Synthesis and immunobiological activity of base substituted 2-amino-3-(purin-9-yl)propanoic acid derivatives

2-Amino-3-(purin-9-yl)propanoic acids substituted at position 6 of the purine base moiety by dimethylamino, cyclopropylamino, pyrrolidin-1-yl, hydroxy, and sulfanyl group as well as their 2-aminopurine analogues were prepared from corresponding 9-(2,2-diethoxyethyl)purines and 2-aminopurines, respectively, by the Strecker synthesis. 2-Aminopropanoic acid derivatives were tested for their immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory potency. Some of these compounds significantly enhanced secretion of chemokines RANTES and MIP-1alpha, the most potent was 2-amino-6-sulfanylpurine derivative. Most of these compounds also augmented NO biosynthesis triggered primarily by IFN-gamma.