Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-amino derivatives of benzimidazoquinoxaline, benzimidazoquinoline, and benzopyrazoloquinazoline as potent IKK inhibitors.

We have recently identified BMS-345541 (1) as a highly selective and potent inhibitor of IKK-2 (IC50 = 0.30 microM), which however was considerably less potent against IKK-1 (IC50 = 4.0 microM). In order to further explore the SAR around the imidazoquinoxaline tricyclic structure of 1, we prepared a series of tetracyclic analogues (7, 13, and 18). The synthesis and biological activities of these potent IKK inhibitors are described.

Collagen and aggrecan degradation is blocked in interleukin-1-treated cartilage explants by an inhibitor of IkappaB kinase through suppression of metalloproteinase expression.

It has previously been shown that BMS-345541 [4(2'-aminoethyl)amino-1,8-dimethylimidazo(1,2-a)quinoxaline], a highly-selective inhibitor of IkappaB kinase (IKK), blocks both inflammation and joint destruction in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Although this agent has been shown to inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent cytokine expression in mice, we examined whether the inhibitor directly inhibits cytokine-driven metalloproteinase expression and cartilage degradation. In SW-1353 human chondrosarcoma cells, BMS-345541 inhibited interleukin-1 (IL-1)-dependent expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 in a concentration-dependent manner. IL-1 treatment failed to induce and BMS-345541 did not inhibit the expression of aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain with thrombospondin motif) and ADAMTS-5, as well as the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3. In bovine cartilage explant cultures stimulated with IL-1 to induce aggrecan and collagen degradation over 3 weeks of culture, BMS-345541 was effective in inhibiting the degradation of both aggrecan and collagen. Secreted ADAMTS-4 was not inhibited by BMS-345541 in these explants, whereas ADAMTS-5 secretion was blocked in the same concentration range that inhibited aggrecan degradation. The ability of the IKK inhibitor to block aggrecan and collagen degradation through suppression of metalloproteinase expression, coupled with its ability to block inflammatory cytokine production, shows IKK to be a promising target for the development of novel agents to treat arthritic diseases.

BMS-345541 is a highly selective inhibitor of I kappa B kinase that binds at an allosteric site of the enzyme and blocks NF-kappa B-dependent transcription in mice.

The signal-inducible phosphorylation of serines 32 and 36 of I kappa B alpha is critical in regulating the subsequent ubiquitination and proteolysis of I kappa B alpha, which then releases NF-kappa B to promote gene transcription. The multisubunit I kappa B kinase responsible for this phosphorylation contains two catalytic subunits, termed I kappa B kinase (IKK)-1 and IKK-2. BMS-345541 (4(2'-aminoethyl)amino-1,8-dimethylimidazo(1,2-a)quinoxaline) was identified as a selective inhibitor of the catalytic subunits of IKK (IKK-2 IC(50) = 0.3 microm, IKK-1 IC(50) = 4 microm). The compound failed to inhibit a panel of 15 other kinases and selectively inhibited the stimulated phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha in cells (IC(50) = 4 microm) while failing to affect c-Jun and STAT3 phosphorylation, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 activation in cells. Consistent with the role of IKK/NF-kappa B in the regulation of cytokine transcription, BMS-345541 inhibited lipopolysaccharide-stimulated tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-8, and interleukin-6 in THP-1 cells with IC(50) values in the 1- to 5-microm range. Although a Dixon plot of the inhibition of IKK-2 by BMS-345541 showed a non-linear relationship indicating non-Michaelis-Menten kinetic binding, the use of multiple inhibition analyses indicated that BMS-345541 binds in a mutually exclusive manner with respect to a peptide inhibitor corresponding to amino acids 26-42 of I kappa B alpha with Ser-32 and Ser-36 changed to aspartates and in a non-mutually exclusive manner with respect to ADP. The opposite results were obtained when studying the binding to IKK-1. A binding model is proposed in which BMS-345541 binds to similar allosteric sites on IKK-1 and IKK-2, which then affects the active sites of the subunits differently. BMS-345541 was also shown to have excellent pharmacokinetics in mice, and peroral administration showed the compound to dose-dependently inhibit the production of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha following intraperitoneal challenge with lipopolysaccharide. Thus, the compound is effective against NF-kappa B activation in mice and represents an important tool for investigating the role of IKK in disease models.

Reductively activated disulfide prodrugs of paclitaxel.

A series of unsymmetrical polar disulfide prodrugs 2-5 of paclitaxel were designed and synthesized as reductively activated prodrugs. These compounds behaved as prodrugs in vitro on L2987 lung carcinoma cells. In vivo evaluation in mice demonstrated that the mutual prodrug 5 with captopril exhibited significant regressions and cures.

Discovery of N-[2-[2-[[3-methoxy-4-(5-oxazolyl)phenyl]amino]-5-oxazolyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-4- morpholineacetamide as a novel and potent inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase with excellent in vivo activity.

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme that is involved in the de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides. Novel 2-aminooxazoles were synthesized and tested for inhibition of IMPDH catalytic activity. Multiple analogues based on this chemotype were found to inhibit IMPDH with low nanomolar potency. One of the analogues (compound 23) showed excellent in vivo activity in the inhibition of antibody production in mice and in the adjuvant induced arthritis model in rats.