Induced pluripotent stem cell-based assays recapture multiple properties of human astrocytes

The majority of the population of glial cells in the central nervous system consists of astrocytes, and impairment of astrocytes causes various disorders. It is useful to assess the multiple astrocytic properties in order to understand their complex roles in the pathophysiology. Although we can differentiate human astrocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), it remains unknown how we can analyse and reveal the multiple properties of astrocytes in complexed human disease conditions. For this purpose, we tested astrocytic differentiation protocols from feeder-free iPSCs based on the previous method with some modifications. Then, we set up extra- and intracellular assessments of iPSC-derived astrocytes by testing cytokine release, calcium influx, autophagy induction and migration. The results led us to analytic methods with conditions in which iPSC-derived astrocytes behave as in vivo. Finally, we applied these methods for modelling an astrocyte-related disease, Alexander disease. An analytic system using iPSC-derived astrocytes could be used to recapture complexities in human astrocyte diseases.

Asymmetric synthesis and biological evaluation of the enantiomeric isomers of the immunosuppressive FTY720-phosphate

A practical asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of the immunosuppressive FTY720-phosphate (2) was accomplished, and the enantiomers were pharmacologically evaluated. Several lipases showed considerable activity and enantioselectivity for O-acylation of N-acetyl FTY720 (3) or N-benzyloxycarbonyl FTY720 (7) in combination with vinyl acetate or benzyl vinyl carbonate as the acyl donors. The synthesis using the lipase-catalyzed acylation as the key step produced the enantiomerically pure (>99.5% ee) enantiomers of 2 in multigram quantities. (S)-Isomer of 2 had more potent binding affinities to S1P(1,3,4,5) and inhibitory activity on lymphocyte migration toward S1P than (R)-2, suggesting that (S)-isomer of 2 is responsible for the immunosuppressive activity after administration of 1. Severe bradycardia was observed in anesthetized rats when (S)-2 was administered intravenously, while (R)-2 had no clear effect on heart rate up to 0.3 mg/kg.

Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic profiles of nonpeptidic alpha-keto heterocycles as novel inhibitors of human chymase

We designed nonpeptidic chymase inhibitors based on the structure of a peptidic compound (1) and demonstrated that the combination of a pyrimidinone skeleton as a P3-P2 scaffold and heterocycles as P1 carbonyl-activating groups can function as a nonpeptidic chymase inhibitor. In particular, introduction of heterobicycles such as benzoxazole resulted in more potent chymase-inhibitory activity. Detailed structure-activity relationship studies on the benzoxazole moiety and substituents at the 2-position of the pyrimidinone ring revealed that 2r (Y-40079) had the most potent chymase-inhibitory activity (K(i) = 4.85 nM). This compound was also effective toward chymases of nonhuman origin and showed good selectivity for chymases over other proteases. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats indicated that 2r was absorbed slowly after oral administration and showed satisfactory bioavailability (BA) (T(max) = 6.0 +/- 2.3 h, BA = 19.3 +/- 6.6%, t(1/2) = 35.7 +/- 13.3 h). In conclusion, 2r is a novel, potent, and orally active chymase inhibitor which would be a useful tool in elucidating the pathophysiological roles of chymase.

Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic profiles of nonpeptidic difluoromethylene ketones as novel inhibitors of human chymase

Potent human chymase inhibitors with high enzymatic selectivity and satisfactory metabolic stability were obtained by replacing the Val-Pro (P3-P2) dipeptide portion of the previously described inhibitor 1 with a nonpeptidic pyrimidinone skeleton. The potency of the novel compounds was further enhanced by the introduction of carbamoyl-substituted difluoromethylene ketone moieties. The most potent chymase inhibitor of the newly created series was 2u (Y-40018), which had a K(i) of 2.62 nM. Compound 2u possessed high selectivity for human chymase since it lacked significant activity toward other representative human proteolytic enzymes. Moreover its strict specificity for human chymase suggested that 2u strongly inhibited human and canine chymases but not rat and mouse ones. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats and dogs indicated that 2u was absorbed rapidly after oral administration and had satisfactory bioavailability in these experimental animal species (rat, 17%; dog, 32%). In conclusion, 2u is a novel, potent, and orally active chymase inhibitor which would prove very useful in revealing the precise roles of the latter in various pathophysiological processes.

Non-peptidic inhibitors of human chymase. Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic profiles of a series of 5-amino-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-containing trifluoromethyl ketones

Chymase possesses a wide variety of actions, including promotion of angiotensin II production and histamine release from mast cells. However, due to a lack of effective inhibitors featuring both high inhibitory activity and high metabolic stability, the pathophysiological role of chymase has not been fully elucidated. We designed non-peptidic inhibitors based on the predicted binding mode of the peptidic chymase inhibitor Val-Pro-Phe-CF3 and demonstrated that the Val-Pro unit is replaceable with a (5-amino-6-oxo-2-phenyl-1,6-dihydro-1-pyrimidinyl)acetyl moiety. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that phenyl substitution at the 2-position of the pyrimidinone ring is indispensable for high activity. The most potent compound 1h (Ki = 0.0506 microM) is superior in potency to the parent peptidic inhibitor Val-Pro-Phe-CF3 and has good selectivity for chymase over other proteases. The related analogue 1e was orally absorbed and maintained high plasma levels for at least 2h. These results suggest that the derivatives reported here could be developed as agents for treatment of chymase-induced disease.

Effects of endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide on endothelin-1 production in cultured vascular endothelial cells

The effects of various spontaneous nitric oxide (NO) donors and NO synthase inhibitors on endothelin- production were examined using porcine cultured aortic endothelial cells. NO donors such as (+/-)-(E)-4-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexanamide (NOR 2), (+/-)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[( E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexanamide (NOR 3) and (+/-)-N-[(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(Z)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexen-1- yl]-3-pyridine carboxamide (NOR 4) suppressed effectively the release of endothelin-1 from the cells. Endothelin-1 mRNA expression was also attenuated by these compounds. Other NO donors such as 3-[2-hydroxy-1-(1-methylethyl)-2-nitrosohydrazino]-1-propanamin e (NOC 5), 2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine (NOC 18), s-nitroso-n-acetyl-DL-penicillamine, N-morpholino sydnonimine (SIN-1) had no effects on endothelin-1 production. Endothelial intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were significantly increased by all NO donors. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, had no effect on the NOR 3-induced decrease in endothelin-1 secretion, although cGMP production was abolished by ODQ. NOR 3 also inhibited endothelin-1 secretion even in the presence of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetrametylimidazole-1-oxyl 3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO), a NO scavenger. NOR 3-induced inhibitory effects on endothelin-1 secretion were abolished by preincubation of the compound in phosphate-buffered saline (37 degrees C, 4 h), a procedure by which about 98% of the parent compound's ability to release NO was lost. NO synthase inhibitors such as N(G)-nitro-L-arginine, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) enhanced prepro endothelin-1 mRNA expression and significantly increased endothelin-1 release from endothelial cells. Endothelin-1 secretion was also increased effectively by carboxy-PTIO or ODQ. When the cells were exposed to L-NAME with carboxy-PTIO or ODQ, no significant further increase in endothelin-1 release was observed. These results suggest that endogenous NO inhibits endothelin-1 production through guanylyl cyclase/cGMP-dependent mechanisms. In contrast, it seems unlikely that exogenous NO has an inhibitory effect on endothelin-1 production in endothelial cells. NOR compounds inhibit endothelin-1 production perhaps through NO/cGMP-independent mechanisms, i.e., through an unknown effect of the parent compound itself.

Endothelin-1 secretion from cultured vascular endothelial cells of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats

The profile of endothelin-1 (ET-1) release from cultured vascular endothelial cells (ECs) obtained from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats, was examined and compared with that from normotensive sham rats. ET-1 release from ECs was increased in a time-dependent manner, and the level of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats was higher than that of sham rats. Incubation of ECs with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 or thrombin resulted in a significant increase in the ET-1 release, while FK409, a novel nitric oxide donor, produced a dose-dependent decrease in the release. In the case of ECs from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the potencies of TGF-beta 1- or thrombin-induced action was much less than that seen with sham rats, while the difference of reactivity to FK409 was not observed between ECs of DOCA-salt rats and sham rats. Thus, ET-1 production in ECs appears to be up-regulated in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. In addition, there seems to be an abnormalities in the signaling pathway via TGF-beta 1- or thrombin-induced enhancement of ET-1 production in ECs of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.