Design, synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a potent radioiodinated and photoactivatable peptidic oxytocin antagonist

Radiobromine and radioiodine for medical applications

The halogens bromine and iodine have similar chemical properties and undergo similar reactions due to their closeness in Group 17 of the periodic chart. There are a number of bromine and iodine radionuclides that have properties useful for diagnosis and therapy of human diseases. The emission properties of radiobromine and radioiodine nuclides with half-lives longer than 1 h are summarized along with properties that make radionuclides useful in PET/SPECT imaging and β/Auger therapy, such that the reader can assess which of the radionuclides might be useful for medical applications. An overview of chemical approaches that have been used to radiolabel molecules with radiobromine and radioiodine nuclides is provided with examples. Further, references to a large variety of different organ/cancer-targeting agents utilizing the radiolabeling approaches described are provided.

Design of Oxytocin Analogs

The neurohypophyseal hormone oxytocin (OT) and related modulators of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) have been the subject of intensive research for nearly seven decades. Despite having rather poor drug-like properties, OT is used as a treatment for labor induction, postpartum hemorrhage, and lactation support. The potential use of OT in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS)-related diseases has recently renewed interest in the pharmacology of OT. Oxytocin is one of the most extensively studied cyclic peptides and since the elucidation of its structure in 1953 thousands of peptidic OT analogs with antagonistic and agonistic properties have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Among them are atosiban, a mixed oxytocin receptor (OTR)/vasopressin 1a receptor (V_1aR) antagonist used as a tocolytic agent approved (in certain countries), and carbetocin, a longer acting OTR agonist on the market for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. Many other OT analogs with improved pharmacological properties (e.g., barusiban, Antag III) have been identified. These peptides have been tested in clinical trials and/or used as pharmacological tools. In this chapter, the modifications of the OT molecule that led to the discovery of these compounds are reviewed.

Conformations of a model cyclic hexapeptide, CYIQNC: (1)H-NMR and molecular dynamics studies

Solution conformation of the cyclic hexapeptide sequence, [cyclo-S-Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-S] (CYIQNC) - a disulfide-linked fragment of a neurohypophyseal peptide hormone oxytocin (OT) - has been investigated by high-field one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopic methods and compared with the results obtained from computer simulation studies. (1)H-NMR results based on temperature dependence of amide proton chemical shifts and nuclear Overhauser effect indicate that peptide in solution populates different conformations, characterized by two fused β-turns. The segment Ile(3)-Gln(4)-Asn(5)-Cys(6) yields a preferred type-III β-turn at residues 4, 5 (HB, 3HN → 6CO), while the segment Cys(6), Cys(1)-Tyr(2)-Ile(3) exhibits inherently weaker, flexible β-turn either of type I/II'/III/half-turn at residues 1, 2 (HB, 6HN → 3CO). The computer simulation studies using a mixed protocol of distance geometry-simulated annealing followed by constrained minimization, restrained molecular dynamics, and energy minimization showed the possibility of existence of additional conformations with the hydrogen bonds, (a) 5HN → 3CO and (b) 2HN → 6CO. These results, therefore, indicate that the additional conformations obtained from both NMR and simulation studies can also be possible to the peptide. These additional conformations might have very small population in the solution and did not show their signatures in these conditions. These findings will be helpful in designing more analogs with modifications in the cyclic moiety of OT.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted desloratadines as potent arginine vasopressin V2 receptor antagonists

Twenty-one non-peptide substituted desloratadine class compounds were synthesized as novel arginine vasopressin receptor antagonists from desloratadine via successive acylation, reduction and acylation reactions. Their structures were characterized by ¹H-NMR and HRMS, their biological activity was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo studies. The in vitro binding assay and cAMP accumulation assay indicated that these compounds are potent selective V2 receptor antagonists. Among them compounds 1n, 1t and 1v exhibited both high affinity and promising selectivity for V2 receptors. The in vivo diuretic assay demonstrated that 1t presented remarkable diuretic activity. In conclusion, 1t is a potent novel AVP V2 receptor antagonist candidate.

Design of Benzophenone-Containing Photoactivatable Linear Vasopressin Antagonists: Pharmacological and Photoreactive Properties

We designed and synthesized new photoactivatable linear vasopressin analogues containing benzophenone photophores. All compounds were monitored and purified using RP-HPLC and characterized by mass spectrometry. Affinity and selectivity were determined in CHO cells expressing either human V(1a), V(1b) or V(2) receptor subtypes. Within the series, compounds 6 (PhCH(2)CO-lBpa-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Tyr(3I)-NH(2)) and 9 (PhCH(2)CO-dBpa-Phe-Gln-Asn-Arg-Pro-Arg-Tyr(3I)-NH(2)), containing a benzoylphenylalanine residue (Bpa), were selected and their antagonistic properties determined (K(inact) = 1.87 and 0.35 nM, respectively). The dissociation constant of the most potent candidate (compound 9) was further calculated from saturation experiments using the (125)I derivative (K(d) = 0.07 +/- 0.01 nM). Photolabeling experiments using radioactive compound 9 as a probe were specific and UV-dependent and allowed the identification of two bands at molecular masses around 85-90 kDa and 46 kDa, respectively, as previously described by Phalipou et al., using two photoreactive linear azidopeptide antagonists. The results suggest therefore that compound 9 is a potent new tool for the accurate mapping of the human V(1a) receptor antagonist binding site.

A nonpeptide oxytocin receptor antagonist radioligand highly selective for human receptors

A novel, potent nonpeptide oxytocin receptor antagonist (1-(1-(2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-4-(1-methylsulfonyl-4-piperidinyloxy) phenylacetyl)-4-piperidinyl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone) has been identified that can be labeled to high specific activity with [35S]. In binding studies, this compound exhibits sub-nanomolar affinity and a high degree of selectivity (900-1800-fold) for human oxytocin receptors compared to human vasopressin receptors. This compound appears suitable for studying the pharmacology of oxytocin receptors in human and nonhuman primate tissues, for which there is currently a paucity of highly selective tools. It may also be useful as a nonlabeled competitor or as a radioligand in autoradiographic studies of oxytocin receptor localization in these tissues.