P-glycoprotein substrates and antagonists cluster into two distinct groups

Impact of loperamide on the pharmacokinetics and tissue disposition of ritonavir-boosted oral docetaxel therapy; a preclinical assessment

PURPOSE

An oral docetaxel formulation boosted by the Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3 A inhibitor ritonavir, ModraDoc006/r, is currently under clinical investigation. Based on clinical data, the incidence of grade 1-2 diarrhea is increased with this oral docetaxel formulation compared to the conventional intravenous administration. Loperamide, a frequently used diarrhea inhibitor, could be added to the regimen as symptomatic treatment. However, loperamide is also a substrate of the CYP3A enzyme, which could result in competition between ritonavir and loperamide for this protein. Therefore, we were interested in the impact of coadministered loperamide on the pharmacokinetics of ritonavir-boosted oral docetaxel.

METHODS

We administered loperamide simultaneously or with an 8-hour delay to humanized CYP3A4 mice (with expression in liver and intestine) receiving oral ritonavir and docetaxel. Concentrations of docetaxel, ritonavir, loperamide and two of its active metabolites were measured.

RESULTS

The plasma exposure (AUC and Cmax) of docetaxel was not altered during loperamide treatment, nor were the ritonavir plasma pharmacokinetics. However, the hepatic and intestinal dispositions of ritonavir were somewhat changed in the simultaneous, but not 8-hour loperamide treatment groups, possibly due to loperamide-induced delayed drug absorption. The pharmacokinetics of loperamide itself did not seem to be influenced by ritonavir.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that delayed loperamide administration can be added to ritonavir-boosted oral docetaxel treatment, without affecting the overall systemic exposure of docetaxel.

Design and synthesis of novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole thioglycosides as promising antimicrobial potent structures

Thiosemicarbazide was used as a key starting material for the building of a diversity of novel heterocyclic moieties. The heterocyclization reaction of thiosemicarbazide derivatives with carbon disulfide in basic conditions afforded novel heterocyclic 1,3,4-thiadiazolethiolate derivatives. 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol was successfully reacted with protected α-D-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides in dimethylformamide at room temperature to give the matching 1,3,4-thiadiazole S-glycosides in good yields. The latter compounds were reacted with ammonia-methanol at room temperature for 10 min, and the deprotected derivatives were obtained in good yields. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by basic analyses and spectral information (IR,1H NMR, and 13C NMR, X-ray). All newly produced compounds were evaluated and screened for their antibacterial activities. Compound 6f proved to be the most active antimicrobial among the investigated heterocycles.

Naphthyl cyanoketene N,S-acetals in glycoside synthesis: a new preparative route to a new class of N-naphthylcyanoacrylamide thioglycosides and their conversions to naphthyl-pyrazole hybrids

The novel N-naphthylcyanoacrylamide thioglycosides 4 were readily prepared by the reaction of N-napthylcyanoacetamide 1 with aryl isothiocyanates in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by coupling of the produced salts 2 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides 3. The N-naphthyl acrylamide thioglycoside 12 was prepared by the reaction of N-napthylcyanoacetamide 1 with glucose isothiocyante 10 in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by alkylation of the produced salt 11 with methyl iodide. The reaction of thioglycoside compounds 4 with hydrazines afforded the corresponding naphthyl-pyrazole hybrids.

Crystal structure of 5-(β-d-gluco-pyran-osyl-thio)-N-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-1,3,4-thia-diazol-2-amine

In the structure of the title compound, C15H19N3O5S2, the bond lengths at the linking sulfur atom are significantly different [1.7473 (17) and 1.811 (2) Å], and the angle at the exocyclic nitro-gen atom is wide at 128.45 (18)°. The inter-planar angle between the tolyl and thia-diazole rings is 9.2 (1)°. The complex hydrogen-bonding pattern, involving five donors and five acceptors, can be broken down into a one-dimensional ribbon parallel to the b axis, involving hydrogen bonds of the sugar residues only, and a two-dimensional layer structure parallel to the ab plane, based on the N-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds.

Importance of ABC Transporters in the Survival of Parasitic Nematodes and the Prospect for the Development of Novel Control Strategies

ABC transporters, a family of ATP-dependent transmembrane proteins, are responsible for the active transport of a wide range of molecules across cell membranes, including drugs, toxins, and nutrients. Nematodes possess a great diversity of ABC transporters; however, only P-glycoproteins have been well-characterized compared to other classes. The ABC transport proteins have been implicated in developing resistance to various classes of anthelmintic drugs in parasitic nematodes; their role in plant and human parasitic nematodes still needs further investigation. Therefore, ABC transport proteins offer a potential opportunity to develop nematode control strategies. Multidrug resistance inhibitors are becoming more attractive for controlling nematodes due to their potential to increase drug efficacy in two ways: (i) by limiting drug efflux from nematodes, thereby increasing the amount of drug that reaches its target site, and (ii) by reducing drug excretion by host animals, thereby enhancing drug bioavailability. This article reviews the role of ABC transporters in the survival of parasitic nematodes, including the genes involved, their regulation and physiological roles, as well as recent developments in their characterization. It also discusses the association of ABC transporters with anthelmintic resistance and the possibility of targeting them with next-generation inhibitors or nutraceuticals (e.g., polyphenols) to control parasitic infections.

4-Amino-5-(4-bromo-benzo-yl)-3-(benzo[d]thia-zol-2-yl)-2-[(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galacto-pyran-osyl-)sulfanyl]-thio-phene

In the title compound, C32H29BrN2O10S3, the benzo-thia-zole and thio-phene ring systems subtend an inter-planar angle of 7.43 (12)°. The NH2 group forms intra-molecular hydrogen bonds to Nthia-zole and Ocarbon-yl. The Sgalactose-Cthio-phene bond is short [1.759 (2) Å]. The mol-ecules are connected to form ribbons parallel to the b axis by two 'weak' hydrogen bonds and a short Namino⋯Sgalactose contact.

8-, 9-, and 11-Aryloxy Dimeric Aporphines and Their Pharmacological Activities

Aporphines, a major group of aporphinoid alkaloids, exhibit interesting and diverse pharmacological activities. A set of dimeric aporphines with an aryloxy group at C8, C9, and C11 have been isolated from six genera and shown to elicit various biological activities such as antitumor, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiplatelet aggregation, antifibrotic, immunosuppressive, and vasorelaxant properties. In this review, the nomenclature, chemical structures, botanical sources, pharmacological activities, and synthetic approaches of this set of dimeric alkaloids are presented.

Anti-Covid-19 Drug Analogues: Synthesis of Novel Pyrimidine Thioglycosides as Antiviral Agents Against SARS-COV-2 and Avian Influenza H5N1 Viruses

A class of pyrimidine thioglycoside analogs (6a-h) were synthesized from a reaction of 2-cyano-3,3-dimercapto-N-arylacrylamide (2a-d) and thiourea to produce the corresponding 4-amino-2-mercapto-N-arylpyrimidine-5-carboxamide derivatives (3a-d), and stirring of compounds (3a-d) with peracylated α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides (4a,b) in DMF-sodium hydride gave the corresponding pyrimidine thioglycosides (5a-h). Deacetylation of the pyrimidine thioglycosides via a reaction with dry NH₃/MeOH gave the corresponding free pyrimidine thioglycosides (6a-h). The compounds have been characterized by ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and IR. Pharmacological evaluation of compounds 3a-d, 5a-h, and 6a-h in vitro against SARS-COV-2 and Avian Influenza H5N1 virus strains revealed that some compounds possess interesting activity.

Transfer of rhodamine-123 into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of fetal, neonatal and adult rats

Background

Adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporters such as P-glycoprotein (PGP) play an important role in drug pharmacokinetics by actively effluxing their substrates at barrier interfaces, including the blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and placental barriers. For a molecule to access the brain during fetal stages it must bypass efflux transporters at both the placental barrier and brain barriers themselves. Following birth, placental protection is no longer present and brain barriers remain the major line of defense. Understanding developmental differences that exist in the transfer of PGP substrates into the brain is important for ensuring that medication regimes are safe and appropriate for all patients.

Methods

In the present study PGP substrate rhodamine-123 (R123) was injected intraperitoneally into E19 dams, postnatal (P4, P14) and adult rats. Naturally fluorescent properties of R123 were utilized to measure its concentration in blood-plasma, CSF and brain by spectrofluorimetry (Clariostar). Statistical differences in R123 transfer (concentration ratios between tissue and plasma ratios) were determined using Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn’s corrections.

Results

Following maternal injection the transfer of R123 across the E19 placenta from maternal blood to fetal blood was around 20 %. Of the R123 that reached fetal circulation 43 % transferred into brain and 38 % into CSF. The transfer of R123 from blood to brain and CSF was lower in postnatal pups and decreased with age (brain: 43 % at P4, 22 % at P14 and 9 % in adults; CSF: 8 % at P4, 8 % at P14 and 1 % in adults). Transfer from maternal blood across placental and brain barriers into fetal brain was approximately 9 %, similar to the transfer across adult blood-brain barriers (also 9 %). Following birth when placental protection was no longer present, transfer of R123 from blood into the newborn brain was significantly higher than into adult brain (3 fold, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Administration of a PGP substrate to infant rats resulted in a higher transfer into the brain than equivalent doses at later stages of life or equivalent maternal doses during gestation. Toxicological testing of PGP substrate drugs should consider the possibility of these patient specific differences in safety analysis.

Synthesis of novel pyrimidine thioglycosides as structural analogs of favipiravir (avigan) and their antibird flu virus activity

Novel class of amino pyrimidine thioglycoside derivatives were designed from sodium 2-cyano-3-(arylamino)prop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolate) 1a-d and guanidine hydrochloride 2 to afford the corresponding sodium 2,6-diamino-5-aryl-1,2-dihydropyrimidine-4-thiolate 3a-d, which in coupling with peracylated α-D-gluco- and galactopyranosyl bromides 5a,b in DMF gave the corresponding pyrimidine thioglycosides 6a-h. Acidification of 2,6-diamino-5-aryl-1,2-dihydropyrimidine-4-thiolate salts 3a-d with hydrochloric acid formed the corresponding pyrimidine-4-thioles 4a-d. The latter were stirred with peracetylated halo sugars α-D-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides in sodium hydride and DMF to yield the pyrimidine thioglycosides 6a-h. Deacetylation of the pyrimidine thioglycosides gave the corresponding free pyrimidine thioglycosides 7a-h. The compounds were characterized by ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and IR. The pyrimidine thioglycosides 6a-h and free pyrimidine thioglycosides 7a-h were tested against H5N1 virus strain and exhibited high to moderate activity.

Toward Developing Therapies against Corona Virus: Synthesis and Anti-Avian Influenza Virus Activity of Novel Cytosine Thioglycoside Analogues

A series of pyrimidine and pyrimidine thioglycoside derivatives were newly synthesized using sodium 2-cyano-3-(arylamino)prop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolates) and urea to give the corresponding sodium 6-amino-5-aryl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidine-4-thiolates. Stirring of the latter with peracetylated α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides in DMF afforded the corresponding pyrimidine thioglycosides. On the other hand, treatment of 6-amino-5-aryl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidine-4-thiolate salts with hydrochloric acid produced the corresponding pyrimidine-4-thioles, which on stirring with α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides in sodium hydride and DMF gave the corresponding pyrimidine thioglycosides. Deacetylation of the protected pyrimidine thioglycosides gave the corresponding free pyrimidine thioglycosides. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The pyrimidine thioglycosides and free pyrimidine thioglycosides were tested against avian influenza H5N1 virus strain and exhibited highest to moderate activity.

Design and synthesis of a new class of indeno[1,2-b]pyridine thioglycosides

This research reports a novel method for synthesizing a new class of indeno[1,2-b]pyridine thioglycosides. This series of indenopyridine thioglycosides was designed by the reaction of (E)-2-cyano-3-(furan/or thiophene-2-yl)prop-2-enethioamide 1a or 1b with 1-indanone 2 to give the corresponding 2-thiooxo-1H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridine-3-carbonitriles 3a,b. The latter compounds were treated with peracetylated sugar bromides 5 in KOH-acetone to give the corresponding indenopyridine thioglycosides 6a-h. Ammonolysis of the protected indenopyridine thioglycosides 6a-h gave the corresponding free indenopyridine thioglycosides 7a-h. The compounds have been characterized by ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR and IR spectra.

Sofosbuvir Thio-analogues: Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of the First Novel Pyridine- and Pyrimidine-Based Thioglycoside Phosphoramidates

The synthesis and antiviral screening of the first reported series of pyridine- and pyrimidine-based thioglycoside phosphoramidates are herein reported. They were prepared through two synthetic steps: The first step is via coupling of mercapto-derivatized heterocyclic bases with the appropriate α-bromo per-acetylated sugars. The second one is the hydrolysis of the acetate esters under basic conditions that were consequently conjugated with the phosphoramidating reagent to afford the desired thioglycoside protides. Eight compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activities against different viral cell lines, namely, adenovirus 7, HAV (hepatitis A) HM175, Coxsackievirus B4, and HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1), in addition to the antiviral bioassay against ED-43/SG-Feo (VYG) replicon of HCV (hepatitis C virus) genotype 4a. Both compounds 5b and 11 showed notable antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus B4, reflected from the CC₅₀ values of 17 and 20 μg/100 μL and IC₅₀ values of 4.5 and 6.0 μg/100 μL, respectively. Same two compounds elicited remarkable activities toward herpes simplex virus type 1, represented by CC₅₀ values of 17 and 16 μg/100 μL and IC₅₀ values of 6.3 and 6.6 μg/100 μL, respectively. Combination of 11 with acyclovir elicited a notable synergistic activity in comparison with acyclovir alone, as inferred from herpes simplex polymerase enzyme inhibitory assay values of 2.64 and 4.78 μg/100 mL, respectively. Only compound 11 elicited a remarkable activity against HCV. Potential promising activities of compound 11 have been shown with respect to CC₅₀, IC₅₀, and enzyme assay inhibitory activities.

Crystal structure of 4,6-dimethyl-2-[(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galacto-pyranos-yl)sulfan-yl]pyrimidine

In the title com-pound, C20H26N2O9S, the S atom is attached equatorially to the sugar ring. The C-S bond lengths are unequal, with S-Cs = 1.8018 (13) Å and S-Cp = 1.7662 (13) Å (s = sugar and p = pyrimid-yl). In the crystal, a system of three weak hydrogen bonds, sharing an oxygen acceptor, links the mol-ecules to form chains propagating parallel to the b-axis direction.

Novel Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the First Pyrazole Thioglycosides as Pyrazofurin Analogues

This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of the first reported novel class of pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of sodium 2-cyano-3-oxo-3-(4-substitutedphenylamino)prop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolate) salts 2 with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol at room temperature to give the corresponding sodium 5-amino-4-(substitutedphenylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-thiolates 3a-d. The latter compounds were treated with protected α-D-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides 4a,b in DMF at ambient temperature to give in a high yields the corresponding pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h. Treatment of pyrazole salts 3a-d with hydrochloric acid at amobient temperature afforded the corresponding 3-mercaptopyrazole derivatives 5. The latter compounds were treated with peracetylated sugars 4 in sodium hydride in ethanol at ambient temperature to tolerate the S-glycosyl 6a-h compounds. Ammonolysis of the pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 7a-h. The toxicity and antitumor activities of the synthesized compounds were studied.

New synthetic strategies for acyclic and cyclic pyrimidinethione nucleosides and their analogues

Pyrimidinethione nucleosides are effective compounds and have significant and pivotal effects in several fields. New synthetic strategies for many pyrimidinethione nucleosides including acyclic and cyclic derivatives have been reported.

Novel synthesis of new pyrazole thioglycosides as pyrazomycin analogues

This study reports a novel method for the synthesis of a new class of pyrazole thioglycosides 7a-h as pyrazomycin analogues. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of sodium 2-cyano-3-oxo-3-(4-substitutedphenylamino)prop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolate) salts 2 with phenyl hydrazine in ethanol at room temperature to give the corresponding sodium 5-amino-4-(substitutedphenylcarbamoyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-thiolates 3a-d. The latter compounds were treated with tetra-acetylated glycosyl bromides 4a,b in DMF at ambient temperature to give the corresponding pyrazole thioglycosides 6a-h. Treatment of pyrazole salts 3a-d with hydrochloric acid at room temperature afforded the corresponding 3-mercaptopyrazole derivatives 5. The latter compounds were treated with tetra-acetylated glycosyl bromides 4 in sodium hydride-DMF to tolerate the S-glycosyl 6a-h compounds. Ammonolysis of the latters afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 7a-h. The structures of the reaction products were elucidated based on spectral data and elemental analysis.

Crown ethers reverse P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a widespread phenomenon exhibited by many cancers and represents a fundamental obstacle for successful cancer treatments. Tumour cells commonly achieve MDR phenotype through overexpression and/or increased activity of ABC transporters. P-glycoprotein transporter (P-gp, ABCB1) is a major cause of MDR and therefore represents a valuable target for MDR reversal. Several naturally occurring potassium ionophores (e.g. salinomycin) were shown to inhibit P-gp effectively. We have previously shown antitumour activity of a number of 18-crown-6 ether compounds that transport potassium ions across membranes. Here we present data on P-gp inhibitory activity of 16 adamantane-substituted monoaza- and diaza-18-crown-6 ether compounds, and their effect on MDR reversal in model cell lines. We show that crown ether activity depends on their lipophilicity as well as on the linker to adamantane moiety. The most active crown ethers were shown to be more effective in sensitising MDR cells to paclitaxel and adriamycin than verapamil, a well-known P-gp inhibitor. Altogether our data demonstrate a novel use of crown ethers for inhibition of P-gp and reversal of MDR phenotype.

Novel dihydropyridine thioglycosides and their corresponding dehydrogenated forms as potent anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents

A novel method for preparation of a new class of dihydropyridine thioglycosides and their corresponding dehydrogenated forms, via reaction of piperidinium salts of dihydropyridinethiones with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-gluco- and galactopyranosyl bromides has been studied. The evaluation of antiproliferative activity against HepG-2 cell lines (liver carcinoma cell lines) of the dihydropyridine thioglycosides and pyridine thioglycosides revealed that many of the thioglycosides have interesting antitumor activities specifically 5c, 5g, 5l, 5o, 5p, 7a, 7i, 7p, 8b, 8f, 8s, and 8v.

Design, synthesis, molecular docking and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma evaluation of novel acyclic pyridine thioglycosides

A novel series of acyclic pyridine thioglycosides has been synthesized. Evaluation of the anti proliferative activity of these compounds against HEPG-2 cell lines (liver carcinoma cell lines) shows that most of the compounds have high anti-tumor activities especially 6b, 6c, 7b and 7c. Furthermore, in the modeling study, these compounds showed that they have high binding affinity with thymidylate synthase dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR).

First novel synthesis of triazole thioglycosides as ribavirin analogues

This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of the first reported novel class of triazole thioglycosides. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of potassium cyanocarbonimidodithioate 2 with hydrazine derivatives 3a-d in EtOH at room temperature to give the corresponding potassium 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiolates 4a-d. The latter compounds were treated with tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide 6a and tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl bromide 6b in DMF at room temperature to give in high yields the corresponding triazole thioglycosides 7a-h. Treatment of triazole salts 4a-d with hydrochloric acid afforded the corresponding 3-mercaptotriazoles 5a-d. Compounds 5a-d were then reacted with bromoperacetylated sugars 6a,b in sodium hydride-DMF at ambient temperature to afford the thioglycosyl compounds 7a-h. Ammonolysis of the triazole thioglycosides 7a-h afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 8a-h. The scope and limitation of the method is demonstrated. The structure of the reaction products was confirmed on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, MS and ¹³C NMR).

A facile synthesis of novel pyrazolopyrimidine thioglycosides as purine thioglycoside analogues

The easy, convenient and high yielding preparation of new thioglycosides incorporating mercaptopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine moieties from readily accessible starting materials has been reported. The main step of this protocol is the formation of 7-mercaptopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile derivatives 4a-d by condensation of sodium 2-cyano-3-ethoxy-3-oxoprop-1-ene-1,1-bis(thiolate) 1 with 4-(aryldiazenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3,5-diamines 3a-d to form target compounds 4a-d, which coupled with tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-glycopyranosyl bromides 5a,b in the presence of basic medium to provide the corresponding product purine thioglycoside analogs 6a-h. Ammonolysis of the latter compounds 6a-d at ambient temperature for 10 minutes, led to the free glycoside derivatives 7a-h, which were obtained in approximately quantitative yields. Their structures were created based on the spectroscopic and elemental data.

Insulin and novel thioglycosides exert suppressive effect on human breast and colon carcinoma cells

The rationale for the implementation of novel therapies should be based on hallmarks of cancer. Two novel compounds labelled as thioglycoside A and B were designed and evaluated on breast and colon cancer cell lines. We assessed their cytotoxic effect after sensitizing cancer cells with insulin. In order to explore the underlying mechanisms, we performed tests to assess cell migration and motility, apoptosis, expression of glucose transporter 1 and proapoptotic proteins. Both compounds proved to have an antitumor effect which was significantly enhanced in combination with insulin. Linking glucose and anticancer agent presents an approach that exploits the Warburg effect. Targeting dysfunctional glycometabolism and increased glucose absorption is emerging as a promising anticancer strategy.

Synthesis of the first novel pyrazole thioglycosides as deaza ribavirin analogues

This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of the first reported novel class of thiopyrazoles and their corresponding thioglycosides. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of hydrazine derivatives with sodium dithiolate salt 2 in EtOH at ambient temperature to give the corresponding sodium 5-amino-4-cyano-1H-pyrazole-3-thiolates 4a-d. The latter compounds were treated with α-acetobromoglucose 6a and α-acetobromogalactose 6b in DMF at ambient temperature to give in an excellent yields the corresponding pyrazole S-glycosides 7a-h. Ammonolysis of the pyrazole thioglycosides 7a-h afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 8a-h.

Heterocyclic thioglycosides in carbohydrate research: Synthesis of thiophene thioglycosides

A novel synthesis of thiophene thioglycosides is carried out via a one-pot reaction of sodium thiophenethiolates with α-halogeno sugars. The sodium thiophenethiolate salts were prepared using sodium cyanoethylene thiolate salts. The structures of the reaction products were established on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, MS, and ¹³C NMR).

L1210 Cells Overexpressing ABCB1 Drug Transporters Are Resistant to Inhibitors of the N- and O-glycosylation of Proteins

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, drug transporter) in neoplastic cells is the most frequently observed molecular cause of multidrug resistance. Here, we show that the overexpression of P-gp in L1210 cells leads to resistance to tunicamycin and benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranoside (GalNAc-α-O-benzyl). Tunicamycin induces both glycosylation depression and ubiquitination improvement of P-gp. However, the latter is not associated with large increases in molecular mass as evidence for polyubiquitination. Therefore, P-gp continues in maturation to an active membrane efflux pump rather than proteasomal degradation. P-gp-positive L1210 cells contain a higher quantity of ubiquitin associated with cell surface proteins than their P-gp-negative counterparts. Thus, P-gp-positive cells use ubiquitin signaling for correct protein folding to a higher extent than P-gp-negative cells. Elevation of protein ubiquitination after tunicamycin treatment in these cells leads to protein folding rather than protein degradation, resulting at least in the partial lack of cell sensitivity to tunicamycin in L1210 cells after P-gp expression. In contrast to tunicamycin, to understand why P-gp-positive cells are resistant to GalNAc-α-O-benzyl, further research is needed.

Clinical Implications of P-Glycoprotein Modulation in Drug-Drug Interactions

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) occur commonly and may lead to severe adverse drug reactions if not handled appropriately. Considerable information to support clinical decision making regarding potential DDIs is available in the literature and through various systems providing electronic decision support for healthcare providers. The challenge for the prescribing physician lies in sorting out the evidence and identifying those drugs for which potential interactions are likely to become clinically manifest. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a drug transporting protein that is found in the plasma membranes in cells of barrier and elimination organs, and plays a role in drug absorption and excretion. Increasingly, P-gp has been acknowledged as an important player in potential DDIs and a growing body of information on the role of this transporter in DDIs has become available from research and from the drug approval process. This has led to a clear need for a comprehensive review of P-gp-mediated DDIs with a focus on highlighting the drugs that are likely to lead to clinically relevant DDIs. The objective of this review is to provide information for identifying and interpreting evidence of P-gp-mediated DDIs and to suggest a classification for individual drugs based on both in vitro and in vivo evidence (substrates, inhibitors and inducers). Further, various ways of handling potential DDIs in clinical practice are described and exemplified in relation to drugs interfering with P-gp.

Design, synthesis, and in vitro anti-hepatocellular carcinoma of novel thymine thioglycoside analogs as new antimetabolic agents

A first reported direct method for preparation of thymine thioglycoside analogs utilizing novel pyrimidine-2(1H)-thiones and α-bromoglucose or α-bromogalactose tetraacetate as starting components is described. The synthetic potential of the method is demonstrated. The evaluation of antiproliferative activity against HepG-2 cell lines (Liver carcinoma cell lines) shows that most of the compounds have high antitumor activities especially 6b, 6e, 11b, and 12b. Moreover, molecular modelings of these compounds reveal that they have high binding affinity through hydrogen bond interaction with the binding pocket of thymidylate synthase dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR).

Pyrimidine non-nucleoside analogs: A direct synthesis of a novel class of N-substituted amino and N-sulfonamide derivatives of pyrimidines

A convenient method for the regioselective synthesis of pyrimidine non-nucleoside analogs was developed. This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of a new type of N-substituted amino methylsulfanylpyrimidines and the corresponding pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines. This series of compounds was designed through the reaction of dimethyl N-cyanodithioiminocarbonate with 2-cyano-N'-(thiophen-2-yl-, furan-2-yl- and pyridin-4-ylmethylene)acetohydrazide and N'-(2-cyanoacetyl)arylsulfonohydrazides. The scope and limitation of the method are demonstrated. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the synthesized compounds were also evaluated.

S-glycosides in medicinal chemistry: Novel synthesis of cyanoethylene thioglycosides and their pyrazole derivatives

A one-pot reaction of a sodium 2-cyanoethylene-1-thiolate salt with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-gluco- and galactopyranosyl bromides affords a new class of cyanoethylene thioglycosides. The conversion to the corresponding 5-aminopyrazoles confirms the E-configuration of these cyanoethylene thioglycosides.

The role of multidrug resistance protein (MRP-1) as an active efflux transporter on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability

Drugs acting on central nervous system (CNS) may take longer duration to reach the market as these compounds have a higher attrition rate in clinical trials due to the complexity of the brain, side effects, and poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability compared to non-CNS-acting compounds. The roles of active efflux transporters with BBB are still unclear. The aim of the present work was to develop a predictive model for BBB permeability that includes the MRP-1 transporter, which is considered as an active efflux transporter. A support vector machine model was developed for the classification of MRP-1 substrates and non-substrates, which was validated with an external data set and Y-randomization method. An artificial neural network model has been developed to evaluate the role of MRP-1 on BBB permeation. A total of nine descriptors were selected, which included molecular weight, topological polar surface area, ClogP, number of hydrogen bond donors, number of hydrogen bond acceptors, number of rotatable bonds, P-gp, BCRP, and MRP-1 substrate probabilities for model development. We identified 5 molecules that fulfilled all criteria required for passive permeation of BBB, but they all have a low logBB value, which suggested that the molecules were effluxed by the MRP-1 transporter.

Nucleic acid components and their analogs: Design and synthesis of novel cytosine thioglycoside analogs

The synthesis of a new category of novel cytosine 4-thioglycoside analogs has been first accomplished. The main step of this strategy is the synthesis of sodium pyrimidine-4-thiolate through the condensation of 2-cyano-N-arylacetamides with sodium cyanocarbonimidodithioate, followed by coupling with α-bromo-sugars to afford the corresponding cytosine 4-thioglycoside analogs. The free thioglycosides were also prepared. Subsequent studies on the application of this strategy for the preparation of other potent pyrimidine thioglycosides are reported.

A First Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of a New Class of Purine and Guanine Thioglycoside Analogs

A first microwave-assisted synthesis of a new class of novel purine thioglycoside analogs from readily available starting materials has been described. The key step of this protocol is the formation of sodium pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-7-thiolate and 7-mercaptopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives via condensation of 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles with sodium 2,2-dicyanoethene-1,1-bis(thiolate) salts or 2-(dimercaptomethylene)malononitrile, respectively, under microwave irradiation, followed by coupling with halo sugars to give the corresponding purine thioglycoside analogs. The obtained purines and purines thioglycosides derivatives were evaluated in vitro against lung (A549), colon (HCT116), liver (HEPG2), and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. Some of these compounds (5b, 5d, 5f, and 9a-d) exhibited little potency toward the four cell lines. On the other hand, compound 5a elicited higher cytotoxicity on both prostate (PC3) and colon (HCT116), respectively, while it was found moderate on lung (A549), and inactive on liver (HEPG2). Moreover, compound 5c was found moderate with LC50 values 52.0-88.9 μM for almost all the cell lines.

Synthesis and Characterization of Some New N-Glycosides of Pyridine-2,6-bis-Carboxamides Derivatives

A series of novel pyridine-bridged 2,6-bis-carboxamide N-β-glycosides and Schiff's bases has been prepared starting from 2,6-bis-carboxamide pyridine hydrazide, which on treatment with appropriate monosaccharides, aromatic or heterocyclic aldehydes, and indoline-2,3-dione derivatives afforded the corresponding sugar hydrazones and pyridine-bridged 2,6-bis-carboxamide Schiff's bases.

Sequential pathogenesis of metastatic VHL mutant clear cell renal cell carcinoma: putting it together with a translational perspective

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for ∼80% of all RCC, and biallelic Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene defects occur in ∼75% of sporadic ccRCC. The etiopathogenesis of VHL mutant metastatic RCC, based on our understanding to date of molecular mechanisms involved, is a sequence of events which can be grouped under the following: (i) loss of VHL activity (germline/somatic mutation + inactivation of the wild-type copy); (ii) constitutive activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway due to loss of VHL activity and transcription of genes involved in angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, metastasis, survival, anaerobic glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway; (iii) interactions of the HIF pathway with other oncogenic pathways; (iv) genome-wide epigenetic changes (potentially driven by an overactive HIF pathway) and the influence of epigenetics on various oncogenic, apoptotic, cell cycle regulatory and mismatch repair pathways (inhibition of multiple tumor suppressor genes); (v) immune evasion, at least partially caused by changes in the epigenome. These mechanisms interact throughout the pathogenesis and progression of disease, and also confer chemoresistance and radioresistance, making it one of the most difficult metastatic cancers to treat. This article puts together the sequential pathogenesis of VHL mutant ccRCC by elaborating these mechanisms and the interplay of oncogenic pathways, epigenetics, metabolism and immune evasion, with a perspective on potential therapeutic strategies. We reflect on the huge gap between our understanding of the molecular biology and currently accepted standard of care in metastatic ccRCC, and present ideas for better translational research involving therapeutic strategies with combinatorial drug approach, targeting different aspects of the pathogenesis.

Synthesis and in Vitro Anti-Tumor Activity of A New Class of Acyclic Thioglycosides

The reaction of sodium 2-cyano-ethylene-1-thiolate salts with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-gluco- and D-galactopyranosyl bromides and with 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-D-xylo-. and L-arabinopyranosyl bromides, respectively, afforded new thioglycosides. Heating of the resultout glycosides with hydrazine produced pyrazole derivatives. The cytotoxicities toward the hepatoma cell line (HEPG2) of some synthesized compounds were tested. Some compounds showed high cytotoxic activity against (HEPG2) cell line. The OH moieties in the free glycosides were vital for potency. The synthesis procedures, spectroscopic data and antitumor activities for the prepared compounds are reported herein.

Antimetabolites: A First Synthesis of a New Class of Cytosine Thioglycoside Analogs

A first synthesis of a new class of novel cytosine thioglycoside analogs from readily available starting materials has been described. The key step of this protocol is the formation of sodium pyrimidine-4-thiolate via condensation of N'-arylidene-2-cyanoacetohydrazides with sodium cyanocarbonimidodithioate salt, followed by coupling with halo sugars to give the corresponding cytosine thioglycoside analogs. Ammonolysis of the latter compounds afforded the free thioglycosides.

Crystal structure of (E)-2-amino-4-methyl-sulfanyl-6-oxo-1-{[(thiophen-2-yl)-methyl-idene]-amino}-1,6-di-hydro-pyrimidine-5-carbo-nitrile

The title compound, C11H9N5OS2, a 1-thio-phen-2-yl-methyl-ene-amino-pyrimidine derivative, displays an essentially planar C-NH2 group. The conformation across the N=C bond linking the pyrimidine and thienyl groups is E. The pyrimidine and thienyl ring systems subtend an inter-planar angle of 42.72 (5)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯Nnitrile and N-H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the b axis.

Purine and Guanine Thioglycoside Analogs: Novel Synthesis of a New Class of Pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]Triazine-4-Thioglycoside Derivatives under Microwave Activation

A first microwave-assisted synthesis of a new class of novel purine thioglycoside analogues from readily available starting materials has been described. The key step of this protocol is the formation of sodium pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine-4-thiolates via condensation of 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles with sodium cyanocarbonimidodithioate salt under microwave irradiation, followed by coupling with halo sugars to give the corresponding purine thioglycoside analogues. Further studies on the application of this method for the synthesis of other highly functionalized biologically active glycosides are underway.

In vitro effects of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera and its five individual active constituents on human P-glycoprotein activity

1. For centuries Bacopa monniera (BM) has been used as an herbal drug for the treatment of various mental ailments. A chemically standardized alcoholic extract of BM is clinically available over the counter herbal remedy for memory enhancement in children and adults. Consumption of herbal preparations has been reported to alter the function of membrane transporters, especially P-glycoprotein (P-gp), ATP-dependent drug efflux transporter responsible for the development of herb-drug interactions. 2. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of BM extract and its five individual active constituents (namely, bacopaside I, bacopaside II and bacopasaponin C, bacoside A and bacoside A3) on P-gp function using luminescent P-gp ATPase assay and Rh123 transport assay across human MDR1 gene transfected LLC-GA5-COL150 cell line. 3. It was observed that BM extract and its five individual constituents inhibited both basal activity as well as verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting their affinity towards P-gp. Further, BM and its five active constituents inhibited the rhodamine 123 (Rh123) transport across LLC-GA5-COL150 cell monolayer with bacopaside II being the most potent inhibitor of P-gp, which decreased P-gp efflux ratio of Rh123 by fourfold in comparison to control. 4. Our finding may prove beneficial in predicting the potential herb-drug interactions of BM on concomitant medication with P-gp substrate drugs in clinical settings.

Three- and four-class classification models for P-glycoprotein inhibitors using counter-propagation neural networks

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter that helps to protect several certain human organs from xenobiotic exposure. This efflux pump is also responsible for multi-drug resistance (MDR), an issue of the chemotherapy approach in the fight against cancer. Therefore, the discovery of P-gp inhibitors is considered one of the most popular strategies to reverse MDR in tumour cells and to improve therapeutic efficacy of commonly used cytotoxic drugs. Until now, several generations of P-gp inhibitors have been developed but they have largely failed in preclinical and clinical studies due to lack of selectivity, poor solubility and severe pharmacokinetic interactions. In this study, three models (SION, SIO, SIN) to classify specific 'true' P-gp inhibitors as well as three other models (CPBN, CPB1, CPN) to distinguish between P-gp inhibitors, CYP 3A inhibitors and co-inhibitors of these proteins with rather high accuracy values for the test set and the external set were generated based on counter-propagation neural networks (CPG-NN). Such three and four-class classification models helped provide more information about the bioactivities of compounds not only on one target (P-gp), but also on a combination of multiple targets (P-gp, CYP 3A).

Role of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) as active efflux transporter on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability

Nowadays most of the CNS acting therapeutic molecules are failing in clinical trials due to efflux transporters at the blood brain barrier (BBB) which imparts resistance and poor ADMET properties of these molecules. CNS acting drug molecules interact with the BBB prior to their target site, so there is a need to develop predictive models for BBB permeability which can be used in the initial phases of drug discovery process. Most of the drug molecules are transported to the brain via passive diffusion which is explored extensively; on the other hand, the role of active efflux transporters in BBB permeability is unclear. Our aim is to develop predictive models for BBB permeability that include active efflux transporters. An in silico model has been developed to assess the role of BCRP on BBB permeation. Eight descriptors were selected, which also include BCRP substrate probabilities used for model development and show a relationship between BCRP and logBB. From our analysis, it was found that 11 molecules satisfied all criteria required for BBB permeation but have low logBB values. These 11 molecules are predicted as BCRP substrates from the model developed, suggesting that the molecules are effluxed by the BCRP transporter. This predictive ability was further validated by docking of these 11 molecules into BCRP protein. This study provides a new mechanistic insight into correlation of low logBB values and efflux mechanism of BCRP in BBB.

Human ATP-Binding Cassette transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 confer resistance to CUDC-101, a multi-acting inhibitor of histone deacetylase, epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

CUDC-101 is the first small-molecule inhibitor designed to simultaneously inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) in cancer cells. Recently, in its first in human phase I study, CUDC-101 showed promising single agent activity against advanced solid tumors and favorable pharmacodynamic profile. However, the risk of developing drug resistance to CUDC-101 can still present a significant therapeutic challenge to clinicians in the future. One of the most common mechanisms of developing multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer is associated with the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2. Together, they are able to reduce the efficacy and modify the pharmacological properties of anti-cancer agents, including many small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Here, we have investigated the impact of ABCB1 and ABCG2 on the efficacy of CUDC-101 in human cancer cells. We revealed that although CUDC-101 has potent antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities against most cancer cell lines, the overexpression of ABCB1 or ABCG2 in cancer cells significantly reduced the activity of CUDC-101 against HDAC, EGFR and HER2, as well as its cytotoxicity and proapoptotic activity. Moreover, we showed that CUDC-101 modulated the function of both transporters without affecting the protein expression of either ABCB1 or ABCG2. More importantly, our study provides support for the rationale of combining CUDC-101 with modulators of ABC drug transporters to improve drug efficacy and overcome multidrug resistance associated with the overexpression of ABCB1 and ABCG2.

Selenorhodamine photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy of P-glycoprotein-expressing cancer cells

We examined a series of selenorhodamines with amide and thioamide functionality at the 5-position of a 9-(2-thienyl) substituent on the selenorhodamine core for their potential as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expressing cells. These compounds were examined for their photophysical properties (absorption, fluorescence, and ability to generate singlet oxygen), for their uptake into Colo-26 cells in the absence or presence of verapamil, for their dark and phototoxicity toward Colo-26 cells, for their rates of transport in monolayers of multidrug-resistant, P-gp-overexpressing MDCKII-MDR1 cells, and for their colocalization with mitochondrial specific agents in Colo-26 cells. Thioamide derivatives 16b and 18b were more effective photosensitizers than amide derivatives 15b and 17b. Selenorhodamine thioamides 16b and 18b were useful in a combination therapy to treat Colo-26 cells in vitro: a synergistic therapeutic effect was observed when Colo-26 cells were exposed to PDT and treatment with the cancer drug doxorubicin.

Histone deacetylases and their inhibitors in cancer, neurological diseases and immune disorders

Epigenetic aberrations, which are recognized as key drivers of several human diseases, are often caused by genetic defects that result in functional deregulation of epigenetic proteins, their altered expression and/or their atypical recruitment to certain gene promoters. Importantly, epigenetic changes are reversible, and epigenetic enzymes and regulatory proteins can be targeted using small molecules. This Review discusses the role of altered expression and/or function of one class of epigenetic regulators--histone deacetylases (HDACs)--and their role in cancer, neurological diseases and immune disorders. We highlight the development of small-molecule HDAC inhibitors and their use in the laboratory, in preclinical models and in the clinic.