Interaction of novel condensed triazine derivatives with central and peripheral type benzodiazepine receptors: synthesis, in vitro pharmacology and modelling

Discovery and optimization of olanzapine derivatives as new ferroptosis inhibitors

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death associated with many human diseases. It is a new strategy to discover ferroptosis inhibitors for the treatment of ferroptosis-related diseases. Here the FDA-approved drug library containing 1160 molecules was screened for ferroptosis inhibitors in RSL3-induced HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells. As a result, olanzapine showed potent ferroptosis inhibitory activity (EC₅₀ = 1.18 μM). Structural optimization and the structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis led to the synthesis of 41 new derivatives (4-44) and one known compound 45. Comparing with olanzapine, its derivative 36 showed nearly sixteen-folds improved ferroptosis inhibition and low cytotoxicity (EC₅₀ = 0.074 μM, CC₅₀ = 18.8 μM). Further mechanistic studies revealed that compound 36 specifically inhibited ferroptosis by its antioxidative ability. This work demonstrates that olanzapine protected RSL3-induced ferroptosis in HT22 cell, and its derivative 36 having nanomolar ferroptosis inhibitory activity merit to be developed for drugs against ferroptosis-related neurological diseases.

Chemodivergent reaction of azomethine imines and 2H-azirines for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing scaffolds

Metal-free reactions of 2H-azirines with C,N-cyclic azomethine imines were investigated.

An Optimized Synthesis, Molecular Structure and Characterization of Benzylic Derivatives of 1,2,4-Triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione

4-Benzyl-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (3-benzyl-6-azauracil, 2), and 2,4-dibenzyl-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (1,3-dibenzyl-6-azauracil, 3) were synthesized by the reaction of 1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (6-azauracil, 1) with benzyl bromide and potassium carbonate in dry acetone via the 18-crown-6-ether catalysis. In these reaction methods, we developed more convenient and efficient methodologies to afford compounds 2 and 3 in good yields. These compounds were characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, MS spectrum, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structure of 2 was verified by 2D-NMR measurements, including gHSQC and gHMBC measurements. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment indicated that compound 3, with the molecular formula C₁₇H₁₅N₃O₂, crystallized from a CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ diffusion solvent system in a monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 13.7844(13), b = 8.5691(8), c = 13.0527(12) Å, β = 105.961(2)°, V = 1482.3(2) ų, Z = 4, resulting in a density D_calc of 1.314 g/cm³. The crystal structure of compound 3 is tightly stabilized by contact with five other molecules from the six short contacts formed by intermolecular C-O···H-Car, C-H···Car, and weakly π···π stacking interactions. The dihedral angle 31.90° is formed by the mean planes of the benzene rings of the N-2 and N-4 benzyl groups.

Novel 5-Substituted 2-(Aylmethylthio)-4-chloro-N-(5-aryl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)benzenesulfonamides: Synthesis, Molecular Structure, Anticancer Activity, Apoptosis-Inducing Activity and Metabolic Stability

A series of novel 5-substituted 2-(arylmethylthio)-4-chloro-N-(5-aryl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl) benzenesulfonamide derivatives 27-60 have been synthesized by the reaction of aminoguanidines with an appropriate phenylglyoxal hydrate in glacial acetic acid. A majority of the compounds showed cytotoxic activity toward the human cancer cell lines HCT-116, HeLa and MCF-7, with IC50 values below 100 μM. It was found that for the analogues 36-38 the naphthyl moiety contributed significantly to the anticancer activity. Cytometric analysis of translocation of phosphatidylserine as well as mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle revealed that the most active compounds 37 (HCT-116 and HeLa) and 46 (MCF-7) inhibited the proliferation of cells by increasing the number of apoptotic cells. Apoptotic-like, dose dependent changes in morphology of cell lines were also noticed after treatment with 37 and 46. Moreover, triazines 37 and 46 induced caspase activity in the HCT-116, HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines. Selected compounds were tested for metabolic stability in the presence of pooled human liver microsomes and NADPH, both R² and Ar = 4-CF₃-C₆H₄ moiety in 2-(R²-methylthio)-N-(5-aryl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)benzenesulfonamides simultaneously increased metabolic stability. The results pointed to 37 as a hit compound with a good cytotoxicity against HCT-116 (IC50 = 36 μM), HeLa (IC50 = 34 μM) cell lines, apoptosis-inducing activity and moderate metabolic stability.

Polyamidoamine dendrimer impairs mitochondrial oxidation in brain tissue

Background

The potential nanocarrier polyamidoamine (PAMAM) generation 5 (G5-NH₂) dendrimer has been shown to evoke lasting neuronal depolarization and cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study we explored the early progression of G5-NH₂ action in brain tissue on neuronal and astroglial cells.

Results

In order to describe early mechanisms of G5-NH₂ dendrimer action in brain tissue we assessed G5-NH₂ trafficking, free intracellular Ca²⁺ and mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψ_MITO) changes in the rat hippocampal slice by microfluorimetry. With the help of fluorescent dye conjugated G5-NH₂, we observed predominant appearance of the dendrimer in the plasma membrane of pyramidal neurons and glial cells within 30 min. Under this condition, G5-NH₂ evoked robust intracellular Ca²⁺ enhancements and Ψ_MITO depolarization both in pyramidal neurons and astroglial cells. Intracellular Ca²⁺ enhancements clearly preceded Ψ_MITO depolarization in astroglial cells. Comparing activation dynamics, neurons and glia showed prevalence of lasting and transient Ψ_MITO depolarization, respectively. Transient as opposed to lasting Ψ_MITO changes to short-term G5-NH₂ application suggested better survival of astroglia, as observed in the CA3 stratum radiatum area. We also showed that direct effect of G5-NH₂ on astroglial Ψ_MITO was significantly enhanced by neuron-astroglia interaction, subsequent to G5-NH₂ evoked neuronal activation.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the interaction of the PAMAM dendrimer with the plasma membrane leads to robust activation of neurons and astroglial cells, leading to mitochondrial depolarization. Distinguishable dynamics of mitochondrial depolarization in neurons and astroglia suggest that the enhanced mitochondrial depolarization followed by impaired oxidative metabolism of neurons may be the primary basis of neurotoxicity.

2,3-Diamino acid modifying 3S-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids: leading to a class of novel agents with highly unfolded conformation, selective in vitro anti-platelet aggregation and potent in vivo anti-thrombotic activity

In the preparation of anti-thrombotic agents the 2- and 3-positions of 3S-tetra-hydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (THIQA) were simultaneously modified with amino acids to form 20 novel N-(3S-N-aminoacyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carbonyl)amino acids (8a-t). On an in vitro platelet aggregation model 8a-t selectively inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation and their IC(50) values are leas than 3.5 nM. On an extracorporeal circulation of arterioveinos cannula model of rats both orally and intraveously effective doses of 8a-t are less than 30 nmol/kg. Cerius(2) based stereoview of explores 8a-t having highly unfolded conformation. 3D QSAR analysis gives the importance of the unfolded conformation to high in vitro anti-platelet aggregation and in vivo anti-thrombotic potency rational understanding.

(3S)-N-(L-Aminoacyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines, a class of novel antithrombotic agents: synthesis, bioassay, 3D QSAR, and ADME analysis

To increase antithrombotic activity, 3S-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (1) was modified with natural amino acids to form 19 novel dipeptide analogs, 3S-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxyamino acids (5a-s), targeting the intestinal peptide transport system. In vitro assay of 5a-s indicated that their potencies for inhibiting adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA), platelet-activating factor (PAF), and thrombin (TH)-induced platelet aggregations were higher than that of 1. Additionally, in vivo assay of 5a-s indicated that their potencies for inhibiting thrombogenesis in rats were also higher than that of 1. Among the candidates, 5h with Ser attachment showed the most impressive features for further development. According to molecular field analysis based Cerius(2) QSAR module, two equations (r, 0.961 and 0.988) correlating the structures with both in vitro and in vivo activities of 5a-s were established. ADMET calculations predict higher intestinal absorption for compounds 5a-s. Further investigation with 5h as a lead compound is underway.

Cyclothiazide binding to the GABAA receptor

In order to explore the molecular interaction between cyclothiazide (CTZ) and gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors, possibly underlying inhibition of GABAA receptor currents, [3H]-CTZ was synthesized. Binding of [3H]-CTZ to rat brain synaptic membranes could be observed only in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist (-)[1S,9R]-bicuculline methiodide (BMI) (EC(50,BMI)=500+/-80microM). GABA decreased [(3)H]-CTZ binding induced by the presence 300microM and 3mM BMI with IC(50,GABA) values of 300+/-50microM and 5.0+/-0.7mM, respectively. Binding of CTZ to [3H]-CTZ labeled sites was characterized by IC(50,CTZ) values of 0.16+/-0.03muM ([BMI]=300microM) and 7.0+/-0.5microM ([BMI]=3mM). Binding of the diastereomeric fraction [3H]-(3R,1'S,4'S,5'R+3S,1'R,4'R,5'S)-CTZ induced by 3mM BMI was quantitatively the more significant in cerebrocortical and hippocampal membranes. It was characterized by IC(50,CTZ)=80+/-15nM and IC(50,GABA)=13+/-3mcapital EM, Cyrillic. In the absence of BMI, CTZ (1mM) significantly decreased GABA-induced enhancement of [3H]-flunitrazepam binding. Our findings suggest that functional inhibition may occur through binding of CTZ to an allosteric site of GABAA receptors. This allosteric site is possibly emerged in the receptor conformation, stabilized by BMI binding.