The squalestatins: novel inhibitors of squalene synthase. Enzyme inhibitory activities and in vivo evaluation of C1-modified analogues.

Squalestatin analogues modified in the C1 side chain were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit rat liver microsomal and Candida squalene synthase (SQS) in vitro. While maintaining the 4,6-dimethyloctenoate or 4,6-dimethyloctanoate ester groups at C6, a number of modifications to the C1 side chain were well tolerated. However, in the absence of the C6 ester group, similar modifications to the C1 side chain caused substantial loss of activity. Compounds were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in vivo in rats and to reduce serum cholesterol levels in marmosets. These studies revealed that compounds with similar SQS inhibitory activities can possess different in vivo durations of action and lipid-lowering abilities.

The squalestatins: inhibitors of squalene synthase. Enzyme inhibitory activities and in vivo evaluation of C3-modified analogues.

Squalestatin analogues modified at C3 were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit rat liver microsomal squalene synthase in vitro. While the 4,6-dimethyloctenoate ester group at C6 was maintained, a number of modifications to the C3 carboxylic acid were well tolerated. However, in the absence of the C6 ester group, similar modifications to the C3 carboxyl group caused loss of activity. Selected compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in vivo in rats 1 and 6 h postadministration. Analogues of squalestatin 1 (S1) modified at C3 were found to possess a shorter duration of effect in vivo which is reflected in their substantially reduced ability to lower serum cholesterol levels in marmosets. Significant cholesterol lowering (up to 62%) for the C3 hydroxymethyl analogue 1b was observed only when this compound was dosed three times a day for 3 days.

The squalestatins: decarboxy and 4-deoxy analogues as potent squalene synthase inhibitors.

Squalestatins without either the hydroxy group at C-4 or the carboxylic acid at C-3 or C-4 were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit rat liver microsomal squalene synthase (SQS) in vitro. These modifications were well tolerated for compounds with the 4,6-dimethyloctenoate ester at C-6 (S1 series). However in analogues without the C-6 ester (H1 series), removal of the C-4 hydroxy group gave compounds with reduced potency, whereas decarboxylation at C-3 resulted in a dramatic loss of SQS inhibitory activity. In comparison with S1 1, C-4 deoxyS1 3 and C-3 decarboxyS1 10 have shorter in vivo durations of action on the inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis in rats. C-4 deoxyS1 3 retains good serum cholesterol-lowering ability in marmosets, while C-3 decarboxyS1 10 showed only a marginal effect even at high dose.

Novel glucocorticoid antedrugs possessing a 17beta-(gamma-lactone) ring.

The chemical synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a novel series of 17beta-glucocorticoid butyrolactones possessing either a 16alpha,17alpha-isopropylidene or -butylidene group are described. The sulfur-linked gamma-lactone group was incorporated onto the 17beta-position of the androstane nucleus via Barton ester decarboxylation and trapping the generated 17-radical with butyrolactone disulfides. The glucocorticoid butyrolactones were hydrolyzed in human plasma by the enzyme paraoxonase to the respective hydroxy acids, which were very weak glucocorticoid agonists. The rate of hydrolysis in plasma was very rapid (t1/2 = 4-5 min) in the case of lactones possessing a sulfur atom in the alpha-position of the butyrolactone group, whereas carbon-linked lactones were stable in plasma. 16alpha,17alpha-Butylidenes were more potent glucocorticoid agonists than the corresponding isopropylidene derivatives. Similarly, 1,4-dien-3-ones were more potent than the corresponding 4-en-3-ones. The butyrolactones linked to the steroidal nucleus via the beta-position were more potent glucocorticoid agonists than those linked through the alpha-position of the lactone. The most potent compounds were also shown to be stable in human lung S9 fraction, showed much lower systemic effects than budesonide in the thymus involution test, and possessed topical antiinflammatory activity in the rat ear edema model.

Effect of cimetidine on intestinal absorption & digestive functions in mice.

Oral administration of cimetidine, an antiulcerogenic drug, at a dose of 100 mg per kg body weight in mice, caused significant inhibition of glucose and amino acid uptake in small intestinal segments either after 2 and 24 h (single treatment) or 15 days (daily). Cimetidine also caused a significant decrease in intestinal brush border membrane associated enzymes, sucrase, lactase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase, but increases the activity of leucine aminopeptidase. Kinetic analysis indicated that cimetidine decreased the maximum of apparent initial enzyme velocity (Vmax) of disaccharidases, while substrate affinity constant (Km) was not altered, indicating the noncompetitive nature of inhibition. However, the inhibition of alkaline phosphatase was found to be of mixed type as both Km and Vmax were altered. In vitro addition of cimetidine also produced significant inhibition of enzymes, the inhibition constant (Ki) for sucrase, lactase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase being 22.8, 4.5, 11.5 and 4.8 mM, respectively. It was further observed that in vitro addition of cimetidine also decreased Vmax in case of maltase, sucrase and lactase, Km was unchanged, whereas in case of alkaline phosphatase there was a decrease in Vmax and increase in Km, as compared to the controls.

Interaction of H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine with microsomal drug metabolizing and other systems in liver.

Cimetidine has been demonstrated to impair microsomal oxidative drug metabolizing and other enzyme systems in mouse liver. The inhibition is rapid, occurring after a single administration and also found to be dose-dependent. It is more significant after daily administration for 15 days. Enzyme inhibition by ranitidine, another H2-receptor antagonist was comparatively less at all the concentrations of the drug tested. An increased activity of alkaline phosphatase, glutamate-pyruvate and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase was observed in liver with cimetidine administration, whereas that of lactate and succinate dehydrogenase was inhibited only after administration of 2000 mg cimetidine per kg body weight. Except alkaline phosphatase other enzymes were unaffected after ranitidine administration. Analysis of lipid classes in liver showed that phospholipid, triglycerides and free fatty acid contents were significantly decreased in drug administration while cholesterol level showed very little or no change. Microsomal and soluble protein contents were significantly increased which probably indicate that the inhibition in the enzyme activity by histamine H2-receptor antagonists may be a lipid mediated process and not resulted from the reduced availability of the enzyme protein.

Effect of H2-receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine on reproductive functions in male mice.

Na+,K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase in testis were inhibited with an oral administration of cimetidine and ranitidine. Cimetidine at dose level of 100 and 30 mg while ranitidine at 70 and 10 mg per kg body wt inhibited the enzyme activities, 24 hr after single administration or daily administration for 15-days. Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was increased with cimetidine while ranitidine inhibited the enzyme. Michaelis-Menten kinetic characteristics revealed mixed type of inhibition for Na+,K(+)-ATPase with cimetidine, whereas it was noncompetitive for Ca(2+)-ATPase with cimetidine as well as ranitidine administration. Inhibition of Na+,K(+)-ATPase with ranitidine was also of noncompetitive type. Mg(2+)-ATPase behaved differently with administration of ranitidine at both the time points used i.e. noncompetitive type of inhibition after 24 hr and mixed type after 15-days. Histologically, signs of degeneration of testicular elements appeared after administration of cimetidine with a significant decrease in tubular diameter and germinal epithelial cell height. Ranitidine administration did not produce any change in the seminiferous tubules of testis. Scanning electron microscopy of spermatozoa from cimetidine-treated mice exhibited distinct departure from the normal morphology such as, (i) breaks at various places along distal portion of the tail, (ii) roughening, wrinkling and disorganization of plasma membrane of the head region, (iii) decapitation of the head and (iv) changes in shape of cytoplasmic droplet. Ranitidine administration showed normal morphology of the spermatozoa.

Effect of antiulcerogenic drug, ranitidine, on intestinal absorption and digestive functions in mice.

Oral administration of antiulcerogenic drug ranitidine significantly inhibits glucose and amino acid uptake in small intestinal segments. It also inhibits activities of brush border membrane disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase but increases the activity of leucine aminopeptidase. Kinetic analysis reveals noncompetitive and mixed type of inhibition for disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. In vitro addition of the drug to membrane preparation shows similar type of results as seen in vivo with the inhibition constant (ki) for sucrase, lactase, maltase and alkaline phosphatase as 12.5, 5, 11.5 and 19.5 mM, respectively.

Effect of ethambutol on the phospholipids of ethambutol susceptible and resistant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 607.

Effect of ethambutol (EMB) on phospholipid composition and metabolism of EMB-susceptible and EMB-resistant strains of M. smegmatis ATCC 607 was studied. Treatment with ethambutol had different effect in both the strains resulting in decreased total phospholipid and cardiolipin content in EMB-susceptible strain and increased content in EMB-resistant strain, with no effect on fatty acyl group composition. These changes were further corroborated by the use of [1-14C]sodium acetate in these studies.

Cell wall and membrane changes associated with ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra.

Biochemical variations accompanying the acquisition of ethambutol (EMB) resistance in a single-step mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra were analyzed. Comparative analysis of phospholipids revealed a reduced content in the EMB-resistant strain, particularly in the cell membrane fraction. Significant alterations were observed in the individual phospholipid content and phospholipid fatty acyl group composition of whole cells and subcellular fractions. Quantitative changes were seen in the chemical constituents of the cell walls of resistant cultures in comparison with those of EMB-susceptible cultures of M. tuberculosis. Alterations in the binding of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate to whole cells of an EMB-resistant strain indicated structural changes on the cell surface. Structural changes in the cell wall may play an important role in the resistance of M. tuberculosis H37Ra to EMB.

Depression of membrane-bound hydrolases by cimetidine in mouse renal basolateral and brush border.

Oral administration of the antiulcerogenic drug, cimetidine, was studied on kidney-bound hydrolytic enzymes at three different dose levels (30 mg, 100 mg, and 2000 mg/kg body weight) and for single administration for 2 and 24 h, and daily administration for 15 days in mice. It significantly inhibited Na+, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase, and Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase in the isolated basolateral membrane (BLM). Brush-border-membrane-(BBM)-associated enzymes, sucrase, lactase, maltase, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase also showed a marked reduction. Substrate saturation kinetics revealed the nature of inhibition was of mixed type in the case of sucrase, lactase, maltase, and alkaline phosphatase (Km was increased, while Vmax decreased), whereas it was of non-competitive type for leucine aminopeptidase (Km was unchanged, while Vmax decreased). In vitro addition of cimetidine (5-20 mM) to the BBM also inhibited the enzyme activity. Dixon plot produced the inhibition constant (Ki) for cimetidine in the case of maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase in the order of 14.83, 32.83 and 11.5 mM, respectively. Analysis of lipids revealed a significant reduction in BBM-associated phospholipid and phospholipid/cholesterol molar ratio, while the neutral lipid fraction, i.e., cholesterol and triglycerides were not altered. Free fatty acid exhibited an increase after drug treatment, which was significant at higher dose after 24 h of single and 15 days of daily treatment. BLM-associated lipids did not exhibit any significant change. Cimetidine-induced depression in renal BLM- and BBM-associated disaccharidases and ATPases, at least at the higher dose level, may have serious consequences in the absorption of end-product nutrients.

Effect of histamine H2-receptor antagonist, ranitidine on renal brush border and basolateral membranes.

The antiulcerogenic drug ranitidine, given orally to mice, brought about reductions of kidney-bound hydrolytic enzymes at three different dose levels, viz. 10 mg, 100 mg, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, and for three different time points (single administration for 2 h and 24 h, and daily administration for 15 days). The activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-ATPase, and Mg2(+)-ATPase (marker enzymes of basolateral membranes) were reduced, and these reductions were significant at higher doses and after a 24-h single treatment or 15 days' daily treatment. Maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase (marker enzymes of brush border membrane [BBM]) activities were significantly inhibited after ranitidine treatment. Kinetic analysis of BBM-associated enzymes indicated that ranitidine decreased the maximum of apparent initial enzyme velocity (Vmax) of maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase. The substrate affinity constant (Km) was decreased in the case of alkaline phosphatase and maltase, while it was not altered in the case of leucine aminopeptidase. In vitro addition of ranitidine to renal BBM also produced significant inhibition of these enzymes, the inhibition constants (Ki) for maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase being 7.5, 15.5, and 3.5 mM, respectively. Membrane-bound lipid estimation showed a significant increase in phospholipids, triglycerides, and free fatty acids. Cholesterol, however, was decreased in both renal basolateral and brush border membranes.