Water soluble furoxan derivatives as NO prodrugs

Second generation of alpha-tocopherol analogs-nitric oxide donors: Synthesis, physicochemical, and biological characterization

Synthesis, physicochemical, and biological characterization of a series of alpha-tocopherol mimetics with NO-releasing capacity are reported. The selected NO-donor moieties were nitrooxy and furoxan. All products were tested for their in vitro NO-releasing capacities, vasodilating properties and mammal cytotoxic activities. The lipophilic-hydrophilic balance of all products was also evaluated. A new hybrid furoxan, phenol derivative 17, possesses adequate profile of the studied properties.

Synthesis and evaluation of NO-release from symmetrically substituted furoxans

A series of symmetrically substituted dibenzoyl furoxans were synthesized and investigated for their potential to release nitric oxide, which plays a key role in the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Cysteine was employed to promote nitric oxide release from furoxan via the formation of an S-nitrosothiol intermediate. Transition metal ion-mediated S-nitrosocysteine decomposition liberates nitric oxide that, in aqueous aerobic solutions, is converted to reactive nitrogen oxide species. The percent nitric oxide released was quantified colorimetrically by the Griess reagent system.

Synthesis of novel 4-substituted-7-trifluoromethylquinoline derivatives with nitric oxide releasing properties and their evaluation as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents

Six derivatives of the general formula 2- or 4-(7-trifluoromethylquinolin-4-ylamino) benzoic acid N'-(nitrooxyacetyl or propionyl) hydrazide and an oxime of the formula 1-[4-(7-trifluoromethylquinolin-4-ylamino)phenyl]ethanone oxime were synthesized and tested for their in vivo anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and ulcerogenic properties, as well as their in vitro nitric oxide release ability. Compound 2-(7-trifluoromethylquinolin-4-ylamino)benzoic acid N'-(2-nitrooxy propionyl)hydrazide 12 showed an anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of indomethacin in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test, and equipotency to glafenine in the acetic acid mice induced writhing model at 100mg/kg p.o., respectively. All the final compounds showed no tendency to induce stomach ulceration in rats; nitric oxide seems to contribute to their excellent safety profile.

Synthesis and antimalarial activities of some furoxan sulfones and related furazans

Furoxan derivatives bearing a sulfone moiety at position 3 or 4 were synthesized and tested for their antimalarial action on the chloroquine-sensitive D10 and the chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The furazan analogues were considered for comparison. The most active compounds were the products in which the -SO2R groups are at the 3-position of the furoxan system. These latter substances displayed an antimalarial activity in the microM range, possibly related in part to their ability to release NO.

Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of potential antiatherogenic nitric oxide releasing tocopherol analogs

Synthesis and biological characterization of a series of alpha-tocopherol analogs with NO-releasing capacity are reported. The selected NO-donor moieties were nitrooxy and furoxan. All products were tested for their in vitro NO-releasing capacities, vasodilating properties, and antiplatelet activity. They were also capable of preventing LDL oxidation.

Furoxan analogues of the histamine H3-receptor antagonist imoproxifan and related furazan derivatives

Synthesis and pharmacological characterisation of a series of compounds in which the oxime substructure present in imoproxifan was constrained in the pentatomic NO-donor furoxan ring, as well as their structurally related furazan analogues devoid of NO-donating properties, are described. The whole series of products displayed reversible histamine H3-antagonistic activity on guinea-pig ileum. 4-(4-(3-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)propoxy)phenyl)furoxan-3-carbonitrile 16 was also able to induce partial relaxation when added to the bath after electrical contraction of the guinea-pig ileum during the study of its H3-antagonistic properties. This phenomenon seems to be dependent on NO-mediated sGC activation. The lipophilic-hydrophilic balance of all the products was investigated.

The Furoxan System: Design of Selective Nitric Oxide (NO) Donor Inhibitors of COX-2 Endowed with Anti-Aggregatory and Vasodilating Activities

Several NO donor 3,4-diphenylfuroxan (= 3,4-diphenyl-1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxide) derivatives were synthesized and tested for their COX-inhibiting activities. The products were found to be selective COX-2 inhibitors, similar to the structurally related furazans (3,4-diphenyl-1,2,5-oxadiazole), devoid of the NO release property. This behavior was confirmed by a molecular-docking study. The NO-dependent platelet anti-aggregatory and vasodilating activities of the new furoxans 5-7 were studied in vitro. These properties can be modulated by inserting an appropriate spacer between the 4-phenyl group and the furoxan ring, giving rise to new, selective COX-2 furoxan derivatives endowed with anti-aggregatory and vasodilating activities, and with potentially reduced cardiotoxicities.

Non-imidazole histamine NO-donor H3-antagonists

Recently a series of H3-antagonists related to Imoproxifan was realised (I); in these products the oxime substructure of the lead was constrained in NO-donor furoxan systems and in the corresponding furazan derivatives. In this paper, a new series of compounds derived from I by substituting the imidazole ring with the ethoxycarbonylpiperazino moiety present in the non-imidazole H3-ligand A-923 is described. For all the products synthesis and preliminary pharmacological characterisation, as well as their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, are reported. The imidazole ring replacement generally results in a decreased H3-antagonist activity with respect to the analogues of series I and, in some cases, induces relaxing effects on the electrically contracted guinea-pig ileum, probably due to increased affinity for other receptor systems.

Inactivation of parasite cysteine proteinases by the NO-donor 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)-furoxan oxalate

NO-donors block Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania life cycle by inactivating parasite enzymes, e.g., cysteine proteinases. In this study, the inactivation of falcipain, cruzipain, and Leishmania infantum cysteine proteinase by the NO-donor 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)-furoxan oxalate (SNO-102) is reported. SNO-102 inactivates dose- and time-dependently parasite cysteine proteinases; one equivalent of NO, released from SNO-102, inactivates one equivalent of L. infantum cysteine proteinase. With SNO-102 in excess over the parasite cysteine proteinase, the time course of enzyme inhibition corresponds to a pseudo-first-order reaction for more than 90% of its course. The concentration dependence of the pseudo-first-order rate constant is second-order at low SNO-102 concentration but tends to first-order at high NO-donor concentration. This behavior may be explained by a relatively fast pre-equilibrium followed by a limiting pseudo-first order process. Kinetic parameters of L. infantum cysteine proteinase inactivation by SNO-102 are affected by the acidic pK shift of one apparent ionizing group (from pK(unl)=5.8 to pK(lig)=4.7) upon enzyme inhibition. Falcipain, cruzipain and L. infantum cysteine proteinase inactivation is prevented and reversed by dithiothreitol and L-ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the fluorogenic substrate N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg-(7-amino-4-methylcoumarin) protects parasite cysteine proteinases from inactivation by SNO-102. The absorption spectrum of the inactive S-nitrosylated SNO-102-treated L. infantum cysteine proteinase displays a maximum at about 340 nm. These results indicate that the parasite cysteine proteinase inactivation by SNO-102 occurs via the NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of the Cys25 catalytic residue.

Cytotoxicity of furoxans: quantitative structure-activity relationships study

Furoxans are interesting biological active compounds. Recent studies demonstrate that they are cytotoxic under aerobic conditions. This paper shows that this cytotoxicity could be related with E(LUMO), calculated LogP and Mulliken charge on heterocycle nitrogen 2 calculated at ab initio level (3-21G* basis). It was possible to propose a tentative mechanism of cytotoxicity and structural modifications to modulate the cytotoxic potency of furoxan derivatives.

New 1,4-Dihydropyridines Endowed with NO-Donor and Calcium Channel Agonist Properties

A new series of calcium channel agonists structurally related to Bay K8644, containing NO donor furoxans and the related furazans unable to release NO, is described. The racemic mixtures were studied for their action on L-type Ca(2+) channels expressed in cultured rat insulinoma RINm5F cells. All the products proved to be potent calcium channel agonists. All the racemic mixtures, with the only exception of the carbamoyl derivatives 9, 12 endowed with scanty solubility, were separated by chiral chromatography into the corresponding enantiomers; the (+) enantiomers were found to be potent agonists while the (-) ones were feeble antagonists. The racemic mixtures were also assessed for their positive inotropic activity on electrically stimulated rat papillary muscle and for their ability to increase Ca(2+) entry into the vascular smooth muscle of rat aorta strips. The cyanofuroxan 8 proved to be an interesting product with dual Ca(2+)-dependent positive inotropic and NO-dependent vasodilating activity.

Design and Synthesis of 3‘- and 5‘-O-(3-Benzenesulfonylfuroxan-4-yl)-2‘-deoxyuridines: Biological Evaluation as Hybrid Nitric Oxide Donor−Nucleoside Anticancer Agents

A group of 3'-O- and 5'-O-(3-benzenesulfonylfuroxan-4-yl)-2'-deoxyuridines possessing a variety of substituents (H, Me, I, F, CF(3)) at the C-5 position of the nucleoside moiety were synthesized for evaluation as hybrid anticancer agents that have the ability to simultaneously release cytotoxic nitric oxide (*NO). Incubation of these nitric oxide donor-nucleoside conjugates in the presence of 18 mM L-cysteine released a high percentage of *NO (21-48% at 1 h; 37-86% at 16 h). The release of *NO in the absence of the thiol cofactor was negligible. These hybrid *NO donor-nucleosides exhibited high cellular toxicity (CC(50) = 10(-6)-10(-8) M range) against a battery of tumor cell lines (143B-LTK, 143B, EMT-6, KBALB-STK, and KBALB) and normal human fibroblasts (Hs578Bst). No differences in cytotoxicity between nontransfected (143B, KBALB) and the corresponding transfected (143B-LTK, KBALB-STK) cancer cell lines possessing the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) thymidine kinase gene (TK(+)) were observed, indicating that expression of the viral TK enzyme did not provide a gene therapeutic effect.

New potential uroselective NO-donor alpha1-antagonists

A recent uroselective alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, REC15/2739, has been joined with nitrooxy and furoxan NO-donor moieties to give new NO-donor alpha(1)-antagonists. All the compounds studied proved to be potent and selective ligands of human cloned alpha(1a)-receptor subtype. Derivatives 6 and 7 were able to relax the prostatic portion of rat vas deferens contracted by (-)-noradrenaline because of both their alpha(1A)-antagonist and their NO-donor properties.

[3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propyl]guanidines containing furoxan moieties: a new class of H3-antagonists endowed with NO-donor properties

Synthesis and pharmacological characterisation of a series of products obtained by coupling the H(3)-antagonist SKF 91486 through appropriate spacers with the NO-donor 3-phenylfuroxan-4-yloxy and 3-benzenesulfonylfuroxan-4-yloxy moieties, as well as with the corresponding furazan substructures, devoid of NO-donating properties, are reported. All the products were tested for their H(3)-antagonistic and H(2)-agonistic properties on electrically-stimulated guinea-pig ileum segments and guinea-pig papillary muscle, respectively. The whole series of compounds displayed good H(3)-antagonist behaviour and feeble partial H(2)-agonist activity. Among furoxan derivatives, the benzenesulfonyl hybrid 28, a good NO-donor, triggered a dual NO-dependent muscle relaxation and H(3)-antagonistic effect on guinea-pig intestine.

H3 receptor ligands: new imidazole H3-antagonists endowed with NO-donor properties

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of a group of compounds obtained by coupling the H(3)-antagonist SKF 91486 with the NO-donor 3-phenylfuroxan-4-yloxy and 3-benzenesulfonylfuroxan-4-yloxy moieties, as well as with the corresponding furazan analogues, devoid of NO-donating properties, are reported. All the products were tested for their H(3)-antagonistic and H(2)-agonistic properties on electrically-simulated guinea-pig ileum segments and guinea-pig papillary muscle, respectively. All the synthesised compounds displayed good H(3)-antagonistic properties (pA(2) range 7.02-8.49) while behaving only as weak partial H(2)-agonists. Derivative 28, the best NO-donor of the series, was able to trigger a dual NO-dependent muscle relaxation and H(3)-antagonistic effect on guinea-pig illeum.

Current trends in QSAR on NO donors and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)*

This article evaluates the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) of nitric oxide (NO) radical donors and nitric oxide synthases (NOS) inhibitors, using the C-QSAR program of Biobyte. Furoxans, triazines, amidoximes, tetrazoles, imidazoles and N(omega)-2-nitroarylamino acid analogues were included in this survey. In nine out of seventeen cases, the clog P plays a significant part in the QSAR of the NO radical donors and of the NOS inhibition. Many of the compounds must be interacting with a hydrophobic space in a non-specific way. In some cases molecular refractivity CMR/MR as well as sterimol parameters (B(1) and L) are important. Electronic effects, with the exception of the Hammett's constant sigma and the Swain-Lupton parameter F, are not found to govern the biological activity. Stereochemical and electronic features are also found to be important. Indicator variables were used after the best model was found to account for the usual structural features.

In vitro and in vivo vasodilating activity of nitroso derivatives gem -substituted with electron-withdrawing groups

A series of nitroso compounds gem -substituted with electron-withdrawing groups (R(2)C(X)NO, R=alkyl, X=NO(2), CN, Cl), were studied for their in vitro and in vivo vasodilating properties as well as for their ability to activate soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) in RFL-6 cells. All the compounds, with the sole exception of chloro derivative, display good in vitro vasodilating action and are able to increase the basal level of cGMP. Their potencies as vasodilators decrease in the presence of oxyhaemoglobin, a scavenger of nitric oxide (NO). The haemodynamic profile of the most interesting compounds, assessed in anaesthetized pigs, is also in line with a release of NO from these compounds.

Vasorelaxant and antiplatelet activity of 4,7-dimethyl-1,2, 5-oxadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine 1,5,6-trioxide: role of soluble guanylate cyclase, nitric oxide and thiols

1. Certain heterocyclic N-oxides are vasodilators and inhibitors of platelet aggregation. The pharmacological activity of the furoxan derivative condensed with pyridazine di-N-oxide 4,7-dimethyl-1,2, 5-oxadiazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine 1,5,6-trioxide (FPTO) and the corresponding furazan (FPDO) was studied. 2. FPTO reacted with thiols generating nitrite (NO), S-nitrosoglutathione and hydroxylamine (nitroxyl) and converted oxyHb to metHb. FPDO did not generate detectable amounts of NO-like species but reacted with thiols and oxyHb. 3. FPTO and FPDO haem-dependently stimulated the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and this stimulation was inhibited by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and by 0.1 mM dithiothreitol. 4. FPTO relaxed noradrenaline-precontracted aortic rings and its concentration-response curve was biphasic (pIC(50)=9. 03+/-0.13 and 5.85+/-0.06). FPDO was significantly less potent vasodilator (pIC(50)=5.19+/-0.14). The vasorelaxant activity of FPTO and FPDO was inhibited by ODQ. oxyHb significantly inhibited only FPTO-dependent relaxation. 5. FPTO and FPDO were equipotent inhibitors of ADP-induced platelet aggregation (IC(50)=0.63+/-0.15 and 0.49+/-0. 05 microM, respectively). The antiplatelet activity of FPTO (but not FPDO) was partially suppressed by oxyHb. The antiaggregatory effects of FPTO and FPDO were only partially blocked by sGC inhibitors. 6. FPTO and FPDO (10 - 20 microM) significantly increased cyclic GMP levels in aortic rings and platelets and this increase was blocked by ODQ. 7. Thus, FPTO can generate NO and, like FPDO, reacts with thiols and haem. The vasorelaxant activity of FPTO and FPDO is sGC-dependent and a predominant role is played by NO at FPTO concentrations below 1 microM. On the contrary, inhibition of platelet aggregation is only partially related to sGC activation.

Antisecretory and gastroprotective activities of compounds endowed with H2 antagonistic and nitric oxide (NO) donor properties

In spite of the well recognized gastric antisecretory activity, the gastroprotective potential of histamine H2 receptor antagonists is controversial. Most clinical studies in fact indicate that these drugs do not substantially protect the gastric mucosa from aggressive factors. Nitric oxide (NO) has been recently recognized as a fundamental mediator in gastric defence mechanisms, due to its ability to increase gastric mucosal blood flow and mucus production and to inhibit neutrophils adherence to endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the gastroprotective and H2 receptor antagonistic activity of a series of lamtidine analogues which contain different NO-releasing moieties (furoxan, nitroxy and nitrosothiol). These compounds were tested, in comparison with related H2 antagonists devoid of NO-donor structures, in different H2 receptor assays and in the conscious rat against 0.6 N HCl-induced gastric lesions. All the compounds tested were able to antagonize histamine-mediated responses at cardiac and gastric H2 receptors; however, furoxan and nitroxy derivatives were 10-fold less potent than the analogues devoid of NO-donor properties. By contrast, NO-donor compounds were more active than reference H2 antagonists as gastroprotective agents against mucosal injury induced by 0.6 N HCl. Among the different NO-donor moieties, the furoxan group conferred to the H2 antagonist molecule the highest gastroprotective potential; this finding closely correlates with the characteristics of NO release. In conclusions, lamtidine-analogue H2 antagonists combined with NO-donor moieties are endowed with gastric antisecretory and protective activity and could be the prototypes of a new class of anti-ulcer drugs. Finally, the furoxan NO donor group seems to be the most favourable among the different moieties tested.

NO donor and biological properties of different benzofuroxans

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of benzofusion on NO donor properties and related biological activities of the furoxan system. The biological properties considered were the ability to increase the cytosolic levels of cGMP in C6 cells and vasodilation.

METHODS

NO donor properties were investigated either in the presence or the absence of cysteine by using the Griess reaction, chemiluminescence, and gas chromatography. Increase of cytosolic cGMP levels were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. Vasodilating activity was assessed on rat aorta strips precontracted with noradrenaline, in the presence and the absence of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and methylene blue (MB), respectively.

RESULTS

Benzofuroxan and its methyl and cyano derivatives were unable to release NO under the experimental conditions. Generally these compounds displayed feeble vasodilating properties and were able to weakly stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). By contrast, benzodifuroxan and benzotrifuroxan were able to produce both NO* and its reduced form NO- , the nitroxyl anion. They displayed potent vasodilating properties and were able to increase cytosolic levels of cGMP in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

The simple benzofuroxans considered here are devoid of the capability to release NO, they weakly stimulate sGC as well as manifest feeble vasodilating properties by a mechanism that does not involve a thiol-induced NO production. By contrast, benzodifuroxan and benzotrifuroxan behave as typical NO donor furoxans.

Nitric oxide inhibits the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity

Nitric oxide (NO) is a polypotent regulatory molecule involved in a variety of activities, such as the modulation of the catalytic activity of cysteine-containing enzymes. The present study reports the modulation of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity by NO, released by the NO-donors 3, 3-bis(aminoethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-triazene (NOC-18), (+/-)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexenamide (NOR-3), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), 4-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-((2-(dimethylamino) ethyl)thio)furoxan oxalate (SNO-102), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). NO inhibits dose-dependently the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity, likely due to oxidation of Cys residue(s). Present results, representing a new insight into the modulation mechanism of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity, may be relevant to develop new strategies for inhibition of HIV-1 replication.

New 1,4-dihydropyridines conjugated to furoxanyl moieties, endowed with both nitric oxide-like and calcium channel antagonist vasodilator activities

A series of 4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridines substituted at the ortho and meta positions of the phenyl ring with NO-donating furoxan moieties and their non-NO-releasing furazan analogues were synthesized and pharmacologically characterized. The vasodilator activities of these compounds were evaluated on rat aorta and expressed as EC50 values or as EC50iGC values when obtained in the presence of inhibitors of guanylate cyclase methylene blue (MB) and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). Affinities to 1, 4-DHP receptors on Ca2+ channels, expressed as IC50 values, were determined through displacement experiments of [3H]nitrendipine on rat cortex homogenates. A linear correlation between IC50 and EC50 values was found for compounds unable to release NO. EC50calcd values for derivatives containing NO-donor moieties, expression of the Ca2+-blocking component of their vasodilator activity, were interpolated on this linear regression. They showed a good correspondence with EC50iGC values determined in the presence of soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors. Analysis of EC50iGC/EC50 ratios provided a useful tool to distinguish well-balanced hybrids from derivatives biased toward Ca2+-blocking or NO-dependent vasodilator activity. A detrimental effect on affinity to the 1, 4-DHP receptor, due to substitution at the ortho and meta positions of the 4-phenyl ring, was observed. SAR to explain this effect is proposed.

Studies on agents with mixed NO-dependent vasodilating and beta-blocking activities

PURPOSE

A series of derivatives having a propranolol-like moiety linked to NO-donor furoxan substructures were synthesized. The main objective of this investigation was to obtain agents with mixed NO-dependent vasodilating and beta-blocking activities.

METHODS

Most of the target compounds were synthesized from the appropriate furoxans bearing XCH2CH2NH2 (X = O, S, SO2) chains at the 4 position of the ring, using Al(C2H5)3 in methylene chloride solution and (+/-)2,3-epoxypropyl 1-naphtyl ether. Two of the final products (X = CONH) were obtained by coupling the appropriate furoxancarboxylic acids with N-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-naphthoxy)propyl]-ethylenediamine. beta 1- and beta 2-blocking activities were examined on isolated guinea pig right atria and on guinea pig trachea respectively. Vasodilating properties were assessed on endothelium denuded strips of rat aorta.

RESULTS

Some derivatives behave as well balanced "hybrids" displaying NO-dependent vasodilating and beta-blocking properties in the same concentration range. Some others display either prevalent beta-blocking or vasodilating activity. Generally speaking hybrid formation lowers the affinity for beta-receptors, in particular for beta 2-type, to give an increase in beta 1/beta 2 selectivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The furoxan system is a flexible tool in designing analogues of propranolol whose NO-donating and beta-blocking properties are modulated over a wide range.