Mechanism responsible for the hypoglycemic action of 2-alkoxy-2-propenylidene methanaminiums

2-Alkoxy-2-propenylidene methanaminiums inhibited gluconeogenesis and stimulated glycolysis by hepatocytes isolated from 48-h-fasted rats and fasted-refed rats, respectively. The order of effectiveness of these compounds was the same as the hypoglycemic response of intact rats found in other studies, i.e., butoxy greater than propoxy greater than ethoxy derivative. Lactate/pyruvate and beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratios were elevated whereas cellular ATP concentration was decreased by these compounds. The butoxy derivative inhibited the oxidation of [U-14C]glucose to 14CO2 but increased glucose utilization and lactate accumulation by isolated rat diaphragms. The butoxy derivative also inhibited site I reversed electron transfer and the oxidation of NAD+-linked substrates but not succinate by isolated rat liver mitochondria. Methanaminium-induced hypoglycemia in intact rats was accompanied by an increase in blood lactate concentration as well as blood beta-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate ratio. The hypoglycemia caused by these compounds is proposed to be due to inhibition of glucose synthesis in the liver along with increased glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, both for want of ATP as a consequence of inhibition of site I electron transfer.     

Parasiticidal activity of bovine lactoperoxidase against Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular parasitic protozoan transmitted via the ingestion of raw, infected meat that causes congenital infections. In a cell-free environment, virulent Toxoplasma was strikingly resistant to H2O2. The activity of H2O2 or H2O2 generated by glucose-glucose oxidase against the resistant tachyzoite stage of pathogenic T. gondii was enhanced by adding KI and bovine lactoperoxidase (bLPO), referred to here as the bLPO system. Replacing bLPO (heme content, 90%) with recombinant bLPO (heme content, 6%) did not enhance the parasiticidal activity with KI and H2O2. These results indicated that heme contributed to the enzyme activity and resulted in the killing of tachyzoites of T. gondii. Tachyzoites treated with the bLPO system also lost the ability to penetrate the mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3), and could be killed intracellularly after exposure by bLPO to a mouse macrophage cell line (J774A.1). These findings suggested that toxicity was mediated through small amounts of H2O2 generated by phagocytic events in naive macrophages, and by the peroxidative activity of bLPO. Our observations suggest that the bLPO system could help prevent the development of Toxoplasmosis in humans after ingesting raw, infected meat.     

Parasiticidal effects of peroxynitrite on ovine liver flukes in vitro

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is a cytotoxic anion, produced by interaction between nitric oxide and superoxide in vivo in some inflammatory cells. This study investigated its effects on Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolated from ovine livers and kept in bile at room temperature. Peroxynitrite was synthesized using a quenched flow reactor and assayed spectrophotometrically. It was applied at different concentrations (10(-3.5) to 10(-2.3 M)) to the flukes kept in bile. The viability of the peroxynitrite-treated flukes was compared with a control group (n=5-7 per group). Control F. hepatica and D. dendriticum lived for 226+/-11and 208+/-14min, respectively. Life times were decreased by peroxynitrite at all concentrations used (P<0.001). At the highest concentration of peroxynitrite, F. hepatica and D. dendriticum lived only for 6.1+/-0.4 and 4.1+/-4.1+/-0.2min, respectively. Correlation between peroxynitrite concentration and parasite viability was significant in the case of F. hepatica (r= -0.842; P= 0.0035). A single application of peroxynitrite can decrease the life span of ovine liver flukes. A failure in the activation of hepatic macrophages in infected animals may lead to a decreased production of free radicals and, thus, peroxynitrite. Such a failure is likely to deprive the body of a defence tool against multicellular parasites.     

Synthesis of 2-alkoxy-8-hydroxyadenylpeptides: towards synthetic epitope-based vaccines

The preparation of three different 2-alkoxy-8-hydroxyadenylpeptide conjugates has been accomplished by solid-phase synthesis combined with 'on-resin' Cu(I) catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition. The immunogenicity of the compounds has been evaluated in IL-12 production and antigen presentation assays.     

Synthesis of 4-alkoxy-2-phenylquinoline derivatives as potent antiplatelet agents

In our continuing search for novel antiplatelet agents, 4-alkoxy derivatives of 2-phenylquinoline as well as related compounds were prepared. Through biological screening, a preliminary structure antiplatelet activity relationship was established. Compounds 5-ethyl-4-methoxy-2-phenylquinoline (8), 4-ethoxy-5-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline (9), 4-ethoxycarbonylmethoxy-5-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline (10), 4-ethoxycarbonylbutoxy-5-ethyl-2-phenylquinoline (12) and 5-ethyl-4-(N-ethylcarboxido)methoxy-2-phenylquinoline (17) all demonstrated potent antiplatelet activity. Among them, compound 8 was the most potent with an IC50 value of 0.08 microM and was about 3-fold more active than indomethacin. The mechanism of antiplatelet action of 8 is possibly through its inhibition on cyclooxygenase or thromboxane synthetase.     

Investigation of chemical reactivity of 2-alkoxy-1,4-naphthoquinones and their anticancer activity

To establish the structure-activity relationship of 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones toward anticancer activity, a series of its derivatives were prepared and tested for the activity (IC₅₀ in µM) against three cell lines; colo205 (colon adenocarcinoma), T47D (breast ductal carcinoma) and K562 (chronic myelogenous leukemia). Among them 2 (IC₅₀: 2.3; 2.0; 1.4?µM), 6 (IC₅₀: 1.9; 2.2; 1.3?µM), 9 (IC₅₀: 0.7; 1.7; 0.9?µM) and 10 (IC₅₀:1.7; 1.0; 1.2?µM) showed moderate to excellent activity. Our perception toward the DNA substitution of alkoxy groups at the C2 position of these naphthoquinones for the anticancer activity led us to investigate their reactivity of substitution toward dimethylamine as a nucleophile. The ease of the substitution of alkoxy groups at the C2 position with dimethylamine is strongly accelerated by hydroxyl group at C5 position and is well correlated with the found anticancer activity results.     

Stereoisomeric flavour compounds XLV: Structure analysis of 2-alkoxy-5-alkyl-tetrahydrofurans

The synthesis of several 2-alkoxy-5-alkyl-tetrahydrofurans is of interest in our investigations of structure–function relationships of chiral flavour compounds. For the preparation of the enantiomeric acetals the unambiguous configurational assignment of the cis and trans series of these compounds is indispensable. By means of crystalline acetal derivatives the absolute structure of a model compound in the cis and the trans configuration is revealed by X-ray measurement and correlated with the corresponding cis and trans configurated aroma compounds. The first complete structure elucidation of the class of 2-alkoxy-5-alkyltetrahydrofurans has been carried out.     

Parasiticidal effect of 16α-bromoepiandrosterone (EpiBr) in amoebiasis and cysticercosis

The effect of the dehydroepiandrosterone analog 16α-bromoepiandrosterone (EpiBr) was tested on the tapeworm Taenia crassiceps and the protist Entamoeba histolytica, both in vivo and in vitro. Administration of EpiBr prior to infection with cysticerci in mice reduced the parasite load by 50% compared with controls. EpiBr treatment induced 20% reduction on the development of amoebic liver abscesses in hamsters. In vitro treatment of T. crassiceps and E. histolytica cultures with EpiBr, reduced reproduction, motility and viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. These results leave open the possibility of assessing the potential of this hormonal analog as a possible anti-parasite drug, including cysticercosis and amoebiasis.     

Parasiticidal activity of Haemaphysalis longicornis longicin P4 peptide against Toxoplasma gondii

The Haemaphysalis longicornis longicin P4 peptide is an active part peptide produced by longicin which displays bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and other microorganisms. In the present study, the effect of the longicin P4 peptide on the infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii parasites was examined in vitro. Tachyzoites of T. gondii incubated with longicin P4 had induced aggregation and lost the trypan blue dye exclusion activity and the invasion ability into the mouse embryonal cell line (NIH/3T3). Longicin P4 bound to T. gondii tachyzoites, as demonstrated by fluoresce microscopic analysis. An electron microscopic analysis and a fluorescence propidium iodide exclusion assay of tachyzoites exposed to longicin P4 revealed pore formation in the cellular membrane, membrane disorganization, and hollowing as well as cytoplasmic vacuolization. The number of tachyzoites proliferated in mouse macrophage cell line (J774A.1) was significantly decreased by incubation with longicin P4. These findings suggested that longicin P4 conceivably impaired parasite membranes, leading to the destruction of Toxoplasma parasites in J774A.1 cells. Thus, longicin P4 is an interesting candidate for antitoxoplasmosis drug design that causes severe toxicity to T. gondii and plays an important role in reducing cellular infection. This is the first report showing that longicin P4 causes aggregation and membrane injury of parasites, leading to Toxoplasma tachyzoite destruction.     

Synthesis and evaluation of substituted 4-alkoxy-2-aminopyridines as novel neuropeptide Y1 receptor antagonists

A series of substituted 4-alkoxy-2-aminopyridines 2, which were formally derived from neuropeptide Y1 antagonist 1 by replacing the morpholino portion with alkoxy groups, were synthesized and evaluated as neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonists. Primary structure-activity relationships and identification of potent 4-alkoxy derivatives are described.     

Reaction of serine proteases with substituted 3-alkoxy-4-chloroisocoumarins and 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chloroisocoumarins: new reactive mechanism-based inhibitors

The time-dependent inactivation of several serine proteases including human leukocyte elastase, cathepsin G, rat mast cell proteases I and II, and human skin chymase by a number of 3-alkoxy-4-chloroisocoumarins, 3-alkoxy-4-chloro-7-nitroisocoumarins, and 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chloroisocoumarins at pH 7.5 and the inactivation of several trypsin-like enzymes including human thrombin and factor XIIa by 7-amino-4-chloro-3-ethoxyisocoumarin and 4-chloro-3-ethoxyisocoumarin are reported. The 3-alkoxy substituent of the isocoumarin is likely interacting with the S1 subsite of the enzyme since the most reactive inhibitor for a particular enzyme had a 3-substituent complementary to the enzyme's primary substrate specificity site (S1). Inactivation of several enzymes including human leukocyte elastase by the 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chlorisocoumarins is irreversible, and less than 3% activity is regained upon extensive dialysis of the inactivated enzyme. Addition of hydroxylamine to enzymes inactivated by the 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chloroisocoumarins results in a slow (t1/2 greater than 6.7 h) and incomplete (32-57%) regain in enzymatic activity at pH 7.5. Inactivation by the 3-alkoxy-4-chloroisocoumarins and 3-alkoxy-4-chloro-7-nitroisocoumarins on the other hand is transient, and full enzyme activity is regained rapidly either upon standing, after dialysis, or upon the addition of buffered hydroxylamine. The rate of inactivation by the substituted isocoumarins is decreased when substrates or reversible inhibitors are present in the incubation mixture, which indicates active site involvement. The inactivation rates are dependent upon the pH of the reaction mixture, the isocoumarin ring system is opened concurrently with inactivation, and the reaction of 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chloroisocoumarins with porcine pancreatic elastase is shown to be stoichiometric. The results are consistent with a scheme where 3-alkoxy-7-amino-4-chloroisocoumarins react with the active site serine of a serine protease to give an acyl enzyme in which a reactive quinone imine methide can be released. Irreversible inactivation could then occur upon alkylation of an active site nucleophile (probably histidine-57) by the acyl quinone imine methide. The finding that hydroxylamine slowly catalyzes partial reactivation indicates that several inactivated enzyme species may exist. The 3-alkoxy-substituted 4-chloroisocoumarins and 4-chloro-7-nitroisocoumarins are simple acylating agents and do not give stable inactivated enzyme structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of novel hydrophilic chiral 2-alkoxy-1,4-butanediamine platinum (II) complexes

Twenty-six new hydrophilic chiral 2-alkoxy-1,4-butanediamine platinum (II) complexes having a seven-membered ring structure between a bidentate carrier ligand and a platinum atom have been synthesized and most of them were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity toward A549 human non-small cell lung carcinoma and HCT-116 human colon cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicities of platinum complexes are related to the nature of the carrier ligand and leaving group. Complex 5'b, viz. cis-dichloro[(2R)-ethoxy-1,4-butanediamine] platinum (II), exhibits the greatest potency among those 21 tested platinum complexes in both cell lines.     

Novel 3-alkoxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines as EGFR and erbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Novel 4-anilino-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro for erbB2 and EGFR kinase inhibition. A representative compound displaying oral bioavailability in rat and dog illustrates the potential of this series to provide orally active erbB2 inhibitors.     

Human Chemokines as Antimicrobial Peptides with Direct Parasiticidal Effect on Leishmania mexicana In Vitro

Chemokines and chemokine receptor-mediated effects are important mediators of the immunological response and cure in human leishmaniasis. However, in addition to their signalling properties for leukocytes, many chemokines have also been shown to act directly as antimicrobial peptides on bacteria and fungi. We screened ten human chemokines (CXCL2, CXCL6, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, CCL20, CCL27, CCL28) for antimicrobial effects on the promastigote form of the protozoan parasite Leishmania mexicana, and observed direct parasiticidal effects of several, CCL28 being the most potent. Damage to the plasma membrane integrity could be visualised by entrance of propidium iodide, as measured with flow cytometry, and by scanning electron microscopy, which showed morphological changes and aggregation of cells. The findings were in concordance with parasiticidal activity, measured by decreased mitochondrial activity in an MTT-assay. This is the first report of direct antimicrobial activity by chemokines on parasites. This component of immunity against Leishmania parasites identified here warrants further investigation that might lead to new insight in the mechanisms of human infection and/or new therapeutic approaches.     

The molecular mechanism of human hormone-sensitive lipase inhibition by substituted 3-phenyl-5-alkoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ones

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) plays an important role in the mobilization of free fatty acids (FFA) from adipocytes. The inhibition of HSL may offer a pharmacological approach to reduce FFA levels in plasma and diminish peripheral insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. In this work, the inhibition of HSL by substituted 3-phenyl-5-alkoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ones has been studied in vitro. 5-methoxy-3-(3-phenoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one (compound 7600) and 5-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-4-phenylacetamidophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-one (compound 9368) were selected as the most potent HSL inhibitors. HSL is inhibited after few minutes of incubation with compound 7600, at a molar excess of 20. This inhibition is reversed in the presence of an emulsion of lipid substrate. The reactivation phenomenon is hardly observed when incubating HSL with compound 9368. The molecular mechanism underlying the reversible inhibition of HSL by compound 7600 was investigated using high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The stoichiometry of the inhibition reaction revealed that specifically one molecule of inhibitor was bound per enzyme molecule. The inhibition by compound 7600 involves a nucleophilic attack by the hydroxy group of the catalytic Ser of the enzyme on the carbon atom of the carbonyl moiety of the oxadiazolone ring of the inhibitor, leading to the formation of covalent enzyme-inhibitor intermediate. This covalent intermediate is subsequently hydrolyzed, releasing an oxadiazolone decomposition product, carbon dioxide and the active HSL form. On the basis of this study, a kinetic model is proposed to describe the inhibition of HSL by compound 7600 in the aqueous phase as well as its partial reactivation at the lipid-water interface.     

Substitution and racemization of 3-hydroxy- and 3-alkoxy-1,4-benzodiazepines in acidic aqueous solutions

Oxazepam (OX), 3-O-methyloxazepam, 3-O-ethyloxazepam, temazepam (TMZ), 3-O-methyltemazepam, and 3-O-ethyltemazepam underwent acid-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution reaction (hydrolysis) in an acetonitrile–oxygen-18 water mixture to form either OX or TMZ in which the 3-hydroxyl group was either partially or fully labeled with an oxygen-18 atom. The dependence of the hydrolysis rates on solvent composition, temperature, ionic strength, and in deuterated solvent was studied by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The rates of racemization of enantiomeric compounds in acidic aqueous solutions were studied by both spectropolarimetry and chiral stationary phase HPLC. In acetonitrile: 2.5 M H₂SO₄ (4:1, v/v) at 50°C, enantiomers of OX and TMZ underwent racemization at rates ≥40-fold faster than the rates of hydrolysis. Enantiomeric 3-O-alkyl derivatives of OX and TMZ in acidic aqueous solutions did not themselves undergo racemization and it was their hydrolysis products (either OX or TMZ) that underwent racemization. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

4-alkoxy-3-arylfuran-2(5H)-ones as inhibitors of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase: synthesis, molecular docking and antibacterial evaluation

A series of novel 4-alkoxy-3-arylfuran-2(5H)-ones as tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors were synthesized. Of these compounds, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(2-morpholinoethoxy)furan-2(5H)-one (27) was the most potent. The binding model and structure-activity relationship indicate that replacement of morpholine-ring in the side chain of 27 with a substituent containing more hydrophilic groups would be more suitable for further modification. Antibacterial assay revealed that the synthetic compounds are effective against growth of Gram-positive organisms, and 27 is the most potent agent against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC(50) value of 0.23 μg/mL.     

5-(1H-Benzimidazol-1-yl)-3-alkoxy-2-thiophenecarbonitriles as potent, selective, inhibitors of IKK-epsilon kinase

The identification and hit-to-lead exploration of a novel, potent and selective series of substituted benzimidazole–thiophene carbonitrile inhibitors of IKK-ε kinase is described. Compound 12e was identified with an IKK-ε enzyme potency of pIC₅₀ 7.4, and has a highly encouraging wider selectivity profile, including selectivity within the IKK kinase family.     

Anticonvulsant and toxicity evaluation of some 7-alkoxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline-1(2H)-ones

To further investigate anticonvulsant activity of quinoline derivatives, a series of 7-alkoxy-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline-1(2H)-one derivatives was synthesized starting from 7-hydroxyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinoline. In initial (phase I) screening and quantitative (phase II) evaluation, compound 7-benzyloxyl-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]thiazolo[4,3-a]quinoline-1(2H)-one (3f) was among the most active but also has the lowest toxicity. In the anti-MES potency test, it showed median effective dose (ED(50)) of 12.3 mg/kg, median toxicity dose (TD(50)) of 547.5 mg/kg, and the protective index (PI) of 44.5, which is much greater than PI of the prototype drugs phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepin, and valproate. Compound 3f was chosen for further evaluation. In phase III pharmacological test, the compound had median hypnotic dose (HD(50)) and median lethal dose (LD(50)) of 1204 mg/kg and >3000 mg/kg, respectively, thus demonstrating much greater margin of safety compared to prototype drugs. The compound 3f also showed significant oral activity against MES-induced seizures and low oral neurotoxicity in mice in phase IV pharmacological test. Possible structure-activity relationship was discussed.