Synergistic reduction of HIV-1 infectivity by 5-azacytidine and inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase.

Although many compounds have been approved for the treatment of human immunodeficiency type-1 (HIV-1) infection, additional anti-HIV-1 drugs (particularly those belonging to new drug classes) are still needed due to issues such as long-term drug-associated toxicities, transmission of drug-resistant variants, and development of multi-class resistance. Lethal mutagenesis represents an antiviral strategy that has not yet been clinically translated for HIV-1 and is based on the use of small molecules to induce excessive levels of deleterious mutations within the viral genome. Here, we show that 5-azacytidine (5-aza-C), a ribonucleoside analog that induces the lethal mutagenesis of HIV-1, and multiple inhibitors of the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) interact in a synergistic fashion to more effectively reduce the infectivity of HIV-1. In these drug combinations, RNR inhibitors failed to significantly inhibit the conversion of 5-aza-C to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, suggesting that 5-aza-C acts primarily as a deoxyribonucleoside even in the presence of RNR inhibitors. The mechanism of antiviral synergy was further investigated for the combination of 5-aza-C and one specific RNR inhibitor, resveratrol, as this combination improved the selectivity index of 5-aza-C to the greatest extent. Antiviral synergy was found to be primarily due to the reduced accumulation of reverse transcription products rather than the enhancement of viral mutagenesis. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first demonstration of antiretroviral synergy between a ribonucleoside analog and RNR inhibitors, and encourage the development of additional ribonucleoside analogs and RNR inhibitors with improved antiretroviral activity.

Synthesis and Comparative Study of Anti-Adenoviral Activity of 6-Azacytidine and Its Analogues.

This paper presents the results of synthesis and study of cytotoxicity and the anti-adenoviral activity of new N4-derivatives of 6-azacytidine and its α-L-glycopyranosyl analogues obtained by the simplified one-pot version of the silyl condensation method. The resulting acylated 4-methylmercapto-1,2,4-triazin-3(2Н)-one glycosides then underwent the amination and/or ammonolysis to provide 6-azacytidine glycoside analogues (2-6, 12, 15, 17) and compounds with modifications at both base and sugar fragments (11, 15). The evaluation of cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of new compounds against AdV5 showed high selectivity indexes for N4-methyl-6-azacytidine (2) and N,O-tetraacetyl-6-azacytidine (8). High anti-adenoviral activity of N4-methyl-6-azacytidine as well as very low cytotoxicity may suggest its further investigation as potential compound for the therapy of AdV infection.

Characterization of azacytidine/poly(L-lactic) acid particles prepared by supercritical antisolvent precipitation.

A controlled azacytidine release system based on drug encapsulation with a polymer material has been prepared and characterized. The drug systems were prepared by precipitation from solutions, using supercritical CO2 antisolvent technique operating in a semi-continuous mode. Azacytidine was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide and poly-lactic acid in methylene chloride. The two solutions were mixed before being sprayed into the supercritical reactor. Experimental conditions were 40 degrees C for temperature, 11 MPa for pressure, and a CO2 flow rate of 30 ml min(-1). The precipitated drug-polymer particles were further characterized to determine the percentage of encapsulated drug and establish the delivery kinetics under various release conditions. A sustained delivery of the drug over a period of various hours was obtained. Besides, an improved stability of the coated drug with respect to the pure azacytidine was found, thus proving the suitability of this approach for dealing with unstable compounds.

Highly efficient regioselective synthesis of 5'-O-lauroyl-5-azacytidine catalyzed by Candida antarctica Lipase B.

Enzymatic regioselective acylation of 5-azacytidine with vinyl laurate was successfully conducted with an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica type B (i.e., Novozym 435) for the first time. The acylation of 5-azacytidine took place at its primary hydroxyl group and the desired product 5'-O -lauroyl-5-azacytidine could be prepared with high reaction rate, high conversion, and excellent regioselectivity. The influences of several key variables on the enzymatic acylation were also systematically examined. Pyridine was found to be the best reaction medium. The optimum initial water activity, the molar ratio of vinyl laurate to 5-azacytidine and reaction temperature were 0.07, 30:1, and 50 degrees C, respectively. Under the optimized conditions described above, the initial reaction rate, the substrate conversion, and the regioselectivity were as high as 0.58 mM/min, 95.5%, and >99%, respectively, after a reaction time of around 5 h.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activities of 5-azacytidine analogues in human leukemia cells.

Twenty-six 5-azacytidine analogues have been synthesized, including 4-amino- 6-alkyl-1-pyranosyl/ribofuranosyl-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-ones 1a-j, 6-amino-4-alkyl/aryl-1- pyranosyl/ribofuranosyl-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-ones 2a-f and 4-amino-6-alkyl-1,3,5-triazin-2- yl-1-thio-pyranosides/ribofuranosides 3a-j. The antiproliferative activities of these synthetic analogues were investigated in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Ribofuranosyl S-nucleoside 3a, a bioisostere of 5-azacytidine, had a similar antiproliferative ability as that of the latter. Introduction of a methyl at the 6 position of 5-azacytidine and/or replacement of the ribofuranosyl moiety with pyranosyl sugars or disaccharides significantly decreased the antiproliferative activities of the 5-azacytidine derivatives. Several compounds with the replacement of pyranosyl sugars enhanced all-trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation ability in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Synthesis of 5-azacytidine nucleosides with rigid sugar moiety as potential antitumor agents.

The bicyclic 3'-O,5'-C-methylene-linked and 2'-O,5'-C-methylene-linked 5-azacytidine derivatives were readily synthesized from 1,2;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glucose and evaluated against several cancer cell lines.

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of some novel 5-azacytosine nucleosides.

1-O-Acetyl-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-4-thio-D-erythro-pentofuranose and 2-deoxy-1,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-4-thio-L-threo-pentofuranose were coupled with 5-azacytosine to obtain alpha and beta anomers of nucleosides. All four nucleosides were reduced to the corresponding dihydro derivatives and deblocked to give target compounds. All eight target compounds were evaluated in a series of human cancer cell lines in culture. Only 2'-deoxy-4'-thio-5-azacytidine (3beta) was found to be cytotoxic in all the cell lines and was further evaluated in vivo. Details of the synthesis and biological activity are reported.

Unnatural enantiomers of 5-azacytidine analogues: syntheses and enzymatic properties.

2'-Deoxy-beta-L-5-azacytidine(L-Decitabine), beta-L-5-azacytidine, and derivatives were stereospecifically prepared starting from L-ribose or L-xylose. D- and L-enantiomers of 2'-deoxy-beta-5-azacytidine were weak substrates of human recombinant deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), whereas both enantiomers of beta-5-azacytidine or the L-xylo-analogues were not substrates of the enzyme. None of the reported derivatives of beta-L-5-azacytidine was a substrate of human recombinant cytidine deaminase (CDA).

Unnatural enantiomers of 5-azacytidine analogues: syntheses and enzymatic properties.

Although 2'-deoxy-beta-D-5-azacytidine (Decitabine) and beta-D-5-azacytidine display potent antileukemic properties, their therapeutic use is hampered by their sensitivity to nucleophiles and to deamination catalysed by cytidine deaminase. As shown earlier [Shafiee M., Griffon J.-F., Gosselin G., Cambi A., Vincenzetti S., Vita A., Erikson S., Imbach J.-L., Maury G., Biochem. Pharmacol. 56 (1998) 1237-1242], beta-L-enantiomers of cytidine derivatives are resistant to cytidine deaminase. We thus synthesized several 5-azacytosine beta-L-nucleoside analogues to evaluate their enzymatic and biological properties. 2'-Deoxy-beta-L-5-azacytidine (L-Decitabine), beta-L-5-azacytidine, 1-(beta-L-xylo-furanosyl)5-azacytosine, and 1-(2-deoxy-beta-L-threo-pentofuranosyl)5-azacytosine were stereospecifically prepared starting from L-ribose and L-xylose. D- and L-enantiomers of 2'-deoxy-beta-5-azacytidine were weak substrates of human recombinant deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) compared to beta-D-deoxycytidine, whereas both enantiomers of beta-5-azacytidine or the L-xylo-analogues were not substrates of the enzyme. As expected, none of the presently reported derivatives of beta-L-5-azacytidine was a substrate of human recombinant cytidine deaminase (CDA). The prepared compounds were tested for their activity against HIV and HBV and they did not show any significant activity or cytotoxicity. In the case of L-Decitabine, this suggests that the enantioselectivities of concerned enzymes other than dCK and CDA might not be favourable.

Synthesis and characterization of poly[d(G-z5C)]. B-Z transition and inhibition of DNA methylase.

Deoxy-5-azacytidine 5'-triphosphate was synthesized and used as a substrate for the enzymatic synthesis of the polynucleotide poly[d(G-z5C)]. Whereas the triphosphate decomposes in solution, the azacytosine analogue incorporated into DNA is stable under conditions preserving the double-helical structure. Poly[d(G-z5C)] undergoes the transition to the left-handed Z conformation at salt (NaCl and MgCl2) concentrations approximately 30% higher than those required for unsubstituted poly[d(G-C)]. However, the incorporation of azacytidine potentiates the formation at room temperature of the Z helix stabilized by the transition metal Mn2+; in the case of poly[d(G-C)], a heating step is required. The spectral properties of the two polymers in the B and Z forms are similar. Both left-handed forms are recognized by anti-Z DNA immunoglobulins, indicating that the DNAs bear common antigenic features. Poly[d(G-z5C)] is not a substrate for the DNA cytosine 5-methyltransferase from human placenta. It is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme when tested in a competitive binding assay. These results are compatible with a very strong, possibly covalent, mode of interaction between methyltransferases and DNA containing 5-azacytosine.

Chemical synthesis of 5-azacytidine nucleotides and preparation of tRNAs containing 5-azacytidine in its 3'-terminus.

5-azacytidine-5'-triphosphate prepared from 5-azacytidine by chemical phosphorylation is a substrate for AMP (CMP) tRNA nucleotidyl transferase from yeast. tRNAsPhe from yeast containing 5-azacytidine in their 3'-termini were prepared enzymatically. tRNAPhe-Cpn5CpA and tRNAPhe-n5Cpn5CpA can be aminoacylated by phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast and they are active in the poly(U)-dependent synthesis of poly(Phe) on E. coli ribosomes. The decomposition of 5-azacytidine via hydrolysis of the triazine ring is significantly accelerated by a phosphate group on the 5'-position of the nucleotide. After the incorporation of 5-azacytidine-5'-phosphate into a polynucleotide chain the rate of hydrolysis of the triazine ring decreases considerably.

Synthesis and biological activity of 2'-deoxy-6-methyl-5-azacytidine and its alpha-D-anomer.

The stannic chloride catalyzed glycosylation of bis-tri-methylsilyl-6-methyl-5-azacytosine 2 with the halogenose 3 leading to the protected anomeric nucleosides 4a and 4b was investigated. Methanolysis of 4a and 4b afforded the corresponding free nucleosides 1a and 1b. Compounds 4a and 4b were also prepared by the isocyanate method via acetylamidinourea derivatives 6. Antileukemic activity in vitro and inhibition of growth of E. coli by the title compounds are reported.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 5-azacytosine arabinoside.

5-Azacytosine arabinoside (ara-AC) can be considered a combination of structural elements derived from the antitumor nucleosides cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and 5-azacytidine (5-AC). The synthesis of ara-AC, for which standard methods were inadequate, was accomplished using the stable dihydro derivative as a synthetic intermediate. A novel dehydrogenation of the latter through the application of a trimethylsilylation-oxidation procedure gave ara-AC in good yield. Using murine L1210 leukemia as a test system, ara-AC was evaluated for antitumor properties in parallel determinations with 5-AC and ara-C. Although higher dose levels were necessary, ara-AC demonstrated a reproducibly greater efficacy in the L1210 system (% ILS = 144-148) than that shown by 5-AC (% ILS = 126-124) or ara-C (% ILS=127-121 ). Moreover, initial data suggest that ara-AC exhibits less host toxicity than either 5-AC or ARA-C. Although ara-AC can equally be considered an analogue of either 5-AC or ara-C, preliminary results indicate that ara-AC is chemically similar to 5-AC but biologically more closely related to ara-C.

Synthesis of 5-azacytidine-6-13C and -6-14C.

5-Azacytidine (1) labeled with 13C or 14C at the chemically labile C-6 position was synthesized. A method utilizing hydrolytic opening of the triazine ring followed by recyclization with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal was used. Urinary and biliary excretion was measured in rabbits following intravenous doses of 1-4-14C and 1-6-14C. Differences in recoveries of the dose from 4-14C and 6-14C demonstrate that ring cleavage of 1 with loss of the C-6 carbon represents a major metabolite route.