopril furnished by saponification the corresponding diacid stereoisomer 2 of perindoprilate which is the active form of perindopril. For each of the 32 stereoisomers 2 the in vitro ACE inhibitory potency (IC50) was determined. Four of them, including perindoprilate, had activities in the nanomolar range, and four more were ca. 10 x less active. The four acid esters 1 corresponding respectively to the four most active diacids 2 in vitro were studied (1 mg/kg via the oral route) for their in vivo activity in dogs. It could be concluded that p.o. absorption of the active acid esters 1 and their activation to the active diacid 2 depended only on the chiralities of the two ring junction carbons of the perhydroindole ring.