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.     

Suppression of nuclear ADP-ribosyltransferase activity in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by 5-azacytidine and its analogs

The exposure of freshly isolated, activity growing Ehrlich ascites tumor cells to the antileukemic agent 5-azacytidine and its analogs, 5-azacytosine (but not 6-azacytosine), 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and, in particular, 5-fluorocytidine in the serum-free medium caused a time- and dose-dependent suppression of the nuclear ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. The azacytidine suppression was apparently dependent on the cellular activity of DNA synthesis but not related to the nuclear activity of DNA methylation, indicating the 5-azacytidine incorporation into DNA, but not drug-induced hypomethylation of DNA, being responsible for the 5-azacytidine-suppression of chromatin-bound ADP-ribosyltransferase.     

6-azacytidine--compound with wide spectrum of antiviral activity

6-azacytidine demonstrates activity against adenoviruses types 1, 2, 5. It inhibit synthesis of viral DNA and proteins. 6-AC shows antiherpetic and antiinfluenza action during experimental infection in mice. 6-AC is prospective for drug development as an antiviral substance with a wide spectrum of activity.     

6-AZACYTIDINE - COMPOUND WITH WIDE SPECTRUM OF ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY

6-azacytidine demonstrates activity against adenoviruses types 1, 2, 5. It inhibit synthesis of viral DNA and proteins. 6-AC shows antiherpetic and antiinfluenza action during experimental infection in mice. 6-AC is prospective for drug development as an antiviral substance with a wide spectrum of activity.     

The effect of 5-azacytidine on the growth and thymidine kinase activity of coleoptile sections ofTriticum

The growth of coleoptile sections ofTriticum and its stimulation by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are inhibited by 5-azacytidine added into the cultivation medium. 50 per cent depression of the elongation was observed at 2×10^?3M 5-azacytidine concentration. Thymidine kinase activity in cell-free extracts prepared from coleoptile sections treated with 5-azacytidine, and caleulated per 10 mg of their wet weight, is increased while IAA administration resulted in its depression. The observed changes in thymidine kinase activity can be explained assuming the different uptake of water due to 5-azacytidine and IAA treatment.     

5-Azacytidine increases the activity of neomycin phosphotransferase II in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum: A posttranslational mechanism may play a role

In previous studies, tobacco protoplasts were transformed with the bacterial gene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II). Transformed calluses lost neomycin phosphotransferase II activity after several subcultures. Treatment of calluses with 5-azacytidine, a demethylating agent, restored enzyme activity, suggesting that methylation of npt II sequences might be responsible for loss of NPT II activity. Studies presented here were designed to test that hypothesis. Results indicated that the effect of 5-azacytidine could not be blocked by the DNA replication inhibitor, hydroxyurea, nor by the 5-azacytidine analogue, cytidine as would be expected with a DNA demethylation mechanism. The level of NPT II mRNA was not increased by 5-azacytidine. Treatment with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, had no effect on 5-azacytidine-increased NPT II activity. There was no increase of NPT II protein caused by 5-azacytidine, whereas 5-azacytidine increased activity of NPT II. In contrast, the auxin 2,4-D increased both the NPT II protein and activity. Assays for malate dehydrogenase demonstrated that the effect of 5-azacytidine and hydroxyurea on NPT II was not due to an overall effect on callus metabolism. In vitro studies involving standard bacterial NPT II enzyme and crude extracts from untreated and 5-azacytidine- or hydroxyurea-treated calluses showed that the activity of NPT II added to the untreated extracts was lower than the activity of NPT II added to the extracts from calluses treated with 5-azacytidine or hydroxyurea, indicating that there was an unknown factor (or factors) in callus extracts which affected the activity of NPT II and itself was affected by 5-azacytidine and hydroxyurea treatment. These results suggested that one effect of 5-azacytidine in increasing NPT II activity was posttranslational.Abbreviations ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - NOS nopalene synthase - nos DNA segment encoding NOS - NPT II neomycin phosphotransferase - npt II DNA segment encoding NPT II - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Enhanced uridine kinase and RNA synthesis in regenerating rat liver after 5-azacytidine administration

The administration of 5-azacytidine to partially hepatectomized rats results in the increase of uridine kinase activity in cell-free liver extracts 24–72 hr after drug administration. At the same time the activity of uridine phosphorylase and of uridine 5′-nucleotidase is decreased, while uridinemonophosphate kinase and uridine 5′-triphosphatase are not affected. The repeated administration of 5-azacytidine leads to a further enhancement of uridine kinase which is 6- to 8-fold higher in 96-hr regenerating livers than in untreated controls. Simultaneously the enhanced incorporation of uridine into liver ribonucleic acids was observed. The metabolic alterations occurring in the liver at later phases after 5-azacytidine in vivo administration are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2'-methylene-substituted 5-azapyrimidine, 6-azapyrimidine, and 3-deazaguanine nucleoside analogues as potential antitumor/antiviral agents

2'-Deoxy-2'-methylene-6-azauridine (5) and 2'-deoxy-2'-methylene-6-azacytidine (8) have been synthesized via a multi-step procedure from 6-azauridine. 2'-Deoxy-2'-methylene-5-azacytidine (14a) and 2'-deoxy-2'-methylene-3-deazaguanosine (19a) and their corresponding alpha-anomers (14b and 19b) have been synthesized by the transglycosylation of 3',5'-O-(1,1,3,3- tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-methyleneu ridine (12) with silylated 5-azacytosine and silylated N2-palmitoyl-3-deazaguanine, respectively, in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as the catalyst in anhydrous dichloroethane, followed by separation of the isomers and deprotection of the blocking groups. These compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against B16F10, L1210, and CCRF-CEM tumor cell lines and for antiviral activity against HIV-1, HSV-1, and HSV-2.     

Alterations in differentiation and pyrimidine pathway enzymes in 5-azacytidine resistant variants of a myoblast line.

5-azacytidine at concentrations higher than 5 muM inhibited the differentiation of a rat myoblast line in vitro. It was also somewhat cytotoxic at this level. Variants resistant to the cytotoxic effect of 5-azacytidine were obtained which were simultaneously unable to differentiate into myotubes and exhibited altered morphology. These characteristics were retained by the variants when subcultured in the absence of the drug for over 700 generations. Several of the azacytidine resistant cells were more susceptible than the parental line to the lethal action of 5-bromodeoxyuridine and adenosine, but not that of cytosine arabinoside, ouabain or 8-azaguanine. The variants were capable of transporting uridine, thymidine and 5-azacytidine. The uridine kinase activity was one-half to one-third of than in the parental cells but it was not missing completely in any of the variants. Two independently isolated variants selected for detailed study showed a 2- to 3-fold increase in the activity of orotidylic acid decarboxylase. This enzyme in the variants in contrast to that of the parental cells was completely insensitive to the inhibitory effect of a nucleotide generated from ATP and 5-azacytidine in cell extracts (probably 5-azacytidine monophosphate). These observations point to the possibility the 5-azacytidine resistance arises in myoblasts due to an alteration of the components of two target pathways of this drug, viz., the de novo pyrimidine pathway and an undefined sequence leading to the synthesis of membrane components.     

Frequency of reactivation and variability in expression of X-linked enzyme loci.

A mouse-human cell hybrid clone retaining an inactive human X chromosome was treated with 5-azacytidine. Following treatment, expression of the X-linked enzyme markers, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), and alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) was examined. Results presented here show that 45 of the 62 clones positive for human HPRT expressed human GLA, while only four of 68 clones negative for human HPRT expressed human GLA. These results strongly suggest that there is coordinate reactivation of GLA and HPRT. Reactivated expression of G6PD was studied in detail. The studies show that 5-azacytidine can induce heritable changes in the inactive human X chromosome resulting in the expression of G6PD activity at a level lower than that from an active human X chromosome.     

Uridine kinase in embryonic rat liver. Modulation of enzyme activity by 5-azacytidine

Uridine kinase activity in rat liver decreases during embryonic and postnatal development. Administration of 5-azacytidine enhances liver uridine kinase activity in adult rats, but depresses it in embryos. The liver enzymes from the foetus and the adult are precipitated at different (NH(4))(2)SO(4) concentrations although they are eluted at about the same position on chromatography on a column of Sepharose 6B.     

Effect of 5-azacytidine on DNA methylation in Ehrlich's ascites tumor cells

5-Azacytidine inhibited in vivo DNA methylation in Ehrlich's ascites tumor cells depending upon the dose at which 5-azacytidine did not inhibit DNA synthesis significantly. This drug did not inhibit DNA methylation in vitro. The DNA methylase activity in ascitic cells decreased with the increasing dose of 5-azacytidine. Hypomethylated DNA was obtained from the 5-azacytidine treated ascitic cells.     

Molecular orbital studies on nucleoside analogs. II. Conformation of 6-azapyrimidine nucleosides.

PCILO (Perturbative Configuration Interaction using Localised Orbitals) computations have been carried out for three 6-azapyrimidine nucleosides, 6-azauridine, 6-azacytidine and 6-azathymidine, for both C(2')-endo and C(3')-endo pucker of the sugar ring. The results indicate a syn (chiCN=180 degrees) conformation followed by chiCN=90 degrees and gg conformation for C(3')-endo 6-aza analogs as compareed to the anti (chiCN=0 degrees) and gg conformation preferred by the corresponding pyrimidine nucleosides. For C(2')-endo sugar geometry, 6-azauridine and 6-azacytidine prefer, respectively, chiCN=0 degrees (anti) and phi C(4')-C(5')=60 degrees C (gg) and chiCN-240 degrees (syn) and phi C(4')-C(5')=120 degrees. The corresponding nucleosides, uridine and cytidine, show a preference for syn (chiCN=240 degrees) and gg and anti(chiCN=0 degrees) and gg , respectively. The X-ray crystallographic conformations of 6-azauridine and 6-azacytidine have been attributed to intermolecular hydrogen bonding and crystal packing forces. The results of PMR, CD and ORD studies on 6-azauridine and 6-azacytidine in aqueous solutions are in agreement with the PCILO predictions.     

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).     

Induction of a step in carcinogenesis that is normally associated with mutagenesis by nonmutagenic concentrations of 5-azacytidine.

The permanent cell line BHK-21/cl 13 can be transformed by mutagenic carcinogens as the result of the induction of a recessive somatic mutation. Yet when these cells were treated with 5-azacytidine under conditions in which no mutants resistant to either ouabain or 6-thioguanine could be detected, they were transformed efficiently. These transformants were induced, not selected. 6-Azacytidine was ineffective at transforming BHK cells; 2'-deoxy-5-azacytidine was exceptionally effective. When tested by cell fusion, transformants induced by 5-azacytidine fell into the same complementation group as those induced by highly mutagenic carcinogens, but they were phenotypically distinct in that they were unstable during prolonged passage and rarely displayed the temperature-limited phenotypes so common among BHK transformants induced by strongly mutagenic carcinogens. These results raise the possibility that a cell can be induced by either genetic or epigenetic means to traverse the same single step in carcinogenesis.     

5-Azacytidine enhances the anti-leukemic activity of lintuzumab (SGN-33) in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia

Despite therapeutic advances, the poor prognoses for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) point to the need for better treatment options. AML and MDS cells express the myeloid marker CD33, making it amenable to CD33-targeted therapy. Lintuzumab (SGN-33), a humanized monoclonal anti-CD33 antibody undergoing clinical evaluation, induced meaningful responses in a Phase 1 clinical trial and demonstrated anti-leukemic activity in preclinical models. Recently, it was reported that 5-azacytidine (Vidaza?) prolonged the overall survival of a group of high risk MDS and AML patients. To determine whether the combination of lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine would be beneficial, a mouse xenograft model of disseminated AML was used to evaluate the combination. There was a significant reduction in tumor burden and an increase in overall survival in mice treated with lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine. The effects were greater than that obtained with either agent alone. As the in vivo anti-leukemic activity of lintuzumab was dependent upon the presence of mouse effector cells including macrophages and neutrophils, in vitro effector function assays were used to assess the impact of 5-azacytidine on lintuzumab activity. The results show that 5-azacytidine significantly enhanced the ability of lintuzumab to promote tumor cell killing through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and phagocytic (ADCP) activities. These results suggest that lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine act in concert to promote tumor cell killing. Additionally, these findings provide the rationale to evaluate this combination in the clinic.     

Meiotic transmission of T-DNA genes inArabidopsis thaliana plants and their expression after 5-azacytidine treatment

Arabidopsis thaliana tumors were induced by octopine strain ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens B6S3 and its derivatives with modified T-DNA. Flowering shoots appeared sponta-neously onin vitro cultivated tumors and set seeds. R₁ and R₂ progeny of octopine synthesizing plants segregated in opine synthesis activities 3:1 and 15:1. Octopine synthase activity showed absolute linkage with agropine synthesis in most lines. In R₃ and R₄ progenies, the fraction of octopine synthase and agropine synthesis positive plants was lower than expected, but Mendelian segregation was restored if plants were cultivated on medium with 5-azacytidine. The most probable mechanism of disapearance of opine synthesis is cytosine methylation. The effect of 5-azacytidine lasted for at least next two generations.     

6-Methyl-5-Azacytidine-Synthesis,Conformational Properties and Biological Activity. A Comparison of Molecular Conformation with 5-Azacytidine

Abstract

The title compound was prepared by the isocyanate procedure and the tri-methylsilyl method. The measurement of ¹H NMR spectrum of 6-methyl-5-azacytidine (1) revealed a preference of γ^t (46%) rotamer around C(5′)-C(4′) bond, a predominance of N conformation of the ribose ring (K_eq 0.33) and a preference of syn conformation around the C-N glycosyl bond. An analogous measurement of 5-azacytidine has shown a preference of γ⁺ (60%) rotamer around the C(5′)-C(4′) bond, a predominance of N conformation of the ribose ring (K_eq 0.41) and a preference of anti conformation around the C-N glycosyl bond. 6-Methyl-5-azacytidine (1) inhibits the growth of bacteria E. coli to the extent of 85% at 4000 μM concentration and the growth of LoVo/L, a human colon carcinoma cell line, to the extent of 30% at 100 μM concentration but did not inhibit L1210 cells at ≤ 100 μM concentration. 6-Methyl-5-azacytidine (1) exhibited no in vitro antiviral activity at ≤ 1 μM concentration.

     

5-azacytidine enhances the anti-leukemic activity of lintuzumab (SGN-33) in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia

Despite therapeutic advances, the poor prognoses for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) point to the need for better treatment options. AML and MDS cells express the myeloid marker CD33, making it amenable to CD33-targeted therapy. Lintuzumab (SGN-33), a humanized monoclonal anti-CD33 antibody undergoing clinical evaluation, induced meaningful responses in a Phase 1 clinical trial and demonstrated anti-leukemic activity in preclinical models. Recently, it was reported that 5-azacytidine (Vidaza™) prolonged the overall survival of a group of high risk MDS and AML patients. To determine whether the combination of lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine would be beneficial, a mouse xenograft model of disseminated AML was used to evaluate the combination. There was a significant reduction in tumor burden and an increase in overall survival in mice treated with lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine. The effects were greater than that obtained with either agent alone. As the in vivo anti-leukemic activity of lintuzumab was dependent upon the presence of mouse effector cells including macrophages and neutrophils, in vitro effector function assays were used to assess the impact of 5-azacytidine on lintuzumab activity. The results show that 5-azacytidine significantly enhanced the ability of lintuzumab to promote tumor cell killing through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and phagocytic (ADCP) activities. These results suggest that lintuzumab and 5-azacytidine act in concert to promote tumor cell killing. Additionally, these findings provide the rationale to evaluate this combination in the clinic.Key words: CD33, monoclonal antibody, immunotherapy, myeloid malignancies, 5-azacytidine, epigenetic therapies, hypermethylation, effector function     

UNNATURAL ENANTIOMERS OF 5-AZACYTIDINE ANALOGUES: SYNTHESES AND ENZYMATIC PROPERTIES

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