LG 30435 is a new bronchodilator agent with multiple sites of action

Antihistaminic and antiallergic properties of dextro-mequitamium iodide in upper and lower guinea pig airways: comparison with azelastine

1. The ability of dextro-mequitamium iodide (d-Meq) to antagonize bronchomotor and inflammatory effects mediated by histamine and antigen challenge in the upper or lower guinea pig airways or both and its potential activity against the recruitment and activation of eosinophils in the bronchial wall have been evaluated in comparison with azelastine. 2. In receptor-binding studies, d-Meq displayed a nanomolar affinity for H1 and muscarinic receptors, and it was endowed with potent bronchodilating properties in the nanomolar range toward tonic contractions induced by histamine and carbachol. 3. d-Meq (100-1,000 nmol/guinea pig) and azelastine (100-5,000 nmol/guinea pig) administered by aerosol significantly inhibited histamine- and antigen-induced increases in insufflation pressure in sensitized animals. 4. d-Meq (1,000-6,000 nmol/kg i.v.) dose dependently inhibited the histamine- or antigen-induced increase in vascular permeability in the upper airways. 5. d-Meq was more effective against histamine than antigen challenge, and its potency was similar or greater than that of azelastine. 6. Aerosolized d-Meq (1,000 nmol/animal) reduced antigen-induced eosinophil accumulation in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from sensitized guinea pigs. 7. Eosinophils recovered from the BAL fluid of antigen-challenged animals showed an increased chemotaxis in response to LTB4 or platelet-activating factor. Both d-Meq and azelastine (300 nmol/animal) reduced this increase without affecting direct chemotaxis induced by leukotriene B4 (LTB4). 8. These findings provide evidence that local administration of d-Meq might be useful in the treatment of allergic disorders, such as rhinitis and asthma.

Absolute configuration and biological activity of mequitamium iodide enantiomers

The enantiomers of 1-methyl-3-(10H-phenothiazine-10-ylmethyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2 ,2,2]octane iodide (1) were prepared by chiral chromatographic resolution of the precursor mequitazine (2). The (+)-(S)-enantiomer 1b is 10-fold more potent than (-)-(R)-enantiomer 1a as a histamine antagonist, while the two enantiomers show the same antimuscarinic activity in vitro. The absolute configuration of the more active dextrorotatory isomer has been determined by X-ray analysis. Conformational analysis and molecular modeling suggest that the (+)-(S)-enantiomer can adopt a conformation similar to that attributed to the receptor binding conformers of classical antihistamines.

Effect of mequitamium iodide (LG 30435) on airway microvascular leakage in the guinea-pig

Intravenous administration of mequitamium iodide (LG 30435) prevented the increase of tracheobronchial vascular permeability induced either by antigen challenge or by exogenous histamine in the guinea-pig, while it was ineffective against PAF, serotonin or capsaicin. These findings indicate that mequitamium iodide selectively interferes with the effect of histamine on airway microvascular leakage, mediated by histamine H1 receptors, and is more potent than diphenhydramine, mequitazine or astemizole. Histamine receptor antagonism is likely to be major determinant of the antiallergic activity of the compound, although additional mechanisms may be involved.

High-affinity binding of mequitamium iodide (LG 30435) to muscarinic and histamine H1 receptors

Mequitamium iodide (LG 30435) is a novel quaternary ammonium phenothiazine with potential as an anti-asthmatic agent. In vitro binding experiments were performed in order to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying its biological activity. Mequitamium iodide was found to bind with high affinity only to histamine H1 receptors in rat brain membranes (Ki = 9 nM) and to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in various tissues homogenates (Ki = 12-77 nM) with no clearcut selectivity for any of the known subtypes. The interaction with muscarinic receptors in rat cerebral cortex and lung parenchyma was competitive, as showed by saturation studies. Lower affinity values (Ki = 1-10 microM) were found for serotonin 5-HT2, platelet-activating factor (PAF), verapamil and beta-adrenergic agents. These results indicate that both the potent antimuscarinic and antihistamine and the relatively weak anti-PAF pharmacological effects of mequitamium iodide may be explained by the direct interaction of the substance with the respective receptors.

Effects of anti-asthma drugs on PAF-induced death in mice

A number of anti-asthma drugs was assayed for the ability to protect mice from platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced death, which has been suggested to be dependent on the bronchoconstrictive features of this autacoid. Salbutamol, dexamethasone, theophylline, ketotifen and zindotrine, administered parenterally, produced a dose-dependent protection, while forskolin, enprofylline, disodium cromoglycate, nedocromil, azelastine and antagonists of acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin were devoid of protective effects. Theophylline, contrary to salbutamol, lost its protective effects in adrenalectomized mice, suggesting that these effects are dependent on the release of adrenomedullary cathecolamines. Salbutamol, theophylline and dexamethasone, at doses capable of inhibiting PAF-induced death, did not affect PAF-induced haemoconcentration in mice, thus excluding widespread changes in vascular permeability as a major cause of death. These results are generally in agreement with the hypothesis that airway obstruction is an important determinant of PAF-induced death in mice.

Mechanisms of the antiallergic action of N-methylmequitazine (LG 30435)

LG 30435 (N-methylmequitazine) was assayed in passive lung (PLA) and cutaneous (PCA) anaphylaxis in guinea-pigs and rats. At doses from 0.3 to 3 mumol kg-1 i.v., it produced a dose-dependent inhibition of guinea-pig PLA and of rat PCA and PLA, while the parent compound was ineffective or poorly effective up to 3 mumol kg-1. An attempt was made to elucidate the mechanism of LG 30435's action in these anaphylactic models, by means of various antagonists. It was tentatively concluded that different mechanisms are involved in the protective action of LG 30435 in each of the three models: histamine antagonism, possibly accompanied by an inhibition of the effects of peptido-leukotrienes in guinea-pig PLA; histamine antagonism in rat PCA and 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonism in rat PLA, possibly accompanied by a mast-cell stabilizing action in both cases. LG 30435 is devoid of smooth muscle relaxant effects on the airways and its demonstrated anticholinergic and anti-PAF effects do not appear to be involved in its antiallergic action.

Do anti-allergic drugs or anticholinergic drugs have a role in the treatment of asthma?

After the successful introduction of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) for the treatment of asthma, emphasis was placed on its apparent novel mechanism of action, the inhibition of inflammatory mediator release from mast cells. This opened the flood gates for numerous SCG-derivatives, many with oral efficacy and improved potency. The majority of these compounds were ineffective clinically, casting doubts on SCG's mechanism of action and questioning the importance of mast cells in asthma. However, information on the heterogeneity of mast cells has directed recent drug screening to new, more relevant models of asthma involving other inflammatory cells. Consequently, nedocromil sodium has emerged to perhaps lead a new generation of antiallergic drugs. Bronchodilator anticholinergic drugs have met with a resurgence of interest of late with the development of a number of quaternary ammonium homologues of atropine. While not as effective as beta-adrenoceptor agonists in asthma they are particularly effective in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Drugs with anticholinergic properties and associated beneficial effects are also under investigation.

Effects of LG 30435 on different platelet activating factor-induced responses

LG 30435 is a new potential anti-asthmatic agent with multiple sites of action. It can inhibit the bronchoconstriction induced by various agonists, including platelet activating factor (PAF). The effects of this compound on PAF-induced biological responses have now been investigated. LG 30435 inhibited both serotonin release from, and aggregation of, rabbit washed platelets evoked by PAF, being four times more potent on release than on aggregation. In contrast, it did not inhibit a number of the biological effects of PAF which are not platelet-mediated, such as contraction of guinea-pig lung parenchymal strips, hypotension in rats and lethality in mice. It may be concluded that, unless platelet PAF receptors are different from those in other tissues, LG 30435 is capable of inhibiting platelet-mediated effects of PAF by interfering with secondary mechanisms activated by this autacoid and not by direct antagonism of PAF at receptor sites.

LG 30435, a new bronchodilator/antiallergic agent, inhibits PAF-acether induced platelet aggregation and bronchoconstriction

LG 30435 is a quaternary phenothiazinic antihistamine, endowed with bronchodilator and antiallergic activity. Since PAF-acether (PAF) is a potential mediator of asthma, LG 30435 was assayed for its ability to counteract PAF-induced platelet aggregation (PA) in rabbit platelet rich plasma and bronchoconstriction (BC) in anaesthetized guinea-pigs, in comparison with other antihistamines. LG 30435 was the most potent and selective inhibitor of PAF-induced PA (IC50: 66 microM), concentrations three and more than fifteen fold higher being needed to inhibit PA induced by collagen and arachidonic acid respectively. The other antihistamines, namely mepyramine, promethazine, mequitazine, thiazinamium methyl sulfate and ketotifen were less potent inhibitors of PAF-induced PA, while interfered at lower concentrations with collagen-induced PA. LG 30435 and thiazinamium, administered intravenously, inhibited dose-dependently PAF-induced BC, starting from the dose of 0.1 mumol/kg. The ED50 of LG 30435 was 0.28 mumol/kg, while the inhibition obtained with thiazinamium did not reach 50% even at 3 mumol/kg. Ketotifen and promethazine were partially active only at 3 mumol/kg, while mequitazine and mepyramine were inactive up to this dose. These results show that LG 30435 is endowed with a peculiar anti-PAF action, which may be advantageous in the treatment of asthma.