2,2'-Dithiobisbenzamides derived from alpha-, beta- and gamma-amino acids possessing anti-HIV activities: synthesis and structure-activity relationship.

Nucleocapsid protein (NCp7), which contains highly conserved retroviral zinc fingers, is essential in the early as well as the late phase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle and constitutes a novel target for AIDS therapy. HIV-1 NCp7 is a basic 55 amino acid protein containing two C(X)2C(X)4H(X)4C motif zinc fingers flanked by basic amino acids on each side. 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides have previously been reported to release zinc from these NCp7 zinc fingers and also to inhibit HIV replication. Specifically, 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides derived from simple amino acids showed good antiviral activities. The benzisothiazolone 3, the cyclic derivative of 2, was selected for clinical trials as an agent for AIDS therapy. Herein we report the syntheses and antiviral activities, including therapeutic indices, of 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides derived from alpha-, beta- and gamma-amino acids. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to study the zinc-ejection activity of these compounds. Among the alpha-amino acid derived 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides, analogues containing alkyl side chains were found to be antivirally active with good therapeutic indices. 2,2'-Dithiobisbenzamides, derived from beta- and gamma-amino acids, were found to possess better antiviral and therapeutic efficacies than the alpha-amino acid analogues. Thus compound 59 was found to possess an EC50 of 1.9 microM with a therapeutic index of > 50. Interestingly, 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides derived from alpha-amino acids containing a protected acid function and polar side chains also exhibited very good antiviral activity.

A new class of anti-HIV-1 agents targeted toward the nucleocapsid protein NCp7: the 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides.

As part of the National Cancer Institute's Drug Screening Program, a new class of antiretrovirals active against the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 has been identified, and the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein NCp7 was proposed as the target of antiviral action. The 2,2'-dithiobis-[4'-(sulfamoyl)benzanilide] (3x) and the 2,2'-dithiobis(5-acetylamino)benzamide (10) represented the prototypic lead structures. A wide variety of 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides were prepared and tested for anti-HIV-1 activity, cytotoxicity, and their ability to extrude zinc from the zinc fingers for NCp7. The structure-activity relationships demonstrated that the ability to extrude zinc from NCp7 resided in the 2,2'-dithiobisbenzamide core structure. The 3,3' and the 4,4' isomers were inactive. While many analogs based upon the core structure retained the zinc extrusion activity, the best overall anti-HIV-1 activity was only found in a narrow set of derivatives possessing carboxylic acid, carboxamide, or phenylsulfonamide functional groups. These functional groups were more important for reducing cytotoxicity than improving antiviral potency or activity vs NCp7. All of the compounds with antiviral activity also extruded zinc from NCp7. From this study several classes of low microM anti-HIV agents with simple chemical structures were identified as possible chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of AIDS.

Pharmacologic/pharmacokinetic evaluation of emesis induced by analogs of RSU 1069 and its control by antiemetic agents.

RB 6145, the ring-opened analog of RSU 1069, and PD 130908, the desoxy ring-opened analog of RSU 1069, were compared to RSU 1069 for their emetic potential in dogs. When RB 6145 and PD 130908 were administered intravenously at doses ranging from 20% to 50% of the mouse equivalent maximum tolerated dose (MTD), both analogs were less emetic than RSU 1069 on a molar basis. Furthermore, the 5HT3 antagonist ondansetron prevented emesis at doses as high as 75% of the MTD. The reactivity, and hence the emetic liability of these compounds, is thought to be mediated by formation of the corresponding aziridine intermediate. In mouse plasma, both analogs rapidly converted to two products, the reactive aziridine and a stable oxiazolidinone species formed upon reaction with bicarbonate in the blood. A positive correlation exists between the amounts of aziridine formed by these analogs and their emetic potential.

A new class of analogues of the bifunctional radiosensitizer alpha-(1-aziridinylmethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069): the cycloalkylaziridines.

A series of compounds related to alpha-(1-aziridinylmethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069, 1) were synthesized and evaluated as selective hypoxic cell cytotoxic agents and as radiosensitizers. The aziridine moiety was replaced with a number of other potential alkylating groups including cycloalkylaziridines and azetidines. The data indicated that modification of the aziridine of 1 resulted in a substantial decrease in the ability of the compounds to selectively kill hypoxic cells. However, these modifications did not affect the compounds' in vitro radiosensitizing activity since many of the derivatives were as potent as 1. All of the compounds that were evaluated in vivo were less toxic than 1, and several members of this series had significant activity. The best compound was trans-alpha-[[(4-bromotetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-yl) amino]methyl]-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (18), which, due to its activity and log P value, is a candidate for additional in vivo studies.

Synthesis and evaluation of alpha-[[(2-haloethyl)amino]methyl]-2- nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanols as prodrugs of alpha-[(1-aziridinyl)methyl]-2- nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU-1069) and its analogues which are radiosensitizers and bioreductively activated cytotoxins.

alpha-[(1-Aziridinyl)methyl]-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanols, of general formula ImCH2CH(OH)CH2NCR1R2CR3R4, where Im = 2-nitroimidazole and R1, R2, R3, R4 = H, Me, are radiosensitizers and selective bioreductively activated cytotoxins toward hypoxic tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of the aziridines with hydrogen halide in acetone or aqueous acetone gave the corresponding 2-haloethylamines of general formula ImCH2CH(OH)CH2(+)-NH2CR1R2CR3R4X X-, where R1, R2, R3, R4 = H, Me, and X = F, Cl, Br, I. These 2-haloethylamines were evaluated as prodrugs of the parent aziridines. The rates of ring closure in aqueous solution at pH approximately 6 were found to increase with increasing methyl substitution and to depend on the nature of the leaving group (I approximately Br greater than Cl much greater than F). A competing reaction of ImCH2CH(OH)CH2+NH2CH2CH2X X- (X = Cl, Br) with aqueous HCO3- ions gives 3-[2-hyroxy-3-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl]-2-oxazolidinone. The activities of these prodrugs as radiosensitizers or as bioreductively activated cytotoxins were consistent with the proportion converted to the parent aziridine during the course of the experiment. alpha-[[(2-Bromoethyl)amino]methyl]-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1- ethanol (RB 6145, 10), the prodrug of alpha-[(1-aziridinyl)methyl]-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU-1069, 3), is identified as the most useful compound in terms of biological activity and rate of ring closure under physiological conditions.

Protection of cotton rats against human respiratory syncytial virus by vaccination with a novel chimeric FG glycoprotein.

The cotton rat model of experimental human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection was used to study the efficacy of FG, a novel chimeric glycoprotein which was expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus vector. FG contained the extracellular regions of the F (fusion) and G (attachment) glycoproteins of RSV. Vaccination with FG resulted in induction of neutralizing antibody and was correlated with protection of lung tissue from RSV challenge against both serogroup A and B virus strains. Both crude FG taken from supernatants of insect cells and affinity-purified FG were immunogenic and active against RSV. FG vaccination was effective by three routes of administration, following a single dose, and when administered with different adjuvants.