Kaneyoshi Kato

A Noncompetitive BACE1 Inhibitor TAK-070 Ameliorates Aβ Pathology and Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

We discovered a nonpeptidic compound, TAK-070, that inhibited BACE1, a rate-limiting protease for the generation of Aβ peptides that are considered causative for Alzheimers disease (AD), in a noncompetitive manner. TAK-070 bound to full-length BACE1, but not to truncated BACE1 lacking the transmembrane domain. Short-term oral administration of TAK-070 decreased the brain levels of soluble Aβ, increased that of neurotrophic sAPPα by ∼20%, and normalized the behavioral impairments in cognitive tests in Tg2576 mice, an APP transgenic mouse model of AD. Six-month chronic treatment decreased cerebral Aβ deposition by ∼60%, preserving the pharmacological efficacy on soluble Aβ and sAPPα levels. These results support the feasibility of BACE1 inhibition with a noncompetitive inhibitor as disease-modifying as well as symptomatic therapy for AD.

A novel anti-asthmatic quinone derivative, AA-2414 with a potent antagonistic activity against a variety of spasmogenic prostanoids

The anti-asthmatic activity of AA-2414 [(+/-)-7-(3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-7-phenylheptano ic acid] has been studied in vivo and in vitro. Experimental allergic asthma was inhibited by orally administered AA-2414 in a dose-dependent manner. AA-2414, 0.08-1.25 mg/kg (p.o.), inhibited the bronchconstriction in guinea pigs induced by a prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue (U-46619), leukotriene D4 (LTD4), and platelet activating factor (PAF) with a long duration of action. The compound did not inhibit histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. AA-2414 reduced the induction of pulmonary inflation caused by LTD4 aerosol inhalation. AA-2414 competitively inhibited the contractile response to U-46619 in guinea pig tracheal and parenchymal strips and dog saphenous vein strips with pA2 values of 7.69, 8.29 and 6.79, respectively. Furthermore, the contractile responses of guinea pig tracheal strip to PGD2, 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 and PGF2 alpha were inhibited with pA2 values of 7.20, 7.79 and 5.71, respectively. These results suggest that AA-2414, a quinone derivative, is a novel, potent and orally active antagonist of a variety of spasmogenic prostanoids.

Cv-4151 — a potent, selective thromboxane A2synthetase inhibitor

(E)-7-Phenyl-7-(3-pyridyl)-6-heptenoic acid (CV-4151) inhibited horse platelet microsomal thromboxane (TX) A2 synthetase with an IC50 of 2.6 X 10(-8) M, but even at a high concentration of 10(-4) M it had little effect on cyclooxygenase, PGI2 synthetase and 5-lipoxygenase in in vitro enzymatic assays. CV-4151 did not affect PGI2 release from rat and rabbit aortic tissues in in vitro (10(-4) M) and ex vivo (10 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) experiments, whereas aspirin (10(-4) M or 10 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) markedly inhibited PGI2 release in these preparations. When given orally to rats and dogs, CV-4151 markedly inhibited blood TXA2 synthetase activity: the ID50 values (mg/kg, 2 hr later) were 0.05 in rats and 0.17 in dogs. The inhibitory effects at an oral dose of 1 mg/kg lasted more than 24 hr in both species; the inhibition was 41% in rats and 32% in dogs 24 hr after the administration. When injected i.v. to rats and dogs, CV-4151 caused inhibitory effects on TXA2 synthetase equipotent to those observed with the oral administration. In both species, CV-4151 given orally increased concentration of serum immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concomitant with a decrease of serum TXB2-8 concentration. CV-4151 was equipotent to OKY-1580 (IC50: 2.3 X 10 M), a well documented TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, in an in vitro TXA2 synthetase assay. However, CV-4151, given orally or i.v. to rats and dogs, was much more potent and longer acting in inhibition of blood TXA2 production than OKY-1580. Dazoxiben was less potent than these compounds in vitro. In rats, serial oral administration of CV-4151 (10 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days produced a constant and marked reduction of serum TXB2 concentration with concomitant increase of serum immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration. No rebound phenomenon in inhibition of TXA2 synthetase was observed after the dosing was stopped. These findings indicate that CV-4151 is a potent and long acting selective inhibitor of TXA2 synthetase and may reorient the metabolism of PG endoperoxides to PGI2.

Enzyme immunoassay of thromboxane B2

An immunoassay for thromboxane B2 was developed in which the hapten molecule was labeled with beta-galactosidase. The immunoprecipitate formed after competition between enzyme-labeled and unlabeled thromboxane B2 was subjected to a fluorometric assay of beta-galactosidase. Thromboxane B2 was detectable in the range of 0.1-30 pmol. Both enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay showed essentially the same cross-reactivities with other prostaglandins and their metabolites when the same antibody was used. Known amounts of thromboxane B2 were added to human plasma, and the sample was applied to an octadecyl silica column. The extract was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay to examine the correlation between the added (x) and measured (y) thromboxane B2 (y = 1.09x + 11.07 pmol/ml, r = 0.99). A satisfactory correlation was observed between radioimmunoassay (x) and enzyme immunoassay (y) (y = 0.92x + 4.64 pmol/ml, r = 0.96). The validity of enzyme immunoassay was also confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of a dimethylisopropylsilyl ether derivative of thromboxane B2 methyl ester. The method was applicable to the assay of thromboxane B2 produced from endogenous precursor during thrombin-induced aggregation of human platelets.

Melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 antagonists. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of novel 3-(aminomethyl)quinolines.

It was found that 3-(aminomethyl)quinoline derivatives showed high binding affinities for melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) with reduced affinity for serotonin receptor 2c (5-HT2c) when the dihydronaphthalene nucleus of compound 1 (human MCHR1, IC(50) = 1.9 nM; human 5-HT2c receptor, IC(50) = 0.53 nM) was replaced by other bicyclic core scaffolds. Among the synthesized compounds, 8-methylquinoline derivative 5v especially showed high binding affinity (IC(50) = 0.54 nM), potent in vitro antagonistic activity (IC(50) = 2.8 nM) for MCHR1, and negligible affinity for 5-HT2c receptor (IC(50) > 1000 nM). Oral administration of 5v significantly and dose-dependently suppressed nocturnal food intake in diet-induced obese rats and did not affect food intake in MCHR1-deficient mice. These results and rat pharmacokinetic study findings suggested that compound 5v is a highly potent, orally bioavailable, and centrally acting nonpeptide MCHR1 antagonist.

Ameliorative effects of a non-competitive BACE1 inhibitor TAK-070 on Aβ peptide levels and impaired learning behavior in aged rats.

We examined the effects of TAK-070, a novel non-competitive β-secretase (BACE1) inhibitor, on the levels of Aβ peptides and behavioral deficits in rats. TAK-070 reduced soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels of the cerebral cortex in a time- and dose-dependent manner in young rats. We found that the insoluble Aβ42 content increased significantly with aging from 22 months old without changing Aβ40 content. TAK-070 normalized the Aβ42 levels to those in young rats when they were fed chow containing TAK-070 starting at 19 months old for 6.5 months. Repeated administration of TAK-070 to aged rats for 2 weeks ameliorated the impaired spatial learning in the Morris water maze task and reduced the levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ peptides at doses of 0.3-1mg/kg, (p.o.). Interestingly, TAK-070 significantly recovered the reduced brain synaptophysin levels in aged rats to those in young rats. Our findings support the idea that partial inhibition of BACE1 by TAK-070 exerts symptomatic as well as disease-modifying effects for the treatment of Alzheimers disease.

Effects of thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitors (CV-4151 and ozagrel), aspirin, and ticlopidine on the thrombosis caused by endothelial cell injury

The antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of CV-4151 (isbogrel), a potent selective thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthase inhibitor, were compared with those of ozagrel (OKY-046), aspirin, and ticlopidine in rats. Two hours after oral administration, CV-4151, ozagrel and aspirin inhibited blood TXA2 generation with ID50 values of 0.04, 0.3 and 6.4 mg/kg, respectively. These values were similar to the oral ID50 values of CV-4151 (0.06 mg/kg), ozagrel (0.92 mg/kg) and aspirin (7.0 mg/kg) for arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo. Two hours after p.o. administration, CV-4151 and ozagrel inhibited femoral vein platelet-rich thrombosis caused by endothelial injury with ID50 values of 2.46 and 13.7 mg/kg, respectively. However, aspirin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) only slightly inhibited the thrombosis. Ticlopidine (300 mg/kg, p.o.) slightly but significantly inhibited AA-induced and ADP-induced platelet aggregation, however, it potently inhibited the thrombosis. CV-4151 and ozagrel given by i.v. injection showed therapeutic effects on the thrombosis with ED50 values of 0.026 and 0.066 mg/kg, respectively. These values were similar to the i.v. ED50 values of CV-4151 (0.0056 mg/kg) and ozagrel (0.042 mg/kg) for blood TXA2 generation. However, aspirin (30 mg/kg, i.v.) only moderately reduced the thrombosis. CV-4151 (> 0.3 mg/kg, p.o.), ozagrel (> 3 mg/kg, p.o.) and ticlopidine (300 mg/kg, p.o.) all significantly prolonged tail bleeding time. Aspirin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to prolong the bleeding time. The antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of CV-4151 are more potent than those of ozagrel, aspirin and ticlopidine in rats. CV-4151 may therefore be a useful drug for the treatment of thrombotic diseases.

Renal effects of pinane-thromboxane A2 and indomethacin in saline volume-expanded spontaneously hypertensive rats

In 6-week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.) and pinane-thromboxane A2 (PTA2) (50 micrograms/kg per h i.v.) a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) antagonist as well as a TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, resulted in natriuresis accompanied by an increase in p-aminohippuric acid and inulin clearances. Indomethacin acted as an antidiuretic in 6 week Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). PTA2 did not alter renal functions in either 6 week WKY and 18 week SHR. Basal urinary excretion of TXB2 (UTXB2V) was greater in 6 week SHR than in 6 week WKY and 18 week SHR, and that of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (U6-keto-PGF1 alpha V) did not differ among these strains. Thus, U6-keto-PGF1 alpha V/UTXB2V was lower in the 6 week SHR. Basal urinary excretion of PGE (UPGEV) was much greater in 18 week SHR than in the 2 other groups. In the 6 week SHR, PTA2 decreased UTXB2V and increased U6-keto-PGF1 alpha V without affecting UPGEV, and indomethacin reduced UTXB2V more markedly than did U6-keto-PGF1 alpha V and UPGEV. Thus, both PTA2 and indomethacin increased U6-keto-PGF1 alpha V/UTXB2V in the 6 week SHR. These findings indicate that a disequilibrium in the biosynthesis of vasoconstrictive TXA2 and of vasodilator PGI2 may be involved in water and sodium retention in SHR during the developmental phase of hypertension.

Quinones. Part 2. General synthetic routes to quinone derivatives with modified polyprenyl side chains and the inhibitory effects of these quinones on the generation of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A)

General synthetic routes to quinone acids (8), quinone amides (9), quinone alcohols (10), and quinone methylketones (11) with polyprenyl side chains, in which allylic alcohols (3) are employed as the key intermediates, are described. The Claisen rearrangements and the Carrot reactions of the allylic alcohols (3) with ethyl orthoacetate and diketen produced the ethyl esters (4) and the methylketones (5), respectively. Quinone products (8), (10), and (11) were recovered by oxidative demethylation of hydroquinone dimethyl ethers (4), (5), and (7) or by acid hydrolysis of hydroquinone bis(methoxymethyl) ethers (4) and (5) followed by ferric chloride oxidation. Amidation of quinone acids (8) led to the formation of quinone amides (9). Inhibitory effects of these quinone derivatives on the generation of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) in the lungs of sensitised guinea pigs are evaluated.

Synthesis of ubiquinones. Elongation of the heptaprenyl side-chain in ubiquinone-7

Regio- and stereo-chemically selective transformation of the terminal trans-methyl group of the heptaprenyl side-chain in ubiquinone-7 (1a; n= 6) and its O-benzylated quinol (1b) into the trans-chloromethyl group and the coupling of the resulting compound (10b) with prenyl, geranyl, and farnesyl p-tolyl sulphones (14a, b, c), with subsequent reductive elimination of p-tolylsulphonyl and benzyl groups and oxidation of the corresponding quinols, have resulted in a novel synthesis of ubiquinone-8, -9, and -10 (1a; n= 7,8, and 9). 1H and 13C n.m.r. spectra of ubiquinone-7 and its derivatives, and of several sulphones as reference compounds, are discussed.