Ligand based design of novel histamine H4 receptor antagonists; fragment optimization and analysis of binding kinetics.

The histamine H(4) receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that has attracted much interest for its role in inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. In our search for new H(4)R ligands, a low affinity isoquinoline fragment was optimized to 7-(furan-2-yl)-4-(piperazin-1-yl)quinazolin-2-amine (VUF11489), as a new H(4)R antagonist. Analysis of its binding kinetics at the human H(4)R showed this compound to have a very different dissociative half-life in comparison with reference antagonist JNJ7777120.

Fragment library screening reveals remarkable similarities between the G protein-coupled receptor histamine H4 and the ion channel serotonin 5-HT3A.

A fragment library was screened against the G protein-coupled histamine H(4) receptor (H(4)R) and the ligand-gated ion channel serotonin 5-HT(3A) (5-HT(3A)R). Interestingly, significant overlap was found between H(4)R and 5-HT(3A)R hit sets. The data indicates that dual active H(4)R and 5 HT(3A)R fragments have a higher complexity than the selective compounds which has important implications for chemical genomics approaches. The results of our fragment-based library screening study illustrate similarities in ligand recognition between H(4)R and 5-HT(3A)R and have important consequences for selectivity profiling in ongoing drug discovery efforts on H(4)R and 5-HT(3A)R. The affinity profiles of our fragment screening studies furthermore match the chemical properties of the H(4)R and 5-HT(3A)R binding sites and can be used to define molecular interaction fingerprints to guide the in silico prediction of protein-ligand interactions and structure.

Clobenpropit analogs as dual activity ligands for the histamine H3 and H4 receptors: synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and cross-target QSAR studies.

Previous studies have demonstrated that clobenpropit (N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-S-[3-(4(5)-imidazolyl)propyl]isothiourea) binds to both the human histamine H(3) receptor (H(3)R) and H(4) receptor (H(4)R). In this paper, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a series of clobenpropit analogs, which vary in the functional group adjacent to the isothiourea moiety in order to study structural requirements for H(3)R and H(4)R ligands. The compounds show moderate to high affinity for both the human H(3)R and H(4)R. Furthermore, the changes in the functional group attached to the isothiourea moiety modulate the intrinsic activity of the ligands at the H(4)R, ranging from neutral antagonism to full agonism. QSAR models have been generated in order to explain the H(3)R and H(4)R affinities.

Cloning and characterization of dominant negative splice variants of the human histamine H4 receptor.

The H(4)R (histamine H(4) receptor) is the latest identified member of the histamine receptor subfamily of GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors) with potential functional implications in inflammatory diseases and cancer. The H(4)R is primarily expressed in eosinophils and mast cells and has the highest homology with the H(3)R. The occurrence of at least twenty different hH(3)R (human H(3)R) isoforms led us to investigate the possible existence of H(4)R splice variants. In the present paper, we report on the cloning of the first two alternatively spliced H(4)R isoforms from CD34+ cord blood-cell-derived eosinophils and mast cells. These H(4)R splice variants are localized predominantly intracellularly when expressed recombinantly in mammalian cells. We failed to detect any ligand binding, H(4)R-ligand induced signalling or constitutive activity for these H(4)R splice variants. However, when co-expressed with full-length H(4)R [H(4)R((390)) (H(4)R isoform of 390 amino acids)], the H(4)R splice variants have a dominant negative effect on the surface expression of H(4)R((390)). We detected H(4)R((390))-H(4)R splice variant hetero-oligomers by employing both biochemical (immunoprecipitation and cell-surface labelling) and biophysical [time-resolved FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)] techniques. mRNAs encoding the H(4)R splice variants were detected in various cell types and expressed at similar levels to the full-length H(4)R((390)) mRNA in, for example, pre-monocytes. We conclude that the H(4)R splice variants described here have a dominant negative effect on H(4)R((390)) functionality, as they are able to retain H(4)R((390)) intracellularly and inactivate a population of H(4)R((390)), presumably via hetero-oligomerization.

Fragment based design of new H4 receptor-ligands with anti-inflammatory properties in vivo.

Using a previously reported flexible alignment model we have designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of compounds at the human histamine H 4 receptor (H 4R) from which 2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-quinoxaline ( 3) was identified as a new lead structure for H 4R ligands. Exploration of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of this scaffold led to the identification of 6,7-dichloro 3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)quinoxalin-2(1 H)-one (VUF 10214, 57) and 2-benzyl-3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)quinoxaline (VUF 10148, 20) as potent H 4R ligands with nanomolar affinities. In vivo studies in the rat reveal that compound 57 has significant anti-inflammatory properties in the carrageenan-induced paw-edema model.

New 1-benzyl-4-hydroxypiperidine derivatives as non-imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonists.

A series of 1-benzyl-4-(3-aminopropyloxy)piperidine and 1-benzyl-4-(5-aminopentyloxy)piperidine derivatives has been prepared. The 1-benzyl-4-hydroxypiperidine derivatives obtained were evaluated for their affinities at recombinant human histamine H(3 )receptor, stably expressed in HEK 293T cells. All compounds investigated show moderate to pronounced in-vitro affinities. The most potent antagonists in this series 9b2 (hH(3)R, pK(i) = 7.09), 9b1 (hH(3)R, pK(i) = 6.78), 9b5 (hH(3)R, pK(i) = 6.99), and 9b6 (hH(3)R, pK(i )= 6.97) were also tested in vitro as H(3 )receptor antagonists - the electrically evoked contraction of the guinea-pig jejunum. The histaminergic H(1) antagonism of selected compounds 9b1, 9b2, and 9b4-9b6 was established on the isolated guinea-pig ileum by conventional methods; the pA(2) values were compared with the potency of pyrilamine. The compounds did not show any H(1) antagonistic activity (pA(2) < 4; for pyrilamine pA(2) = 9.53).

N-substituted piperidinyl alkyl imidazoles: discovery of methimepip as a potent and selective histamine H3 receptor agonist.

In this study, we continue our efforts toward the development of potent and highly selective histamine H(3) receptor agonists. We introduced various alkyl or aryl alkyl groups on the piperidine nitrogen of the known H(3)/H(4) agonist immepip and its analogues (1-3a). We observed that N-methyl-substituted immepip (methimepip) exhibits high affinity and agonist activity at the human histamine H(3) receptor (pK(i) = 9.0 and pEC(50) = 9.5) with a 2000-fold selectivity at the human H(3) receptor over the human H(4) receptor and more than a 10000-fold selectivity over the human histamine H(1) and H(2) receptors. Methimepip was also very effective as an H(3) receptor agonist at the guinea pig ileum (pD(2) = 8.26). Moreover, in vivo microdialysis (in rat brain) showed that methimepip reduces the basal level of brain histamine to about 25% after a 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal administration.

Non-imidazole histamine H3 ligands. Part III. New 4-n-propylpiperazines as non-imidazole histamine H3-antagonists.

In search for a new lead of non-imidazole histamine H3-receptor antagonists, a series of 1[(2-thiazolopyridine)-4-n-propyl]piperazines, the analogous 1-[(2-oxazolopyridine)-4-npropyl]piperazines, 1-[(2-benzothiazole)-4-n-propyl]piperazine and 1-[(2-benzooxazole)4-n-propyl]piperazine were prepared and in vitro tested as H3-receptor antagonists (the electrically evoked contraction of the guinea-pig jejunum). It appeared that by comparison of homologous pairs the thiazolo derivatives have slightly higher activity than their oxazolo analogues. The most potent compound of these series is the 1-(2-thiazolo[4,5-c]pyridine)-4-n-propylpiperazine (3c) with pA2 = 7.25 (its oxazole analogue (4g) showed pA2 = 6.9). The structure-activity relationships for compounds with various positions of the nitrogen in the benzene ring for the thiazoles compared with oxazoles are discussed.

A selective human H(4)-receptor agonist: (-)-2-cyano-1-methyl-3-[(2R,5R)-5- [1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl]tetrahydrofuran-2-y] methylguanidine.

A series of 16 compounds related to chiral 4(5)-(5-aminomethyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)imidazoles (1) have been designed, synthesized, and examined in vitro by radioligand displacement studies and functional assays for both the human H(3)- and H(4)-receptors expressed in SK-N-MC cells. Among them, the (2S,5S)-isomer 1d of amino compounds showed approximately 300-fold higher selectivity at the H(3)-receptor than the H(4)-receptor. On the other hand, (2R,5S)- and (2R,5R)-cyanoguanidines 3b and 3c, in which the amino group of the compounds 1b and 1c was substituted by the cyanoguanidino moiety, bound to the H(4)-receptor with a pEC(50) value of 6.65 and 7.11, respectively, and had >40-fold selectivities over the H(3)-receptor. As such, 3b and 3c are the first selective H(4) receptor agonists.

Identification of 4-(1H-imidazol-4(5)-ylmethyl)pyridine (immethridine) as a novel, potent, and highly selective histamine H(3) receptor agonist.

In this study, the piperidine ring of immepip and its analogues was replaced by a rigid heterocyclic pyridine ring. Many compounds in the series exhibit high affinity and agonist activity at the human histamine H(3) receptor. Particularly, the 4-pyridinyl analogue of immepip (1c, immethridine) is identified as a novel potent and highly selective histamine H(3) receptor agonist (pK(i) = 9.07, pEC(50) = 9.74) with a 300-fold selectivity over the closely related H(4) receptor.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of conformationally constrained histamine H(3) receptor agonists.

Immepip, a conformationally constrained analogue of the histamine congener imbutamine, shows high affinity and functional activity on the human H(3) receptor. Using histamine and its homologues as prototypes, other rigid analogues containing either a piperidine or pyrrolidine ring in the side chain were synthesized and tested for their activities at the human H(3) receptor and the closely related H(4) receptor. In the series of piperidine containing analogues, immepip was found to be the most potent H(3) receptor agonist, whereas its propylene analogue 13a was identified as a high-affinity neutral antagonist for the human H(3) receptor. Moreover, replacement of the piperidine ring of immepip by a pyrrolidine ring led to a pair of enantiomers that show a distinct stereoselectivity at the human H(3) and H(4) receptor.

Combining quantum mechanical ligand conformation analysis and protein modeling to elucidate GPCR-ligand binding modes.

SAR beyond protein-ligand interactions: By combining structure-affinity relationships, protein-ligand modeling studies, and quantum mechanical calculations, we show that ligand conformational energies and basicity play critical roles in ligand binding to the histamine H4 receptor, a GPCR that plays a key role in inflammation.

Bispyrimidines as potent histamine H(4) receptor ligands: delineation of structure-activity relationships and detailed H(4) receptor binding mode.

The basic methylpiperazine moiety is considered a necessary substructure for high histamine H4 receptor (H4R) affinity. This moiety is however also the metabolic hot spot for various classes of H4R ligands (e.g., indolcarboxamides and pyrimidines). We set out to investigate whether mildly basic 2-aminopyrimidines in combination with the appropriate linker can serve as a replacement for the methylpiperazine moiety. In the series of 2-aminopyrimidines, the introduction of an additional 2-aminopyrimidine moiety in combination with the appropriate linker lead to bispyrimidines displaying pKi values for binding the human H4R up to 8.2. Furthermore, the methylpiperazine replacement results in compounds with improved metabolic properties. The attempt to transfer the knowledge generated in the class of bispyrimidines to the indolecarboxamides failed. Combining the derived structure-activity relationships with homology modeling leads to new detailed insights in the molecular aspects of ligand-H4R binding in general and the binding mode of the described bispyrimidines in specific.

Detailed structure-activity relationship of indolecarboxamides as H4 receptor ligands.

A series of 76 derivatives of the indolecarboxamide 1 were synthesized, which allows a detailed SAR investigation of this well known scaffold. The data enable the definition of a predictive QSAR model which identifies several compounds with an activity comparable to 1. A selection of these new H(4)R antagonists was synthesized and a comparison of predicted and measured values demonstrates the robustness of the model (47-55). In addition to the H(4)-receptor activity general CMC and DMPK properties were investigated. Some of the new analogs are not only excellently soluble, but display a significantly increased half-life in mouse liver microsomes as well. These properties qualify these compounds as a possible new standard for future in vivo studies (e.g 51, 52 and 55). Moreover, the current studies also provide valuable information on the potential receptor ligand interactions between the indolcarboxamides and the H(4)R protein.

Brain P450 epoxygenase activity is required for the antinociceptive effects of improgan, a nonopioid analgesic.

The search for the mechanism of action of improgan (a nonopioid analgesic) led to the recent discovery of CC12, a compound that blocks improgan antinociception. Because CC12 is a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, and brain P450 mechanisms were recently shown to be required in opioid analgesic signaling, pharmacological and transgenic studies were performed in rodents to test the hypothesis that improgan antinociception requires brain P450 epoxygenase activity. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of the P450 inhibitors miconazole and fluconazole, and the arachidonic acid (AA) epoxygenase inhibitor N-methylsulfonyl-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl)hexanamide (MS-PPOH) potently inhibited improgan antinociception in rats at doses that were inactive alone. MW06-25, a new P450 inhibitor that combines chemical features of CC12 and miconazole, also potently blocked improgan antinociception. Although miconazole and CC12 were weakly active at opioid and histamine H(3) receptors, MW06-25 showed no activity at these sites, yet retained potent P450-inhibiting properties. The P450 hypothesis was also tested in Cpr(low) mice, a viable knock-in model with dramatically reduced brain P450 activity. Improgan (145 nmol, i.c.v.) antinociception was reduced by 37% to 59% in Cpr(low) mice, as compared with control mice. Moreover, CC12 pretreatment (200 nmol, i.c.v.) abolished improgan action (70% to 91%) in control mice, but had no significant effect in Cpr(low) mice. Thus, improgan's activation of bulbospinal nonopioid analgesic circuits requires brain P450 epoxygenase activity. A model is proposed in which (1) improgan activates an unknown receptor to trigger downstream P450 activity, and (2) brainstem epoxygenase activity is a point of convergence for opioid and nonopioid analgesic signaling.

Synthesis and QSAR of quinazoline sulfonamides as highly potent human histamine H4 receptor inverse agonists.

Hit optimization of the class of quinazoline containing histamine H(4) receptor (H(4)R) ligands resulted in a sulfonamide substituted analogue with high affinity for the H(4)R. This moiety leads to improved physicochemical properties and is believed to probe a distinct H(4)R binding pocket that was previously identified using pharmacophore modeling. By introducing a variety of sulfonamide substituents, the H(4)R affinity was optimized. The interaction of the new ligands, in combination with a set of previously published quinazoline compounds, was described by a QSAR equation. Pharmacological studies revealed that the sulfonamide analogues have excellent H(4)R affinity and behave as inverse agonists at the human H(4)R. In vivo evaluation of the potent 2-(6-chloro-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)quinazoline-4-amino)-N-phenylethanesulfonamide (54) (pK(i) = 8.31 +/- 0.10) revealed it to have anti-inflammatory activity in an animal model of acute inflammation.

Opioids activate brain analgesic circuits through cytochrome P450/epoxygenase signaling.

To assess the importance of brain cytochrome P450 (P450) activity in mu opioid analgesic action, we generated a mutant mouse with brain neuron-specific reductions in P450 activity; these mice showed highly attenuated morphine antinociception compared with controls. Pharmacological inhibition of brain P450 arachidonate epoxygenases also blocked morphine antinociception in mice and rats. Our findings indicate that a neuronal P450 epoxygenase mediates the pain-relieving properties of morphine.

Discovery of quinazolines as histamine H4 receptor inverse agonists using a scaffold hopping approach.

From a series of small fragments that was designed to probe the histamine H(4) receptor (H(4)R), we previously described quinoxaline-containing fragments that were grown into high affinity H(4)R ligands in a process that was guided by pharmacophore modeling. With a scaffold hopping exercise and using the same in silico models, we now report the identification and optimization of a series of quinazoline-containing H(4)R compounds. This approach led to the discovery of 6-chloro-N-(furan-3-ylmethyl)2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)quinazolin-4-amine (VUF10499, 54) and 6-chloro-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)quinazolin-4-amine (VUF10497, 55) as potent human H(4)R inverse agonists (pK(i) = 8.12 and 7.57, respectively). Interestingly, both compounds also possess considerable affinity for the human histamine H(1) receptor (H(1)R) and therefore represent a novel class of dual action H(1)R/H(4)R ligands, a profile that potentially leads to added therapeutic benefit. Compounds from this novel series of quinazolines are antagonists at the rat H(4)R and were found to possess anti-inflammatory properties in vivo in the rat.