Tandem 3D-QSARs approach as a valuable tool to predict binding affinity data: design of new Gly/NMDA receptor antagonists as a key study.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) represent a very well consolidated computational approach to correlate structural or property descriptors of chemical compounds with their chemical or biological activities. We have recently reported that autocorrelation Molecular Electrostatic Potential (autoMEP) vectors in combination to Partial Least-Square (PLS) analysis or to Response Surface Analysis (RSA) can represent an interesting alternative 3D-QSAR strategy. In the present paper, we would like to present how the applicability of in tandem linear and nonlinear 3D-QSAR methods (autoMEP/PLS&RSA) can help to predict binding affinity data of a new set of N-methyl-d-aspartate (Gly/NMDA) receptor antagonists.

Synthesis, ionotropic glutamate receptor binding affinity, and structure-activity relationships of a new set of 4,5-dihydro-8-heteroaryl-4-oxo-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline-2-carboxylates analogues of TQX-173.

A series of 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxaline-2-carboxylates analogues of TQX-173 (1b), bearing different nitrogen-containing heterocycles at position-8, were synthesized as AMPA receptor antagonists. All the reported compounds were also biologically evaluated for their binding at glycine/NMDA and KA receptors to better assess their selectivity toward the AMPA receptor. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) on these TQX derivatives have evidenced that the precise positioning of the nitrogen atoms and the specific electronic topography of the 8-heteroaromatic ring are both important for the anchoring to the AMPA receptor. In fact, it has been well-established that the presence of a N(3)-nitrogen-containing heterocycle at position-8 of the TQX framework is an essential feature for potent and selective AMPA receptor antagonists. Functional antagonism at both AMPA receptor and NMDA receptor-ion channel complex was evaluated by assessing the ability of some selected compounds to inhibit depolarization induced by 5 microM AMPA or NMDA in mouse cortical wedge preparations.

Synthesis of a set of ethyl 1-carbamoyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylates and of their constrained analogue imidazo.

The synthesis and glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptor affinities of a set of ethyl (+/-) 1-N-carbamoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carboxylates 1-11 and those of their constrained analogue (+/-) 1,2,3,3a,4,5-hexahydroimidazo[1,5-a]quinoxaline-1,3,4-triones 12-24 are reported. Compounds 1-11 bear a side-chain at position 1 which has been spatially constrained in compounds 12-24. Most of the reported tricyclic derivatives 12-24 showed glycine/NMDA binding activity comparable to that of their corresponding bicyclic analogues 1-11 providing further evidence that the spatial orientation of the side-chain is an important structural requirement for glycine/NMDA receptor antagonists.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a new set of 2-arylpyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline derivatives as adenosine receptor antagonists.

In a recent paper (Colotta et al. J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 1158-1164) we reported the synthesis and adenosine receptor binding activity of two sets of 2-aryl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines (A and B) some of which were potent and selective A(1) or A(3) antagonists. In this paper the synthesis of a set of 2-arylpyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-4-ones 1-10, 4-amines 11-18, and 4-amino-substituted derivatives 19-35 are reported. The binding activity at bovine A(1) and A(2A) and human cloned A(3) adenosine receptors showed that (i) the substituent on the appended 2-phenyl ring could be used to modulate A(1) and A(3) affinity, (ii) the 4-amino group was necessary for A(1) and A(2A) binding activity, and (iii) a nuclear or extranuclear C=O proton acceptor at position 4 yielded potent and selective A(3) antagonists. These results are in agreement with those of the previously reported series A and B suggesting a similar adenosine receptor binding mode. In particular, the A(3) nanomolar affinity of 1-8, 31-33, and 35 confirms the hypothesis of the presence in the N-6 region of the adenosine A(3) subtype of a proton donor able to bind to a C=O proton acceptor at position 4.

1,2,4-Triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one: a versatile tool for the synthesis of potent and selective adenosine receptor antagonists.

4-Amino-6-benzylamino-1,2-dihydro-2-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4, 3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (1) has been found to be an A(2A) versus A(1) selective antagonist (Colotta et al. Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 1999, 332, 39-41). In this paper some novel triazoloquinoxalin-1-ones 4-25 bearing different substituents on the 2-phenyl and/or 4-amino moiety of the parent 4-amino-1, 2-dihydro-2-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (3) have been synthesized and tested in radioligand binding assays at bovine A(1) and A(2A) and cloned human A(3) adenosine receptors (AR). Moreover, the binding activities at the above-mentioned AR subtypes of the 1,4-dione parent compounds 26-31 and their 5-N-alkyl derivatives 33-37 were also evaluated. The substituent on the 2-phenyl ring exerted a different effect on AR subtypes, while replacement of a hydrogen atom of the 4-amino group with suitable substituents yielded selective A(1) or A(3) antagonists. Replacement of a hydrogen atom of the 4-NH(2) with an acyl group, or replacement of the whole 4-NH(2) with a 4-oxo moiety, shifted the binding activity toward the A(3) AR. The binding results allowed elucidation of the structural requirements for the binding of these novel tricyclic derivatives at each receptor subtype. In particular, A(1) and A(2A) binding required the presence of a proton donor group at position-4, while for A(3) affinity the presence of a proton acceptor in this same region was of paramount importance.

4,5-Dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4-ones: excitatory amino acid antagonists with combined glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptor affinity.

A series of 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4-ones bearing different substituents on the benzo-fused ring and at position 2 were synthesized and biologically evaluated for their binding at glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptors. Most of the reported compounds show combined glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptor binding activity providing further evidences of the structural similarities of the binding pockets of both receptor recognition sites. Moreover, this study has pointed out some differences for the binding at each receptor type. In particular, for the glycine/NMDA receptor-ligand interaction, the presence of a free acidic function at position 2 and an electron-withdrawing substituent(s) nonbulkier than chlorine atom(s) on the benzo-fused moiety is required. Functional antagonism at the NMDA receptor-ion channel complex was also performed on some selected compounds.

Synthesis, glycine/NMDA and AMPA binding activity of some new 2,5,6-trioxopyrazino[1,2,3-de]quinoxalines and of their restricted analogs 2,5-dioxo- and 4,5-dioxoimidazo[1,5,4-de]quinoxalines.

The synthesis of some new 1,2,3,5,6, 7-hexahydro-2,5,6-trioxopyrazino[1,2,3-de]quinoxalines 1c-g and of their restricted analogs 2,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,5-dioxo-1H- 2a-g and 5,6-dihydro-4,5-dioxo-4H-imidazo[1,5,4-de]quinoxalines 3a-d is reported. Compounds 1c-g, 2a-g, and 3a-d were tested for their binding activity at the glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptors. The results show that only the 6,6,6-tricyclic derivatives 1c-g are able to bind to the glycine/NMDA and AMPA receptors, although with lower affinity than the previously reported lead compounds 1a-b. In contrast, the 5,6,6-tricyclic derivatives 2a-g are inactive at both receptors and only one 4,5-dioxoimidazoquinoxaline (3b) displays a weak glycine/NMDA receptor affinity.

Synthesis and A1 and A2A adenosine binding activity of some pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4-ones.

A series of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazol-4-ones was synthesized and evaluated for bovine brain adenosine A1 and A2A receptor binding affinity. Substituents at positions 5 and/or 6 were varied in order to define the structure-activity relationships in these new kinds of adenosine receptor ligands. The most selective and potent ligand among the reported compounds was the 1,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-3-methyl-6-(3-aminophenyl)-pyrano[2,3-c]pyraz ol-4-one 11 which showed a 27-fold selectivity for A1 receptor and a Ki value of 84 nM.

Synthesis of 2-substituted-6,8-dichloro-3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-2H-1,4-benzothiazine-1,1-d ioxides and -1-oxides as glycine-NMDA receptor antagonists.

A number of 2-substituted-3,4-dihydro-3-oxo-6,8-dichloro-2H-1, 4-benzothiazine-1,1-dioxides (1-2a-b) and -1-oxides (3-4a-b) bioisosters of RPR 104632 in which the 3-carboxylic group was replaced by a carbonyl group were synthesized. Comparative in vitro pharmacological studies on this series of RPR 104632 analogs were performed using receptor binding assays. None of these compounds showed detectable binding affinity for the glycine-NMDA receptor.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of quinazoline-2-carboxylic acids and quinazoline-2,4-diones as glycine-NMDA antagonists: a pharmacophore model based approach.

The synthesis and glycine-NMDA binding activity of a series of quinazoline-2-carboxylic acids 1 and quinazoline-2,4-diones 2, containing all the essential and optional pharmacophoric descriptors required by a putative glycine antagonist model, are reported. The binding results show that only three of the title compounds displayed micromolar receptor affinity, demonstrating how disappointing the synthesis of receptor ligands based only on interaction models can be.

Tricyclic heteroaromatic systems. 3-substituted 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-2,5,6-trioxopyrazino[1,2,3-de]-quinoxalines as novel antagonists at the glycine-NMDA site.

Two novel antagonists of the glycine-NMDA receptor have been synthesized and tested for their ability to displace [3H]glycine from its specific binding site in rat brain cortical membranes. The 3-substituted pyrazino[1,2,3-de]quinoxalin-2,5,6-triones 1a-b contain all the essential pharmacophoric descriptors of a glycine receptor antagonist. A model is proposed for the binding of these compounds that includes some of the interactions postulated for the potent glycine-NMDA receptor antagonist L-689,560.

Tricyclic heteroaromatic systems. Pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-4-ones and pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,4-diones: synthesis and benzodiazepine receptor activity.

Some pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline-4-ones 1-14 and pyrazolo[3,4-c]-quinoline-1,4-diones 15-17 were prepared and biologically evaluated for their binding at the benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) in rat cortical membranes. The moderate binding activity of 1-5, 7, 9-10, 13 is attributable to the lack of the optional proton acceptor at position-1, while the inactivity of the 1,4-dione derivatives 15-17 is due to the lack of the essential proton acceptor at position-3. These conclusions confirm the validity of our proposed pharmacophoric model.

Tricyclic heteroaromatic systems. 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines and 1,2,4-Triazino[4,3-a]quinoxalines: synthesis and central benzodiazepine receptor activity.

Some 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines 1-10, and 1,2,4-triazino[4,3-a]quinoxalines 11-12 were prepared and biologically evaluated for their binding at the benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) in rat cortical membranes. The BZR affinity of 1-10 demonstrates that the presence of a proton acceptor at position-1 is important for the potency of a BZR ligand. On the other hand, the BZR inactivity of the 1,2,5-trione derivatives 11-12 shows that the right collocation of the essential L2 lipophilic substituent is of paramount importance for receptor-ligand interaction.

Longitudinal characterization of CD4, CD8 T-cell subsets and of haematological parameters in healthy newborns of cynomolgus monkeys.

A longitudinal characterization of immune cell subpopulations (lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ cells), of routine haematological parameters and of immunoglobulin serum levels was carried out in newborn Macaca fascicularis starting from 1 week up to 1 year of life. In neonates, the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes is almost double, while the percentage of CD8+ cells is lower than that found in adult monkeys (> 5-years old). An inverted trend in the percentage of the two T-lymphocyte subpopulations was observed during the weeks following birth, with a progressive increase of circulating CD8+, paralleled by a decrease of CD4+ cell number. Consequently, the CD4/CD8 ratio slowly decreases, even if, at 12 months of life, it is still higher than that found in adult animals. Several differences were also noted between young and adult monkeys with regard to the total number of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Haematological parameters did not show consistent differences with respect to adult values. The plasma IgG level is high at birth, then decreases until 6 months of life, while the IgM and IgA values are very low during the first weeks of life but increase in the following period. Our data showed that variations of immunological (CD4+, CD8+ cells) patterns and of some haematological parameters in M. fascicularis are dependent on age. These variations should be therefore considered whenever young animals are used in experimental protocols.

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazines: synthesis and benzodiazepine receptor affinity.

Some 2-arylpyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazin-5-ones 1 and 5- oxopyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazin-2-carboxylates 2 were prepared and biologically evaluated for their binding at benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) in rat cortical membranes. Structure-activity relationship studies suggest that, although proton donor d and proton acceptor a1 are both optional pharmacophoric descriptors, at least one of them must be present for good BZR affinity. When the proton donor d is not present, the heteroatom acceptor a1 is necessary either in the tricyclic core or in the appended substituent at the C-2 to obtain sub-micromolar BZR affinity.

Synthesis and binding activity of some pyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazolines as tools to verify an optional binding site of a benzodiazepine receptor ligand.

The synthesis and binding activity at the benzodiazepine receptor of some 2-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazolines are reported. The structure-activity relationships and in vitro efficacy of the title compounds, which are devoid of the proton acceptor atom at position 1, are similar to those of some previously reported tricyclic heteroaromatic compounds. This suggests that a proton acceptor at position 1 is an optional binding site of a benzodiazepine receptor ligand which only affects potency.

Synthesis of some 2-aryl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazin-5-ones as tools to define the essential pharmacophoric descriptors of a benzodiazepine receptor ligand.

The synthesis and benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) affinity of some 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazin-5-ones, 2-22, are reported. Compounds 2-22 are devoid of the proton donor group, which according to a BZR schematic model was one of the pharmacophoric descriptors for receptor-ligand interaction. The binding data show that 2-(2-fluorophenyl)-9-chloro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c][1,3]benzoxazin-5 -one (12) and some other compounds display nanomolar BZR affinity, indicating that the hydrogen donor group is not essential for the anchoring of 6,6,5-tricyclic systems to the BZR but only affects the potency of a ligand.

Chronic infection in woodchucks infected by a cloned hepatitis delta virus.

Two woodchucks (Marmota monax) intrahepatically inoculated with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) complementary DNA clones pSVL-D3 and pSVL-Ag showed virological and pathological signs of acute and chronic HDV infection. HDV-RNA and hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) were detected in serum by slot-blot hybridization and by western blot five weeks after inoculation. Liver biopsy specimens collected at 8th week post inoculum were positive for HDV-RNA. Anti-HDV antibodies were detected at the 11th and 9th weeks, respectively. Histological finding of hepatocarcinoma and persistence of circulating HDV-RNA and anti-HDV were observed up to the 10th month. Both woodchucks produced "small" and "large" HDAg antigen, although the inoculated cloned DNA bears the coding capability solely for the small antigen. A transient decrease of woodchuck hepatitis virus DNA (WHV-DNA) level was observed during the peak of HDV infection. Successive inoculation of acute-phase serum in three woodchucks resulted in a successful infection in one of the animals.