The hydrolysis of bimatoprost in corneal tissue generates a potent prostanoid FP receptor agonist

Update on the mechanism of action of bimatoprost: a review and discussion of new evidence

Bimatoprost is a pharmacologically unique and highly efficacious anti-glaucoma agent. It appears to mimic the activity of the prostamides, which are biosynthesized from the natural endocannabinoid anandamide by the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2). Bimatoprost has also been suggested to lower intraocular pressure by behaving as a prodrug or, alternatively, by stimulating FP receptors directly. These three distinctly different hypotheses for the mechanism of bimatoprost activity are discussed in the light of current evidence.

Prostaglandin ethanolamides (prostamides): in vitro pharmacology and metabolism

We investigated whether prostaglandin ethanolamides (prostamides) E(2), F(2alpha), and D(2) exert some of their effects by 1) activating prostanoid receptors either per se or after conversion into the corresponding prostaglandins; 2) interacting with proteins for the inactivation of the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), for example fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), thereby enhancing AEA endogenous levels; or 3) activating the vanilloid receptor type-1 (TRPV1). Prostamides potently stimulated cat iris contraction with potency approaching that of the corresponding prostaglandins. However, prostamides D(2), E(2), and F(2alpha) exhibited no meaningful interaction with the cat recombinant FP receptor, nor with human recombinant DP, EP(1-4), FP, IP, and TP prostanoid receptors. Prostamide F(2alpha) was also very weak or inactive in a panel of bioassays specific for the various prostanoid receptors. None of the prostamides inhibited AEA enzymatic hydrolysis by FAAH in cell homogenates, or AEA cellular uptake in intact cells. Furthermore, less than 3% of the compounds were hydrolyzed to the corresponding prostaglandins when incubated for 4 h with homogenates of rat brain, lung, or liver, and cat iris or ciliary body. Very little temperature-dependent uptake of prostamides was observed after incubation with rat brain synaptosomes or RBL-2H3 cells. We suggest that prostamides' most prominent pharmacological actions are not due to transformation into prostaglandins, activation of prostanoid receptors, enhancement of AEA levels, or gating of TRPV1 receptors, but possibly to interaction with novel receptors that seem to be functional in the cat iris.

Ocular Hypotensive FP Prostaglandin (PG) Analogs: PG Receptor Subtype Binding Affinities and Selectivities, and Agonist Potencies at FP and Other PG Receptors in Cultured Cells

Natural prostaglandins (PGs) such as PGD2, PGE2, PGF2(2alpha), and PGI2 exhibited the highest affinity for their respective cognate receptors, but were the least selective agents when tested in receptor binding assays. Travoprost acid ([+]-fluprostenol) was the most FP-receptor-selective compound, exhibiting a high affinity (Ki = 35 +/- 5 nM) for the FP receptor, and minimal affinity for DP (Ki = 52,000 nM), EP1 (Ki = 9540 nM), EP3 (Ki = 3501 nM), EP4 (Ki = 41,000 nM), IP (Ki > 90,000 nM), and TP (Ki = 121,000 nM) receptors. Travoprost acid was the most potent PG analog tested in FP receptor functional phosphoinositide turnover assays in the following cell types: human ciliary muscle (EC50 = 1.4 nM), human trabecular meshwork (EC50 = 3.6 nM), and mouse fibroblasts and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (EC50 = 2.6 nM). Although latanoprost acid exhibited a relatively high affinity for the FP receptor (Ki = 98 nM), it had significant functional activity at FP (EC50 = 32-124 nM) and EP1 (EC50 = 119 nM) receptors. Bimatoprost acid was less selective, exhibiting a relatively high affinity for the FP (Ki = 83 nM), EP1 (Ki = 95 nM), and EP3 (Ki = 387 nM) receptors. Bimatoprost acid exhibited functional activity at the EP1 (EC50 = 2.7 nM) and FP (EC50 = 2.8-3.8 nM in most cells) receptors. Bimatoprost (nonhydrolyzed amide) also behaved as an FP agonist at the cloned human FP receptor (EC50 = 681 nM), in h-TM (EC50 = 3245 nM) and other cell types. Unoprostone and S-1033 bound with low affinity (Ki = 5.9 microM to > 22 microM) to the FP receptor, were not selective, but activated the FP receptor. In conclusion, travoprost acid has the highest affinity, the highest FP-receptor-selectivity, and the highest potency at the FP receptor as compared to the other ocular hypotensive PG analogs known so far, including free acids of latanoprost, bimatoprost, and unoprostone isopropyl ester.

Human Ciliary Muscle Cell Responses to FP-Class Prostaglandin Analogs: Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis, Intracellular Ca2+ Mobilization and MAP Kinase Activation

Phospholipase C induced phosphoinositide (PI) turnover, intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) mobilization and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation by FP-class prostaglandin analogs was studied in normal human ciliary muscle (h-CM) cells. Agonist potencies obtained in the PI turnover assays were: travoprost acid ((+)-fluprostenol; EC(50) = 2.6 +/- 0.8 nM) > bimatoprost acid (EC(50) = 3.6 +/- 1.2 nM) > (+/-)-fluprostenol (EC(50) = 4.3 +/- 1.3 nM) >> prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) (EC(50) = 134 +/- 17 nM) > latanoprost acid (EC(50) = 198 +/- 83 nM) > S-1033 (EC(50) = 2930 +/- 1420 nM) > unoprostone (EC(50) = 5590 +/- 1490 nM) > bimatoprost (EC(50) = 9600 +/- 1100 nM). Agonist potencies in h-CM cells correlated well with those previously obtained for the cloned human ciliary body-derived FP receptor (r = 0.96, p< 0.001) and that present on h-TM cells (r = 0.94, p< 0.0001). Travoprost acid, PGF(2 alpha) and unoprostone also stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization in h-CM cells with travoprost acid being the most potent agonist. MAP kinase activity was stimulated in the h-CM cells with the following rank order of activity (at 100 nM): travoprost acid > PGF(2 alpha) > latanoprost acid > PGD(2) > bimatoprost > latanoprost = bimatoprost acid = fluprostenol > PGE(2) = S-1033 > unoprostone > PGI(2). The PI turnover, [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization and MAP kinase activation induced by several of these agonists was blocked by the FP receptor antagonist, AL-8810 (11 beta-fluoro-15-epiindanyl PGF(2 alpha)) (e.g. K(i) = 5.7 microM versus PI turnover). These studies have characterized the biochemical and pharmacological properties of the native FP prostaglandin receptor present on h-CM cells using three signal transduction mechanism assays and a broad panel of FP-class agonist analogs (including free acids of bimatoprost, travoprost and latanoprost) and the FP receptor antagonist, AL-8810.

Update on prostaglandin analogs

Prostaglandin analogs are a novel class of intraocular-lowering medications used primarily for the treatment of glaucoma. These topical medications reduce intraocular pressure primarily by enhancing uveoscleral outflow. The recent literature has enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of these agents and has allowed us to better understand the differences between the three commonly used once-daily medications.

Real-time intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by travoprost acid, bimatoprost, unoprostone, and other analogs via endogenous mouse, rat, and cloned human FP prostaglandin receptors

The ability of a number of prostaglandin F 2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) analogs to mobilize intracellular Ca2+[Ca2+]iand to compete for [3H]PGF 2 alpha binding to prostaglandin F 2 alpha receptors (FP) was evaluated. Radioligand binding studies measuring displacement of [3H]PGF 2 alpha by a variety of FP prostaglandin analogs yielded the following rank order of affinities: travoprost acid [(+)-16-m-trifluorophenoxy tetranor PGF 2 alpha; (+)-fluprostenol] > bimatoprost acid (17-phenyl-trinor PGF 2 alpha) >> unoprostone (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-20-ethyl PGF 2 alpha) = bimatoprost (17-phenyl-trinor PGF 2 alpha ethyl amide) > or = Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution). In FP functional studies, travoprost acid (EC50= 17.5-37 nM, n = 13), bimatoprost acid (EC50= 23.3-49.0 nM, n = 6-12), unoprostone (EC50= 306-1270 nM, n = 4-8), bimatoprost (EC50= 3070- 3940 nM, n = 4-9), and Lumigan (EC50= 1470-3190 nM, n = 5-9) concentration dependently stimulated [Ca2+]imobilization via the rat (A7r5 cells), mouse (3T3 cells), and cloned human ocular FP prostanoid receptors. The rank order of potency of these compounds at the FP receptor of the three species was similar and in good agreement with the determined binding affinities. The agonist effects of these compounds were concentration dependently blocked by the FP receptor-selective antagonist, AL-8810 (11beta-fluoro-15-epi-15-indanyl-tetranor PGF 2 alpha) (Ki= 0.6-1.3 microM). These studies have demonstrated that bimatoprost, unoprostone, and bimatoprost acid possess direct agonist activities at the rat, mouse, and human FP prostanoid receptor and that travoprost acid is the most potent of the synthetic FP prostaglandin analogs tested.

Bimatoprost and travoprost: a review of recent studies of two new glaucoma drugs

Bimatoprost (Lumigan [Allergan, Inc, Irvine CA]) and travoprost (Travatan [Alcon, Ft Worth, TX]) are two new intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drugs for use in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. This review evaluates recent studies comparing these new drugs with timolol and with latanoprost. In each study, the statistical analyses support the conclusion that these agents were more effective than timolol and as effective as latanoprost in terms of their ability to reduce IOP. The side effect profiles for bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost were similar, but with statistically higher occurrences of hyperemia and eyelash growth for bimatoprost or travoprost versus latanoprost or timolol.