AIDS dementia: synthesis and properties of a derivative of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) that may become 'locked' in the central nervous system |
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| Authors: | P F Torrence J Kinjo K Lesiak J Balzarini E De Clercq |
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| Institution: | Section on Biomedical Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892. |
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| Abstract: | In an attempt to provide a derivative of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) which might be sequestered in the central nervous system and release AZT, the dihydropyridine ester 5'-(1,4-dihydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinylcarbonyl)-3'-deoxythymidine, was synthesized in a three step sequence. This material showed potent anti-HIV-1 activity in MT-4 cells most probably by hydrolysis to the parent nucleoside, AZT. This dihydropyridine derivative of AZT could be easily oxidized to a positively charged pyridinium derivative of AZT in rat brain cytosol. In turn the pyridinium form could be hydrolyzed, non-enzymatically, to AZT. |
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