Combination therapy of N-acetyl-L-cysteine and S-2(2-aminoethylamino) ethylphenyl sulfide for sulfur mustard induced oxidative stress in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Sulfur mustard (SM) is chemically, bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide and a strong alkylating agent that causes cytotoxicity and blisters on skin. In laboratory animal models, SM is extremely lethal. Since no specific antidote has been proposed, decontamination upon contact is the recommended procedure. Several antidotes have been screened for SM, and in that sulfanyl compounds, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and S-2(2-aminoethylamino) ethylphenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) showed good protection. Since they showed protection at high doses, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in combination at low dose, for percutaneously administered SM in mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 4 LD50 of SM (32.4 mg/kg) was administered, and NAC (50 mg/kg), DRDE-07 (25 and 50 mg/kg) and their combinations were evaluated as 30 min pre-treatment by single oral administration. RESULT: After 72 h of SM exposure, significant decrease in body weight, decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione, and increase in hepatic malondialdehyde were observed (P < 0.001), showing oxidative stress. The combination of NAC (100 mg/kg) and DRDE-07 (50 mg/kg) showed significant protection (P < 0.01). The severe histopathological lesions induced by SM in liver, spleen and skin were also considerably reduced by the combination. CONCLUSION: The combination of NAC and DRDE-07 having sulfanyl groups, will be promising antioxidants and an effective antidote for SM toxicity.

Pulmonary protective efficacy of S-2[2-aminoethylamino] ethyl phenyl sulphide (DRDE-07) and its analogues against sulfur mustard induced toxicity in mice.

Our previous study showed that percutaneous sulfur mustard (SM) exposure induced pulmonary toxicity, which was attenuated by DRDE-07 (S-2[2-aminoethylamino] ethyl phenyl sulphide) pretreatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of DRDE-07 and its analogues viz., DRDE-30 (S-2(2-aminoethyl amino)ethyl propyl sulphide) and DRDE-35 (S-2(2-aminoethyl amino)ethyl butyl sulphide) against SM. Thirty minutes before percutaneous SM (0.8 LD50) exposure, female Swiss mice were orally gavaged with DRDE-07 and its analogues(0.2 LD50). Animals were sacrificed on day 3 and 7, BAL fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected for biochemical, histopathological studies. As results, DRDE-07 and its analogues were beneficial in reducing the number of BALF inflammatory cells, protein level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and ß-glucuronidase activity, while content of BALF and lung reduced glutathione level (GSH) were significantly protected. The pretreatment of DRDE-07 and its analogues inhibited the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung. The beneficial effects of DRDE-07 and its analogues were attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Among the analogues, DRDE-30 exhibited significant beneficial effects as compared to the other two compounds. These analogues may be considered as prototype candidate molecules as there is no effective antidote for SM toxicity.

Prophylactic efficacy of S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) against sulfur mustard induced lung toxicity in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to investigate the prophylactic efficacy of S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07), against topically applied SM induced pulmonary toxicity in mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were pretreated with S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) (249.4 mg/kg by oral gavage) 30 minutes before SM exposure. The SM (6.48 mg/kg) was applied on hair clipped dorsocaudal region (percutaneous) of the animal. The animals were sacrificed on day 1, 3, 5 and 7. The biochemical changes those were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue included protein, LDH, MPO, ß-glucuronidase, MMP-2, MMP-9, activated macrophages, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation level. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Pretreatment with DRDE-07 (0.2 LD50) attenuated SM-induced changes at all time point tested. BAL fluid biochemical endpoints indicated epithelial and endothelial cell damages as evidenced by increase in BAL protein, LDH level and increased number of activated macrophages. The increased myeloperoxidase activity and ß-glucuronidase level exhibited the degranulation of neutrophils due to SM toxicity in lung. The zymogrphy analysis of BAL fluid showed a significant increase in matrix metalloproteases (MMP) activity due to inflammatory cells accumulation. CONCLUSION: Thirty minutes pretreatment with DRDE-07 decreased vascular permeability reduced the inflammation and oxidative stress, hence may be recommended as a potential prophylactic agent for SM intoxication.

Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity studies of DRDE-07 and its analogs against sulfur mustard in the in vitro Ames Salmonella/microsome assay.

Sulfur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide, SM), a chemical warfare agent, is classified as a class I human carcinogen by IARC. No effective antidote against this agent is available. The synthetic aminothiol, amifostine, earlier known as WR-2721, has been extensively used as a chemical radioprotector for normal tissues in cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy. SM is a radiomimetic agent; this prompted us to evaluate the protective efficacy of amifostine and three of its analogs, DRDE-07 [S-2(2-aminoethylamino) ethyl phenyl sulphide], DRDE-30 [S-2(2-aminoethyl amino) ethyl propyl sulphide] and DRDE-35 [S-2(2-aminoethyl amino) ethyl butyl sulphide], against sulfur mustard-induced mutagenicity in the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. The antidotes were also evaluated for possible mutagenic activity. DRDE-07 was mutagenic in strain TA104 in the absence of S9; DRDE-30 was mutagenic in strain TA100; amifostine and DRDE-35 did not show mutagenic activity in any of the five tester strains used. SM is mutagenic in strains TA97a and TA102, with or without S9 activation. In the antimutagenicity studies, DRDE-07 and DRDE-35 showed promising antimutagenic activity against SM in the absence of S9, in comparison to amifostine. DRDE-07 and DRDE-35 are promising protective agents against SM-induced mutagenicity.

Preclinical investigation of the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and protein and red blood cell binding of DRDE-07: a prophylactic agent against sulphur mustard

DRDE-07, a newly synthesized amifostine analog currently under clinical investigation in a phase I trial, is a potent antidote against sulfur mustard toxicity. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of DRDE-07 in female Swiss Albino mice after a single oral dose of 400 or 600 mg/kg. The physicochemical properties of DRDE-07, including solubility, pK a, Log P, plasma protein binding and plasma/blood partitioning, were determined to support the pharmacokinetic characterization. DRDE-07 concentration was determined by an HPLC-UV method. The profile of plasma concentration versus time was analyzed using a non-compartmental model. Plasma protein binding was assessed using ultrafiltration. DRDE-07 appeared rapidly in plasma after oral administration with peak plasma levels (C max) observed in less than 15 min. There was a rapid decline in the plasma levels followed by a smaller second peak about 90 min after dosing. The plasma protein binding of DRDE-07 was found to be less than 25% at all concentrations studied. Plasma clearance of DRDE-07 is expected to be ~1.5 fold higher than the blood clearance of DRDE-07. The probable metabolite of DRDE-07 was identified as phenyl-S-ethyl amine.

Preclinical investigation of the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and protein and red blood cell binding of DRDE-07: a prophylactic agent against sulphur mustard.

DRDE-07, a newly synthesized amifostine analog currently under clinical investigation in a phase I trial, is a potent antidote against sulfur mustard toxicity. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of DRDE-07 in female Swiss Albino mice after a single oral dose of 400 or 600 mg/kg. The physicochemical properties of DRDE-07, including solubility, pK a, Log P, plasma protein binding and plasma/blood partitioning, were determined to support the pharmacokinetic characterization. DRDE-07 concentration was determined by an HPLC-UV method. The profile of plasma concentration versus time was analyzed using a non-compartmental model. Plasma protein binding was assessed using ultrafiltration. DRDE-07 appeared rapidly in plasma after oral administration with peak plasma levels (C max) observed in less than 15 min. There was a rapid decline in the plasma levels followed by a smaller second peak about 90 min after dosing. The plasma protein binding of DRDE-07 was found to be less than 25% at all concentrations studied. Plasma clearance of DRDE-07 is expected to be ~1.5 fold higher than the blood clearance of DRDE-07. The probable metabolite of DRDE-07 was identified as phenyl-S-ethyl amine.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of amifostine, DRDE-07, and their analogs, in mice.

OBJECTIVES: To find out the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, if any, of Amifostine [S-2(3 amino propyl amino) ethyl phosphorothioate], DRDE-07 [S-2(3 amino ethyl amino) ethyl phenyl sulphide] and their analogs DRDE-30 and DRDE-35, the probable prophylactic agent for sulphur mustard (SM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to find out the analgesic activities of the compounds two methods were employed, namely, acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced paw licking. The persistent pain model of formalin-induced hind paw licking was carried out to test the effect of the compounds on neurogenic pain or early phase (0 to 5 minutes) and on the peripheral pain or the late phase (15 to 30 minutes). To test the effect of the compound in acute inflammation, carrageenan-induced hind paw edema was carried out. This model of inflammation involves a variety of mediators of inflammation. RESULTS: DRDE-07 (81.7%) and DRDE-30 (79.4%) showed significant reduction in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. DRDE-07 (93.1%), DRDE-30 (82%), and DRDE-35 (61.3%) showed significant reduction in the second or late phase of formalin-induced paw licking. All the analogs (more than 60%) including amifostine (43.9%) showed significant reduction of paw edema in the carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. CONCLUSION: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the antidotes were comparable with aspirin.