New bicyclam-AZT conjugates: design, synthesis, anti-HIV evaluation, and their interaction with CXCR-4 coreceptor

Discovery of non-peptide small molecular CXCR4 antagonists as anti-HIV agents: Recent advances and future opportunities

CXCR4 plays vital roles in HIV-1 life cycle for it's essential in mediating the interaction of host and virus and completing the entry process in the lifecycle of HIV-1 infection. Compared with some traditional targets, CXCR4 provides a novel and less mutated drug target in the battle against AIDS. Its antagonists have no cross resistance with other antagonists. Great achievements have been made recent years and a number of small molecular CXCR4 antagonists with diversity scaffolds have been discovered. In this review, recent advances in the discovery of CXCR4 antagonists with special attentions on their evolution and structure-activity relationships of representative CXCR4 antagonists are described. Moreover, some classical medicinal chemistry strategies and novel methodologies are also introduced.

Dual-function CXCR4 antagonist polyplexes to deliver gene therapy and inhibit cancer cell invasion

A bicyclam-based biodegradable polycation with CXCR4 antagonistic activity was developed with potential for combined drug/gene cancer therapies. The dual-function polycation prevents cancer cell invasion by inhibiting CXCL12 stimulated CXCR4 activation, while at the same time efficiently and safely delivers plasmid DNA into cancer cells.

Discovery of new small molecules that influence neuroblast cell migration from the subventricular zone

Using SVZ (subventricular zone) tissue explants from one-day-old mice, we investigated the activity of new amino aromatic disulfide analogues and polyazamacrocycles on the migration of SVZ cells (neuroblasts). We found that among the tested analogues, non-peptidic disulfide derivative 8 significantly decreases the migration of neuroblasts from SVZ cells, and antagonized the stimulating activity of disulfide cyclic peptide 1. Discovery of compounds 1 and 8 constitutes new chemical tools which could be used to understand the mechanism of neuroblast migration during neurogenesis and eventually to identify specific genes involved in the neurogenesis.

Transcription-inhibition and antitumor activities of N-alkylated tetraazacyclododecanes

A series of alkyl-substituted tetraazacyclododecane congeners were synthesized, and their antitumor activities towards human HeLa cells as well as their effect on the in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase were investigated. A structure-activity-relationship (SAR) study identified the most-active congeners as those with medium alkyl-chain lengths. Three compounds, 5-7, were found to exhibit significant biological activities, with IC50 values towards HeLa cells in the low-micromolar range.

Synthesis and biological studies of N-alkylated cyclic diamines

Several alkyl-substituted mesocyclic diamines were synthesized, and their interaction with DNA were studied by melting-temperature measurements and the ethidium bromide (EB)-fluorescence competitive method. The supercoiled DNA hydrolytic cleavage by 1,4-dioctyl-1,4-diazepan-6-ol (4) was supported by the evidence from free-radical quenching and T4-ligase ligation. Preliminary pharmacological tests showed that only 1,4-dioctyl-1,4-diazepan-6-ol (4) had antitumor activity against HeLa cell lines in vitro.

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.

Synthesis and anti-HIV properties of new hydroxyquinoline-polyamine conjugates on cells infected by HIV-1 LAV and HIV-1 BaL viral strains

To find new derivatives that block different virus strains entry in cells bearing specific surface receptors represent an interesting challenge for medicinal chemists. Here, we report the synthesis and the anti-HIV properties of a new series of analogues based on the introduction of quinoline moiety on various polyamine backbones, including polyazamacrocycles. Three compounds 7, 8, and 10 of this series were found active on PBMCs cells infected by HIV-1 LAV or by HIV-1 BaL, in contrast the well-known reference compound 1a (AMD 3100) was found only active on HIV-1 LAV strain.

New AZT conjugates as potent anti-HIV agents

In an attempt to discover anti-HIV agents with much reduced cytotoxicity from the currently available HIV-reverse transcriptase inhibitors, AZT conjugates of cholanic acids, 2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylic acid and its derivatives, and N,N'-disubstituted 5-hydroxy-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones have been synthesized and their anti-HIV profiles determined with CEM-SS cell line. The AZT conjugates with 2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylic acid and 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid through an ester linkage, and with N,N'-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-one through a succinate tether showed significantly higher therapeutic indexes than AZT while they also retained or enhanced AZT's anti-HIV activity. Thus, structural features that favor the desired therapeutic profile of the conjugates appear to include a five-membered ring cyclic urea or lactam, and six-membered ring cyclic urea with N,N'-diphenyl substitution.

New bicyclam-GalCer analogue conjugates: synthesis and in vitro anti-HIV activity

The synthesis of bipharmacophore anti-HIV compounds which, in a single molecule, combine two ligands, that is, the bicyclam AMD3100 and a GalCer analogue, that might inhibit several steps of the complex virus/cell cascade interactions has been performed. The 'double-drug' Gal-AMD3100 conjugates elicited inhibitory effects on T (or X4)-tropic HIV-1 replication in all CXCR4 expressing cell lines with EC(50) values ranging from 0.25 to 6.0 microM which were however approximately 40- to 125-fold lower than that of AMD3100. Concerning the mechanism of inhibition of the Gal-AMD3100 conjugates, experiments performed with X4 or R5HIV-1 strains and GHOST cells genetically modified to express CD4 and CXCR4 or CCR5 indicated clearly that the conjugates interact with CXCR4 and not with CCR5.

Synthesis, anti-HIV, and cytotoxic activity of new AZT conjugates of steroid acids

In an attempt to discover potent anti-HIV agents devoid of the serious toxicity of the current HIV-reverse transcriptase inhibitors, three steroid prodrugs of AZT have been synthesized and their anti-HIV profiles determined with CEM-SS cell line. Two of the prodrugs were active against HIV, though weaker than AZT. The third agent was totally inactive against HIV. However, it demonstrated remarkably high anti-growth activities. Further experiments established that growth inhibition of the third agent was caused by induction of apoptosis rather than general necrosis.

AMD3100 Conjugates as Components of Targeted Nonviral Gene Delivery Systems: Synthesis and in Vitro Transfection Efficiency of CXCR4-Expressing Cells

We describe the synthesis of a series of AMD3100-lipid and AMD3100-polycationic conjugates which were used as components of targeted lipoplexes (in conjunction with (poly)cationic lipids) and polyplexes, respectively, for mediating specific gene transfer into cells expressing CXCR4 which displays a high affinity for AMD3100. Transfection studies were investigated with suspension CXCR4(+) human lymphoma Jurkat cells and with adherent CXCR4(-) human glioblastoma T98G and human lung carcinoma A549 cells lines in order to demonstrate a receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway and to minimize nonspecific transfection pathways. Altogether, our results show that polyplexes formulated with AMD-labeled polymers constitute, under certain conditions, specific gene transfer systems into suspension CXCR4(+) Jurkat cells. This is more particularly the case when the nonspecific transfection pathways are minimized (i.e. for N/P <or= 2.5 AMD-labeled polyplexes) and in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate which triggers CXCR4 receptor endocytosis of the AMD-labeled polyplexes to a larger extent than that of their respective nonlabeled ones. Although encouraging, the transfection specificities and efficiencies obtained with these compounds should however be improved. This study also illustrates the difficulties to demonstrate and to obtain a specific and efficient gene transfer system with cationized ligand-labeled DNA particles which also provide receptor-independent nonspecific gene transfer to cells, and more particularly to adherent cells.

Synthesis of new covalently bound kappa-carrageenan-AZT conjugates with improved anti-HIV activities

This paper describes the first covalent synthesis of kappa-carrageenan-3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) conjugates. A succinate diester spacer was used to covalently couple AZT onto kappa-carrageenan, resulting in a tripartite prodrug. Two methods (UV and radioactive counting) are described and validated to determine the AZT loading onto the kappa-carrageenan carrier. This polymeric carrier, through its own intrinsic anti-HIV activity, is expected to act not only as a drug delivery agent but also as an anti-HIV agent. Synergism between the two drugs (kappa-carrageenan and AZT) was demonstrated when MT-4 cells were preincubated with the kappa-carrageenan-AZT conjugate prior to HIV-1-infection. A threshold of AZT loaded onto the kappa-carrageenan was required to achieve this synergistic effect. Such kappa-carrageenan-AZT conjugates could be of great therapeutic interest because these conjugates, which contain a low AZT concentration, present improved anti-HIV activities relative to free AZT. Moreover, kappa-carrageenan is a well-tolerated biopolymer, already used in the food industry.

New 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(4-hydroxyalkyl or -alkenyl or -alkylepoxide) carbonate prodrugs: synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation

New 5'-O-carbonate prodrugs of zidovudine (AZT) have been synthesized in order to enhance its uptake by HIV-1 infected cells, to improve its anti-HIV potency, and to optimize the intramolecular cyclic rearrangement process related to the 5'-O-(4-hydroxybutyl) carbonate moiety. Evidence of this prodrug rearrangement was confirmed by comparison of the serum half-lives of the 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(4-hydroxyalkyl or -alkenyl or -alkylepoxide) carbonate prodrugs with our thermodynamic predictions. Interestingly, these 5'-O-carbonate prodrug series show increased anti-HIV potencies in conjunction with, or without, reduced cytotoxicity as compared to AZT that lead to a gain in selectivity indexes. The cytotoxicity of AZT could be reduced with these 5'-O-carbonate prodrug series by delaying the 5'-O-glucuronidation of AZT, which is one of the major limitations of AZT.

New 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(omega-hydroxyalkyl) carbonate prodrugs: synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation

Prodrugs of zidovudine (AZT) have been synthesized in an effort to enhance its uptake by HIV-1 infected cells and its anti-HIV activity. The 5'-OH function of AZT was functionalized with various enzymatically labile alkyl groups using specific procedures. The prodrug moieties included 5'-O-carbonate, 5'-O-carbamate, and 5'-O-ester. Analogues of the 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(omega-hydroxyalkyl) carbonate series were particularly interesting since they were rearranged through an intramolecular cyclic process during their enzymatic hydrolysis. Evidence of this prodrug rearrangement was confirmed by comparison of the serum half-lives of 5'-O-carbonate prodrugs with their corresponding 5'-O-ester- and 5'-O-carbamate-AZT prodrugs. Interestingly, the anti-HIV-1 activities (EC(50)) of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(4-hydroxybutyl) carbonate 10 in acutely infected MT-4 cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were 0.5 nM and 0.78 nM, respectively. Compound 10 was 30 to 50 times more potent than its parent drug AZT. Our results suggest that the specific intramolecular rearrangement associated with the 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidin-5'-yl O-(omega-hydroxyalkyl) carbonate prodrugs could explain the remarkable anti-HIV-1 activity of this series of AZT prodrugs. Prodrug 10 may therefore have better clinical potential than AZT for the treatment of AIDS.