Francis J. Sweeney

TENIDAP, A STRUCTURALLY NOVEL DRUG FOR THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS : ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC PROPERTIES

Tenidap is a new anti-rheumatic agent which has clinical properties characteristic of a disease modifying drug combined with acute antiinflammatory and analgesic activity. This paper details tenidaps cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory activity and the resulting pharmacological properties in experimental animals. Tenidap inhibited calcium ionophore-stimulated prostaglandin D2 synthesis by rat basophilic leukemia cells (COX-1) with an IC50 of 20 nM. In two different in vitro human test systems, tenidap inhibited COX-1 activity more potently than COX-2, although the relative potency ratio (COX-1/COX-2) differed markedly between the two systems. Tenidap inhibited the COX pathway when added to human blood in vitro (IC50, 7.8 μM) and when administered orally to monkeys, rats and dogs (at 5, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg p.o., respectively) and COX activity measured ex vivo in blood collected 2 to 4 hours post dose. After oral administration to rats, tenidap inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema with an ED50 of 14 mg/kg and inhibited the glucocorticoid-resistant UV erythema in guinea pigs with an ED50 of 1.4 mg/kg. It retained antiinflammatory activity in adrenalectomized rats indicating that this property is independent of adrenal stimulation. Oral administration of tenidap inhibited the development of adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in the rat and exhibited antinociceptive activity in the murine phenylbenzoquinone and rat acetic acid abdominal constriction tests. These data indicate that tenidap is an effective antiinflammatory and analgesic agent in animal models. These cyclooxygenase-dependent pharmacologic activities do not explain tenidaps disease modifying anti-arthritic properties but add a useful symptom modifying component to its clinical profile.

Synthesis and biological activity of piperazine-Based dual MMP-13 and TNF-α converting enzyme inhibitors

Abstract A series of novel MMP-13 and TNF-α converting enzyme inhibitors based on piperazine 2-hydroxamic acid scaffolds are described. The TACE, MMP-1 and MMP-13 activity of these inhibitors as well as the effect of substitution of the piperazine nitrogen and the P-1′ benzyloxy tailpiece is discussed. Moderate in vivo activity is observed with several members of this group.

Development of a system for evaluating 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors using human whole blood

A reliable system for evaluating 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway inhibitors employing human whole blood stimulated by the calcium ionophore, A-23187, and yeast cell walls (YCW) is described. In developing this system, we have shown that leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) can be recovered quantitatively from whole blood, and can be measured with accuracy and a precision (standard deviation) of +/- 12%. Apparent differences in LTB4/5-HETE levels between donors can be minimized by normalizing the LTB4/5-HETE production to neutrophil number. Variability in LTB4/5-HETE production among different donors was reduced by increasing the ionophore concentration. The kinetics of ionophore stimulated product production display a 1-4 min lag which is dependent on ionophore concentration. The lag is removed by pretreatment of blood with 5 micrograms/ml cytochalasin B. Likewise, the kinetics of product formation after stimulation with yeast cell walls demonstrated a lag period, which could be shortened by prior opsonization of the YCW. The amount of LTB4 metabolism to 20-OH-LTB4 and 20-COOH-LTB4 in this system is approximately 20%. Phenidone, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and nafazatrom, known inhibitors of the 5-LO pathway, display half-maximal inhibition points of 0.4, 1.5, and 9 micrograms/ml, respectively. In summary, we believe that this assay offers a guide for predicting systemic levels of drug needed to be achieved for effective inhibition of cellular LTB4/5-HETE synthesis/release in humans.

Inhibition of IL-1β-dependent prostaglandin E2 release by antisense microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 oligonucleotides in A549 cells

The metabolism of arachidonic acid through the cyclooxygenase pathway is a highly regulated cellular process that results in the formation of PGH2. This unstable intermediate can be enzymatically metabolized to PGE2 by the actions of a microsomal 17 kDa PGE synthase (mPGES1). Treatment of A549 cells with IL-1beta for 24 h resulted in a twofold increase in mPGES1 mRNA, protein expression, and PGES specific activity. To understand the relationship between expression of mPGES1 and PGE2 formation, IL-1beta treated cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and their effects compared to cells treated with reverse sense oligonucleotides (RSO) designed against the ATG translation initiation codon of mPGES1. Incubation with ASO resulted in a 44% reduction in mRNA expression level as compared to RSO-treated cells. Microsomal preparations isolated from ASO- and RSO-treated cells were analyzed for their ability to convert PGH2 to PGE2 in the presence 2.5 mM reduced glutathione. An approximate 50% reduction (ASO: 1.8 nmol/min/mg, RSO: 3.7 nmol/min/mg) in PGES activity, protein expression by immunodetection, and extracellular PGE2 release was detected in these samples. As a control in these studies, the protein levels of COX2 and secreted IL-8 were quantified; no change in these levels was observed. These results demonstrate the direct association between mPGES1 expression, its enzymatic activity, and total PGE2 production following an inflammatory stimulus.

Spectrophotometric monitoring of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathway activity using ionophore stimulated whole blood

We have employed clotting human blood stimulated with ionophore to develop a system for measuring cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and 12-lipoxygenase pathway products released into the serum fraction. In a single chromatographic run, 5-HETE, 12-HETE, 12-OH-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT), LTB4, 20-OH-LTB4, and 20-COOH-LTB4 are quantitated by UV monitoring after separation by HPLC. The kinetics of product formation/release of all fatty acid products into the serum show an apparent lag of approximately 2 min, after which time the amounts of HHT, 5-HETE, and LTB4, respectively, plateau at 10 min while 12-HETE increases over a 60 min period. The system is responsive to standard cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors, and is of value of evaluating prospective blockers of AA metabolism in a whole blood setting.

The use of 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) as an HPLC/spectrophotometric marker for cyclooxygenase pathway activity in resident rat peritoneal cells

12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT), a UV chromophore, has been used to assess cyclooxygenase (CO) pathway metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) by rat peritoneal cells. Simultaneous monitoring at 235 and 280 nm after HPLC permits the measurement of both CO and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway fluxes in a single system.

The γ-Secretase Modulator, BMS-932481, Modulates Aβ Peptides in the Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Healthy Volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of BMS-932481, a γ-secretase modulator (GSM), were tested in healthy young and elderly volunteers after single and multiple doses. BMS-932481 was orally absorbed, showed dose proportionality after a single dose administration, and had approximately 3-fold accumulation after multiple dosing. High-fat/caloric meals doubled the Cmax and area under the curve and prolonged Tmax by 1.5 hours. Consistent with the preclinical pharmacology of GSMs, BMS-932481 decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ39, Aβ40, and Aβ42 while increasing Aβ37 and Aβ38, thereby providing evidence of γ-secretase enzyme modulation rather than inhibition. In plasma, reductions in Aβ40 and Aβ42 were observed with no change in total Aβ; in CSF, modest decreases in total Aβ were observed at higher dose levels. Increases in liver enzymes were observed at exposures associated with greater than 70% CSF Aβ42 lowering after multiple dosing. Although further development was halted due to an insufficient safety margin to test the hypothesis for efficacy of Aβ lowering in Alzheimer’s disease, this study demonstrates that γ-secretase modulation is achievable in healthy human volunteers and supports further efforts to discover well tolerated GSMs for testing in Alzheimer’s disease and other indications.

Synthesis and pharmacological profile of two novel heterocyclic chromanols, CP-80,798 and CP-85,958, as potent LTD4 receptor antagonists

Abstract The development of two novel LTD 4 receptor antagonists as clinical candidates for the treatment of asthma is described. The first generation compound, CP-80,798, was found to be a balanced 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (5-LOI)/LTD 4 antagonist (LTD 4 -A), while the second generation compound, CP-85,958, is a selective LTD 4 antagonist.

Tenidap inhibits 5-lipoxygenase product formation in vitro, but this activity is not observed in three animal models.

Abstract.Objective and Design: The effect of tenidap on the metabolism of arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway was investigated in vitro and in vivo.¶Materials and Treatment: In vitro (cells). Arachidonic acid (AA) stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells; A23817 activated neutrophils (human rat, and rabbit), macrophages (rat), and blood (human). In vitro (enzyme activity). RBL-cell homogenate; purified human recombinant 5-LO. In vivo: Rat (Sprague-Dawley) models in which peritoneal leukotriene products were measured after challenge with zymosan (3 animals per group), A23187 (11 animals per group), and immune complexes (3-5 animals per group), respectively.¶Methods: 5-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (diHETEs, including LTB4) were measured as radiolabeled products (derived from [14C]-AA) or by absorbance at 235 or 280 nm, respectively, after separation by HPLC. Radiolabeled 5-HPETE was measured by a radio-TLC analyser after separation by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Deacylation of membrane bound [14C]-AA was determined by measuring radiolabel released into the extracellular medium. 5-LO translocation from cytosol to membrane was assessed by western analysis. Rat peritoneal fluid was assayed for PGE, 6-keto-PGF1, LTE4 or LTB4 content by EIA and for TXB2 by RIA.¶Results: Tenidap suppressed 5-LO mediated product production in cultured rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells from exogenously supplied AA, and in human and rat neutrophils, and rat peritoneal macrophages stimulated with A23187 (IC50, 5–15 M). In addition, tenidap was less potent in inhibiting the release of radiolabeled AA from RBL-1 cells (IC50, 180 M), suggesting that the decrease in 5-LO derived products could not be explained by an effect on cellular mobilization of AA (i.e., phospholipase). Tenidap blocked 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) production by dissociated RBL-1 cell preparations (IC50, 7 M), as well as by a 100,000 × g supernatant of 5-LO/hydroperoxidase activity, suggesting a direct effect on the 5-LO enzyme itself. In addition, tenidap impaired 5-LO translocation from cytosol to its membrane-bound docking protein (FLAP) which occurs when human neutrophils are stimulated with calcium ionophore, indicating a second mechanism for inhibiting the 5-LO pathway. Surprisingly, tenidap did not block the binding of radiolabeled MK-0591, an indole ligand of FLAP, to neutrophil membranes. Although its ability to inhibit the cyclooxygenase pathway was readily observed in whole blood and in vivo, tenidaps 5-LO blockade could not be demonstrated by ionophore stimulated human blood, nor after oral dosing in rat models in which peritoneal leukotriene products were measured after challenge with three different stimuli. The presence of extracellular proteins greatly reduced the potency of tenidap as a 5-LO inhibitor in vitro, suggesting that protein binding is responsible for loss of activity in animal models.¶Conclusions: Tenidap inhibits 5-lipoxygenase activity in vitro both directly and indirectly by interfering with its translocation from cytosol to the membrane compartment in neutrophils. A potential mechanism for the latter effect is discussed with reference to tenidaps ability to lower intracellular pH. Tenidap did not inhibit 5-LO pathway activity in three animal models.