Inhibitors of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and epinephrine biosynthesis. 2. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline-7-sulfonanilides.

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline-7-sulfonanilides (1-14) related to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-7-sulfonamide (21,SK&F 29661) were prepared and studied for their ability to inhibit phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in vitro. The choice of substituents on the 7-phenyl group of the sulfonanilides was based on the Topliss approach to structure-activity relationship studies. Information about the importance of an acidic hydrogen atom on the sulfonamide nitrogen atom was obtained from the preparation and testing of a tertiary N-methylsulfonanilide (15). Other THIQ's (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines) containing sulfur substituents in the 7 position were prepared and tested and consisted of 7-N-benzyl and 7-N-phenethyl derivatives of SK&F 29661 (16-18) and 7-(phenacylthio)-and 7-(phenacylsulfonyl)-THIQ (19 and 20). The two most potent inhibitors were the 7-p-bromo- and -chlorosulfonanilides, 2 and 6. However, neither was an effective inhibitor of norepinephrine to epinephrine conversion when tested in an in vivo mouse assay at unit doses of 25 or 100 mg/kg.

Synthesis and hypoglycemic activity of pyridyl alcohols.

The potent hypoglycemic activity of 3-(3-methyl-2-pyridyl)propan-1-ol (1) prompted us to synthesize and study related structures. Some of the variables studied were the position of the methyl and alcohol side chains, the distance between the heterocyclic ring and the hydroxyl group, the effect of additional nuclear substitution, and the effects of branching and substitution on the alcohol side chain. The compounds were tested in 48-h fasted rats, usually at a dose of 150 mg/kg po. 1, the corresponding propionic acid 12, the acetate and methyl ether of 1 (22 and 23), and the 5-methyl analogue of 1 (29) were of comparable hypoglycemic potency. However, these compounds all caused a concomitant elevation of hepatic triglycerides and/or death in the test animals when observations were continued for 4--24 h.

Synthesis and hypoglycemic activity of some substituted 2-arylthiazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium salts.

A series of substituted 2-arylthiazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium salts (1a-q) was prepared by known methods and tested for hypoglycemic activity in 48-h fasted rats. Two compounds, 2-phenylthiazolo- and 8-methyl-2-phenythiazolo[3,2-a]pyridinium perchlorate (1a and 1q), showed consistent hypoglycemic activity in this screen, demonstrating that a high degree of structural specificity was required for hypoglycemic activity. At higher doses the hypoglycemic activity of 1a and 1q was associated with elevated levels of hepatic triglycerides.

Development of an affinity ligand for purification of alpha 2-adrenoceptors from human platelet membranes.

Human platelets contain alpha 2-adrenoceptors which are negatively coupled to the enzyme adenylate cyclase. In order to better understand the interaction of this subtype of alpha receptor with this key enzyme, we have initiated a program to isolate and characterize the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. This report describes the synthesis and biological characterization of a series of molecules that were prepared as affinity ligands for this purpose. The best of these is 9-(allyloxy)-6-chloro-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SK&F 101253). This compound is an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, which was obtained by synthetic modification of 6-chloro-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SK&F 86466), a novel antagonist with high affinity for the alpha 2-receptor.

Inhibitors of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and epinephrine biosynthesis. 1. Chloro-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines.

In a search for inhibitors of epinephrine biosynthesis as potential therapeutic agents, a series of 13 ring-chlorinated 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines was prepared. These compounds were tested initially for their ability to inhibit rabbit adrenal phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) in vitro. Enzyme-inhibitor dissociation constants, determined for the six most potent members of the series, indicated the following order of decreasing potency: 7,8-Cl2 greater than 6,7,8-Cl3 greater than 7-Cl approximately 5,6,7,8-Cl4 greater than 5,7,8-Cl3. These compounds were subsequently examined for PNMT-inhibiting activity in intact rats and mice. 7,8-Dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (13, SK&F 64139) was the most potent member of the series both in vitro and in vivo and is currently undergoing clinical investigation.

Affinity chromatography of human platelet alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Catecholamines, such as epinephrine, inhibit the enzyme adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) via a specific receptor mechanism involving alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors. In order to facilitate purification of these inhibitory receptors we have prepared a highly effective biospecific affinity adsorbent. The immobilized ligand SKF 101253 is a 3-benzazepine with alpha(2)-adrenergic antagonist activity. SKF 101253 is coupled to Sepharose CL-4B by using a bifunctional reagent (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) which also provides a hydrophilic spacer moiety between the ligand and the gel matrix. Membranes from human platelets, containing alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors, can be specifically labeled with [(3)H]yohimbine and can be solubilized with digitonin without loss of their alpha(2)-adrenergic binding characteristics. Chromatography of solubilized human platelet membrane preparations on the SKF 101253-Sepharose CL-4B affinity gel results in the adsorption of 70-80% of the initial [(3)H]yohimbine binding activity. Adsorption to the affinity gel is blocked by both alpha-adrenergic antagonists (phentolamine >/= yohimbine > prazosin) and by alpha-adrenergic agonists [p-aminoclonidine > (-)-epinephrine > (+)-epinephrine]. Similarly, elution of specific [(3)H]yohimbine binding activity from the affinity gel is effected with the aforementioned agonists and antagonists in the same order of potency. Other drugs that do not interact appreciably with alpha-adrenergic receptors, such as (-)-isoproterenol, (-)-alprenolol, atropine, and carbachol, are ineffective for both the blockade of adsorption and the elution of specific [(3)H]yohimbine binding activity from the affinity gel. In addition to the specificity of the interaction, chromatography of solubilized human platelet membrane preparations on the SKF 101253-Sepharose CL-4B affinity gel results in a 40-50% overall yield and an approximately 200-fold increase in the specific binding activity for [(3)H]yohimbine. The results indicate that the SKF 101253-Sepharose CL-4B affinity adsorbent should provide a powerful tool for the purification of the adenylate cyclase-inhibitory alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor of human platelets.

Regulation of stress-induced cytokine production by pyridinylimidazoles; inhibition of CSBP kinase.

Members of three classes of pyridinylimidazoles bind with varying affinities to CSBP (p38) kinase which is a member of a stress-induced signal transduction pathway. Based upon SAR and protein homology modeling, the pharmacophore and three potential modes of binding to the enzyme are presented. For a subset of pyridinylimidazoles, binding is shown to correlate with inhibition of CSBP kinase activity, whereas no significant inhibition of PKA, PKC alpha and ERK kinase activity is observed.