Interspecies Comparisons of the Effects of Potential Antiviral 3-Amidinophenylalanine Derivatives on Cytochrome P450 1A2 Isoenzyme.

In vitro models of animals vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection can support the characterization of effective antiviral drugs, such as synthetic inhibitors of the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Changes in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 activities in the presence of the potential TMPRSS2/matriptase inhibitors (MI) were measured using fluorometric and luminescent assays. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these inhibitors was evaluated using the MTS method. In addition, 60 min-long microsomal stability assays were performed using an UPLC-MS/MS procedure to elucidate depletion rates of the inhibitors. CYP1A2 was influenced significantly by MI-463 and MI-1900 in rat microsomes, by MI-432 and MI-482 in beagle microsomes, and by MI-432, MI-463, MI-482, and MI-1900 in cynomolgus monkey microsomes. The IC50 values in monkey microsomes were 1.30 ± 0.14 µM, 2.4 ± 1.4 µM, 0.21 ± 0.09 µM, and 1.1 ± 0.8 µM for inhibitors MI-432, MI-463, MI-482, and MI-1900, respectively. The depletion rates of the parent compounds were lower than 50%, independently of the investigated animal species. The host cell factor TMPRSS2 is of key importance for the cross-species spread of SARS-CoV-2. Studies of the in vitro biotransformation of TMPRSS2 inhibitors provide additional information for the development of new antiviral drugs.

In vitro interaction of potential antiviral TMPRSS2 inhibitors with human serum albumin and cytochrome P 450 isoenzymes.

The interactions of four sulfonylated Phe(3-Am)-derived inhibitors (MI-432, MI-463, MI-482 and MI-1900) of type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSP) such as transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) were examined with serum albumin and cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes. Complex formation with albumin was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, microsomal hepatic CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19 and 3A4 activities in presence of these inhibitors were determined using fluorometric assays. The inhibitory effects of these compounds on human recombinant CYP3A4 enzyme were also examined. In addition, microsomal stability assays (60-min long) were performed using an UPLC-MS/MS method to determine depletion percentage values of each compound. The inhibitors showed no or only weak interactions with albumin, and did not inhibit CYP1A2, 2C9 and 2C19. However, the compounds tested proved to be potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 in both assays performed. Within one hour, 20%, 12%, 14% and 25% of inhibitors MI-432, MI-463, MI-482 and MI-1900, respectively, were degraded. As essential host cell factor for the replication of the pandemic SARS-CoV-2, the TTSP TMPRSS2 emerged as an important target in drug design. Our study provides further preclinical data on the characterization of this type of inhibitors for numerous trypsin-like serine proteases.

Pharmacokinetics of Two Chlorine-Substituted Bis-Pyridinium Mono-Aldoximes with Regenerating Effect on Butyrylcholinesterase.

Our aim was to find chlorine-substituted antidotes against organophosphate poisoning and compare their pharmacokinetics to their parent compound, K-203. White male Wistar rats were intramuscularly injected with K-203, K-867 or K-870. Serum, brain, kidneys, liver, lung, eyes, and testes tissues were taken after 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min and analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. K-203, K-867, or K-870 was present in every tissue that was analyzed, including the serum, the eyes, testes, liver, kidneys, lungs, and the brain. The serum levels of K-867 and K-870 (chlorine-substituted derivatives of K-203) were nearly constant between 15 and 30 min, while their parent compound (K-203) showed peak level at 15 min after the administration of 30 µmol/rat. Neither K-203, nor K-867 or K-870 were toxic at a dose of 100 µmol/200 g in rats. Chlorine-substitution of K-867 and K-870 produced limited absorbance and distribution compared to their parent compound, K203.