Cyclo(Leu-Gly): a possible treatment for tardive dyskinesia?

Two-step generation of spirocyclic dipeptides from linear peptide ethyl ester precursors

Linear tri- and tetrapeptide precursors of 2,5-piperazinedione were prepared and their conversion to spirocyclic dipeptidase enzymes, the spirocyclic dipeptides (SpDp) were generated from the precursors by a two-step mechanism consisting in the proteolytic release of the C-terminal dipeptide ethyl ester and its subsequent spontaneous cyclization. After intraperitoneal administration of urokinase and Ac-Leu-Lys-Gly-Acp-OEt, a SpDp precursor targeted to endogenous plasmin, or the administration of the activated Hageman factor fragment and Ac-Leu-Arg-Ala-Acp-OEt, a SpDp precursor, targeted to endogenous kallikrein, the generated corresponding C-terminal dipeptide ethylester intermediates and SpDp, cyclo(Gly-Acp) and cyclo (Ala-Acp), respectively, were detected in the blood serum of C57B1 mice. Suppression of partial amnesia induced by sodium nitrite was observed in rats where it was subcutaneously administered with H-Leu-Ala-Acp-OEt, a peptide precursor of alaptide, the active SpDp, i.e. cyclo(1-amino-1-cyclopentanecarbonyl-L-alanyl).

Down-regulation of haloperidol-induced striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity by active analogues of L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG)

Tardive dyskinesia, a clinical syndrome, is one of the major side effects of protracted treatment with neuroleptics in schizophrenic patients. Functional supersensitivity of striatal dopamine receptors is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia. In a rodent model of neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor supersensitivity, we investigated the efficacy of structurally modified analogues of PLG to down-regulate the striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity as determined by alterations in [3H]spiroperidol binding to striatal membranes in vitro. The PLG analogue, L-prolyl-L-leucyl-(+)-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide-HCl, when given at the dose of 10 mg/kg IP for 5 days prior to haloperidol (3 mg/kg IP 21 days) significantly prevented the up-regulation of striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity, thus demonstrating a prophylactic effect. Two other analogues, L-prolyl-L-leucyl-5-aminomethyltetrazole and L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycine-dimethylamide at a dose of 10 mg/kg IP when given concurrently with haloperidol for 21 days, suppressed the development of dopamine receptor supersensitivity. None of the analogues tested in the post-haloperidol session reversed the haloperidol-induced increase in the density of striatal dopamine receptors. Active PLG analogues hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for the amelioration of tardive dyskinesia.

Inhibition of proliferative activity by cyclic dipeptides: spirocyclic derivatives of 1-aminocyclopentane-carboxylic acid

The antiproliferative activity of spirocyclic cyclodipeptides containing 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (Acp) was investigated and compared with Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (MIF), cyclo(Gly-Leu) and cyclo (Sar-Sar), a compound with denaturing activity, employing the chick embryonic caudal morphogenetic system. Out of the compounds tested, MIF and cyclo(Acp-Ala) appear to exhibit the least inhibitory activity on growth.