2'-deoxy-4'-C-ethynyl-2-halo-adenosines active against drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants.

One of the formidable challenges in therapy of infections by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the emergence of drug-resistant variants that attenuate the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We have recently introduced 4'-ethynyl-nucleoside analogs as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) that could be developed as therapeutics for treatment of HIV infections. In this study, we present 2'-deoxy-4'-C-ethynyl-2-fluoroadenosine (EFdA), a second generation 4'-ethynyl inhibitor that exerted highly potent activity against wild-type HIV-1 (EC50 approximately 0.07 nM). EFdA retains potency toward many HIV-1 resistant strains, including the multi-drug resistant clone HIV-1A62V/V75I/F77L/F116Y/Q151M. The selectivity index of EFdA (cytotoxicity/inhibitory activity) is more favorable than all approved NRTIs used in HIV therapy. Furthermore, EFdA efficiently inhibited clinical isolates from patients heavily treated with multiple anti-HIV-1 drugs. EFdA appears to be primarily phosphorylated by the cellular 2'-deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) because: (a) the antiviral activity of EFdA was reduced by the addition of dC, which competes nucleosides phosphorylated by the dCK pathway, (b) the antiviral activity of EFdA was significantly reduced in dCK-deficient HT-1080/Ara-Cr cells, but restored after dCK transduction. Further, unlike other dA analogs, EFdA is completely resistant to degradation by adenosine deaminase. Moderate decrease in susceptibility to EFdA is conferred by a combination of three RT mutations (I142V, T165R, and M184V) that result in a significant decrease of viral fitness. Molecular modeling analysis suggests that the M184V/I substitutions may reduce anti-HIV activity of EFdA through steric hindrance between its 4'-ethynyl moiety and the V/I184 beta-branched side chains. The present data suggest that EFdA, is a promising candidate for developing as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of individuals harboring multi-drug resistant HIV variants.

Potential of 4'-C-substituted nucleosides for the treatment of HIV-1.

Extensive efforts have been made to identify nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Eight NRTIs have now been approved for clinical use; however, variants of HIV-1 resistant to these antiviral agents have emerged in patients even when they are treated with combinations [highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)]. Thus, the development of novel compounds that are active against drug-resistant HIV-1 variants and that prevent or delay the emergence of resistant HIV-1 variants is urgently needed. Previously, 4'-C-substituted nucleosides (4'-SNs) were designed as new types of NRTIs. They were synthesized and examined as potential therapeutic agents against HIV infection. Among them, several 4'-substituted-2'-deoxynucleosides (4'-SdNs), especially those that bear an ethynyl group, were shown to be active against various laboratory and clinical HIV-1 strains including known drug-resistant variants. These results were recently reported by our collaborators. In this review, we summarize the design, synthesis and demonstrations of the anti-HIV activity of 4'-SNs, and then consider 4'-SNs as potential therapeutic agents for HIV-1.

Attempt to reduce cytotoxicity by synthesizing the L-enantiomer of 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxypurine nucleosides as antiviral agents against HIV and HBV.

We investigated the potential of 4'-C-substituted nucleosides for the treatment of HIV-1 and HBV. Of the nucleosides we prepared, several 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxypurine nucleosides showed the most potent anti-HIV activity. However, two candidates, 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and 9-(2-deoxy-4-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-diaminopurine, were very toxic during in vivo study. On the other hand, lamivudine (3TC) is known to show remarkable activity against HIV and HBV with lower cytotoxicity. Therefore, we attempted to synthesize the L-enantiomer of 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxypurine nucleosides in 20-21 steps. These methods consisted of preparing 4-C-ethynyl-L-sugar, starting from D-arabinose and then condensing the L-sugar derivative with 2,6-diaminopurine. 4'-C-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyguanosine was also prepared by enzymatic deamination from the 2,6-diaminopurine derivative. The compounds' antiviral activity against HIV and HBV was then evaluated. Unfortunately, they demonstrated no activity and no cytotoxicity.

A Novel Synthesis of 2'-Modified 2'-Deoxy-4'-thiocytidines from D-Glucose(1).

Novel 2'-deoxycytidine antimetabolites, specifically several 2'-modified 2'-deoxy-4'-thiocytidines, were synthesized as potential new antineoplastic agents. Methyl 3-O-benzylxylofuranoside was converted to a 1,4-anhydro-4-thioarabitol 24. Protection of the primary alcohol of 24 gave a common intermediate (15) which was useful for the synthesis of various 2'-modified 2'-deoxy-4'-thionucleosides. Oxidation of the secondary hydroxyl group of 15, followed by the Wittig reaction or treatment with (diethylamido)sulfur trifluoride (DAST) produced 2-deoxy-2-methylene (26) and 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro (34) derivatives, respectively. Unique Pummerer-type glycosylation between the corresponding sulfoxides and trimethylsilylated N(4)-acetylcytosine produced 2'-deoxy-2'-methylene- (10) and 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-4'-thiocytidines (11). On the other hand, treatment of 15 with DAST introduced a fluorine atom with retention of the 2'-stereochemistry, yielding 40. In contrast, the Mitsunobu reaction of 3-O-benzoyl derivative 53 which was obtained from 15 in five steps, using diphenylphosphoryl azide gave azide derivative 54 with inverted stereochemistry. These derivatives were converted to the corresponding 1-O-acetyl derivatives via the usual Pummerer rearrangement, which were in turn used to synthesize 4'-thiocytidines 12 and 58. Among the 2'-modified 4'-thiocytidines obtained, 2'-methylene (10) and 2'-fluoro (12) derivatives were found to have potent antineoplastic properties in vitro.

Synthesis of 4'-C-ethynyl and 4'-C-cyano purine nucleosides from natural nucleosides and their anti-HIV activity.

Purine 2'-deoxynucleosides bearing an ethynyl or a cyano group at C-4' of the sugar moiety were synthesized from the corresponding 2'-deoxynucleosides. These compounds exhibited very potent anti-HIV activity, and remained active against drug resistant HIV strains.

Design, efficient synthesis, and anti-HIV activity of 4'-C-cyano- and 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides.

Some 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides showed the most potent anti-HIV activity among the series of 4'-C-substituted 2'-deoxynucleosides whose 4'-C-substituents were methyl, ethyl, ethynyl and so on. Our hypothesis is that the smaller the substituent at the C-4' position they have, the more acceptable biological activity they show. Thus, 4'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides, whose substituent is smaller than the ethynyl group, will have more potent antiviral activity. To prove our hypothesis, we planned to develop an efficient synthesis of 4'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides (4'-CNdNs) and 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxy purine nucleosides (4'-EdNs). Consequently, we succeeded in developing an efficient synthesis of six 2'-deoxy purine nucleosides bearing either a cyano or an ethynyl group at the C-4' position of the sugar moiety from 2'-deoxyadenosine and 2,6-diaminopurine 2'-deoxyriboside. Unfortunately, 4'-C-cyano derivatives showed lower activity against HIV-1, and two 4'-C-ethynyl derivatives suggested high toxicity in vivo.