Heterocycle-containing retinoids. Discovery of a novel isoxazole arotinoid possessing potent apoptotic activity in multidrug and drug-induced apoptosis-resistant cells

In a search for retinoic acid (RA) receptor ligands endowed with potent apoptotic activity, a series of novel arotinoids were prepared. Because the stereochemistry of the C9-alkenyl portion of natural 9-cis-RA and the olefinic moiety of the previously synthesized isoxazole retinoid 4 seems to have particular importance for their apoptotic activity, novel retinoid analogues with a restricted or, vice versa, a larger flexibility in this region were designed and prepared. The new compounds were evaluated in vitro for their ability to activate natural retinoid receptors and for their differentiation-inducing activity. Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities were, in addition, evaluated. In general, these analogues showed low cytotoxicity, with the restricted structures being slightly more active than the more flexible ones. As an exception, however, the isoxazole retinoid 15b proved to be particularly able to induce apoptosis at concentrations <5 microM, showing a higher activity than the classical retinoids such as all-trans-RA, 13-cis-RA, and 9-cis-RA and the previously described synthetic retinoid 4. 15b also exhibited a good affinity for the retinoid receptors. Interestingly, another important property of 15b was its ability to induce apoptosis in the HL60R multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell line, at the same concentration as is effective in HL60. Therefore, 15b represents a new retinoid possessing high apoptotic activity in an MDR cell line. The ability of 15b to act on K562 and HL60R cells suggests that this compound may have important implications in the treatment of different leukemias, and its structure could offer an interesting model for the design of new compounds endowed with apoptotic activity on MDR- and retinoid-resistant malignancies.

Dehydration of hydroxenin monoacetate in the presence of ultrasound

Starting from hydroxenin monoacetate, vitamin A acetate is obtained in a E/Z mixture by dehydration. This result could be explained by the formation of a small amount of hydrochloric acid from trichloromethane under ultrasound irradiation and based on further experiments.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of 6-s-cis- and 6-s-trans-locked 9Z-retinoids by hydroxyl-accelerated Stille coupling of (Z)-tri-n-butylstannylbut-2-en-1-ol and bicyclic dienyl triflates

Analogues of 9-cis-retinoic acid with locked 6-s-cis and 6-s-trans conformations have been stereoselectively synthesized using a Stille coupling reaction between bicyclic dienyl triflates (5and 6, respectively) and (Z)-tributylstannylbut-2-en-1-ol (7) to stablish the Z geometry of the polyenic side chain. The mild conditions (25 degrees C, 30 min) of this coupling stand in contrast to the reluctance of the isomeric (E)-tributylstannylbut-2-en-1-ol (18) to react with triflates 5/6. The significant rate differences experimentally observed in Stille reactions between isomeric (Z)- and (E)-tri-n-butylstannylalkenols in favor of the former isomer, even with highly hindered alkenyl triflates, is ascribed to internal coordination of palladium to the heteroatom in the presumably rate-limiting transmetalation step. Dienals and trienals with an E geometry, which are not efficiently available by direct coupling of the corresponding triflates and E-stannanes, can in turn be obtained by isomerization of their Z-isomers.

A genetic algorithm for the automated generation of small organic molecules: drug design using an evolutionary algorithm

Rational drug design involves finding solutions to large combinatorial problems for which an exhaustive search is impractical. Genetic algorithms provide a novel tool for the investigation of such problems. These are a class of algorithms that mimic some of the major characteristics of Darwinian evolution. LEA has been designed in order to conceive novel small organic molecules which satisfy quantitative structure-activity relationship based rules (fitness). The fitness consists of a sum of constraints that are range properties. The algorithm takes an initial set of fragments and iteratively improves them by means of crossover and mutation operators that are related to those involved in Darwinian evolution. The basis of the algorithm, its implementation and parameterization, are described together with an application in de novo molecular design of new retinoids. The results may be promising for chemical synthesis and show that this tool may find extensive applications in de novo drug design projects.

Solution-phase synthesis of diaryl selenides using polymer-supported borohydride

[reaction: see text] A new series of selenium-containing diaryl retinoids have been prepared by a new direct nickel(II)-catalyzed coupling of a diselenide with an iodoaryl in the presence of polymer-supported borohydride.

Modulation of retinoic acid receptor function alters the growth inhibitory response of oral SCC cells to retinoids

Retinoids have been shown to inhibit the growth of many human tumor cells including breast, ovarian and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). While the exact mechanism of retinoid mediated growth suppression is not known, a role for the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs) has been established in both the breast and ovarian tumor cell models. We set out to determine if modulation of RAR/RXR function would alter the retinoid sensitivity of oral SCC cells. We found that the growth of SCC cells was significantly inhibited by treatment with either all-trans-retinoic acid (trans-RA) or the synthetic, conformationally restricted RARgamma selective retinoids MM11254 and MM11389. In order to demonstrate a role for RAR/RXR function in this process, stable oral SCC cell clones constitutively overexpressing the dominant negative mutant RARbeta2 (R269Q) were prepared and shown to exhibit reduced RAR/RXR transcriptional transactivation activity. We found that oral SCC cells exhibiting reduced RAR/RXR function became resistant to growth inhibition by all-trans-RA, MM11254 and MM11389. Likewise, treatment of oral SCC cells with the RARgamma antagonist MM11253 was found to block the ability of MM11254 and MM11389 to inhibit SCC cell growth. Thus, modulation of RAR function through the use of RAR-gamma selective agonists, an RAR-gamma selective antagonist or a pan-RAR dominant negative mutant significantly alters the growth inhibitory response of oral SCC cells to retinoids.

Syntheses and structure-activity relationships of 5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-quinoxaline derivatives with retinoic acid receptor alpha agonistic activity

In the course of our studies on retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists, we have designed and synthesized a series of quinoxaline derivatives. One of them, 4-[5-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8, 8-tetramethyl-2-quinoxalinyl)-1H-2-pyrrolyl]benzoic acid (3a), which possesses a 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole moiety, showed selectivity for the RARalpha receptor and exerted highly potent cell-differentiating activity on HL-60 cells.

Novel synthesis of the ocular age pigment A2-E: new method for substituted pyridine synthesis via azaelectrocyclization

[reaction: see text] The formal synthesis of the ocular age pigment A2-E was achieved by the efficient one-pot preparation of the substituted pyridine, which involves the aza-6pi-electrocyclization of the Schiff base derived from (E)-3-carbonyl-2,4,6-trienal followed by oxidation.

RAR gamma agonists inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

The multifactorial and unpredictable nature of human restenosis will probably necessitate interventional strategies that target multiple processes involved in neointimal proliferation. Retinoids represent a growing class of pleiotropic biologic response modifiers with demonstrable efficacy in managing several pathologic conditions pertaining to neointimal proliferation. However, retinoid treatment is associated with a high incidence of adverse effects. The action of all-trans-retinoic acid is mediated by two families of nuclear receptors, RARs and RXRs, each containing three isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma. Because synthetic retinoids that are receptor and function specific have been shown to differ from each other by several orders of magnitude in their potencies and are associated with limited adverse effects, we examined the effect of synthetic retinoids on serum- and serotonin-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Naturally occurring retinoids were used as controls. All-trans-retinoic acid at nanomolar concentrations inhibited smooth muscle cell proliferation. In this study, we report that RAR gamma subgroup-specific agonists are the most potent inhibitors of serum and serotonin VSMC proliferation, as compared with other RAR pan-agonists and naturally occurring retinoids tested. Our results indicate that RAR gamma subgroup-specific agonists should be assessed further in in vivo models of neointimal proliferation.

Heteroarotinoids inhibit head and neck cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo through both RAR and RXR retinoic acid receptors

A class of less toxic retinoids, called heteroarotinoids, was evaluated for their molecular mechanism of growth inhibition of two head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines SCC-2 and SCC-38. A series of 14 heteroarotinoids were screened for growth inhibition activity in vitro. The two most active compounds, one that contained an oxygen heteroatom (6) and the other a sulfur heteroatom (16), were evaluated in a xenograph model of tumor establishment in nude mice. Five days after subcutaneous injection of 10(7) SCC-38 cells, groups of 5 nu/nu mice were gavaged daily (5 days/week for 4 weeks) with 20 mg/kg/day of all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA, 1), 10 mg/kg/day of 6, 10 mg/kg/day of 16, or sesame oil. After a few days, the dose of t-RA (1) was decreased to 10 mg/kg/day to alleviate the side effects of eczema and bone fracture. No significant toxic effects were observed in the heteroarotinoid groups. All three retinoids caused a statistically significant reduction in tumor size as determined by the Student t-test (P < 0. 05). Complete tumor regression was noted in 3 of 5 mice treated with t-RA (1), 4 of 5 mice treated with 16, 1 of 5 mice treated with 6, and 1 of 5 mice treated with sesame oil. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine that the expression levels of RARalpha, RXRalpha, and RXRbeta were similar in the two cell lines, while RARbeta expression was higher in SCC-2 over SCC-38, and RARgamma expression was higher in SCC-38 over SCC-2. Receptor cotransfection assays in CV-1 cells demonstrated that 16 was a potent activator of both RAR and RXR receptors, while 6 was selective for the RXR receptors. Transient cotransfection assays in CV-1 cells using an AP-1 responsive reporter plasmid demonstrated that t-RA (1), 6, and 16 each inhibited AP-1-driven transcription in this cell line. In conclusion, the growth inhibition activity of the RXR-selective 6 and the more potent growth inhibition activity of the RAR/RXR pan-agonist 16 implicate both RARs and RXRs in the molecular mechanism of retinoid growth inhibition. Moreover, the chemoprevention activity and the lack of toxicity of heteroarotinoids demonstrate their clinical potential in head and neck cancer chemoprevention.

Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and RARgamma-ligand interactions of nitrogen heteroarotinoids

Three heteroarotinoids containing a nitrogen atom in the first ring and a C-O linking group between the two aryl rings were synthesized and evaluated for RAR and RXR retinoid receptor transactivation, tumor cell growth inhibition, and transglutaminase (TGase) induction. Ethyl 4-(N,4,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl)benzoate (1) contained an N-CH(3) group and activated all retinoid receptors except for RARgamma. Inceasing the hydrophobicity around the rings with analogues ethyl 4-(N,4,4,7-tetramethyl-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroquinolin-6-oyloxy)benzoate (2) [7-methyl group added] and ethyl 4-(4,4-dimethyl-N-isopropyl-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroquinolin-6-oyloxy)benzoate (3) [NCH(CH(3))(2) group at C-4] increased the potency and specificity for RARalpha, RARbeta, and RXRalpha, compared to 1, but had little effect on RXRbeta and RXRgamma activation. Although 1 and 3 were unable to activate RARgamma, 2 did activate this receptor with efficacy and high potency equal to that of 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-c-RA). All three heteroarotinoids exhibited 5-8-fold greater specificities for RARbeta over RARalpha. In addition, esters 1-3 inhibited the growth of two cell lines each derived from cervix, vulvar, ovarian, and head/neck tumors with similar efficiencies to that of 9-c-RA through a mechanism independent of apoptosis. The vulvar cell lines were the most sensitive, and the ovarian lines were the least sensitive. Ester 2 was similar to 1 and 3 except that 2 was a much more potent growth inhibitor of the two vulvar cell lines, which is consistent with strong RARgamma activation by 2 (but not by 1 and 3) and the high levels of RARgamma expression in skin. All three heteroarotinoids induced production of TGase, a marker of retinoid activity in human erythroleukemic cells. Esters 2 and 3 were the more potent TGase activators than 1, in agreement with the stronger activation of the RAR receptors by 2 and 3. The biological activities of these agents, and the RARgamma potency of 2 in particular, demonstrate the promise of these compounds as pharmaceutics for cancer and skin disorders.

Structural basis for engineering of retinoic acid receptor isotype-selective agonists and antagonists

BACKGROUND

Many synthetic retinoids have been generated that exhibit a distinct pattern of agonist/antagonist activities with the three retinoic acid receptors (RARalpha, RARbeta and RARgamma). Because these retinoids are selective tools with which to dissect the pleiotropic functions of the natural pan-agonist, retinoic acid, and might constitute new therapeutic drugs, we have determined the structural basis of their receptor specificity and compared their activities in animal and yeast cells.

RESULTS

There are only three divergent amino acid residues in the ligand binding pockets (LBPs) of RARalpha, RARbeta and RARgamma. We demonstrate here that the ability of monospecific (class I) retinoid agonists and antagonists to bind to and induce or inhibit transactivation by a given isotype is directly linked to the nature of these residues. The agonist/antagonist potential of class II retinoids, which bind to all three RARs but depending on the RAR isotype have the potential to act as agonists or antagonists, was also largely determined by the three divergent LBP residues. These mutational studies were complemented by modelling, on the basis of the three-dimensional structures of the RAR ligand-binding domains, and a comparison of the retinoid agonist/antagonist activities in animal and yeast cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal the rational basis of RAR isotype selectivity, explain the existence of class I and II retinoids, and provide a structural concept of ligand-mediated antagonism. Interestingly, the agonist/antagonist characteristics of retinoids are not conserved in yeast cells, suggesting that yeast co-regulators interact with RARs in a different way than the animal cell homologues do.

Molecular docking studies on interaction of diverse retinol structures with human alcohol dehydrogenases predict a broad role in retinoid ligand synthesis

Some members of the human alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) family possess retinol dehydrogenase activity and may thus function in production of the active nuclear receptor ligand retinoic acid. Many diverse natural forms of retinol exist including all-trans-retinol (vitamin A(1)), 9-cis-retinol, 3,4-didehydroretinol (vitamin A(2)), 4-oxo-retinol, and 4-hydroxy-retinol as well as their respective carboxylic acid derivatives which are active ligands for retinoid receptors. This raises the question of whether ADHs can accommodate all these different retinols and thus participate in the activation of several retinoid ligands. The crystal structures of human ADH1B and ADH4 provide the opportunity to examine their active sites for potential binding to many diverse retinol structures using molecular docking algorithms. The criteria used to score successful docking included achievement of distances of 1.9-2.4 A between the catalytic zinc and the hydroxyl oxygen of retinol and 3.2-3.6 A between C-4 of the coenzyme NAD and C-15 of retinol. These distances are sufficient to enable hydride transfer during the oxidation of an alcohol to an aldehyde. By these criteria, all-trans-retinol, 4-oxo-retinol, and 4-hydroxy-retinol were successfully docked to both ADH1B and ADH4. However, 9-cis-retinol and 3,4-didehydroretinol, which have more restrictive conformations, were successfully docked to only ADH4 which possesses a wider active site than ADH1B and more easily accommodates the C-19 methyl group. Furthermore, docking of all retinols was more favorable in the active site of ADH4 rather than ADH1B as measured by force field and contact scores. These findings suggest that ADH1B has a limited capacity to metabolize retinols, but that ADH4 is well suited to function in the metabolism of many diverse retinols and is predicted to participate in the synthesis of the active ligands all-trans-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, 3, 4-didehydroretinoic acid, 4-oxo-retinoic acid, and 4-hydroxy-retinoic acid.

A new class of potent RAR antagonists: dihydroanthracenyl, benzochromenyl and benzothiochromenyl retinoids

The synthesis and biological activity of a novel series of tricyclic retinoic acid receptor antagonists are described. These compounds bind with high affinity to the RARs and are potent antagonists of retinoid function in in vitro and in vivo systems.

Dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes as a pharmacophore. Retinoidal antagonists and potential agonists

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the first dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (carborane) derivatives of retinoids are described. Their retinoidal activity were examined in terms of the differentiation-inducing ability toward human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. High retinoidal activity (agonist or antagonist for retinoic acid receptor (RAR) requires a carboxylic acid moiety and an appropriate hydrophobic group located at a suitable position on the molecule. The 4-carboranyl-substituted compounds (7, 11) showed antagonistic activity but no agonistic activity even in the presence of the potent synergist HX630. On the other hand, the 3-carboranyl-substituted compounds (8, 12) showed potential agonistic activity, but no antagonistic activity. The results indicates that carboranes are applicable as the hydrophobic moiety of biologically active molecules.

Stereoselective synthesis and receptor activity of conformationally defined retinoid X receptor selective ligands

Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) specific ligands are currently being investigated for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes. We report the synthesis of conformationally locked retinoids, which are potent RXR selective ligands, and the attempted synthesis of 9-cyclopropyl locked analogs of RA and 9-cis RA.

A new class of RAR subtype selective retinoids: correlation of pharmacological effects with receptor activity

The synthesis and biological activity of a series of structurally related retinoids with different RAR subtype selectivities are described. These retinoids bind to all three RAR subtypes but in functional transactivation assays, they show RARbeta or RARbeta,gamma selectivity with weak RARalpha activity. The subtype selectivity of these retinoids was found to correlate with their efficacy (ODC inhibition) and toxicity (topical irritation and teratogenicity) profiles. The degree of RARgamma transactivation activity correlates with their topical toxicity and teratogenicity as measured by the inhibition of chondrogenesis. Of the RARbeta selective retinoids reported here, retinoid 12 is the most promising, as it is completely devoid of two common retinoid related toxicities, namely topical irritation and teratogenesis.

Differential responses of normal, premalignant, and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells to receptor-selective retinoids

Using an in vitro lung carcinogenesis model consisting of normal, premalignant, and malignant human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, we analyzed the growth inhibitory effects of 26 novel synthetic retinoic acid receptor (RAR)- and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-selective retinoids. RAR-selective retinoids such as CD271, CD437, CD2325, and SR11364 showed potent activity in inhibiting the growth of either normal or premalignant and malignant HBE cells (IC50s mostly <1 microM) and were much more potent than RXR-selective retinoids. Nonetheless, the combination of RAR- and RXR-selective retinoids exhibited additive effects in HBE cells. As the HBE cells became progressively more malignant, they exhibited decreased or lost sensitivity to many retinoids. The activity of the RAR-selective retinoids, with the exception of the most potent retinoid, CD437, could be suppressed by an RAR panantagonist. These results suggest that: (a) RAR/RXR heterodimers play an important role in mediating the growth inhibitory effects of most retinoids in HBE cells; (b) CD437 may act through an RAR-independent pathway; (c) some of the RAR-selective retinoids may have the potential to be used in the clinic as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents for lung cancer; and (d) early stages of lung carcinogenesis may be responsive targets for chemoprevention by retinoids, as opposed to later stages.

Synthesis and characterization of heteroarotinoids demonstrate structure specificity relationships

Heteroarotinoids are synthetic retinoids derived from trans-retinoic acid and the arotinoid structures and include a heteroatom in a five- or six-membered cyclic ring. This is the first systematic study of influences of the heteroatom, ring size, number of aryl groups, and terminal side chain on retinoid receptor specificity. Two new heteroarotinoids were synthesized and characterized. Although all heteroarotinoids activated RAR receptors, two dominant associations between structure and specificity were identified across all compounds. The six-membered ring conferred increased RARbeta specificity over the five-membered ring. The sulfur atom conferred greater specificity for RARgamma than the oxygen atom. RARalpha specificity was attenuated by a combination of influences from the heteroatom and aryl groups. In summary, the heteroatom and cyclic ring size exerted dominant effects, while the number of aryl rings and terminal side chain had attenuating effects on retinoid receptor specificity of heteroarotinoids.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 2-pyrazinylcarboxamidobenzoates and beta-ionylideneacetamidobenzoates with retinoidal activity

The structure-activity relationships of two series of novel retinoids (2-pyrazinylcarboxamidobenzoates and beta-ionylideneacetamidobenzoates) have been investigated by evaluating their ability to induce differentiation in both human promyelocytic leukemia (HL60) cells and mouse embryonal carcinoma (P19) cells. The most active compound (ED50 = 8.3 x 10(-9) M) of the 2-pyrazinylcarboxamidobenzoates is 4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8, 8-tetramethylquinoxalyl)carboxamido]benzoic acid (9u), while the most active analogue of the beta-ionylideneacetamidobenzoates is 4-[3-methyl-5-(2',6',6'-trimethyl-1'-cyclohexen-1'-yl)-(2E, 4E)-pentadienamido]benzoic acid (10a, ED50 = 3.2 x 10(-8) M). Our studies identify an absolute requirement for the carboxylic acid moiety on the aromatic ring to be para relative to the amide linkage for activity. Benzoate substitutions in the ortho position relative to the terminal carboxylate (9d,k,r) are well-tolerated; however, a methoxy substituent meta relative to the terminal carboxylate gives rise to only weakly active analogues (9x). Conformational studies (NMR, X-ray crystallography) of the 2-pyrazinylcarboxamidobenzoates indicate that the preferred conformation exhibits a trans-amide bond and an internal hydrogen bond between the quinoxaline N1 and HN amide which locks the torsional angle between C2 and CO in the s-trans conformation. N-Methylation (9y) results in loss of activity. Studies indicate that there is now a cis-amide bond present which redirects the carboxylate toward the pharmacophoric gem-dimethyl groups. The distance between the gem-dimethyl group and the terminal carboxylate appears to be too short to activate the retinoid receptor. N-Methylation in the beta-ionylideneacetamidobenzoate series (10c) also results in the formation of a cis-amide bond and loss of activity.

H11-H12 loop retinoic acid receptor mutants exhibit distinct trans-activating and trans-repressing activities in the presence of natural or synthetic retinoids

Retinoids, such as the naturally occurring all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and synthetic ligand CD367 modulate ligand-dependent transcription through retinoic acid receptors (RARs). Retinoid binding to RAR is believed to trigger structural transitions in the ligand-binding domain (LBD), leading to helix H1 and helix H12 repositioning and coactivator recruitment and corepressor release. Here, we carried out a detailed mutagenesis analysis of the H11-H12 loop (designated the L box) to study its contribution to hRARalpha activation process. Point mutations that reduced transactivation by atRA also reduced atRA-induced transrepression of AP1 transcription, correlating ligand-induced activation and repression. However, a correlation was not observed with these mutations when tested with another ligand CD367, a synthetic agonist with binding properties identical to those of atRA. Transcription was strongly inhibited in the presence of CD367 for some mutants, thus leading to an inverse agonist activity of this ligand. None of these mutations significantly altered binding affinity for either ligand, indicating that altered transcription was not caused by altered ligand binding by these mutations. Although simple correlations with transcriptional activities were not found, these mutations were also characterized by altered ligand-induced structural transitions, which were distinct for the atRA-hRARalpha or CD367-hRARalpha complexes. These results indicate that amino acids in the L box are involved in specifying trans-repressive and trans-activating properties of the hRARalpha, and support the notion that different agonists induce distinct conformations in the LBD of the receptor.

Distinct modes of interaction of the retinoic acid receptor alpha with natural and synthetic retinoids

Retinoids regulate key cellular processes through their binding to their cognate nuclear receptors, RARs and RXRs. Synthetic ligands mimic most of their biological effects and alteration of their chemical structure confers selectivity for RAR isotypes alpha, beta or gamma. In this study, we have examined the contribution of a domain (L box) of hRARalpha located at the C-terminus of the ligand binding domain (LBD), between helices H11 and H12, to the ligand binding activity of this receptor. By site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate that, in the absence of the ligand-dependent activation domain 2 (AF2-AD), the receptor discriminates between classes of structurally distinct retinoids. This property was lost in the presence of the AF2-AD domain, evidencing major structural transitions in this part of the receptor. We propose that ligand binding occurs in two steps: first, the ligand interacts with the LBD in its opened, holo-receptor conformation in which the L box plays a crucial role in defining the ligand binding repertoire of hRARalpha; secondly, the LBD adopts its closed conformation in which the ligand interacts with the receptor mostly through its carboxylic moiety.

Induction of apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells by the novel synthetic retinoid CD437

Retinoids are promising agents for the prevention and treatment of several human malignancies including lung cancer. However, many lung cancer cell lines are resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Recently, we found that a new synthetic retinoid, 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437), which binds selectively to nuclear RA receptor gamma, was the most effective inhibitor of the growth of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells among 37 retinoids tested. After a 4-day treatment with CD437 the growth of 8 NSCLC cell lines was inhibited with an IC50 ranging from 0.13 to 0.53 microM. In contrast, ATRA failed to inhibit the growth of any of these cell lines by more than 43% after a 7-day treatment even at 10 microM. The presence of detached rounded cells in treated cultures indicated that CD437 may induce apoptosis. Indeed, this was confirmed by the presence of 20-57% cells with a sub-G1 DNA content and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of apoptosis. Two retinoids, CD2366 and CD2665, which are antagonists of nuclear retinoid receptor activation, failed to inhibit the effect of CD437 on the growth of the NSCLC cell lines. CD437 failed to suppress the transcriptional activation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) reporter. These results demonstrate that CD437 can induce apoptosis in NSCLC cells that are resistant to ATRA and that this effect is mediated by a mechanism that may be independent of transactivation of retinoid receptors or transrepression of AP-1.

Polyenylidene thiazolidinedione derivatives with retinoidal activities

Several polyenylidene thiazolidine or 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesized and their retinoidal activities were examined in terms of the differentiation-inducing ability towards human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and inhibitory effect on interleukin (IL)-1 alpha-induced IL-6 production in MC3T3-E1 cells. Compounds containing a trimethylcyclohexenyl ring induced HL-60 cell differentiation with weaker activity than retinoic acid (1a) by one or two orders of magnitude. The thiazolidinedione derivatives (2, 5, 7) showed stronger activity than the corresponding 2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone derivatives (3, 6, 8). The effects of a retinoid antagonist (LE540) and synergists (retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists, HX600 or HX630) on the activities of thiazolidine derivatives indicate that these compounds elicit their activities through the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs). All the thiazolidines examined also inhibited IL-1 alpha-induced IL-6 production with IC50 values of 10 nM order. The retinoidal activities of the thiazolidines are significant, considering that replacement of the carboxylic acid in retinoid structures with bioisosteric functional groups is generally ineffective, as seen in the structure-activity relationships of retinoidal benzoic acids.