Y27, a novel derivative of 4-hydroxyquinoline-3-formamide, prevents the development of murine systemic lupus erythematosus-like diseases in MRL/lpr autoimmune mice and BDF1 hybrid mice.

INTRODUCTION: Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are central to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Impaired activity and/or a lower frequency of these cells lead to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Manipulating the number or activity of Treg cells is to be a promising strategy in treating it and other autoimmune diseases. We have examined the effects of Y27, a novel derivative of 4-hydroxyquinoline-3-formamide, on SLE-like symptoms in MRL/lpr autoimmune mice and BDF1 hybrid mice. Whether the beneficial effect of Y27 involves modulation of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells has also been investigated. METHODS: Female MRL/lpr mice that spontaneously develop lupus were treated orally by gavage with Y27 for 10 weeks, starting at 10 weeks of age. BDF1 mice developed a chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by two weekly intravenous injections of parental female DBA/2 splenic lymphocytes, characterized by immunocomplex-mediated glomerulonephritis resembling SLE. Y27 was administered to chronic GVHD mice for 12 weeks. Nephritic symptoms were monitored and the percentage of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg peripheral blood leukocyte was detected with mouse regulatory T cell staining kit by flowcytometry. Purified CD4+CD25+ Tregs were assessed for immune suppressive activity using the mixed lymphocyte reaction. RESULTS: The life-span of MRL/lpr mice treated with Y27 for 10 weeks was significantly prolonged, proteinuria and renal lesion severity were ameliorated, and blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride and serum anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were decreased. Similar results were found in chronic GVHD mice. Administration of Y27 had little impact on percentage of the peripheral blood lymphocyte CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells in both groups of mice. In contrast, the suppressive capacity of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in splenocytes was markedly augmented in Y27-treated mice ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental evidence of the protect effects of Y27 against autoimmune nephritis has been shown. The mechanism may involve enhancement of the suppressive capacity of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells.

The green tea polyphenol (2)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is not a ß-secretase inhibitor.

(2)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major polyphenolic component of green tea. A number of studies have demonstrated EGCG has the possibility for delaying the onset or retarding the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and indicated EGCG possess inhibition of ß-secretase activity. We utilized homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay with a substrate Eu-CEVNLDAEFK-Qsy7 to screen ß-secretase inhibitor in a cell-free system and AlphaLISA assay in cell system. The results first showed that EGCG had significant inhibition of ß-secretase activity with IC(50) value of 7.57 × 10(-7)M in screening assay, but then we found EGCG had significant fluorescence-quenching effect in confirming assay, this indicates EGCG has the false positive ß-secretase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the followed AlphaLISA assay based on cell showed EGCG did not reduce the ß-amyloid 1-40 secretion in HuAPPswe/HuBACE1 Chinese hamster ovary cell without affecting cell viability. Therefore our findings indicate EGCG do not inhibit ß-secretase cleavage activity. Overall this study illustrates that EGCG is not a ß-secretase inhibitor based on the compelling data. This provides further support that the choice of complementary assay format or technology is a critical factor in molecular screening and drug development for improving the hit-finding capability and efficiency.

Tricyclononene carboxamide derivatives as novel anti-HIV-1 agents.

By modifying the chemical structure of anti-orthopoxvirus compound ST-246, we designed and synthesized a series of tricyclononene carboxamide derivatives and tested their anti-HIV-1 activity and cytotoxicity. We found that benzoimidazol-containing compound 7g was highly effective in inhibiting HIV-1 R5 infection with an IC(50) value of 0.41 microM and a selectivity index of 292, but it exhibited no significant inhibitory activity on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease. CoMFA was used to analyze structure-activity relationships with good predictive power (r(2) = 0.921; q(2) = 0.582). Moreover, the CoMFA model showed that the length of the molecule, the amide, and the amine moieties all played crucial roles in anti-HIV activity. These results suggest that 7g may serve as a lead for the development of novel anti-HIV-1 therapies.

[Application of reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography for universal estimation of octanol-water partition coefficients of acid, basic and amphoteric drugs].

This paper is to establish a reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography (RP-IPC) method for universal estimation of the octanol/water partition coefficients (logP) of a wide range of structurally diverse compounds including acidic, basic, neutral and amphoteric species. The retention factors corresponding to 100% water (logk(w)) were derived from the linear part of the logk'/phi relationship, using at least four isocratic logk' values containing different organic compositions. The logk(w) parameters obtained were close to the corresponding logP values obtained with the standard "shake flask" methods. The mean deviation for test drugs is 0.31. RP-IPC with trifluoroacetic acid as non classic ion-pair agents can be applicable to determine the logP values for a variety of drug-like molecules with increased accuracy.

Analgesic activity of ZC88, a novel N-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker, and its modulation of morphine analgesia, tolerance and dependence.

ZC88 is a novel non-peptide N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker synthesized by our institute. In the present study, the oral analgesic activity of ZC88 in animal models of acute and neuropathic pain, and functional interactions between ZC88 and morphine in terms of analgesia, tolerance and dependence were investigated. In mice acetic acid writhing tests, ZC88 (10-80 mg/kg) administered by oral route showed significant antinociceptive effects in a dose-dependent manner. The ED50 values of ZC88 were 14.5 and 14.3 mg/kg in male and female mice, respectively. In sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury rats, mechanical allodynia was ameliorated by oral administration of ZC88 at doses of 14, 28 and 56 mg/kg, suggesting ZC88 relieved allodynic response of neuropathic pain. When concurrently administered with morphine, ZC88 (20-80 mg/kg) dose-dependently potentiated morphine analgesia and attenuated morphine analgesic tolerance in hot-plate tests. ZC88 also prevented chronic exposure to morphine-induced physical dependence and withdrawal, but not morphine-induced psychological dependence in conditioned place preference model. These results suggested that ZC88, a new non-peptide N-type calcium channel blocker, had notable oral analgesia and anti-allodynia for acute and neuropathic pain. ZC88 might be used in pain relief by either application alone or in combination with opioids because it enhanced morphine analgesia while prevented morphine-induced tolerance and physical dependence.

Inhibitory effect of linomide on lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in RAW264.7 macrophages through suppression of NF-kappaB, p38, and JNK activation.

Linomide is an immunomodulator that can effectively inhibit the development of several autoimmune diseases in animal models. Previously, linomide was shown to influence macrophage function, although the mechanism was elusive. In this study, we investigated the effect of linomide on the macrophage inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro on the murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Linomide exposure reduced LPS-evoked TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner. Gel shift and reporter gene analyses revealed linomide inhibited LPS-induced NF-kappaB binding to the NF-kappaB consensus oligonucleotide and NF-kappaB-mediated reporter gene expression. Immunoblot analysis showed that linomide inhibited phosphorylation of p38 kinase and c-jun N terminal kinase (JNK) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that linomide inhibits TNF-alpha production by suppressing the activation of NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which might, at least in part, contribute to the beneficial effects of linomide in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Roquinimex-mediated protection effect on the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice is associated with induction of Th1 cytokine production and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production.

Roquinimex is an immunomodulator that can effectively inhibit the development of several autoimmune diseases in animal models, but the mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of roquinimex on chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in mice, a well-established model for human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Oral administration of roquinimex significantly suppressed the development of proteinuria and ameliorated nephritis symptoms in chronic GVHD mice. In addition, renal histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies revealed reduced glomerulonephritis and decreased IgG deposition in chronic GVHD mice treated with roquinimex. Chronic GVHD is characterized by a predominance of Th2 cytokines, and proinflammatory cytokines that also play an important role in the pathology of tissue damage. Therefore, we focused on the effect of roquinimex on cytokine production. Chronic GVHD mouse splenocytes exhibited severely reduced interferon (IFN)-gamma production in response to Concanavalin (Con A) stimulation and an overt Th2 skewness. Roquinimex treatment, however, induced IFN-gamma production and restored the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, although only a minimal effect of roquinimex on interleukin (IL)-4 secretion was observed. The production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta by peritoneal macrophages from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated GVHD mice was significantly inhibited by roquinimex treatment. These data suggested that the beneficial effect of roquinimex on lupus might, at least in part, result from a restoration of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production.

[Preparation of transdermal drug delivery system of felodipine-metoprolol and its bioavailability in rabbits].

To prepare transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) of felodipine and metoprolol and to study its pharmaceutical characteristics, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in rabbits, an HPLC assay was established for the simultaneous determination of felodipine and metoprolol in the permeation receptor and patch. The permeation rate and permeation mechanism of felodipine-metoprolol-TDDS through rabbit skin in vitro was examined. The determination of drug content, the examination of content uniformity and stability of the TDDS were carried out. GC-ECD assays were established for the determination of felodipine and metoprolol in plasma separately and then employed to study the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of felodipine and metoprolol after a single dose of oral or transdermal administration in rabbits. The results indicated that the permeation of flodipine and metoprolol from the patch through excised rabbit skin exhibited zero-order kinetic characteristics. The determination of drug content and the quality control of content uniformity of the patch accorded with Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China of 2005 edition and the pharmaceutical characterization showed good stability. In contrast to oral delivery, relatively constant, sustained blood concentration with minimal fluctuation and prolonged peak time were observed over a long period after transdermal administration. The relative bioavailability of felodipine and metoprolol were 275.37% and 189.76% versus oral administration respectively. It was evident that the felodipine-metoprolol-TDDS exhibited good controlled release properties that satisfied the demands of original design that enhancing bioavailability and maintaining appropriate blood levels for a prolonged time without adverse effects associated with frequent oral administration.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 4-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives as an immunomodulator.

A series of novel quinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity. The compounds were tested in vitro for effects on spleen lymphocyte proliferation and TNF-alpha production by macrophage. Three compounds showed immunomodulatory profiles similar to and more potent than those of linomide and FR137316 and were selected for further pharmacological studies in vivo.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 4-alkylamino-1-hydroxymethylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines as adenosine A(1) receptor antagonists.

A series of 4-alkylamino-1-hydroxymethylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines have been synthesized and evaluated for their adenosine A(1) receptor inhibitory activity in the radioligand binding assays. The compounds were tested for the inhibition percent (IP) and the affinity toward A(1)AR (K(i)) that IP were more than 90% in the nanomolar range. 4-Cyclopentylamino-7,8-dichloro-1-hydroxymethylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxaline 18 is the most potent compound in this series, having K(i)=7nM, which is remarkably higher than that of IRFI-165 (K(i)=48). 1-Hydroxymethyl groups of the tricyclic heteroarmatic compounds displayed the potent affinities toward A(1)AR.