5'-Hydrogenphosphonates of anti-HIV nucleoside analogues revisited: controversial mode of action

New antiglioma zwitterionic pronucleotides with an FdUMP framework

We have designed and synthesized new 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-phosphate pronucleotides which can function as potential agents against the glioblastoma multiforme tumor. Their anti-malignant potency has been tested against T98G, U-118 MG, U-87 MG gliomas, HeLa, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines, using MRC-5 healthy cells as a reference. Five of the sixteen compounds (4c, 4f-i) exhibited significant anticancer potency and high selectivity indices (SI 12-66). It is likely that these zwitterionic pronucleotides may function in a similar manner to zwitterionic phospholipids, by inducing cell membrane charge disorder, making the cell permeable to bioactive agents. The most promising therapeutic pronucleotides 4c, 4f-h, have high intestinal-blood uptake potency (Caco-2 cell line), and may be considered as potential, orally administrated, anticancer drugs.

3'-Modified oligodeoxyribonucleotides for the study of 2-deoxyribose damage in DNA

Well-defined substrates for the study of oxidative processes are important for the elucidation of the role of DNA damage in the etiology of diseases such as cancer. We have synthesized 3'-modified oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) using 5'→3' 'reverse' DNA synthesis for the study of 2-deoxyribose oxidative damage to DNA. The modified monomers designed for these studies all share a common feature, they lack the naturally occurring 3'-hydroxyl group found in 2-deoxyribonucleosides. Modified H-phosphonates containing 3'-phenyl selenides as well as saturated and unsaturated sugars were obtained and incorporated in ODNs. These ODNs were used to investigate the fate of C3'-dideoxyribonucleotide radicals in DNA.

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 16: synthesis and anti-HIV-1 activity of di-aryl nucleoside phosphotriesters

Di-aryl nucleoside phosphotriesters have been explored as a new type of pronucleotides for the purpose of anti-HIV-1 therapy and efficient synthetic protocols, based on H-phosphonate chemistry, have been developed for the preparation of this class of compounds. It was found that anti-HIV-1 activity of the phosphotriesters bearing an antiviral nucleoside moiety (AZT, ddA) and also ddU was due, at least partially, to intracellular conversion into the corresponding nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, and their efficiency correlated well with the pK(a) values of the aryloxy groups present.

AZT and AZT-monophosphate prodrugs incorporating HIV-protease substrate fragment: synthesis and evaluation as specific drug delivery systems

With the view to deliver anti-HIV nucleoside and nucleoside-monophosphate (MP) analogues specifically into HIV-infected cells, we synthesized a series of ester and phosphoramidate peptide conjugates of zidovudine (AZT) and of AZT-MP, respectively, wherein the peptide sequences derive from a HIV-protease (PR) hydrolysable substrate. Their in vitro stability with respect to hydrolysis, anti-HIV activity and cytotoxicity, and ability to inhibit the HIV-PR activity were investigated. Concerning the ester AZT-peptide conjugates, their antiviral activity level in thymidine kinase-expressing (TK+) CEM-SS and MT-4 cells was in most cases closely correlated to their hydrolysis rate: the faster the hydrolysis, the closer the anti-HIV activity to that of AZT. None of them was a HIV-PR substrate, indicating that their antiviral activity was not related to their intracellular hydrolysis by this enzyme. None of them inhibited HIV in TK-deficient (TK-) CEM cells, demonstrating that they probably act as prodrugs of AZT. Most of the phosphoramidate peptide conjugates of AZT-MP were rapidly degraded in a physiological buffer into several metabolites including AZT. Their anti-HIV activity in TK+ CEM-SS and MT-4 cells was much lower than that of AZT, indicating that only low amounts of AZT or AZT-MP were released into cells during incubation. Antiviral activities measured on TK- CEM cells for some phosphoramidates suggest that low amounts of AZT-MP could be released intracellularly. However, this AZT-MP release was not initiated by a HIV-PR hydrolysis, as no evidence for peptide cleavage was obtained by HPLC analysis of one representative compound after incubation with HIV-PR.

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 15: Synthesis, properties and, anti-HIV activity of aryl nucleoside 5′-α-hydroxyphosphonates

Aryl nucleoside 5'-H-phosphonates 4 bearing AZT or 2',3'-dideoxyuridine moieties were subjected to reaction with various aromatic aldehydes to produce nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives 2 as potential anti-HIV agents. Stability of the title compounds in cell culture media was investigated and three distinct decomposition pathways were identified. The anti-HIV activity of hydroxyphosphonates 2 correlates well with the type and extent of their chemical or enzymatic degradation in culture medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS), suggesting that aryl nucleoside 5'-hydroxyphosphonates 2 act as depot forms of the parent antiviral nucleosides.

Intracellular metabolism and pharmacokinetics of 5'-hydrogenphosphonate of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine, a prodrug of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine

5'-Hydrogenphosphonate of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (HpAZT), a novel anti-HIV drug approved for the treatment of HIV-infected patients in Russia, displays some clinical advantages over azidothymidine (AZT). Metabolism in the HL-60 cell culture and pharmacokinetics in mice of [6-3H]-HpAZT (in comparison with [6-3H-AZT) were studied to elucidate the metabolic basis of its lower clinical toxicity. Accumulation of [6-3H]-HpAZT-derived products in cells with time, distribution of its radioactive metabolites among blood and different mouse organs and dependence of drug accumulation on the route of administration were investigated. The rate of accumulation of [3H]-HpAZT metabolites in cells was slower than the rate of accumulation of [3H]-AZT metabolites. [3H]-AZTMP was the dominating metabolite at all time points, achieving the level of 15 +/- 3 pmol/10(6) cells after 25 h incubation. After oral or intravenous administrations of [3H]-HpAZT, the (radioactive) metabolites were rapidly distributed among blood, stomach, intestine and liver and were not found in brain, muscles and spleen. [3H]-HpAZT underwent rapid and extensive metabolism, [3H]-AZT being the dominating product at all time points. Administration of 180 nmol of [3H]-HpAZT resulted in an AZT concentration in blood of 1-3 microM after 5 min, which remained practically constant during the next 25 min and did not depend on the route of administration.

Investigations of nucleoside H-phosphonamidate in the design of nucleotide prodrug

The synthesis, anti-HIV activity and stability studies of a H-phosphonamidate derivative of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) incorporating a N,N-diisopropylamino residue as first model of alkylamino group are reported. The results demonstrate that such phosphorylated structure exerts its biological effects via chemical hydrolysis into the corresponding H-phosphonate, precursor of the parent nucleoside.

S-Acyl-2-thioethyl Phosphoramidate Diester Derivatives as Mononucleotide Prodrugs

The synthesis and in vitro anti-HIV activity of phosphoramidate diester derivatives of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) bearing one S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl (tBuSATE) group and various amino residues are reported. These compounds were obtained from an H-phosphonate strategy using an amidative oxidation step. Most of these derivatives appeared to inhibit HIV-1 replication, with EC(50) values at micromolar concentration in thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-) cells, revealing a less restrictive intracellular decomposition process than previously reported for other phosphoramidate prodrugs. The proposed decomposition pathway of this new series of mixed pronucleotides may successively involve an esterase and a phosphoramidase hydrolysis.

S-acyl-2-thioethyl aryl phosphotriester derivatives of AZT: synthesis, antiviral activity, and stability study

The synthesis, antiviral activity, and stability study of phosphotriester derivatives of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT) bearing modified l-tyrosinyl residues are reported. These compounds were obtained via phosphoramidite (P(III)) chemistry from the appropriate aryl precursors. All the derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro anti-HIV activity, and they appeared to be potent inhibitors of HIV-1 replication in various cell culture experiments, with EC(50) values between the micro- and nanomolar range, especially in thymidine kinase deficient (TK(-)) cells, showing their ability to act as mononucleotide prodrugs. The proposed decomposition process of these mixed mononucleoside aryl phosphotriesters successively involves an esterase and a phosphodiesterase hydrolysis.

Synthesis, anti-HIV activity, and stability studies of 5'-phosphorofluoridate derivatives of AZT

The synthesis, in vitro anti-HIV activity and stability studies of the 5'-fluorophosphate derivative of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) are reported. The results support the hypothesis that this phosphorylated entity exerts its biological effect via the delivery of the corresponding 5'-mononucleotide through an enzymatic process. However, the antiviral evaluation in thymidine kinase-deficient CEM cells as well as the stability studies in culture medium and cell extract showed that this bioconversion is not specific to the intracellular medium. Attempts to improve the biological activity of mononucleoside 5'-fluorophosphates by the use of the S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl (tBuSATE) group as biolabile phosphate protection are reported.

Pronucleotides: toward the in vivo delivery of antiviral and anticancer nucleotides

To overcome the many hurdles preventing the use of antiviral and anticancer nucleosides as therapeutics, the development of a prodrug methodology (i.e., pronucleotide) for the in vivo delivery of nucleotides has been proposed as a solution. The ideal pronucleotide should be non-toxic, stable in plasma and blood, capable of being i. v. and/or orally dosed, and intracellularly convertible to the corresponding nucleotide. Although this goal has yet to be achieved, many clever and imaginative pronucleotide approaches have been developed, which are likely to be important pharmacological tools. This review will discuss the major advances and future directions of the emerging field of antiviral and anticancer pronucleotide design and development.

Synthesis and anti-retroviral activity of O,O'-bis(3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidin-5'-yl) phosphoramidate derivatives

A simple and efficient protocol for the preparation of various symmetrical dinucleoside phosphoramidates derived from AZT, is presented. It consists of the phosphonylation of AZT with phosphonic acid in the presence of DCC to produce the symmetrical H-phosphonate diester, followed by its oxidative conversion to various phosphoramidate analogues. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-HIV activity in different cell cultures.

Synthesis and in vitro antiviral activity of some symmetrical phosphoramidate dimers of AZT

The synthesis of some symmetrical phosphoramidate dimers of AZT is presented. The synthetic scheme includes the formation of the symmetrical H-phosphonate diester of AZT, followed by its conversion to several dinucleoside phosphoramidate analogues. The compounds were evaluated for their anti-retroviral activity.

Synthesis, in vitro anti-HIV activity, and biological stability of 5'-O-myristoyl analogue derivatives of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (FLT) as potential bifunctional prodrugs of FLT

A group of 5'-O-myristoyl analogue derivatives of FLT (2) were evaluated as potential anti-HIV agents that were designed to serve as prodrugs to FLT. 3'-Fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5'-O-(12-methoxydodecanoyl)thymidine (4) (EC50 = 3.8 nM) and 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5'-O-(12-azidododecanoyl)thymidine (8) (EC50 = 2.8 nM) were the most effective anti-HIV-1 agents. There was a linear correlation between Log P and HPLC Log retention time for the 5'-O-FLT esters. The in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis half-life (t1/2), among the group of esters (3-8) in porcine liver esterase, rat plasma and rat brain homogenate was longer for 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5'-O-(myristoyl)thymidine (7), with t1/2 values of 20.3, 4.6 and 17.5 min, respectively.

Neighboring group catalysis in the design of nucleotide prodrugs

An approach is described for potential application to the delivery of polar nucleosides and nucleotides across lipophilic membranes, namely, nucleotide prodrugs based on salicyl phosphate. 3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 3'-deoxythymidine (ddT) were chosen as models. For the synthesis of prototype compounds 1 and 2, the approach was first to react either methyl salicylate (for 1) or phenyl salicylate (for 2) with phosphorus oxychloride in dry methylene chloride at 0 degree C with the addition of triethylamine as acid scavenger. The resulting intermediate phosphorodichloridate was reacted immediately with excess nucleoside under the same conditions. The control model compound 3 was prepared by reaction of phenyl phosphorodichloridate and excess nucleoside in pyridine/methylene chloride at 0 degree C to give 3 in 82% yield. The synthesis of triester 7 involved reaction of alpha-(chloroacetyl)salicyl chloride with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose to give [[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl)-oxy]carbonyl]-2- (1-chloroacetoxy)benzene (4) which was dechloroacetylated to 5,2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl salicylate. Phosphorylation of 5 with phosphorus oxychloride provided the phosphorodichloridate which was directly converted to 6 by reaction with dideoxythymidine. Removal of benzyl groups by catalytic hydrogenation gave compound 7, bis(2',3'-dideoxythymidin-5'-yl) D-glucopyranosyl phosphate. The AZT prodrug triesters, 1 and 2, underwent much more rapid hydrolysis than the triester 3, most probably due to the formation of an acyl phosphate complex from the attack on phosphorus of the salicylate carboxylate. The hydrolysis of the less lipophilic 7 was significantly slower than that of 1 or 2. Both pig liver esterase and rat brain cytosol were able to effect the cleavage to dinucleotide or mononucleotide of prodrug forms 2 and 7, much more rapidly than either 3 or 1, suggesting that the esterase-like enzymatic activity of rat brain was similar to that of pig liver esterase. This study suggests the possibility of use of salicylic acid-based prodrugs for nucleotides, subject to specific refinements in the choice of carboxylate- and phosphoric acid ester-protecting groups.