Evidence for a distinct Ca2+ antagonist receptor for the novel benzothiazinone compound HOE 166

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of 4,6-disubstituted 3-cyanopyridin-2(1H)-ones, a new class of calcium entry blockers

The preparation of 3-cyano-4,6-diaryl-pyridin-2(1H)-ones 4a-h, calcium entry blockers related to diltiazem, is described starting from 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones 5. On preliminary pharmacological tests all compounds are active and some of them show calcium antagonistic activity superior or comparable to diltiazem.

CP-060S interacts with three principal binding sites on the L-type Ca2+ channel

CP-060S, (-)-(S)-2-[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxypheny1]-3-[3-[N-met hyl-N-[2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]propyl]-1,3-thi azolidin-4-one hydrogen fumarate is a novel cardioprotective drug, which is able to prevent Na+-, Ca2+-overload and also has Ca2+ channel blocking activity. The latter action of CP-060S was characterized by radioligand binding experiments with rat cardiac membranes in terms of the interaction with the three principal binding sites on the L-type Ca2+ channel, which bind such drugs as the 1,4-dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines. CP-060S exhibited complete and concentration-dependent inhibition of [3H](+)-PN200-110, [3H](-)-desmethoxyverapamil and [3H]cis-(+)-diltiazem binding to their specific binding sites. Saturation studies showed that CP-060S increased the Kd of [3H](+)-PN200-110 and [3H](-)-desmethoxyverapamil without causing a significant change in the maximum binding density. The dissociation kinetics of the three radioligands were accelerated by CP-060S. These results suggest that CP-060S interacts with a novel binding site on the L-type Ca2+ channel and has a negative allosteric interaction with the three principal binding sites for the 1,4-dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines.

Calcium-channel blockers and gastrointestinal motility: basic and clinical aspects

Several calcium-channel blockers currently in use for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders have recently been tested for their effects on gastrointestinal motility. The rationale for this approach centers on the concept that calcium-channel blockers are at least as potent in inhibiting intestinal smooth muscle as in relaxing vascular smooth muscle. This review will give an outline of the most recent findings on the role of calcium and calcium channels in smooth muscle and neuronal function in the digestive system. It will also consider the mechanisms by which calcium-channel blockers may affect gastrointestinal motility and assess potential clinical applications in gastroenterology. The main goal for researchers in this field will be the development of gut-selective agents, with no cardiovascular side effects.

New synthetic ligands for L-type voltage-gated calcium channels

The pharmacology of the L-type Ca2+ channel has been the subject of considerable basic and clinical investigation over the past two decades primarily because of the clinical activities of nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem. However, it is quite clear that this Ca2+ channel is, in common with other pharmacologic receptors, a multiple drug receptor. There are probably as many as six or more discrete drug binding sites associated with this Ca2+ channel. Continued investigation of these sites may yield both new therapeutic agents, structural clues to ligands active at other classes of Ca2+ channel and structures active at other classes of ion channel.

Effects of four diltiazem stereoisomers on binding of d-cis-[3H]diltiazem and (+)-[3H]PN200-110 to rabbit T-tubule calcium channels

Diltiazem, a benzothiazepine Ca2+ antagonist, has four stereoisomeric forms: d- and l-isomers of the cis and trans forms. All four isomers were shown to completely inhibit the binding of d-cis-[3H]diltiazem to rabbit T-tubule Ca2+ channels. The potency of the inhibition was in the order: d-cis greater than l-cis greater than d-trans = l-trans. The Hill slope for each inhibition was close to unity. The l-cis, d-trans and l-trans isomers had no effect on dissociation of the d-cis[3H]diltiazem-benzothiazepine receptor complex. These results indicate that all four isomers bind to benzothiazepine receptors. Furthermore, all of the isomers modulated (+)-[3H]PN200-110 binding. At 37 degrees C, only the d-cis isomer stimulated the binding, whereas the others showed inhibition. At 2 degrees C, all of them inhibited the binding. Both trans isomers exerted virtually the same, weak effects on the binding. It is concluded that the effects of diltiazem on radioligand binding to Ca2+ channels are highly stereospecific for the d-cis isomer.

Novel sites for phenylalkylamines: characterisation of a sodium-sensitive drug receptor with (-)-[3H]emopamil

(-)-Emopamil ((S)-emopamil, (2S)-2-isopropyl-5-(methylphenethylamino)- 2-phenylvaleronitrile hydrochloride) is a Ca(2+)-antagonistic phenylalkylamine which also blocks serotonin (5-HT2) receptors and has antiischemic properties. The (-)-[3H]emopamil tissue distribution profile of specific binding is in striking contrast to that observed for (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 or (-)-[3H]desmethoxyverapamil: (-)-[3H]emopamil labels membrane fractions from guinea-pig liver much greater than adrenal gland greater than kidney approximately lung approximately ductus deferens approximately brain approximately skeletal muscle. Binding to liver membrane was saturable (KD = 12.8 nM, Bmax = 35 pmol/mg of protein), stereoselective, reversible (K-1 = 0.22 min-1 at 25 degrees C) and inhibited by tetraethylammonium (IC50: 1.8 mM) greater than Li+ (IC50: 12.5 mM) approximately Na+ (IC50: 13.6 mM) and [NH4+] (IC50: 79.3 mM) but not by Rb+, Cs+ or K+. The high-affinity liver membrane binding sites have a pharmacological profile that is distinct from the phenylalkylamine receptor domain of the voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channel. Similar sites exist in brain and other tissues, albeit with a lower density. Amiodarone, butoprozine and amiloride derivatives bind with high affinity whereas 1,4-dihydropyridines do not interact at all. It is suggested that the novel phenylalkylamine site is linked to a sodium-dependent carrier or transport system.

Effects of Ca2+ channel ligands on [3H]QNB binding at m1 and m3 muscarinic receptors

1. The effects of Ca2+ channel ligands on [3H]QNB binding in m1- or m3-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have been studied. 2. The IC50 values of Ca2+ channel ligands for the inhibition of [3H]QNB binding were between 10(-6) and 10(-4) M and the rank order of potency was HOE 166 greater than McN 6186 greater than nicardipine greater than tiamdipine greater than verapamil greater than diltiazem greater than Bay K 8644 greater than nifedipine at m1 and m3 receptors. 3. The results indicate that Ca2+ channel ligands employed in this experiment do not distinguish subtypes of muscarinic receptors.

New ligands for L-type Ca2+ channels

Although the clinically important categories of drug represented by verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem are defined as acting at three major and discrete sites on the L class of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel, it is likely that some new classes of drug modulate channel activity by acting at additional sites. David Rampe and David Triggle describe the actions of some of these new drugs, which may both offer improved therapeutic and side-effect profiles over existing agents and provide information to define further the structure and function of this channel class. These drugs may mimic the actions of endogenous ligand(s) and such ligands could provide new directions for Ca2+ channel drug structures.

(+)-Niguldipine binds with very high affinity to Ca2+ channels and to a subtype of alpha 1-adrenoceptors

The enantiomers of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) niguldipine (3-methyl-5-[3-(4,4-diphenyl-1-piperidinyl)-propyl]- 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate- hydrochloride) were investigated with respect to their interaction with 1,4-DHP receptors on L-type Ca2+ channels and alpha-adrenoceptors. The Ki values for niguldipine were dependent on the membrane protein concentrations in the radioligand binding assay. 'True' Ki values (at extrapolated 'zero' membrane protein) were determined with guinea-pig membranes for (+)-niguldipine and were found to be 85 pmol/l for the 1,4-DHP receptor of skeletal muscle, 140 pmol/l for that of brain and 45 pmol/l for that of heart. (-)-Niguldipine was approximately 40 times less potent. (+)-Niguldipine (Ki: 78 nmol/l) and (-)-niguldipine (Ki: 58 nmol/l) bound with approximately equal affinity to the alpha 1-adrenoceptors ('alpha 1B') in liver cell membranes. The (+)-niguldipine alpha 1-adrenoceptor inhibition data for rat brain cortex membranes were better fitted by a two-site model. The high-affinity component ('alpha 1A') had a Ki value of 52 pmol/l in competition experiments with [3H]prazosin. The low-affinity site (alpha 1B) had 200- to 600-fold less affinity. (-)-Niguldipine was greater than 40-fold less potent at alpha 1A- but was nearly equipotent to the (+)enantiomer at alpha 1B-sites. (+)-Niguldipine was the most selective compound for discriminating alpha 1A- from alpha 1B-adrenoceptors and is a novel prototype for 1,4-DHPs which bind with nearly equal affinity to skeletal muscle and brain or heart 1,4-DHP receptors.