Development of N-2,4-pyrimidine-N-phenyl-N'-alkyl ureas as orally active inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis. Part 2

A new class of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis inhibitors based on a N-2,4-pyrimidine-N-phenyl-N'-alkyl urea scaffold is described. Many of these compounds showed low-nanomolar activity against lipopolysaccharide stimulated TNF-alpha production. Two analogs were tested in an in vivo rat iodoacetate model of osteoarthritis and shown to be orally efficacious. X-ray co-crystallization studies with mutated p38alpha showed that these trisubstituted ureas interact with the ATP-binding pocket in a pseudo-bicyclic conformation brought about by the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction.     

Design,synthesis and bioactivities of novel diarylthiophenes: inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production

The design, synthesis and SAR of novel diarylthiophene derivatives were performed. These compounds were designed by structural hybridization of TNF-alpha production inhibitors bearing 4-fluorophenyl and 4-pyridyl groups such as FR133605, FR167653 and SB210313, and 6-acetyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]pyridine (1) found previously by us. As a result, several compounds were more potent in vitro than FR133605 against TNF-alpha production stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).     

Herbal melanin modulates tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production.

Recent studies have indicated that cytokines can enhance immunogenicity and promote tumor regression. However, the means for modulating cytokine production are not yet fully investigated. In this study we report the effects of a herbal melanin, extracted from Nigella sativa L., on the production of three cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)], by human monocytes, total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and THP-1 cell line. Cells were treated with variable concentrations of melanin and the expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and VEGF mRNA in cell lysates and secretion of proteins in the supernatants were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. Melanin induced TNF-alpha, IL-6 and VEGF mRNA expression by the monocytes, PBMC and THP-1 cell line. On the protein level, melanin significantly induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 protein production and inhibited VEGF production by monocytes and PBMC. In the THP-1 cell line melanin induced production of all three cytokine proteins. These observations raise the prospects of using N. sativa L. melanin for treatment of diseases associated with imbalanced cytokine production and for enhancing cancer and other immunotherapies.     

Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-transgenic mice: prevention of death by antibody to TNF-alpha

Homozygous human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-transgenic mice (Tg26) appear normal at birth but die within 3 to 4 weeks. The skin of these animals shows diffuse scaling and high-level expression of both HIV-1 mRNA and gp120. Previous experiments showed that treatment with human chorionic gonadatropin (hCG) prevented death and the expression of HIV-1 mRNA and gp120. The present experiments were initiated to study the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in HIV-1-induced pathology. Examination of the sera of Tg26 mice revealed a 50-fold increase in TNF-alpha levels compared to those in nontransgenic mice. Treatment with antibody to TNF-alpha prevented death, resulted in near normal growth, and produced a marked decrease in skin lesions and a profound reduction in the expression of HIV-1 mRNA and gp120. Both TNF-alpha antibody and hCG reduced TNF-alpha levels in sera by approximately 75%. We conclude that TNF-alpha contributes in a major way to HIV-1-induced pathology in transgenic mice and that both hCG and antibody to TNF-alpha prevent the development of pathology by suppressing the level of TNF-alpha.     

N-acetylcysteine and glutathione as inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor production.

TNF is a major mediator in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock, and its inhibition has a protective effect in various animal models of sepsis or endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) toxicity. LPS treatment also induces an oxidative damage mediated by increased production of reactive oxygen intermediates. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and a precursor of the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) and was reported to protect against LPS toxicity and LPS-induced pulmonary edema. In this study we investigated the effect of NAC on TNF production and LPS lethality in mice. The results indicated that oral administration of NAC protects against LPS toxicity and inhibits the increase in serum TNF levels in LPS-treated mice. The inhibition was not confined to the released form of TNF, since NAC also inhibited LPS-induced spleen-associated TNF. On the other hand, the inhibitor of GSH synthesis, DL-buthionine-(SR)-sulfoximine (BSO), had the opposite effect of potentiating LPS-induced TNF production, and this was associated with a decrease in liver GSH levels. Repletion of liver GSH with NAC reversed this effect. NAC was also active in inhibiting TNF production and hepatotoxicity in mice treated with LPS in association with a sensitizing dose of Actinomycin D. These data indicate that GSH can be an endogenous modulator of TNF production in vivo. On the other hand, NAC pretreatment did not inhibit other effects of LPS, particularly induction of serum IL-6, spleen IL-1 alpha, and corticosterone, in the same experimental model, suggesting that the observed effect could be specific for TNF.     

Direct effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on murine skeletal muscle cell lines. Bimodal effects on protein metabolism

Incubation of murine C2C12 myotubes with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) leads to significant changes in protein content and turnover, suggesting that the cytokine exerts direct effects in skeletal muscle. The effects of the cytokine on protein content show a clear bimodal behaviour. At low concentrations (1 U/ml or less), TNF-alpha decreases both total and myofibrillar protein content, while at relatively high concentrations (100 U/ml or more), the effects are opposite and TNF-alpha increases the total and myofibrillar protein content in C2C12 myotubes. The mechanisms responsible for this latter, unexpected anabolic effect of the cytokine on muscle cells are related to a 40% increase in the rate of protein synthesis and to a significant decrease (14%) in the rate of protein degradation. At high concentrations, TNF-alpha decreased the expression of the mRNA of components of both the ATP- (ubiquitin, E2, C8) and Ca2+-dependent (m-calpain) proteolytic systems. The effects of TNF-alpha (10 U/ml or higher) on protein content of cultured murine myotubes (differentiated myogenic cells) were similar to those induced by insulin (1 or 5 microg/ml), but the effects of TNF-alpha and those of insulin were not additive. Experiments using inhibitors of the signalling pathways mediated by PI3K and MAP kinases (MAPKs) ERK1/2 and p38 suggest that insulin and TNF-alpha may share some intracellular signalling pathways involving MAPKs in the enhanced protein accretion observed in the muscle cell cultures.     

Facile synthesis of N-(1-alkenyl) derivatives of 2,4-pyrimidinediones

N-(1-alkenyl) derivatives of 2,4-pyrimidinediones (6-9) were prepared in a one pot synthesis from aldehydes and the nucleobases using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfOTMS) as coupling reagent. Presilylation of the above nucleobases, and N6-benzoyladenine, with excess N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) followed by addition of one mol eq. TfOTMS yielded the N-(1-trimethylsilyloxyalkyl) derivatives 1-5.     

The development of new triazole based inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production

4-Aryl-5-pyridyl and 4-aryl-5-pyrimidyl based inhibitors of TNF-alpha production, which contain a novel triazole 5-member heterocyclic core, are described. Many pyridyl triazoles containing either an alkyl ether or a substituted aryl side chain on the triazole core showed sub-micromolar activity against LPS-induced TNF-alpha, while pyrimidyl triazoles containing an ethoxymethyl side chain exhibited even better inhibitory activity. Secondary screening data are presented for the pyrimidyl triazoles. Triazole 14e combined excellent potency with good oral bioavailability in the rat.     

The development of new isoxazolone based inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production

4-Aryl-3-pyridyl and 4-aryl-3-pyrimidinyl based tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, which contain a novel isoxazolone five-membered heterocyclic core are described. Many showed sub-micromolar activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha production.     

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) regulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) levels and mRNA abundance in vivo and in vitro.

TNF alpha and IL-1 alpha are thought to contribute to impaired anabolism in a variety of clinical states, including sepsis, cancer cachexia and the AIDS wasting syndrome. We asked whether cytokines exert direct effects on hepatic production of IGFBP-1, an important modulator of IGF bioavailability. C57BL/6 mice were treated with 100 micrograms/kg of recombinant IL-1 alpha or TNF alpha by intraperitoneal injection. Western ligand blotting and immunoprecipitation with specific antisera revealed that serum levels of IGFBP-1 (but not IGFBP-2, -3, -4, -5 or -6) are increased approximately 4 fold 2 h after treatment and then decline. Northern blotting confirms that hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA abundance also is increased acutely in both IL-1 alpha- and TNF alpha-treated animals. Similar results obtained in adrenalectomized mice indicate that adrenal activation is not required for this effect. Cell culture studies show that cytokines exert direct effects on the production of IGFBP-1 by HepG2 hepatoma cells, increasing IGFBP-1 levels in conditioned medium and the abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA approximately 3-fold. In contrast, transient transfection studies with IGFBP-1 promoter/luciferase reporter gene constructs show that IGFBP-1 promoter activity is reduced after 18 hr cytokine treatment. We conclude that IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha increase circulating levels of IGFBP-1, reflecting direct effects on hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA abundance. Stimulation of hepatic IGFBP-1 production may contribute to alterations in IGF bioactivity and impaired anabolism in clinical conditions where cytokine production is high. Additional studies are required to identify specific mechanisms mediating effects of cytokines on hepatic production of IGFBP-1.     

Development of N-4,6-pyrimidine-N-alkyl-N'-phenyl ureas as orally active inhibitors of lymphocyte specific tyrosine kinase

A new class of lymphocyte specific tyrosine kinase (lck) inhibitors based on an N-4,6-pyrimidine-N-alkyl-N'-phenyl urea scaffold is described. Many of these compounds showed low-nanomolar inhibition of lck kinase activity as well as IL-2 synthesis from Jurkat cells. One of these analogs, 7i, was shown to be orally efficacious by in vivo testing in a rat adjuvant-induced arthritis study.     

Corticotropin (ACTH) induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha by monocytes

The finding that monocytes possess specific ACTH receptors led us to determine the effect of ACTH on monokine production. Here, we report that ACTH 1-39 will induce TNF-alpha from the adherent fraction of peripheral blood leukocytes. In addition, we also found that ACTH 1-39 will potentiate IFN-gamma's induction of TNF-alpha from these cells. Since previous reports showed that ACTH inhibits IFN-gamma's activation of macrophages to a cytocidal state, our data raise questions concerning the relative role of TNF-alpha in macrophage mediated cytolysis.     

Structures of adamalysin II with peptidic inhibitors. Implications for the design of tumor necrosis factor alpha convertase inhibitors.

Crotalus adamanteus snake venom adamalysin II is the structural prototype of the adamalysin or ADAM family comprising proteolytic domains of snake venom metalloproteinases, multimodular mammalian reproductive tract proteins, and tumor necrosis factor alpha convertase, TACE, involved in the release of the inflammatory cytokine, TNFalpha. The structure of adamalysin II in noncovalent complex with two small-molecule right-hand side peptidomimetic inhibitors (Pol 647 and Pol 656) has been solved using X-ray diffraction data up to 2.6 and 2.8 A resolution. The inhibitors bind to the S'-side of the proteinase, inserting between two protein segments, establishing a mixed parallel-antiparallel three-stranded beta-sheet and coordinate the central zinc ion in a bidentate manner via their two C-terminal oxygen atoms. The proteinase-inhibitor complexes are described in detail and are compared with other known structures. An adamalysin-based model of the active site of TACE reveals that these small molecules would probably fit into the active site cleft of this latter metalloproteinase, providing a starting model for the rational design of TACE inhibitors.