Cell permeability as a parameter for lead generation in the protein Tyrosine kinase inhibition field.

Based on the inverse relationship between polar surface area and cell permeability and capitalizing on the properties of pyrrolopyrimidines 1 as protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, pyrrolopyridones 2 were designed and synthesized as potential leads for the development of novel inhibitors with improved cell permeability properties.

Aromatic quinolinecarboxamides as selective, orally active antibody production inhibitors for prevention of acute xenograft rejection.

The prevention of xenograft rejection is substantially dependent on inhibiting antibodies (Ab) produced by B-cells independently of T-cell signals (TI-1). Due to their ubiquitous biochemical mechanisms of action, the immunosuppressants currently employed not only fail to discriminate between B- and T-cells but also have a narrow therapeutic window and, thus, their prolonged use in complex immunosuppressive regimens is problematic. By capitalizing on the target enzyme-bound (DHODH) structure 1b of one of these compounds, leflunomide, and modulating part of its multiple mechanisms of action to gain selectivity, the quinoline-8-carboxamide 3 was designed as a potentially weak enzyme inhibitor but effective immunosuppressant. Compound 3 fulfilled the mechanistic criteria set and had 10-fold B-cell over T-cell selectivity. Its pyridyl analogue 4 was found to be a highly potent and selective B-cell immunosuppressant with a 75-fold selectivity for B- over T-cells (as judged by the MLR data) and no general cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 160-fold higher than those required to inhibit B-cells. In the mouse, 4 effectively blocked TI-1 Ab production and suppressed Ab-mediated xenograft rejection in a xenotransplantation model under a once-daily dosing regimen, with efficacy down to 0.3 mg/kg/day po. These are the first data demonstrating the feasibility of the development of drugs specific for impeding Ab production.

The role of water molecules in the structure-based design of (5-hydroxynorvaline)-2-cyclosporin: synthesis, biological activity, and crystallographic analysis with cyclophilin A.

Analysis of the contact surface of the cyclophilin A (CypA)/cyclosporin A (CsA, 1) crystal structure delineates a unique cavity between both molecules in the vicinity of the Abu-2 side chain atoms of 1 (Abu pocket). Therefore, (5-hydroxynorvaline)-2-cyclosporin (2) was designed and prepared as a CsA derivative which could mediate additional interactions within the pocket. The X-ray crystal structure of the CypA/2 complex at 1.76 A resolution shows that 1 and 2 have identical backbone conformations and that the introduced hydroxypropyl chain makes indeed the expected supplemental interactions with CypA. However, 2 has 8-9-fold lower binding affinity than 1 for CypA. This results from a presumed unfavorable free energy change associated with the displacement of one of the tightly bound water molecules within the pocket and a change in prebinding equilibria. The role of the later was assessed by comparing the conformation distribution of 1 and 2 to that of norvaline-2-cyclosporin (3) and norvaline-2-(D-MeSer)-3-cyclosporin (4).